Comer v. Taylor

82 Mo. 341 | Mo. | 1884

Philips, C.

This is an action for seduction by Jes.se Comer, the father of Sarah' Comer, against the defendant, Thomas B. Taylor. The petition contains the form of three counts. The first count of the petition states, in substance, that about the 15th day of February, 1877, defendant debauched and carnally knew Sarah Comer, the daughter of plaintiff, whereby she became pregnant and sick with child and so remained and continued for the space of nine months, and that at the expiration of said time, to-wit: December 6th, 1877, she was delivered of the child, and in consequence thereof she was unable to do the work of plaintiff. That he paid out large sums of money in and about the nursing and taking care of Sarah and the child, to the damage of plaintiff in the sum of $1,000.

The second count is similar to the first, with the additional averment, that plaintiff’s daughter, under and by i'eason óf a promise of marriage, was, by the defendant seduced, debauched, etc.; that in consequence thereof plaintiff lost her services ; and was compelled to and did pay out divers sums of money in and about the delivery of the child, amounting in the aggregate to the sum of $500, for which plaintiff asks j udgm ent.

The petition then concludes as follows: “Plaintiff' further states that by reason of the several premises aforesaid, he has been brought into public scandal, infamy and disgrace amongst his neighbors, etc., and has been greatly wounded in mind and feelings, and has suffered great anxiety and pain of mind, and has otherwise suffered and been greatly injured to his damage $1,000, for which plaintiff also asks judgment against defendant. Wherefore, plaintiff states that by reason of all the several ]:>remises aforesaid he has been damaged in the total sum of $2,500, for which he asks judgment against the said defendant, together with costs.”

The answer tendered the general issue. The plaintiff recovered judgment for $1,216. Erom said judgment defendant prosecutes this writ of error. Plaintiff’s evidence tended to establish the issues on his part, while the defendant’s evidence tended to show that the act of intercourse was without seduction and that he was not the father of the child born to said Sarah. Plaintiff’s evidence, also, showed that Sarah was 26 years old at the time of' the alleged seduction living with her father.

I. There was no occasion for employing three counts in this petition. The plaintiff'has but one cause of action, and the petition should contain a plain statement of the facts expressed in one count. The second count would seem to he predicated of a seduction accomplished under a breach of promise of marriage. Eor such breach of contract the woman alone could maintain action. In the action by the father, based on the loss of service, proof of the marriage contract is not permissible. The furthest the courts have permitted the inquiry to go, is to ask if the defendant paid his addresses in an honorable way. Sedgw. on Dam. 517 (7 ed.); Foster v. Scoffield, 1 J. R. 297; Clark v. Fitch, 2 Wend. 464; Gill v. Mead, 7 Wend. 193. Proof of the marriage contract was given at the trial by plaintiff, but without objection from defendant.

II. The court erred in refusing the 10th instruction .asked by defendant to the effect that, unless the jury believe from the evidence that the defendant is the father of the child they should find for the defendant. In a case, •especially like this, where the daughter is over age and the plaintiff cannot legally demand her services, the very found.ation of his action is that the relation of master and servant subsisted in fact between him and his daughter at the time •of the seduction and consequent loss of service, and expense thereby incurred. Millar v. Thompson, 1 Wend. 447; Vossel v. Cole, 10 Mo. 635; Roberts v. Connelly, 14 Ala. 235. The logical result of this postulate must be that unless the pregnacy and confinement which occasion the loss, follow the act of intercourse between defendant and the daughter, the father cannot maintain this action. As Alderson, B., in Eager v. Grimwood, 1 Exch. Leg. Ob. 34, p. 360 says : •“ It is clear that the parent cannot maintain this action where the daughter is in the service of another person which shows that the action is founded on the loss of service. Now if the mere fact of connection is to be held a loss •of service it is difficult to see where it would end. Suppose a servant took a walk contrary to the orders of her master would that be a loss of service ?” This is the recognized law. 2 Greenl. Ev. (14 Ed.) par. 577; Knight v. Wilcox, 14 N. Y. 413. There was evidence before the jury to warrant the giving this instruction, for the defendant testified that he did not have intercourse with the woman within ten months of her accouchment.

III. The court gave an instruction at the instance of plaintiff, authorizing the jury to allow plaintiff for medicinal attention and medicines given, his. daughter and refused!, one asked by defendant to the effect that plaintiff-, could only recover the amount actually paid out by him for such purpose. ; If, as matter of fact, the plaintiff incurred liability for medicines.and medical attendance he would be entitled in this action to recover the same, if reasonable, from the defendant, whether he had or had not paid the amount. Being bound therefor he is entitled to recover the same from the responsible agent occasioning the expenditure. Leisse v. St. L. & I. M. R. R. Co., 2 Mo. App. 105; Klein v. Thompson, 19 O. St. 569; Gries v. Zeck, 24 O. St. 329; Forbes v. Loftin, 50 Ala. 396; 1 Sedg. on Dam. 39. There is no evidence, however, preserved in the bill of exceptions to show that any such services were rendered in this case' at the instance and request of plaintiff, or that he had expended a cent.

