Peavey v. Peavey

76 Iowa 443 | Iowa | 1888

Robinson, J.

— Plaintiff and defendant were married on the twenty-fourth day of January, 1884, after a brief acquaintance. Each had been married before. Plaintiff was over fifty years of age, and had several children, four of whom made their home with him. Defendant was over thirty years of age, and had children, but none of them lived with her. The parties lived together from the time they were married until the latter part of June, 1885, when they separated.

1 divorce • fnhúmanaud insufficient evidence. I. The evidence shows that the defendant caused plaintiff much trouble, and that they quarreled frequently. The conduct of the wife was indiscreet, and .even indecent, at times, and her language was-frequently vulgar, and even obscene. Plaintiff charges that she was guilty of adultery with her brother-in-law, Robert Smith, after the marriage. One of these occasions was on or about the thirtieth day of March, 1884. Plaintiff insists that he found her in bed with Smith at that time. It appears that Smith was sick, and confined to his bed. Plaintiff and defendant went to his house to assist in taking care of him, and remained all night. It was agreed that defendant should sit up during the first part of the night, and that she should then call the plaintiff. During the latter part of the night plaintiff, not having been called, awoke, and went into the adjoining room, where Smith was lying, and says he found his wife, partially undressed, in bed with Smith. She admits that she had removed a portion of her underclothing, but states that she was not lying in the bed, but partially on it, with her feet in a chair by the bedside; that Smith was asleep, and that she had been thus lying but a • few minutes; also that her sister, Smith’s wife, was in the room at the time. She is corroborated in part by Mrs. Smith. But, even if plaintiff be correct as to the position in which he found his wife, we are satisfied that Smith’s condition was suchas to preclude sexual intercourse. The evidence as to other acts of the defendant is conflicting, and fails to show adultery. It appears that on the eighteenth day of June, 1885, the parties hereto called on a justice of the peace, and made statements as to the fact, and agreed to live together as husband and wife. The defendant confessed that she had been guilty of improper conduct, and promised to do better in the future. The parties then lived together as husband and wife for a few days, when the final separation was effected. It is not claimed that she was guilty of adultery during this time. While the parties were' cohabiting, the wife made frequent visits to Smith’s house, and sometimes walked and rode with Smith. After she left plaintiff she made her home with him, and thesé are the matters of which plaintiff chiefly complains. But something more than this is necessary to show adultery. It was natural, and not improper, that defendant should desire to visit her sister frequently, and that she should be somewhat more free with Smith than with a man to whom she was not related. In her intercourse with him she may have overstepped the bounds of propriety. But the plaintiff knew of all these matters long before'the final separation, and while he and his wife were cohabiting. It is true he says that she repeatedly promised to reform, but we are constrained to believe that he attaches more importance to the acts of which he complains now than he did when they occurred.

II. It is shown that defendant applied to plaintiff at different times opprobrious epithets, and that on one occasion she threw a frying-pan at him, and threw a dish-cloth in his face. But it appears that this was caused by his calling her offensive names, and, while her response was not justifiable, it was neither unnatural nor unprovoked. Defendant is charged with attempting to poison the plaintiff and his family by mingling bluing and saltpetre with their food. The evidence as •to these alleged attempts is far from being satisfactory. We are inclined to think that the use of these articles was accidental. On the whole, we conclude that defendant’s treatment is not shown to be such as to endanger the life of plaintiff. It is true that her conduct was reprehensible in many respects, but it is what plaintiff might reasonably have anticipated had he taken the precaution to become reasonably well acquainted with her before marriage.

2 now ' anee to wife for appeal: appeal not anee set • III. Appellant complains of tlie allowance of one hundred dollars made by the district court to enable defendant to perfect her appeal. The record shows that she had received previous ... allowances, and . that the one m question was ma<ie to enable her to perfect her appeal, and for no other purpose. The record fails to show that she ever took an appeal; the service of notice on the attorney ..alone not being sufficient for. that purpose. Ind. Dist. of Sheldon v. Apperle, ante, p. 238. She has made no appearance in this court for any purpose. We must therefore conclude that her appeal is abandoned, and that her allowance was sufficient before the one in question was made. It is therefore set aside. The judgment of the court below is

Affirmed.