Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 84, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1909 — Indiana Judge Holds That Husbands Are Head of Family. [ARTICLE]

Indiana Judge Holds That Husbands Are Head of Family.

A decision which will he read with great interest by henpecked husbands has been handed down by—Judge Hacker, of the Bartholomew circuit court. The decision is that no matter how large and strong-minded the wife may be, the husband remains the head of the family. The question was raised in a divorce case at Columbus, Ind. A woman was placed on the stand in behalf of the plaintiff as a resident witness and the owner of property and was living with her husband. Objection was raised to her testimony on the theory that her husband was the householder and that she had no right to testify. A day was set for argument on this proposition and after lengthy speeches Hacker took the matter under advisement and has just announced his decision. The court holds that no married woman can be regarded as a householder if she lives with her husband. The law presumes the husband to be the head of the house, whether he is or not, and as such the husband is the head of the family in the eyes of the law.