P v. P

Campbell, Justice.

The charge of cruel treatment, and on which this action brought for a separation was predicated, was fully made out by proof, on the trial of the cause. A careful reading of the testimony has only served to strengthen the impressions which were made on my mind as the testimony was given. The defendant interposed tAvo defences, recrimination and condonation. He did not claim that the plaintiff had used any violence towards him, but he insisted that her language had not ahvays been chaste and becoming, and especially that she had appropriated his property in a clandestine manner, and had contracted debts, against his expressed wishes and without his consent, and Avhich he had been compelled to pay. It is sufficient to say here, that the defence of recrimination was not established, and for reasons which Avill be more fully given hereafter. The fact was not controverted by the plaintiff, that she had secretly used the defendant’s property, but it was made to appear that such property was only used by her to procure the necessaries of life for herself and children. The defence of condonation, I am inclined to think, was made out. It was not without some hesitation that I arrived at this conclusion. The question of fact on this point is not entirely free from doubt. The adjudicated cases might Avell authorize a finding, either that there Avas or was not a condonation, from the evidence in the case, which was uncontr.adicted. The hand of the husband was laid on the wife in anger and AA'ith violence, and that several times. On such occasions there was no justifiable cause; in one instance, hardly a palliating circumstance. Yet, after all this, the wife lived in the house and cohabited Avith the husband, and under circumstances which I think forbid the conclusion that she acted from fear or under compulsion. The true secret undoubtedly was, that she was unwilling to break .up the family and to leave her daughters, some of Avhom Avere young and in feeble health, and needing a mother’s care and attention. There can be no doubt, I think, that after the time Avhen the last act of violence was committed by the defendant, there were periods when domestic harmony was restored. I have great confidence that such harmony may not only be restored, but continued, if the parties will, in good faith, execute the judgment which the laws of our state authorize me to make in a case like the present. The statute to which I refer is as follows : (3 R. S., 5th ed., 238, § 68.) “ Although a decree for separation from bed and board be not made, the court may make such order or decree, for the support and maintenance of the wife and her children, or any of them, by the husband or out of his property, as the nature of the case renders suitable and proper.” This wise provision in our law meets the precise wants of this case. The history of these parties during their married life, as it was developed on the trial, satisfied me that the trouble between them arose chiefly, if not entirely, from the close, if not penurious habits of the defendant. That which may have been considered economy and thrift in early days, and when- industry was required to procure the necessaries of life, may cease to be either when advancing years bring with them the infirmities of age; when the wearied body needs repose, and when the labor of the past has been rewarded with an abundance of this world’s goods. And yet this defendant hardly ■ seems to have realized such truths. As a man of wealth, and having reference to his habits and those of his wife, it may be added, a man of great wealth, he has not provided a “ suitable and proper maintenance of the wife and her children.” It would hardly be credited, that during the thirty years, and more, of married life, and many of which years have been to the defendant years of prosperity, he has never purchased a bonnet for his wife, and very few articles of clothing for her or their children. When those children were infants in her arms, seldom were any hired servants provided for her. She early opened a little account at the store, and pro cured, on her own credit, clothing for herself and children, and sometimes necessary articles of food for the family. When the children were small and their wants few, she was enabled to meet and pay this account, with thread which she made herself, and with eggs and poultry which she raised. As the children grew up, and commenced going to school, and especially to sabbath-school, the wants for clothing increased and the account ran beyond her ordinary means, and other products of the farm were disposed of, and in some instances the defendant was sued and compelled to pay the accounts. I do not understand that any portion of the accounts were for anything except necessaries, either some articles of furniture for the house, articles of food, especially groceries, or clothing for herself or children. When sued on one of these accounts, the defendant posted his wife. Such conduct on the part of the father, who was known to all the family to be a man of wealth, had a tendency to alienate the affections of the children, and to cause them to gather round the mother, looking to her alone for their comfort and enjoyment. Several of the children were called as witnesses by the mother—none were called by the father. These children appeared well on the stand. The defendant is evidently a man of more than ordinary intelligence, a man of integrity and, it is believed, of unimpeachable moral character. This is true also of the plaintiff. I desire that these parties, the plaintiff and defendant, both now well stricken in years, may go down the hill of life hand in hand together. They owe it to themselves, to their children, and to society to do so. Several years have passed since any violence was done. In my judgment there is not the slightest danger of any in the future. The two hundred dollars a year will enable the plaintiff to purchase clothing and other necessaries for her personal comfort in her declining years. It is intended, of course, only for a partial maintenance. Her home will still be with her husband and children, and the defendant will, after this, I doubt not, see to it that there shall be no lack of at least the necessaries of life. The law of the state is, that I may make such order for her maintenance, as the nature of the case renders suitable and proper. In my judgment, it is suitable and proper that the defendant maintain his wife, under his own roof, that he furnish there the necessary food and other articles for living suitable to their condition in life, and that, in addition, he pay the two hundred dollars per year, to be expended by herself for her clothing, and such additional articles as she may need, or in any manner for the promotion of her own comfort and enjoyment, as she may see fit. I have made no order in relation to the minor children. I can hardly doubt that hereafter the defendant will make a suitable provision for them. At all events, I am disposed to give him the opportunity to do so. The judgment may provide that application, on the footing of it may l?e made, for a modification of it, if there shall be a failure to comply, or for an allowance for the maintenance of the children. I think the plaintiff and defendant were competent witnesses, on the trial of the action. I may add, however, that most, if not all, the material facts found, could have been found from the other evidence in the cause.

Case Details

Case Name: P v. P

Court Name: New York Supreme Court

Date Published: Jun 15, 1862

Citation: 24 How. Pr. 197

Court Abbreviation: N.Y. Sup. Ct.