25 July 1877 An unusual divorce

In Birmingham, Frederick Dudley was tried in court for “allowing his wife to become chargeable to the parish”. The newspapers report that Dudley produced a ‘contract’ signed between himself, his wife Ellen and a JB Meldon, in which he gave up all claims on Ellen and Meldon agreed to “take” her. Although the document caused “much laughter” in court, the magistrates agreed that it dissolved the Dudleys’ marriage and dismissed the case.