Newsome v. Newsome

| Ky. Ct. App. | Mar 17, 1894

JUDGE LEWIS

DELIVERED THIS OPINION OF THE COURT.

Appellee, Annie Newsome, brought this action for divorce from bed and hoard for alleged cause of habitual behavior toward her Uy the husband, Robert L. Newsome, for not less than six months, in such cruel and inhuman manner as indicates settled aversion to her. But he made.his answer a counter-claim, asking judgment for absolute divorce for the cause they had lived apart without cohabitation for five consecutive years next before the application.

The lower court dismissed her petition, hut rendered judgment for divorce as prayed for in his counter-claim. It was, however, further adjudged that he pay $100 foe of her attorney in the action, also $400 annually during her life or widowhood as alimony; and from that part of the judgment he has appealed.

Section 28, chapter 26, General Statutes, provides that “in actions for alimony and divorce the husband shall pay costs of each party unless it shall he made to appear in the action the wife is in fault and has ample estate to pay the same.” And section 6, article 3, chapter 52, contains this provision: “ If the wife have not’ sufficient ■estate of her own she may, on a divorce obtained by her, have such allowance out of that of her husband as shall be deemed equitable.”

It will be observed that in thé first section quoted one of the conditions of requiring the husband to pay all costs is that it does not appear the wife is in fault, while it is provided in the other that an allowance for alimony ■can be made only on a divorce obtained, by her. And the ■question arises whether either proviso has application in a case like this.

Section 1, article 3, chapter 52, provides that for two special causes a divorce may be granted to both husband and wife: (1) Such impotency or malformation as prevents sexual intercourse (2) Living apart without cohabitation for five consecutive years next before application. But all other causes are therein classified thus: (1) Causes for which the party not in fault may have a divorce, such as adultery, abandonment, etc. (2) Causes for which the wife, when not in like, fault, may have a ■divorce; such as confirmed drunkenness, lewd behavior, ■etc. (3) Causes for which the husband may have a ■divorce; as when the wife is pregnant by another man, without the husband’s knowledge, at time of marriage, or when she is guilty of such lewd behavior as proves her unchaste.

Existence of each one of the causes so classified necessarily involves fault on part of the defendant, in an action for divorce, and neither husband nor wife can maintain aii action for any one of these causes if in like fault. But either may sue for and obtain a divorce by simply alleging and proviug the fact they have lived apart, without any cohabitation, for five consecutive years — no-judicial -investigation respecting cause of separation, nor inquiry as to who is in fault, in meaning of the statute,, being required in order to determine the right to divorce.

It therefore seems to us, giving the statute a reasonable construction, the husband is required, in a case like this, to pay costs of each party without inquiring whether the wife is in fault. And as it is well settled an allowance for services of the wife’s attorney, when legally authorized, may be taxed as costs, and no complaint is-or could be fairly made the amount is excessive, it was not error to make it. ■

It seems to us equally manifest that provision of the statute denying alimony to the wife, except “ on a divorce-obtained by her,” was intended to apply in that class of cases where a divorce obtained by the husband involves fault of the wife, iiot in cases. like this, where, as either may maintain the action, it is not a material or legitimate inquiry, in determining the right, who is in fault.

The evidence shows the husband possessed of an estate worth about $20,000, consisting of houses and lots, rents from which, added to what he earns otherwise, make a yearly income of from $1,000 to $3,000, there being much conflict of testimony on the subject. The wife owns a lot upon which are two dwelling-houses, worth about $2,500, heretofore purchased for her by the husband; she has also about $500 in money.

The children are all of full age, and none of them, except the youngest daughter, who lives with her father, are dependent upon him for support.

In our opinion it would be oppressive, and probably in the end ruinous, to require appellant. to pay $400 annually during appellee’s life or widowhood. For she may, in due course of nature, live unmarried twenty years, while he can not be reasonably expected to earn money by his own labor more than comparatively a few years longer, thus taxing his houses, that will constantly need repairs and may deteriorate, for the entire allowance, lie should, therefore, be permitted and required to pay whatever may be amount of allowance- in a gross sum and in a reasonable time; and we think, under all the circumstances and in view of what he has already paid by order of court, the sum of $1,000, payable as of the date of the judgment appealed from, would be equitable.

Wherefore the judgment is reversed and cause remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion.