Morning v. Long

109 Iowa 288 | Iowa | 1899

WatermiaN^ J.

The petition is in two counts. The first claims for the alienation of - the wife’s affections, loss of society, “etc., and the other for criminal conversation. So far as concerns the questions presented on this appeal, we need 1 consider only matters charged in the second count. In the course of the testimony, facts and circumstances appeared from which the inference could fairly be drawn that plaintiff consented to or connived at the criminal conduct of his wife. Upon this feature of the case the court gave the following instruction to the jury: “Should you not find that the plaintiff has established the alleged wrongful act or acts of the defendant, or. if you find that such acts, if committed, were consented to or connived at by plaintiff, then you will have no occasion to consider the question of damages, but will return your verdict for the defendant.” Other paragraphs of the charge embodied the same thought, but we need not set them out.

It is first urged that the court erred in submitting to the jury the matter of the' husband’s consent or connivance, as a complete bar to his recovery. The thought is that such a defense is affirmative in character, and to' have been available, 2 should have been pleaded. Undoubtedly the husband’s consent to the criminal act with his wife will bar a recovery by him. Norton v. Warner, 9 Conn. 172; Rea v. Tucker, 51 Ill. 110; Lowe v. Massey, 62 Ill. 47; Smith v. Masten, 15 Wend. 270; Puth v. Zimbleman, 99 Iowa, 641-649. But the question we have here is, must such a defense be specially pleaded before it can be claimed as a bar to the action? As we have said, the answer was in general denial. Section 3629 of the Code provides, “* * * Any defense which admits the facts of the adverse pleading, but by some other matter seeks to avoid their legal effect,, must be specially pleaded.” And section 3615 is as follows: “Under a denial of an allegation, no evidence shall be introduced which does not tend to negative some fact, the party making the controverted allegation, is bound to prove.” These sections have been, construed by this court strictly in accordance with their terms. Scott v. Morse, 54 Iowa, 732. The plaintiff was bound to prove »the marital relation and the debauching of his wife. Upon this showing he would have been entitled to recover. Nothing in his own conduct tends to negative either of these facts. Appellee seeks to place this case in the category with actions for injuries by negligence, and claims that the burden is upon plaintiff to negative wrongdoing on his own part. We must say we can see no reason for any such claim. None of the authorities cited by appellee sustain the rule for which he contends. Those which at first glance seem to do- so will be found to be based upon the general issue as it existed at common law, and which has been abolished in this state. And there are authorities holding that even under that plea such a defense cannot be made. 5 Enc. Pl. & Prac. 618. One of tbe cases so cited by appellee (Travis v. Barger, 24 Barb. 624) is directly opposed to his theory.

II. It is said, because this evidence was received without objection, it was proper to submit the issue to- the jury. But this cannot be so, for the testimony upon which this 3 claim of connivance is based was wholly eircumstan-tial. It consists of inferences from facts properly brought out, and which related to the times, places, and circumstances of the alleged illicit acts. Those facts could not properly have been objected to-, and, as just-remarked, it is upon the assumptions from these alone that the theory of the husband’s consent is predicated. Had direct evidence of plaintiff’s consent been offered and admitted without objection, we should have said that, although the issue is not presented by the pleadings, the court, was justified in instructing thereon. Collins v. Collins, 46 Iowa, 60. But no such question arises here.

III. The court gave the following instruction: “Testimony has been given to show that since the alleged wrongful acts of the defendant the plaintiff has forgiven his wife, and continued to live with her and maintain family relations with her. Now, if you find that the defendant is guilty of the wrongs charged, without consent or collusion of the plaintiff, then the continuance- of the family relation would 4 be no defense to this action. But the fact and manner of the subsequent family relations may be considered, as bearing upon the amount of damages which should be ^warded the plaintiff, as well as upon the question whether there was any collusion or connivance.between the plaintiff and his wife, and you will give it such weight and bearing upon these questions as you believe it to be worth.” It is urged that this paragraph is in- conflict with the holding of this court in Stumm v. Hummel, 39 Io-wa, 418. We held -in that case only that a continuance of the marital relation after the husband had knowledge of the wife’s infidelity did not necessarily have the effect to establish connivance on his part. We did not say, nor could we properly, in the face’ of the authorities, that the relation of the husband to the wife after her criminal act, and after he knew the fact, •could not be considered, as having a bearing on the issue of his connivance, and that is all that is contained in the instruction under consideration. Some other matters, not likely to- again arise, we need not consider. For the error pointed out, the judgment is REVERSED.