Case ID: mass_13/html/0189-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Betsey Smith, Libellant, versus Thomas Smith.
    Upon a divorce a vinculo, for the adultery of the husband, the wife must obtain her dower as if the husband were dead ; this Court will not assign it upon the libel.f
    [i See Rev. Stat. c. 76, § 32. — Ed.]
    This was a libel for a divorce a vinculo, and contained a prayer that dower might be assigned to the libellant of the estate of the respondent, if the divorce should be had. A divorce being decreed, Bond, for the libellant, inquired whether the Court would now appoint commissioners to set off the dower.
   The Court said, this had not been their practice; and, upon looking into the statute, they were satisfied they had no such authority under this * process. The libellant has the same rights as if her husband were naturally dead ; and she must pursue her remedy in the same manner. 
      
      
        Stat. 1785, c. 69, § 5