Case ID: nj-eq_33/html/0583-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Beasley, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Warren F. Fuller, appellant, v. Anna M. Fuller, respondent.
    
      Mr. Theo. Byerson and Mr. G. Collins, for appellant
    
      Mr. J. B. Vredenburgh, for respondent.
    On appeal from a decree founded on the following findings of Mr. J. D. Bedle, advisory master:
    The evidence in this case, on each side, is very unsatisfactory in many respects, yet, after a good deal of examination and care, I have reached the following conclusions:
    1. That the defendant is guilty of adultery, and particularly on September 27th, 1878, in Jersey City, with some person unknown.
    2. That the complainant is also guilty of adultery, and particularly with Margaret Frauham, December 1st, 1878, in Jersey City.
    3. As to condonation: The inclination of my mind is, that this defence is sustained, yet a definite determination of it is unnecessary.
    4. The prayer for divorce is denied, and the bill dismissed.
    5. The complainant to pay the costs of both sides, and defendant to have liberty to apply for any order proper as to counsel fees, disbursements and alimony pending the suit.
   The opinion of the court was delivered by

Beasley, C. J.

This was a bill filed by a husband against his wife for a •divorce, on the ground of her having committed the crime of adultery. In her answer, the wife denied this charge, and recriminated the husband. The master who heard the case in the court of chancery advised a decree refusing the prayer of the bill, putting his conclusion ou the ground that, “ after a good deal of examination and care,” he had become satisfied that the complainant as well as the defendant had been guilty of a violation of their matrimonial duty in the respect alleged. He, however, says “ that the evidence ón each side is very unsatisfactory in many respects.”

Upon a careful review of the case in this court, we have concluded that the decree should be affirmed, but we place this result on the ground that the principal testimony on each side is so untrustworthy, as well on account of the bad character of the witnesses as of the great improbability of their narrations, that it is not sufficient for the purpose of founding a conclusion of the guilt of either the husband or the wife of the offence charged.

Let the decree be affirmed.

Deoree unanimously affirmed.