THE LAW: Last Laugh

In Cook County Jail last week languished Alma Fergerson, 52, whom the tabloid Chicago Sun-Times labeled "prisoner of love." In 1949 she met Roy Fergerson; he was already married, but they moved in together anyway. Mrs. Theresa Fergerson won a divorce on grounds of cruelty without naming Alma as corespondent, then sued her for alienation of affections* and last year won a $25,000 judgment. "We haven't got $25,000," said Fergerson, a trucking supervisor, who had married Alma by then. But the first Mrs. Fergerson had other means open to exact payment for her lost love.

In Illinois, a defendant who...

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