Law 12 Inquiry Unit
A MORAL VALUES DISCUSSION: A CURIOUS LOVE STORY
Recently some friends asked John Fisher to dinner to meet a visiting doctor from Calgary, a plump, comfortable man of about 60 who was in Vancouver for a meeting of a psychiatric association. After dinner, the doctor said he would like to tell the group a rather curious love story, to find out what they thought of it.
"A long time ago,” he said, “there was only one bridge across the Bow River between Moosehead and Covington. Not far from the Moosehead end of the bridge lived a lovely woman who was married to an elderly manufacturer of machine tools. Discovering after a few years that her husband was more interested in lathes than in her, she began to look about for solace.”
“Eventually she found it, in the person of a handsome young sportsman who bred and trained race horses near Covington. She paid him frequent afternoon visits – always taking care to get home before her husband returned from the office.”
“0ne spring afternoon, as she started her drive back to Moosehead, she found that a flood was sweeping down the Bow River. Foamy brown water was swirling over the floor planking of the bridge, and the pilings were shaking as if they might give way at any moment.”
"The only other way across the river was by ferry about two kilometers downstream. She hurried there and found, to her immense relief that the boat was still running. When she looked in her purse for the fare, however, she saw that she had no money. Surely, though, the ferryman would trust her till tomorrow.”
“He wouldn't. He explained that he would be glad to let her ride free if the decision were his own, but the ferry owner had given him strict instructions not to grant credit to anybody. If he broke this rule, he would be fired. He was sorry.”
"The woman drove rapidly back to her lover's house and asked him for a dollar. To her astonishment, he too refused.” 'Don't you see,' he said, 'that if the question of money should ever enter into our relationship -- even a single dollar -- everything would be changed?’ I love you far too much for that. You may think me ridiculously idealistic, but if you insist on demanding money from me I can never see you again. '
"Once more she drove toward the river, this time trembling with a rage of fury at her lover and fear for the wrath of her husband. She determined to force her way across the bridge in spite of hell and high water.”
"She didn't make it, of course. Her body was never found."
The doctor paused for a sip of coffee, then asked, "Who do you think was responsible for the girl's death?"
Questions:
1. Identify the major characters in this story. Of these characters, who can be charged with an offence?
2. What charges can be laid in this case?
Notes: Answer Key Discussion
Husband: Neglience on the husband’s part – he is ignoring his wife (bad husband)
Ferry Driver: (Acting legally not morally – sometimes letter of the law)
Ferry Owner: Vicarous Liability – Teacher hits a kid, principal or the school board can be sued as well.
Girl: Suicide (hopelessness). She had an affair (morally that is wrong, but legally no charge)
Lover: Adultery no charge in Canada. : If I give you money – you’ll be a prostitute (Message to her) –if that is the case, we don’t have a relationship
Laws are based on the morals of the society! Just because something has happened doesn’t mean that you can charge it. Morally versus legally. Morally the husband may be a jerk, legally he is not at fault.
Just b/c something is wrong doesn’t mean that people will get charged.
Bottom Line: Dead Body but yet, you can’t charge anyone with anything.
Criminal Code of Canada (Criminal Law)
Students want black and white (but they cannot get it). Taken to a prosecutor – they could do nothing.