Rounds Bros. v. McDaniel

Opinion of the Court by

Judge Carroll

Revering-

,'TMs case presents the interesting question: What acts and conduct of a father will constitute an emancipation of his minor child so as to deny the father the rig’ht to recover the child’s wages during Ms minority?

The mother of Byrne McDaniel died in 1900, when he was about 12 years old, leaving his father, the appellee, A. J. McDaniel, with six children to care for. The father, who was a poor but kindly disposed man, ia, carpenter by trade, did not own any property, and found it necessary to place the other children — all of whom were younger than Bryne — in orphan homes, but after doing so he aided in their support. After this the father and Byrne boarded with a sister of the father, and for two or three years thereafter Byrne worked at different places, earning a few dollars a week, which he contributed towards his support. In 1902 Byrne, who was then about 14 years old, commenced to work for appellant, Rounds Bros. They paid him small wages in the beginning, but, finding him to be an industrious, sober, well-behaved, and capable boy, gradually increased his compensation, until at the time this .suit was brought in 1907 he was receiving some $8 or $10 a week. During the first two years that he worked for them he lived with his father at his aunt’s and contributed all or the greatest part of his wages towards paying for his board and clothing. In 1904, Byrne becoming dissatisfied with the accommodations received at his aunt’s, left her house and procured board and lodging elsewhere. The evidence does not disclose any substantial reason Why Byrne left the home of his :a.unt, but he assigned as a cause for so doing that the 'accommodations there were not as comfortable as he desired, and that he could not get his meals when he wanted them. After he left his father did not contribute anything toward his support or maintenance or expend anything in his behalf. In fact, he did not, after leaving his 'aunt, need the assistance of his father, as he was earning sufficient money to take car© of himself. His father did not object to his leaving home, nor did he make any provision or arrangement for another home for him, although it cannot be said that his acts or conduct or treatment of Byrne furnished any sufficient reason why Byrne should have abandoned the home provided for him by his father. His father was at all times aware of the fact that Byrne was working for the Rounds Bros., and knew that from 1904 to 1906 they paid him his wages, and that he was expending them for his own use and benefit; but he did not object or make any demand that the wages be paid to him until April, 1906, when he notified Rounds Bros, that' they must pay him what the boy earned. This they declined to do, and in 1908, he brought this -action to recover the amount Byrne earned after he notified the Rounds Bros, to pay the wages to him. The lower court rendered a judgment in favor of -the father against the Rounds Bros, for the amount of the boy’s wages after the notification, less the sum expended during this time by Byrne for board and clothes. It may'be here stated that, if the father had not emancipated his son and was entitled to his wages, no just complaint could be made of the judgment. Having the view the lower court did of the law of the case, it was correctly held that there should be deducted from the wages received by the son the amount necessary to defray his expenses. Culberson v. Alabama Construction Co., 127 Ga. 599, 56 S. E. 765, 9 L. R. A. (N. S.) 411, 9 A. & E. Ann. Cas. 507. From the judgment the Rounds Bros, prosecute this appeal, and ask a reversal upon the ground that the father had emancipated his son, and therefore was not entitled to recover his wages, and in this insistence they are joined by Byrne. The father’s contention is that the facts before stated are not sufficient to amount to 'an emancipation of his son, and consequently he was entitled to recover from Bounds Bros, the boy’s wages after he notified them that he claimed them. He also makes the further point that even if it should be held that, by permitting his son to leave home and earn his own living, he impliedly emancipated him, yet he had the right at any time during the child’s minority to revoke this constructive emancipation and resume parental control and authority, and that, after he had so revoked it by notifying the Bounds Bros, that he claimed his son’s wages, the status of parent and child was re-established the same as if there had never been any emancipation.

