Big Debt Court—Jonathan v. Bull.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 138, 2 July 1872, Page 7

Big Debt Court—Jonathan v. Bull.

(London Review.)

Justice Geneva: Now, Mr Jonathan, we are all ready. Will you please state your case ?

Mr Jonathan : Please your Honor, my case is this. My wife and I happened to have a quarrel some little time ago, and you know that when husbands and wives disagree, nobody has any right to interfere. Justice Geneva: Of course, Mr Jonathan ; nothing can be plainer than that. Mr Jonathan : I am glad to hear you say so; for what does my wife do? She goes over to Mr Bull, the ironmonger, and buys a poker. Back she comes, and lets fly at me. The consequence is, that she brings down the cupboard, smashes the china, and breaks my head into the bargain. Now, what Mrs Jonathan and 1 want is, that Mr Bull should pay the damage. Justice Geneva : Surely, Mr Jonathan, you do not mean to say that Mr Bull should pay the damage done by your own wife ? Mr Jonathan : Of course I do : if Mr Bull had not sold her the poker she would not have smashed the china.

Justice Geneva : And what may the value of the china be ?

Mr Jonathan : Well, the value of the china isn't much ; what we want is the indirect damages.

Justice Geneva : "What do you mean by the indirect damages ?

Mr Jonathan : All that could be traced to the poker. There's the doctor's bill, and the loss of business, and ever so many other things. It was the poker that kept the people from the shop, and it was the poker that protracted the struggle. If it had not been for the poker, I could have doubled her up in no time. (To Mrs Jonathan): Could I not, my love '?

Mrs Jonathan : Certainly, my dear : Mr Bull is bound in honour to pay all damages after he sold me the poker. Justice Geneva : What do you say to this, Mr Bull ?

Mr Bull: I am very sorry indeed that there should be any misunderstanding between Mr Jonathan and me ; but I do think he is sometimes a little unreasonable. The way of it was this. My wife happened to be in the shop when Mrs Jonathan called, and I knew nothing of the matter till it was too late. Of course, I am not accountable for any damage done by Mrs Jonathan. Mr Jonathan : But you know very well, Mr Bull, that your wife sympathised with Mrs Jonathan, and called me a big brute of a husband, because I was determined to be master in my own house. Do you call that neutrality'/

Justice Geneva : I see plainly how the matter stands. In the first place, Mr Bull, I think you were somewhat to blame in not keeping a sharper eye on Mrs Bull; and I believe you have already expressed yourself as sorry on that account. But allow me, at the same time, to tell you, Mr Jonathan, that it is simply ridiculous, under the circumstances, to ask Mr Bull to pay for damages done by your own wife.