Case ID: tex_10/html/0104-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Hemphill, Ch. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Hemmingway v. Mathews.
    The indorsee of a married woman, of a note made payable to her own order, acquires no right by her indorsement, unless it be made with the assent of the husband, or under such circumstances as authorize the wife to dispose of her separate or the community property without the assent of the husband. And where the petition of the indorsee in such case does not allege the assent of the husband, nor the circumstances which authorized the wife alone to make the transfer, a plea in abatement of the coverture of the indorser is a good plea in an action by the indorsee against the maker.
    The husband can convoy by indorsement the property in a note made payable to the wife-during coverture. (Note 3G.)
    Error from Bed Biver. The note sued on was made payable to Henrietta Hamilton, a married woman, and was by her indorsed to the plaintiff, Mathews.. Her coverture was pleaded in abatement. This- plea was, on motion of the-plaintiff, stricken out.
    
      Morrill %• Diclcson, for ixlaintiff in error.
    
      Young Morgan, for defendant in error.
   Hemphill, Ch. J.

The ruling, we are of opinion, was erroneous. The note being made to one of the partners, during matrimony, was presumptively community property, and as such was, under ordinary circumstances, at the disposal of the husband alone. But, whether it be community or the separate property of the wife, it'could not be lawfully alienated by hex-, unless under the forms provided by law, or with the implied or express assent of the husband, or, under the special circumstances which would authorize her to employ her own or the community property for the benefit and preservation of her separate property, or for the support of herself and her children, or under circumstances which would authorize her separate action. The husband is the active partner in the matrimony. It is his duty to provide for the wants and' sustain the charges of the marriage partnei-ship,.aud his power to do this would be seriously impaired, if the wife could, as a general rule, without his assent, dispose of the community effects; and especially where the amount is so large; as that embraced in this note.

It is ordered, adjudged, and decreed, that the judgment be reversed, and that the cause be remanded, with leave to the plaintiff to amend his pleadings.

Beverscd and remanded.

Note 36. — Wills v. Cockrum, 13 T., 127.