66 Fla. 138 | Fla. | 1913
Alice M. Warren filed her bill in chancery against her husband, Jerry J. Warren, wherein she sought alimony and other relief, but not a divorce. The defendant interposed a demurrer to the bill, which was overruled. At the time of interposing the demurrer, the defendant also filed his answer to the bill. On motion of the complainant, an order was made, referring the cause to a special master to take testimony as to the necessities of the complainant and the faculties of the defendant for the purpose of determining what amount of alimony and counsel fees pendente lite, if any, should be awarded to the complainant. The overruling of the demurrer and such reference to a master were incorporated in the same order, and from the interlocutory order the defendant has entered his appeal. He has attempted to raise a number of interesting questions, which he has elaborately argued before us, but it seems to us that most of the points are prematurely presented and that we are precluded from considering them on this
We see no necessity for copying the bill and exhibits, as our reference thereto will be sufficient to render this opinion intelligible. The demurrer is addressed to the entire bill and, omitting the formal parts is as follows:
“This defendant by protestation, not confessing or acknowledging all or any of the matters and things in the complainant's bill of complaint contained to be true, in such manner and form as in the same are therein set forth and alleged, doth demur to said bill and for the cause of demurrer, shows:
1. That the bill of complaint does not show that there is any marriage existing between the complainant, Alice M. Warren, and the defendant, Jerry J. Warren.
2. That the bill on its face shows that there is no marriage existing between the complainant, Alice M. Warren and Jerry J. Warren, the defendant.
3. That the bill of complaint attacks and seeks to set aside the valid decree of a court of competent jurisdiction in the Republic of Cuba, annulling the marriage of
4. That the bill of complaint does not show an actual, bona fide residence of the complainant, Alice M. Warren, in the State of Florida for a period of two years before the filing of the bill.
5. That the bill does not allege that the defendant is without sufficient means to maintain herself during the pendency of this litigation, and to employ counsel.-
6. That this court is without jurisdiction of the parties.
7. That the bill is without equity.”
It is the settled law of this court that, in passing upon a demurrer which is addressed to the entire bill, only such grounds of the demurrer as are applicable to the whole bill are properly before the court for consideration. A demurrer which is addressed to the entire bill must be treated as a general demurrer, and should be overruled if there is any equity in the allegations of the bill, even though there are grounds of the demurrer which might prevail if the same were incorporated in a special demurrer, which was addressed to the vulnerable parts of the bill. Mitchell v. Mason, 65 Fla. 208, 61 South. Rep. 579, and the other decisions there cited, and Bratton v. Bratton, 62 Fla. 442, 56 South. Rep. 411. We might well say, as we did say in the first cited case, “It is obvious that the bill is not wanting in equity; therefore this assignment has not been sustained,” but, as we have not copied the bill and the case presents some peculiar features, we shall go somewhat into details, though our treatment shall be brief. Very concisely stated, the bill alleges that the complainant was a legal resident of the State of Florida and had been such for more than two years prior to the filing of the bill; that
Did the court err in referring the cause to a master to take testimony as to the necessities of the complainant and the faculties of the defendant? We do not think, so. While the defendant in his answer denied most, if not all, of the material allegations of the bill, we are of the opinion that the bill makes at least a prima facie showing of the marital relation between complainant and defendant, so as to warrant such order of reference. See Arendall v. Arendall, 61 Fla. 496, 54 South. Rep. 957. What facts may be established by the evidence taken before the master we have no means of knowing. If it should be developed that the complainant’s necessities are not of such a nature as to require either alimony or counsel fees pendente lite, the presumption is that none would be awarded, but that the entire matter would go over until the final hearing.
The interlocutory order appealed from must be affirmed.