IY. The defendant asked and the court refused the following instruction:

2. The court instructs the jury that sexual intercourse may take place without seduction, where both parties, desire it, and the impulse is mutual, and if in this case the jury believe from the evidence that both parties desired it, and the impulse was mutual, then the plaintiff cannot recover exemplary damages.

We are of the opinion that the court erred in refusing this instruction. The prime basis of this action being the loss of the service of the daughter, her incontinence and guilty conduct in inducing the cohabitation would not wholly defeat the action. The loss of her service and the expense and trouble attending her confinement would be, the same to the father, as if she were chaste and had been actually debauched. . In such case the amount of-his recovery would be limited to such loss. Akerley v. Haines, 2 Caines 291. On the other hand, it is as equally well settled that criminal connection may take place without seduction, and if the seduction be not satisfactorily proven no damage for it can be recovei’ed. 2 Sedg. on Bam..(7 Ed.) p. 515. In Hill v. Wilson, 8 Blackf. 123, Blackford, J., says: “Supposing the daughter to have been unchaste, and the alleged carnal intercourse to have been occasioned as much by her misconduct as by that of the defendant, the latter would not then have been guilty of seduction. That would be a case of criminal connection without seduction, and one in which, though the suit for loss of service could be sustained,, the damages would not be aggravated on the ground of seduction.” Not only did the evidence of the defendant tend directly to show that the woman was unchaste and as willing as the defendant, but the attending circumstances,, the time and place, and manner of cohabitation and its. long continuance were such as might satisfy a reasonably apprehensive jury that “the carnal intercourse was occasioned as much by her misconduct as by that of the defendant.” In such cases the maxim volenti non fit injuria, is a. fit expression of the law. Robinson v. Musser, 78 Mo. 153.

Y. The second instruction given on behalf of plaintiff is as follows: “The jury are instructed that if they should find for the plaintiff’ they shall assess his damages-at any sum not exceeding $2,500. And in determining the amount of damages the jury may take into consideration the deep anxiéty and mental pain suffered by plaintiff and the loss of the society and comfort of his said daughter, also the injury done to the feelings, affections- and u-ounded pride' of himself and family, and the condition in which the daughter of jdaintiff was left by reason of said seduction; and they may, also, take into consideration the injury done to the character and good name of plaintiff’s daughter and servant, and the loss of marriage and consequent disgrace, and for being brought into public scandal, notoriety and shame by means of said seduction by defendant.”' This instruction is pregnant with vice. It is too comprehensive. It assumes, all the way, facts disputed and in issue. It assumes that plaintiff had deep-anxiety and affections, that he had suffered mental pairs and wounded pride, that the daughter had good character which was brought into disgrace and scandal, and that the defendant did seduce her. These were all facts disputed by the general denial and were to be found by the jury from the evidence. Nor are we aware of any authority in this character of action to warrant that part of the instruction ■directing the jury to allow the father -damages based on the future condition of the daughter and child, or for her loss of marriage and consequent disgrace, etc.

VI. When Sarah Comer was on the witness stand the ■defendant, on cross-examination, asked her if an elder sister ■of hers had an illegitimate child some seven or eight years :ago ? The court refused to allow this question. This is assigned for error by defendant. It does not- appear from the bill of exceptions whether this sister was a member of plaintiff’s family or household at the time of her misfortune, or whether she had since resided in it, or any of the .attending circumstances of the imputed misconduct. Un•der such state of the record we are unable to say that any error was committed by the coui’t in rejecting the question. It would be a harsh rule to establish that because forsooth a ■daughter, years before had brought shame and reproach upon .a father’s home, it could no longer be the abode of virtue, nor under the law’s protection against the lecher and seducer, •or that the father, who had not connived at either misstep, might not feel as keenly the pangs of reproach and dishonor upon himself and family for the second as for the first invasion and prostitution of his household. It should not escape remark, however, in this connection that, after objecting to this evidence, the plaintiff in said second instruction told the jury that in estimating the measure of plaintiff’s damages they might take into the account the “ wounded pride of plaintiff’s family.” It must hold good as a principle of equity and equality that if the plaintiff may have the character and wounded feelings of his family thrown into the scales in augmenting his damages, the •quality of their character and sensibilities would be a legitimate subject of inquiry and investigation. If the family or any member of it is wanting in chastity or moral sensibility the jury ought to know it, and its extent before estimating-how much damage they will allow on account of the “wounded pride” of the whole family. If the plaintiff" would not open up such inquiry he should omit it from his-, instructions. The family are not parties to the suit. N> recovery can be had for their wounded feelings in this action. The jury in estimating the measure of plaintiff’s damages, may take into consideration his anguish, etc., on account of the loss of the society and comfort of his child and the dishonor which he feels is brought upon himself and his home. 2 Sedg. on Lam. (7 Ed.) p. 516, note b Opinion of Lord Ellenborough in Southwood v. Ramsden, Middx. Sitting, K. T., 1805; Morgan v. Ross, 74 Mo. 322, 323.

The j udgment of the circuit court is reversed and the-cause remanded.

All concur.