Three or four years ago, we published a series of posts about Wife selling. The more we read these old newspapers, the more instances we find. Here’s another one!
“BUYING AND SELLING WIVES. – The London papers state that a disgusting and disgraceful scene happened in Smithfield market on Monday. A fellow led his wife by a halter, and gave her to a drover, desiring him to tie her up to the pens, and sell her to the best bidder. The woman, who did not appear to be above 25 years of age, and not bad-looking, suffered herself to be tied up very quietly. A crowd of persons soon gathered round, and a rather respectable man entered into a negociation with the drover for the purchase of the wife: after some higgling, she was knocked down for the sum of 10s. The money was paid, but the driver refused to release her except on the payment of 2s. as his commission for the sale which he had effected. Some confusion took place about the demand, but it was eventually paid, and she was released from the pens opposite the Half-Moon public-house, and delivered to her purchaser, who appeared highly pleased with his bargain. The parties adjourned to a neighbouring public-house, where the late husband spent the greater part of the money in brandy and water. – As a caution to persons who figure in scenes of this description, and for the instruction of Magistrates, who, from the frequency of such occurrences, must either be ignorant of negligent of their duty, we quote the following passage from a very useful popular digest of the laws, which is well known by the title of The Cabinet Lawyer:- ‘The Court of King’s Bench is the guardian of public morals, and has the judicial animadversion of offences against public decency and good behaviour. In that court an information was granted against a number of persons concerned iin assigning a young girl to a gentleman under pretence of learning music, but for the purpose of prostitution – 3 Bur., 1438. There is no doubt that the vulgar and brutal exhibition, too often tolerated, of a man selling his wife, and delivering her in a halter is a misdemeanours, both in the buyer and seller, punishable with fine and imprisonment, or by an endictment preferred at the assizes or quarter sessions.'”
The Stamford Mercury, 2nd March, 1832.