His Lordship—“Do you want to take her back again?”
“Awl keep her if you loike.” [Laughter.]
His Lordship (addressing the prisoner)—It is absolutely necessary that I should pass some punishment upon you in order that people may understand that men have no more right to sell their wives than they have to sell other people’s wives, or to sell other people’s horses or cows, or anything of the kind. You cannot make that a legal transaction. So many of you seem to be ignorant of that, that it is necessary to give you some punishment in order that you may understand it. It is not necessary it should be long, but you must be imprisoned and kept to hard labor for one week.—“News of the World,” 1883.
A peculiar case came up in the mayor’s office at Vincennes, Ind., in 1887. A man named Bonn sold his wife to another man named Burch for $300, and held Burch’s note therefor. The sale was a reality, but the note was never paid, hence the difficulty.
“We know a man in the Black Hills—a man who is well-to-do and respected—the foundation of whose fortune was $4,000, the sum for which he sold his wife to a neighbor. The sale was purely a matter of business all around, and the parties to it were highly satisfied.” 1889.—“The Times,” Bismarck, N.D.
[56] In “The Doncaster Gazette” of March 25, 1803, a sale is thus described: “A fellow sold his wife, as a cow, in Sheffield market place a few days ago. The lady was put into the hands of a butcher, who held her by a halter fastened around her waist. ‘What do you ask for your cow?’ said a bystander. ‘A guinea’ replied the husband. ‘Done,’ cried the other, and immediately led away his bargain. We understand that the purchaser and his ‘cow’ live very happily together.” Ashton.—The Progress of Women.
[57] “Morning Herald,” March 11, 1802.—On the 11th of last month a person sold, at the market cross, in Chapel en la Frith, a wife, a child, and as much furniture as would set up a beggar, for eleven shillings.
“Morning Herald,” April 16, 1802.—A butcher sold his wife by auction at the last market day at Hereford. The lot brought £1 4s. and a bowl of punch.
“Annual Register,” February 14, 1806.—A man named John Garsthorpe exposed his wife for sale in the market at Hall about 1 o’clock, but owing to the crowd which such an extraordinary occurrence had brought together, he was obliged to defer the sale, and take her away, about 4 o’clock. However, he again brought her out, and she was sold for 20 guineas, and delivered with a halter, to a person named Houseman, who had lodged with them for four or five years.
“Morning Post,” October 10, 1808.—One of those disgraceful scenes which have of late become too common took place on Friday se’nnight at Knaresborough. Owing to some jealousy, or other family difference, a man brought his wife, equipped in the usual style, and sold her at the market cross for 6d and a quid of tobacco.—Ibid.