79 So. 832 | La. | 1918
It appears from the application and returns herein that, in May, 1917, relator brought, in the civil district court, the suit under the title of which this proceeding is taken, alleging, in substance, that in 1898 she was married, in Chicago, to the defendant C. E. George, and that the marriage has never been dissolved; that on November 6, 1912, defendant, nevertheless, in Milwaukee, Wis., married one Selma Klein, and has lived with her since that time; that he is now, and for a number of years has been, a resident of this city; and that petitioner is entitled to a judgment decreeing null his bigamous marriage and divorcing him from petitioner. Wherefore, she prays for citation of said George and Klein and for judgment as thus indicated. Defendant George was cited personally, and on June 27, 1917, filed an exception to the jurisdiction of the court, averring, by way of specification:
“That, according to paragraph 1 of plaintiff’s petition herein, she alleges that, on November 1, 1898, she was married, at the city of Chicago, Ill., to your exceptor, and, accordingly, this being an action for divorce, and the matrimonial domicile being, as alleged, in the city of Chicago, Ill., this honorable court has no jurisdiction, rations materise nor ratione personae, to try and determine this cause.”
On October 19, 1917, he filed another exception, alleging that Selma Klein is a necessary party to the suit and has not been cited; and, “with full reservation of his plea to the jurisdiction,” filed a plea of lis pen-dens, based upon the pendency of a suit in New York. Thereafter, a supplemental petition was filed, alleging that the defendant Klein was in New Orleans .when the suit was instituted, but had subsequently left the state, and praying that a curator ad hoe be appointed to represent her, which was done; but the appointment was subsequently revoked (thereby practically eliminating her from the case), the exceptions were then overruled, and the defendant George presented to this court the application for certiorari and prohibition that we are now considering.
“The exception” (to the rule that a married woman has no other domicile, and can acquire no other, than that of her husband) “arises whenever it becomes necessary and proper that the wife should acquire a separate domicile, as, when the misconduct of the husband compels her to leave him, or, when he abandons her.” Stevens v. Allen, 139 La. 663, 71 South. 936, L. R. A. 1916E, 1115.
In the instant case, the defendant George, as we understand the situation, admits that
“ * * * Oharles E. George, who., being duly sworn, deposes and says that he is a citizen of the state of Louisiana and domiciled in the city of New Orleans and doing business therein; * * * that, at the time when service of process in this cause upon defendant was made, he was then, and had been for three years previously, a citizen of this state” (the affidavit having, been made in New Orleans) “and domiciled in the city of New Orleans, * * * and the service of said process was made upon him while he was temporarily sojourning in New York,” etc.
On the trial of the exception in this ease, defendant testified that, when served with process herein, he was temporarily sojourning in New Orleans, but there is other evidence on that subject (including a letter, written at New Orleans on the day preceding that upon which the service of process ir. question was made) considering which, we conclude, with the trial judge, that defendant has not shown that he has acquired a domicile elsewhere since he made affidavit that he was domiciled here; and, unless it is otherwise provided by law, a domicile once established is retained until another is acquired.
It is therefore ordered that relator’s application be denied, and this proceeding dismissed, at his cost.