We have in this state no statute upon the subject under consideration, nor has the question ever been directly decided by this court; but the subject of parent and child, and the reciprocal rights, duties, and ■obligations of each, has furnished so much interesting matter for text-hook writers, and has so frequently been considered by courts of other jurisdictions, that there is ample precedent and authority, both ancient and modern, from which to gather and formulate the general rules of law applicable to this relation. But this case presents some features of the law that ¡aire not so well settled, and concerning which there is conflict of authority. The duties and obligations of parent and child are, in a sense, at least reciprocal. Upon the parent is imposed by nature, as well as law, the obligation of supporting and caring for his offspring. As said by Blackstone (volume 1, p. 447): “The duty of parents to provide for the maintenance of their children is a principle of natural law; an obligation, says Puffendorf, laid on them not only by nature herself, but by their own proper act, in bringing them into the world, for they would be in the highest manner injurious to their issue, if they only gave their children life that they might afterwards see them perish. By begetting them therefore they have entered into a voluntary obligation to endeavor, so far as in them lies, that the life which they have bestowed shall be supported and preserved.” In Schouler on Domestic Relations, p. 415, it is said: “Three leading duties of parents as to their legitimate children are recognized lat the common law: First, to protect; second, to educate; third, to maintain them. These duties are all enjoined by positive law, yet the law of the natural affection is stronger in upholding such fundamental obligations of the parental state. ’ ’ From this duty resting upon the parent comes the right to the services of the child during his minority, intended to be at least in some measure compensation for the care and attention bestowed upon the child in infancy; and this right of the parent to the services of the child during his minority is everywhere recognized. Jones v. Tevis, 14 Ky. 25, 14 Am. Dec. 98; L. & N. R. R. Co. v. Willis, 83 Ky. 57, 6 R. 784, 4 Am. St. Rep. 124; Illinois Central R. Co. v. Henon (Ky.) 68 S. W. 456, 24 R. 298; Blackstone, Commentaries, vol. 1, p. 454; Schouler on Domestic Relations, p. 334; Tyler on Infancy & Coverture, p. 200; 29 Cyc. 1623;21 Am. & Eng. Ency. of L. p. 1039.

It is equally well settled that the parent, although entitled to the services and earnings of his minor child, may relinquish or surrender this right: First, by failing to provide for his child a home if he is able to do so; second, by snob ill treatment, neglect, or cruel conduct as forces the child to abandon his home; third, by becoming so degraded or dissolute a Character that his child cannot in morals or decency live with 'him; and, forth, by- emancipating his child. And if, in this case, the father had failed to provide a reasonably comfortable home for Bryne, or if he had treated him in a cruel or inhuman manner, or if he had so grossly neglected his parental duties as to cause him to leave his home, or if his life was so unworthy or discreditable that his son could not in decency or self-respect longer continue to recognize his authority, we would have little.difficulty in reaching the conclusion that the father could not, after driving him away, or by his acts or conduct forcing him to shift for himself and make his own living, thereafter lay claim to his earnings. All the books are agreed, upon this point, and indeed, in the absence of authority, we could have no doubt that under a state of case like this the father could nothave the assistance of the courts to aid him;in securing the services or wages of his child whom he had compelled by neglect, cruel treatment, or dissolute habits to secure another home. 29 Cyc. p. 1627; Godfrey v. Hays, 6 Ala. 501, 41 Am. Dec. 58; Nightingale v. Withington, 15 Mass. 272, 8 Am. Dec. 101; Swift & Co. v. Johnson, 138 Fed. 867, 71 C. C. A. 619, 1 L. R. A. (N. S.) 1161; Tyler on Infancy & Coverture, p. 200. But the facts of this case do not warrant us in putting our decision upon any of these grounds, and so, if the judgment below is .to be reversed, it must 'be because the father had emancipated his son. The doctrine-of “emancipation,” looking at it from a legal .standpoint, is a recognition of the right of .the parent to relinquish control and authority over his child to whose custody and service he is entitled; or to surrender, if he so elects and desires, to his minor son, who* is capable oi making his own living, the right to do> so, and the privilege of receiving the wages that he earns. When this right of emancipation has’been granted, it follows as a matter of course that the person for whom the child labors may pay him his wages,'and that the child may do with them-as he pleases. In other words, when a child has been emancipated, he occupies the same legal relation towards the parent as if he had arrived at full /age. The legal duty of the parent to maintain and support him and defray his necessary expenses is extinguished, and so is the1 right of the parent to claim the services and wages of the. child.

There are two1 kinds of emancipation that may be termed “express” and “implied.” We should say that an “express emancipation” takes place when the parent freely and voluntarily /agrees with his child,' who is able to take care of and provide for himself, that he may go out from home and earn his own living /and do as he pleases with his earnings, or ■when he willingly transfers to another the custody and keeping of his child without reference to his age. Where the emancipation is expressly agreed upon, the parent cannot afterward renounce or set aside the agreement. Tie is bound by it to the same extent as he would be by any other contract freely entered into. The parent cannot, after deliberately surrendering parental control or relinquishing the right to another, reclaim the services of his child. An “implied emancipation” results when the parent, without any express agreement, ■ by his acts or conduct impliedly consents that his minor son may leave home and shift for himself, have his own. time, and the control of his earning®, and iPmay be. inferred from and shown- by circumstances. But where the child leaves home and goes out to make his own living under the assumption that his'parent has emancipated him, his rights to his services and earnings are not absolute, as in the case of an-express’emancipation, and the parent may, by taking timely action, resume parenit’al aulthority land reclaim the services of his child, but he must not delay until his implied emancipation has ripened into an express relinquishment, or wait until it would be hurtful- to the best interest of the child to interfere with his -individual aims and plans. It should, however, bé - kept in mind that whether or not the father emancipfates his minor child rests with the father, and not with the child. The father may by his acts or conduct relinquish parental control and authority, but the child of’ his own volition, in the absence of mistreatment or other like cause, cannot sever the relation- so as to deny the father the right to his services, and wiages during his'minority.

