Case ID: nys_32/html/1009-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "VAN BRUNT, P. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

BULLOCK v. BULLOCK.
    (Supreme Court, General Term, First Department.
    March 15, 1895.)
    1. Pleadins—Bill oe Particulars—Action for Divorce.
    Defendant in an action for divorce cannot compel plaintiff to furnish a bill of particulars specifying when, where, and by whom the alleged marriage was solemnized, or, if she claims a common-law marriage, what particular facts she relies on in establishing such marriage, and at what particular places and times, and under what circumstances, such facts happened, as the issue of marriage can be raised by a denial of the allegations of the complaint in respect thereto.
    2. Same—Denial of Application before Answer.
    The denial of a motion for a bill of particulars before answer will not preclude defendant from asking for such bill of particulars in order to prepare for trial.
    Appeal from special term, New York county.
    Action by Alice B. Bullock against Thomas S. Bullock for divorce. From an order denying a motion for a bill of particulars, defendant appeals. Affirmed.
    Argued before VAN BRUNT, P. J., and O’BRIEN and FOLLETT, JJ.
    B. H. Bristow, for appellant.
    W. Moore, for respondent.
   VAN BRUNT, P. J.

This action was brought by the plaintiff to obtain absolute divorce. The complaint contains an allegation of marriage at the city of New York, and also an allegation that the parties thereafter cohabited together as husband and wife. The defendant, before answering, moved for a bill of particulars showing specifically when, where, and by whom such pretended marriage was solemnized, or, if she claims that such marriage took place withóut a marriage ceremony, what particular facts, acts, or doings the plaintiff relies upon as establishing such marriage; when and at what particular place such facts, acts, and doings happened, and when, where, and under what circumstances, and in what building or place, she claims that she and defendant cohabited as husband and wife; what was plaintiff’s maiden name; by what name she was known at and immediately preceding and since the time of said alleged marriage to defendant; and whether or not she had been previously married, and, if so, to whom. The defendant alleged that he could not properly prepare his defense herein or safely go to trial without the plaintiff furnishing a bill of particulars upon the points above mentioned. The learned court denied the motion upon the ground that it did not appear that the bill of particulars was necessary in order to enable the defendant to make and serve his answer, and we see no reason to interfere with this conclusion. It is apparent that all that the defendant needs to set up to raise the issue of marriage is a denial of the allegations contained in the complaint in respect thereto. But it by no means follows, because a motion for a bill of particulars is denied before answer, that the defendant may not be entitled to such bill of particulars in order to prepare for the trial. He may be entitled to Imow the time when and the pla.ce where this marriage took place; if a ceremonial marriage is claimed, by whom it was celebrated; and, if a marriage without any witnesses present but the alleged marriage bed, the time when and the place where such contract was entered into. It does not seem, however, that the defendant would be entitled to a bill of particulars of the alleged cohabitation, because no amount of cohabitation can make a marriage. Under certain circumstances, although no direct •proof of the marriage can be given, from cohabitation an inference may be drawn that at some previous time a contract of marriage had been entered into between the parties. But the weight of ■such evidence, even in such a case, depends very largely upon its character or want of character. It is a maxim as old as the common law that "consensus non concubitus facit matrimonium.” It is the contract, and not the cohabitation, which makes the marriage. The books are full of cases holding that, in order to establish a marriage, it must be proved that such a contract was entered into per verba de presentí, and that cohabitation can never make a marriage. In other words, that there is no such thing as an implied contract of marriage. The actual existence of the contract must be established by precisely the same plass of evidence by -which other civil contracts are established. In the case at bar, ■cohabitation may or may not be corroborative evidence, depending, as has already been stated, upon its character or want of character, and the evidence of the plaintiff cannot be required to be furnished by a bill of particulars. We think, therefore, that the order should be affirmed, but, in order that there may be no question as to the power of the court, after issue joined, to make an order for a bill of particulars, leave should be given to renew such motion after issue. The order should be affirmed, with $10 costs and disbursements. All concur.