Notes and Queries, Number 190, June 18, 1853: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.Various
History
Notes and Queries, Number 190, June 18, 1853: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
"A young man, named W. C. Capas, was charged at the Public Office,
Birmingham, Jan. 31, 1853, with assaulting his wife. The latter, in
giving her evidence, stated that her husband was not living with her,
but was 'leased' to another female. Upon inquiry by the magistrate into
this novel species of contract, the document itself was produced in
court, and read. It ran as follows:
"'Memorandum of agreement made and entered into this second day of
October, in the year of our Lord 1852, between William Charles Capas,
of Charles-Henry Street, in the borough of Birmingham, in the county of
Warwick, carpenter, of the one part, and Emily Hickson, of Hurst
Street, Birmingham aforesaid, spinster, of the other part. Whereas the
said William Charles Capas and Emily Hickson have mutually agreed with
each other to live and reside together, and to mutually assist in
supporting and maintaining each other during the remainder of their
lives, and also to sign the agreement hereinafter contained to that
effect: now, therefore, it is hereby mutually agreed upon, by and
between the said William Charles Capas and Emily Hickson, that they the
said, &c., shall live and reside together during the remainder of their
lives, and that they shall mutually exert themselves by work and
labour, and by following all their business pursuits, to the best of
their abilities, skill, and understanding, and by advising and
assisting each other, for their mutual benefit and advantage, and also
to provide for themselves and each other the best supports and comforts
of life which their means and income may afford. And for the true and
faithful performance of this agreement, each of the said parties
bindeth himself and herself unto the other finally by this agreement,
as witness the hands of the said parties, this day and year first above
written."
Here follow the signatures of the consenting parties. The girl Hickson was
examined, and admitted that she had signed the document at the office of a
Mr. Campbell, the _lawyer_(!) who prepared it, and that his charge for
drawing up the same was, she believed, 1l. 15s. The latter promised her, at
the same time, that if the wife of Capas gave her any annoyance he would
put in that paper as evidence. The magistrates, considering the assault
proved, fined Capas 2s. 6d., and "commented in very strong terms on the
document which had that day been brought before them." (See _Birmingham
Journal_, Jan. 5th, 1853.) Has a similar transaction come before the notice
of your correspondents?
I may add that we are informed by the _Birmingham Argus_ for March, 1834,
that in that month a man led his wife by a halter to Smithfield Market in
that town, and there publicly offered her for sale.
WILLIAM BATES.
Birmingham.
* * * * *
ENOUGH.
(Vol. vii., p. 455.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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