CHAPTER II. 20 The Law of What Place Determines the Legality of Divorce. 237 22 Alimony and Custody of Children.. Section 24 Rights of Husband in Property of Wife at Common Law.... 243 25 Liability of Husband for the Torts of his Wife at Common 26 Liability of Husband for Debts of his Wife at Common Law. 245 32 Ante-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial Marriage Settlements.... 252 Section 33 Conveyances Between Husband and Wife and Advance- 34 The Wife's Right to Contract at Common Law. 35 The Wife's Separate Estate in Equity.. 36 Actions by Husband for Violations of Rights Growing out of 37 Actions by Wife for Violation of Right Growing out of the 257 257 258 CHAPTER V. PARENT AND CHILD. Section 43 Definition, .. 44 Liability of Father for Torts and Crimes of Child. 259 259 259 Section 45 Duty of Parent to Support Child.. 46 Right of Parent to Services and Earnings of Children.. 47 Advancements and Hotchpot... Section 50 Rights of Parent to Custody of Children. ADOPTED CHILDREN AND BASTARDS.. 56 Adoption at Common Law and by Statute. 60 Liability of an Infant on his Contracts and Torte. 61 Suits by or Against an Infant... 62 Criminal Liability of an Infant. 63 Competency of an Infant as a Witness. 65 Other General Rights and Disabilities of an Infant. ........ 274 CHAPTER 1. DEFINITION AND HISTORY OF TORTS. SECTION 1. DEFINITION OF TORT. It is very difficult to give any definition of tort “The term 'tort,' being indefinable because of its generality, it follows that such definitions of tort as commend themselves at first glance, will, upon examination turn out to be spurious. The following proposition, for instance, is a terse and accurate statement of a certain legal truth, and at first blush it may appear to be a logical definition. A tort, we may say, is that legal wrong, or breach of duty, which is capable of being redressed in a civil action for damages. But this proposition states no criterion for distinguishing between a breach of contract and a tort, and in fact merely amounts to this, that a tort is a legal wrong for which damages may be recovered. This statement is true enough, but it is no definition.”'1 One of the best definitions of this term which 1 | · Street's Foundation of Legal Liability, Vol. I, p. XXVII. |