Contenting ourselves- with these broad statements of general principles, we will ■'■proceed 'to inquire whether the facts of this case authorize us in holding that the father had emancipated his’son. After Byrne had reached an age when he could make his own living, and w/a.s mentally and physically able to do so, his father ^voluntarily consented that he might leave, his home, and continue in the employment of .the Rounds Bros, for whom he-had been working, and for something like two years lie remained in their services, with the knowledge • and consent of his father. During this time he received- his own wages, and made such disposition of them as he desired. That he was an industrious, economical ,and' capable boy, there is abundant evidence. He had the respect and confidence of his employers., and in a business way was rapidly advancing. His father did not object to his employment until 1906, or demand his wages, until that timé. He did not request him to return to his home, nor did he manifest .any particular interest or concern in his welfare. He seemed to recognize that 'his son was well situated and comfortably provided for, and that his usefulness was being promoted by the service he was enga.ged in and the interest his employers were manifesting in his welfare, and so he was willing 'to give him an opportunity to make his ■own way in the world.

In our opinion these facts were not sufficient to establish an express emancipation -such as the parent could not afterwards revoke or set aside; but they do show the son left home under circumstances that amounted to an implied emancipation. But when the appellee attempted to resume parental control and authority after the expiration of more than a year, ¡it was too late to reclaim the right. In this time the interest and welfare of the child had become an important factor in determining the rights of the parties. In judging a case like this, the court will not look exclusively to the rights of the parent, but will consider what is best for the child. The father when his child Was in some me'asure at least a burden to him, voluntarily allowed him to go out and care for himself, 'and after the child, prompted by prudent and industrious motives, had became more than self-sustaining, sought to withdraw the consent he had given. To permit him to do so would, under the circumstances of this case, be detrimental to the best interest Of the child. To deprive the boy of his wages or force him to abandon his employment would seriously cheek his aspirations and impair, if not destroy, the fine prospects for future success that were opening up to him by reason of his attentive, honest, and sober habits.

We do not wish to extend this .doctrine of implied emancipation to cases which do not justify its fullest application, and do not mean to hold that every time a child who is old and strong enough to work becomes tired of or dissatisfied with his home he may leave, although without objection on the part of his parents,- and live at some - other place and work for other persons, and thereby sever the obligation he owes to his parents and destroy their right to his services and wages. Minor children cannot in this wiay cancel the duty they are under to the parent, who by acting promptly may reclaim the services of the child and the right to his earnings; but the parent must interpose his authority within a reasonable time. When a father gives freedom to a grown boy (and tells him,- in effect, if not in words, to go out and make his own living, -and be his own man, and the boy acting on this implied consent or direction does commence for himself the battle of life, and is success-folly meeting all its requirements, the father will not, unless he acts in seasonable time, be permitted to reclaim the boy’s services or resume the parental authority he surrendered.

The conclusion we have reached finds support in the following authorities: In Abbott v. Converse, 4 Allen (Mass.) 530, the court said, in considering a similar question: “The basis of the father’s right to the-services of (his children is his duty to support and educate them; hut this duty is subject to many modifications growing out of the circumstances and conduct of the parties, and the right is not absolute or inalienable. It may be forfeited by misconduct, but oases may arise where the forfeiture wiould be held to be temporary. The cases referred to establish the doctrine that it may be transferred to the minor. It is to be regarded as being in the nature of property, and, as la minor may hold other property independently of his father, there seems to he no valid reason why he may not thus hold the right to his own time and earnings. As he may hold it by a contract with his father under seal, or for a valuable consideration, there, is no more reason for holding that the father may revoke this contract, at his pleasure, than any other contract. On principle he should be as fully bound by it .as by a conveyance of land or other property to his child. As it may be held by gift or license without any consideration, there is no reason why the gift, when accepted, should be any more revocable, without the consent of the donee, than any other gifts. ” .

In Nightingale v. Withington, 15 Mass. 272, 8 Am. (Dec. 101, Chief Justice Parker siaid: “But where the faither has discharged himself of the obligation to support the child, or has obliged the child to support himself, there is no principle, but that of slavery, which will continue his right to receive the earnings of the child’s labor. Thus, if the father should refuse to support a -son, should deny him a home, and force him to- labor abroad for his own living, or should give or sell him his time, as is sometimes done in the country, the law will imply ¡an emancipation of the son, and although it will not enable him to contract to his prejudice, it will give, him the benefit of such contracts as are made with him for his services, and a payment to the son, in such circumstances’, will be a good discharge of such contract.”

