Neff v. Neff

20 Mo. App. 182 | Mo. Ct. App. | 1886

Philips, P. J.

I. By the offer of defendant to-mate proof of the averments of her answer, and its rejection by the court, the facts alleged for the purpose of this appeal stand admitted by the plaintiff. The question, therefore, to be decided is, do the facts pleaded show that defendant’s desertion was “ without reasonable cause'?”

The facts disclosed by this answer are strikingly peculiar; and they certainly present a situation of distressing wretchedness into which the marriage relation has brought the defendant, without any seeming fault on her part.

This plaintiff appeals to the law to free him from the bonds of matrimony contracted with defendant, and thereby to have him and his property discharged from the obligation and burden of her protection and support. The burden of proof rests upon him, not only to show the abandonment, but that the desertion was £ £ without reasonable cause.” As this case stands in court, the plaintiff admits that before, and up to the time of, his marriage with déíendant he was subject to fits, which, from their characterization in the answer, we infer were epileptic in form. This fact he not only concealed from the defendant, but positively assured her did not exist, and thereby induced her into an alliance, which ordinarily a woman of intelligence would shrink from.

This disease is one of a peculiarly repulsive character, and dreadful to behold. It is accompanied by unconsciousness, convulsions of body and face, and foaming at the mouth. It is so horrible that in the rude ages the Homans and Egyptians regarded epileptics as having excited the anger of the gods, and were worshiped as possessing supernatural power. “ This was due to the violence and extraordinary force developed by the muscles in epileptic convulsions ; the screaming, the changes-in color, the contortions of the face, and the biting of the tongue, followed by a comatose state, and afterwards by a degree of mental alienation.” Am. Cyclopaedia, vol. 6.

In the new version of the New Testament, Saint Matthew designates as epilepsy the disease of the boy brought by his father to Jesus to be healed, after the scene of transfiguration in the mountain ; and which is-so graphically described by Saint Mark (ch. 9) as a dumb beast and spirit, tearing the boy as he foamed and “gnasheth with his teeth and pineth away.”

It is, moreover, regarded by scientists as congenital; and is, therefore, far-reaching in its hurtful effects.

That its manifestations in defendant’s husband should have produced in her mind the terror and dread she depicts in her answer, is neither extraordinary nor improbable. That a woman of delicate constitution, and highly developed nervous organism should constantly look forward to the recurrence of these frightful exhibitions in her home with horror was but human. That, such a life, with its strain upon the mind and nerves, should “work like madness in the brain,” and gradually undermine her health, is equally probable and natural.

This woman, perhaps, conld no more help her nervous infirmity than could the plaintiff escape from his malady. Neither should she be censured for the results of that which is more a misfortune than a moral vice. Had this disease come upon plaintiff after 'the defendant had taken him ‘£ for better and for worse,” she could be held with more reason to bear her misfortune with patience .and fortitude, than under the circumstances disclosed by her answer. But she accepted his hand on his assurance that whatever else might be his bad qualities and defects, this epilepsy was not of them. And when she discovered that she had been deceived into £ £ bonds of wretchedness and oppression,” instead of justly anticipated happiness, it certainly should not only break the force of any adverse criticism on her imputed lack of wifely devotion and sacrifice, but it should have stimulated the plaintiff to every reasonable and manly effort to do all in his power to mitigate her misery, and repair the wrong.

So great is the regard of the law for the sanctity and stability of the marriage relation that, although marriage is designated as a civil contract, it will not be ground for ,a court of equity to nullify the contract brought about as this was by plaintiff ’ s concealment and falsehood. Reynolds v. Reynolds, 3 Allen 605; Varney v. Varney, 52 Wis. 120. But I maintain that in this controversy it is a most potent element in determining the issue, whether plaintiff’s misconduct, both in bringing on the union and after it was^ consummated, did not add and precipitate the desertion of which he complains. Certainly after the defendant was fraudulently brought into the toils, she exhibited a commendable spirit in clinging to him as she did; and the request she made of him for the company of some one, even of his own kinswomen, to aid her in succoring him in his spasms, and to share with her, or relieve her in part, from the frightful scenes, was both reasonable and moderate.

Having in his power to alleviate to this extent, at least, the situation of his wife, he had no right to immolate her upon the altar of his selfishness and supposed dominant rights as husband and master of his household. To do so, was as unnecessary as it was cruel and unmanly. And after his malady, which he deceived defendant about, coupled with his refusal to try to relieve her in the small degree requested, had driven her to the dire necessity of choosing between the alternativé of adhering to his bed and board, with the grim spectre of his epileptic contortions now and then appearing at the hearth-stone, with no companion to relieve her misery, and no succor to rescue her from despair and loss of health, or seek relief, rest, and health in desertion, the law that would give him a divorce, on the ground that she had deserted him, without cause, would be a travesty on justice and repugnant to the common sense of right.

It is true, the law is not founded on sentiment. But it does profess to respect natural justice, and to provide rational rules for the conduct of the practical affairs of social life. As is said by Marshall,, C. J., in Mayhugh v. Mayhugh (7 B. Mon. 424, 428): “The criterion by •which, in human tribunals, the conduct of human beings is to be estimated, should be formed, not according to the rules of either ideal perfection or of occasional excellence, but according to that standard which, being attainable by the various classes to which it is to be applied, is sufficiently high to ensure the preservation and promotion of the morals and good order of society.”

