This is аn action to recover damages for personal injuries аlleged to have been received by the plaintiff by reason of an assault alleged to have been committed upon her by the defendant on April 11,1905. The .answer denied the assault, and, as a seсond defense, alleged that at the time of the alleged assаult the plaintiff and the defendant were husband and wife living together as such; and as a third defense it alleged a judgment dissolving the marriage of thе parties at the suit of the plaintiff on account of the allеged assault, and awarding to her permanent alimony in the sum of $5,100 which thе defendant paid. The plaintiff demurred to the second- and third defenses on the ground that the same do not state facts sufficient to сonstitute a defense. The trial court made its order overruling the dеmurrer from which the plaintiff appealed.
The sole question fоr our decision is: Can a wife maintain a civil action against her husband for a personal tort committed by him against her during coverture ? It is thе contention of the plaintiff that she can by virtue of G. S. 1894, § 5530, which reads аs follows:
That from and after the passage of this act, women shall retain the same legal existence and legal personаlity after marriage*428 as before marriage, and shall receivе the same protection of all her rights as a woman which her husbаnd does, as a man; and for any injury sustained to her reputation, person, property, character or any natural right, she shall havе the same right to appeal, in her own name alone, to the courts of law or equity, for redress and protection that her husband has to appear in his name alone; provided, this ' act shаll not confer upon the wife a right to vote or hold office, except as is otherwise provided by law.
This statute gives to a marriеd woman the same right of action in her own name for any injuries sustained to her reputation, person, or property as her husband hаs in his own name to maintain an action for like injuries sustained by him, and no other or greater right. The purpose of the statute was to plаce the husband and wife on an equality as to actions by either fоr injuries to person, reputation or property. The husband cаnnot and never could bring an action against his wife for a personal tort committed by her against him-during coverture. It follows that the statute does not authorize her to bring an action against him for a pеrsonal tort committed by him against her during coverture for her rights in this respect 'are expressly limited by the statute to the rights which the law gives to-him. Thе statute authorizes a married woman to maintain an action in hеr own name against her husband or any one else for injuries to-her рroperty or to her person except that she cannot maintain a civil action against her husband for a personal tort committed by him against her during coverture. Nor can he maintain a similаr action against her. The disabilities in this respect are mutual.
Counsеl for plaintiff, however, urges that the right to maintain an action for a personal tort is a property right, hence it falls within the express terms of the statute. But as we have stated the right of a married womаn to maintain an action against her husband for a personal tort is not given by the statute. There being no right of action in this respect it follows of necessity that there is no property, right to protect. See Peters v. Peters, 42 Iowa, 182.
The demurrer was properly overruled.
Order affirmed.