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Scottish Court of Session Decisions


You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Scottish Court of Session Decisions >> Jean Pitcairn and her Husband v John Peutherer. [1716] Mor 5825 (31 July 1716)
URL: http://www.bailii.org/scot/cases/ScotCS/1716/Mor1405825-048.html
Cite as: [1716] Mor 5825

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[1716] Mor 5825      

Subject_1 HUSBAND and WIFE.
Subject_2 DIVISION I.

What subjects fall sub communione bonorum et debitorum.
Subject_3 SECT. VIII.

Goods peculiar or Personal to the Wife.

Jean Pitcairn and her Husband
v.
John Peutherer

Date: 31 July 1716
Case No. No 48.

Found, that a chest of drawers, appropriated for keeping a wife's clothes, is a part of the parapbernalia.


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In a process betwixt these parties, this question having fallen to be considered, viz. whether a chest of drawers, wherein a wife kept her clothes, was a part of the paraphernalia, and did thereby become the wife's property, exclusive of the husband's jus mariti?

And it was contended for Pitcairn the pursuer; That it was to be reckoned among the paraphernalia, because these do not only include clothes, but those things that are proper for their custody; thus Paulus, lib. sent. 3. cap. 6. “Mundo muliebri legato ea cedunt, per quæ mundior mulier lautiorque efficitur; velut speculum, conchæ, situli, item pixides, unguenta, et vasa in quibus ea sunt;” which directly determines the case, that is, whatever is necessary for keeping the things also is understood to pass with them; and it is very sure that chests of drawers are absolutely necessary for custody of clothes ad munditiem.

Answered for the defender; That, at this way of arguing, the paraphernalia may be made very large; and if wives be allowed to make moveables their own by laying clothes within drawers, cabinets, and chests, &c. a good part of the moveables of the husbands will in progress of time be made paraphernalia.

The Lords found, that a chest of drawers, appropriated for keeping a wife's clothes, is a part of the paraphernalia.

Act. Bosewall. Alt. Hay. Clerk, Gibson. Bruce, v. 2. No 34. p. 45.

The electronic version of the text was provided by the Scottish Council of Law Reporting     


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URL: http://www.bailii.org/scot/cases/ScotCS/1716/Mor1405825-048.html