Mr. Bishop, in his treatise on Marriage and Divorce, contends with force and reabon for the rule that the cause which will justify the desertion by either party, ought to be such only as will, under the statute, entitle the deserter to maintain an action for divorce.

As the respondent, at the bar here, does not insist on her cross-bill, we need not determine whether the facts alleged therein would entitle the defendant to affimative relief.

While the position of that eminent text writer is supported by most respectable authority and plausible logic, there are authorities of equal dignity maintaining that relief maybe denied to the petitioner, although the party deserting may not be entitled to a divorce. They are collected in Lyster v. Lyster (111 Mass. 327): and others might now be added. But, whatever othei courts may have held, I cannot understand language if our supreme court, in Gillinwaters v. Gillinwaters (28 Mo. 60), does not hold contrary to Mr. Bishop. The husband sued for divorce on account of the desertion of the wife. Judge Scott, who delivered the opinion, inter ■alia, said: “ Although the wife may have acted improperly in leaving home when she did, yet, that did not justify the husband in putting himself in a situation which prevented her return. * * * For specific causes the married state may be destroyed, but she or he who is instrumental in producing the cause for a divorce can never .avail himself or herself of it. * * * The conduct of the husband toward his wife may be such as would warrant her in leaving him, although it would not entitle her to ■a divorce. The record does not show that he is an innocent and injured party, and, therefore, he cannot recover.”

It would be difficult to find language on any proposition of law more specific. And in the case of Harper v. Harper (29 Mo. 303), this same learned judge said: “A married couple should yield a little to each other’s inclinations, although they may appear somewhat unreasonable ; and though there may be no criminality in refusing to do this, yet, when by obstinacy and noncompliance, an alienated state of mind is produced between them, they cannot expect the courts will lend too indulgent ear to their application for divorce. Courts will not grant divorces to those who, by a long course of ill-advised conduct, have produced a state of things which would seemingly warrant such a measure.”

The Gillinwaters case has not been overturned, and the language quoted therefrom has never been criticised by the supreme court. It has ever been the recognized rule on the circuits, and it ought not, in my humble opinion, to be disturbed.

Some significance, whatever refinement Mr. Bishop may attach to it, ought to be given, in my judgment, to the language of our statute: “without reasonable cause.” It is not a statutory cause for divorce. But it is a reasonable cause; such as tested by the rules of common sense and a wise experience, and not hurtful to society, may be said to be reasonable.

Just as the courts, in defining negligence and care, say it is to be tested by the degree of caution and care which reasonable persons, under like circumstances and ■conditions, are expected to exercise.

Again, the proceedings for divorce belong, ordinarily, to the courts of equity jurisdiction. And while this is regulated in this state by statute, yet it so far preserves its chancery qualities that the trial is had before the court, without the right, as in actions at law, to demand a jury. And the court is invested with large ■discretionary powers in awarding alimony, pendente lite, as also the custody of the children, and changing orders from time to time as to the court may seem just, etc. • The recognized principles of equitable procedure should, therefore, so far adhere to this proceeding as to require of the parties seeking to nullify so solemn a compact as that of a marriage, which constitutes the cement of society and the amulet of its protection, that he should •come with clean hands, and should not have equity where he has not done equity.

There is, therefore, sound reason and equity in the ■enunciation of Cray, judge, in Lyster v. Lyster, supra, that: “A just application of this principle requires that misconduct of the husband, not amounting to a ■cause of divorce, and which affords no reason why, upon his undertaking to conduct himself properly for the future, the marital relation should not be fully re-established by judicial decree, may yet, when he makes no ■offer to amend his course, but seeks for a judicial separation for his wife’s breach of duty, will be considered as qualifying her offence and his right to rely upon it as a ■cause for dissolving the marriage relation, in whole or in part.”

The divorce court of England, under a statute of “desertion without cause,” hold to this view, that the desertion is “justified by conduct that would not authorize a decree.” Yeatman v. Yeatman, Law Rep. 1. P. & M. 491.

In the case at bar, the plaintiff’s malady, coupled with his refusal to permit her any relief, brought his wife into a terrible strait. It destroyed her peace by day and night; and imperiled her health and life. It was in his power, by a most reasonable concession, to mitigate that condition. It required no sacrifice, no humiliation. It was but what should have been the voluntary offering of a generous heart and a loyal husband. Shall the court free him, as the innocent and injured party, while the wife, whom his want of charity and humanity has driven from his home, is pronounced by the judgment of the law as the party in fault, to be stripped of all that her relation as wife secured her %

I think if a man is to be accorded a divorce under such circumstances that society must be the sufferer, as well as she who is the victim of his deceit and neglect. A man by a course bordering on cruelty, yet keeping barely inside of the dividing line of the statutory cause of divorce, may impel his wife to seek peace and health by fleeing from his home, and then get rid of her entirely by alleging her desertion.

I am of opinion that, before he can put this woman in legal fault, he should show more charity, compromise, and consideration for her, whom he has pledged to cherish and protect. Cornish v. Cornish, 23 N. J. Eq. 208.

Let the judgment of the circuit court be reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceeding in conformity herewith.

All concur.

Case Details

Case Name: Neff v. Neff

Court Name: Missouri Court of Appeals

Date Published: Jan 4, 1886

Citation: 20 Mo. App. 182

Court Abbreviation: Mo. Ct. App.