Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-29
Just How
Much |SAMadS
WfeW0rth?

low much is a wife worth in the coin of the realm :?
- Railroad and steamship companies have learned
through the courts that hepmate killed
accident is valued anywhere from $4,000 100000
Other court records equally ncontroverble prove
live wife may be valued by her husband at anywhere
from 5000 down to IS.
AS late 1859 wives the public markets
of Merfie Old England" to the highest bidder
queny were led away with halter In the United States
today sales conducted less publicly but equally
busnesslke fashion Nor the a halter
for often she is anxious have the transaction completed
securely and legally
Recently Bruni a stevedore of Cleveland Ohio
became FESTIVE family burdens Every day as he
loaded and unoaded the lake boats and watched them
sail away into the great world beyond the dngy
ing docks he wondered what lay beyond the horizon
Was 1t different fe out there in the open with
freedom from earkng care and wailing babies whose
mouths seemed shaped to utter only More"
And there four of these infants hudded with his
tired wife in the little tenement apartment Sometimes
Brun felt that he must stow himself away in of the
hulking lake ships, go mad
One day he told what he thinking a fellow
worker Sol Marchett, they sat eating lunch.
You think you'd like to work in the woods
big lake," Sol asked. "Al right l would like a wife
and little bambinos, but old TO marry a young
girl got money in the bank. You worked
many hungry mouths for years. I'll give you $50 for
Bruni said quickly It's bargain. I'll take it,"
So next morning Bruni, instead of going the docks
as usual called his wife from the cosete kitchen When
she entered the there Marchetti whom she had
never seen before, standing beside her husband.
You still wanna go through with it, Sol - asked the
husband When Marchett nodded Brun piled up the
Few household goods while his wife and children watched
with eyes like saucers.
Silently Marchett handed Bruni six vedollar notes
Brn counted them, waved hand toward the
and yelled to his bewildered spouse Rosa you his
He took up bundle walked out of the house and
toward the lake.
What Marchctt said to Rosa is not of record but by
night the little household all in order more,
the Brun furnishings augmented by Marchets purchases
Sol hoped the deserted wife would view her peculiar posi-
ton philosophicaly But her neighbors didn't
evening when Marchett to the apartment bearing
all his personal possessions in shiny suitcase
told the them
What have you to say for YOURSELF" asked the
magistrate.
Mrs Br,ni Marchcttr plucked nervosy at her faded
coat and replied through Interpreter: cheap
and the kids and a bed stove two chairs and
washtub all for $50 But Marchetti he kind and
stay by him
when Interpreter explained that the law prevented
any such proceedings Marchet protesting that he had
been gypped agreed to pay for a divorce and get
the deserted wife and children for his by law.
Just before the present World War began. Andy
Geraldsk, coal miner of Scranton Pennsylvania sold
his wife and all set to start the sea but a
forgotten trunk was his undoing For many
Cera1dsk been hungerng for a sight of his native
Poland, but his wife Mary considered the handsomest
matron in her community. preferred America.
GcraldsN broodcd over his situation torn by home
sickness until day when boarder Steve Cusack
spoke admrngy OF The woman he replied; IF you want
her for wife. III sell her How much you gImmc?"
Cusack pledged his all 5000
CcraldsM closed the bargain at once With that
much money he could afford TO have fling with
his friends before he sailed to the old country Next day
nursing hangover ne recalled that his trunk was AT
the house Of which Steve Cusack was master So
to the house he
II have changed my mind" said Cusack in response
20 Geraldskis request for his not like being
married man. Give me back my money, you
have your wife, trunk and furniture"
freefor-all started which landed the trio court
The magistrate not only Gerasl 10 return the
money threatened the pair with dire penalties
Not 50 long ago in Hoboken, New Jersey William
Schorsch pocketed crisp fvcdolaT and executed
the following bill OF sale the mahogany OF saloon
Il do hear cerutyfy that William Sthorsch DO hear
by give the said Ellen Schorsch TO marry said
TO
agreement. Signed by the L. Day O. oct
But something went wrong for tho three were sum-
moncd INTO court where the fvclpar bill went TO dcfray
part the costs administering justice