The same, learned judge, in Whiting v. Earle, 3 Pick. (Mass.) 201, 15 Am. Dec. 207, said: “Although the general principle is clear that a father is entitled to the earnings of a son while, under age, yet the court thought it equally clear that he might transfer to-the son the right to receive them. This is necessary for the encouragement of young men, and it is often convenient for .a father, wishing to be relieved from the burden of. supporting his son, to allow him in this manner to support himself. Where such a contract is entered into without any fraud, for the advantage of the son, on the principles of common justice, ’and according to decided cases, he is entitled to the profits of his own labor. We go so far as to say that where a minor son makes a contract for his services on his own account, and the father knows of it land makes no objection, there is an implied assent that the son shall have his earnings.” To the same effect is Morse v. Welton, 6 Conn. 547, 16 Am. Dec. 73; Wodell v. Coggeshall, 2 Metc. (Mass.) 89, 35 Am. Dec. 391.

In Beaver v. Bare, 104 Pa. 58, 59 Am. Rep. 567, the court said: “The exercise of parental ¡authority is not necessarily for the profit of the piarent, but for the advantage of the child; the. duty of service by the child being deemed necessary to the proper exercise of parental authority for its own good. Although we still recognize, the right of the father to the personal services of his children, that right is simply incidental to the duty of the father to discipline and direct them.- His right to personal custody and personal service is secured to him therefore in order that through them, prompted by natural ¡affection, he may successfully impart to them habits of industry, methods of thrift, and the means of personal success in life. * # * The right to their service being merely for their good, whenever the father finds their interest, or his own, better subserved by-their emancipation, he can liberate them.”

In Schouler on Domestic Relations, p. 346, it is said: "The fialther may by 'his own delay forfeit the right of action for his son’s wages; as where the minor agrees to work at certain monthly wages to' be paid to himself, and the father, knowing- of the agreement, gives no notice ¡of his objection, but waits until the work has been done and payment is made to the child, before making ai demand. But if the father has given seasonable notice of his dissent and demand to the stranger hiring his son, the fact that the son continues to work against his express dissent, and that the stranger notified him to come and take his son away, and he neglected to do so-, will not preclude him from recovering the wages. ’ ’ And so on page 370 the learned author s'ays: "It is a well-settled rule in this country that if the parent absconds, turns his child out of doors, or leaves him to shift for himself, the son in entitled to his own wages and our courts .are very liberal in allowing children to avail themselves of any breach of parental obligation so as to earn an honest livelihood by their own toil. The presumption raised in such cases may be .termed a presumption of necessity. So where the husband abandons his child to the care of his mother, his subsequent claims for the earnings of either are to be regarded with very little favor. Even slighter circumstances, which impute no misconduct to the father, but evince a consent for his son to leave the parental róof apd go into the world to seek his own fortune, are often construed into emancipation.”

In L. & N. R. R. Co. v. Davis (Ky.) 105 S. W. 455, 32 R. 306, which was an action by the father to recover damages for a personal injury sustained by his minor son while in the employment of the raülroad company, the court said: “Assuming that the boy Was under 21 years of age, did his father consent or acquiesce in his employment? It may be admitted at:the outset that the father did not know of the original employment, but his own testimony shows that, while his son was engaged ait work on the railroad in making .a fill, the father went out to where, he was at work and saw him! performing the duties of his employment. The father talked to the foreman, whom he told the boy was only 16 years of -age, and upon the foreman7» saying1 in reply that he hated to give him up, he was' such a good boy, the father left without slaying more, and went home. * * * Afterwards the father testified that his son came home on Sunday and then went back to work and the evidence shows without contradiction that the boy Was paid off several times before he was hurt. During all the time the father lived within 2y2 miles of where his son was working in the employ of the railroad, and made m> protest or objection to his remaining at work on the fill. We think that this was a consent on the part of the father 'to the employment of Ms son by the appellant. He had no right, if he objected 'to the employment, to remain silent about it until his son Was hurt; and 'then complain that the employment was without Ms consent. He allowed the boy to draw liis own wages, and it does not alter the case that the money was delivered to the father. If thé father allqwed the boy to keep the money/ this was a practical manumission of him. If he required Trim to bring it home, this was a ratification of the employment. ” '

■ After canefnlly considering this case, our conclusion is that the father Avas not entitled to the wages earned by his son, and therefore, the whole court sitting, the judgment is reversed, with directions to'dismiss the petition.

Case Details

Case Name: Rounds Bros. v. McDaniel

Court Name: Court of Appeals of Kentucky

Date Published: May 4, 1909

Citation: 118 S.W. 956

Court Abbreviation: Ky. Ct. App.