Case ID: ohio-ch_1/html/0475-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "By the Court.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

GRACE BARNES v. SAMUEL BARNES.
    Divorce — condonnation—wilful absence by procurement.
    Where the injury which is ground of divorce has been forgiven, it cannot be afterwards made the ground of divorce.
    Where the wilful absence relied upon was a leaving at the request of the petitioner, or with her funds furnished, it will not avail her as ground of divorce.
    Divorce. Cause extreme cruelty and wilful absence. These parties were married in Muskingum in 1829. She had a child before she was married, but afterwards her character was good. He became intemperate, and neglected to provide food or clothing; was frequently absent. He abused her person by blows, and she struck back, after which they became reconciled, and lived together, and again quarreled. They had one child, and she said if he would leave her, she would give him money, and then he left, and has been absent ever since. She has earned something by her industry.
   By the Court.

One cause alleged for the divorce is extreme cruelty. Sufficient of cruelty has been proven to ground a-decree upon, but the whole has'been forgiven, and the parties afterwards lived together. After condonnation, parties are not allowed to'look back to a previous offence, as a ground of divorce. That is this case. The absence, if for a sufficient time to entitle a party to a divorce, was by her own procurement. She hired her husband- to leave her, and furnished him the means to go away. His absence will not, therefore, avail.

Divorce refused.