Case Name: Zilley, Respondent, vs. Dunwiddie, Guardian ad litem, Appellant
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 1898-02-08
Citations: 98 Wis. 428
Docket Number: 
Parties: Zilley, Respondent, vs. Dunwiddie, Guardian ad litem, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports
Volume: 98
Pages: 428–445

Head Matter:
Zilley, Respondent, vs. Dunwiddie, Guardian ad litem, Appellant.
January 17
February 8, 1898.
Parent and child: Liability of father for support of child furnished by mother after divorce: Implied promise.
A decree of divorce, granted for cruel and inhuman treatment of the wife by the husband, a warded the care and custody of the children to the wife until the youngest became ten years of age, but made no provision for their support. When the youngest child reached that age the father applied to the mother to have the child come to live with him, but the mother refused to let him go, and the father thereupon told her that he would not pay for his keeping. Thereafter the father made frequent efforts to get the child to live with him, but the mother would not consent, and the child continued to reside with his mother until a short time before the death of his father, at which time the latter sent him away to school, where he remained until after his father’s death. Held, that a promise on the part of the father to compensate the mother for her necessary expenses in maintaining the child after the father became entitled to his care and custody, would be implied from his acquiescence in such maintenance by her and his failure' to compel the child to live with him. MARSHALL, J., dissents.
Appeal from a judgment of the circuit court for Rock county: -JohN R. BbNNett, Circuit Judge.
.Affirmed.
This is au appeal from the judgment of the circuit court for Rock county allowing the claim of Mary A. Zilley, the respondent, against the estate of her former husband, August Zilley, deceased.
The parties were married September 26,1867, and divorced, by a decree of the circuit court for Rock county, December 29, 1884, in an action brought bjr the claimant against said August Zilley, on the ground of his cruel and inhuman treatment. The court by its decree made a final division of the estate of said August Zilley between him and the said Mary A. Zilley. The parties had an understanding with each •other previous to the divorce in regard to the custody and ■education of the two children of the marriage, namely, "William A. Zilley, at that time about sixteen years of age, and Clayton A. Zilley, about five years of age, to the effect that the mother, the present claimant, should have the custody and education of the boy William A. Zilley, and also of the youngest child, Clayton A. Zilley, until he should become of the age of ten years, after which his father was to have him. "The court accordingly decreed the custody of said children to the mother “until the youngest of said children should become of the age of ten years, or until the further order of the court,” the defendant in the meantime having the right to visit such children at reasonable times, in the daytime. No provision whatever was made in the decree as to the maintenance and support of either of the children.
About two or three years subsequent to the divorce the deceased was married to Martha Zilley, Who survives him. 'The deceased, August Zilley, then resided in the city of Be-loit, where he contihued to reside after the divorce and for ■some two or three years after his second marriage. He then moved onto his farm, near said city, and continued- to reside there until the time of his death, March 7,1895. The youngest child became ten'years of age July 9, 1889, when the deceased, August Zilley, applied to the claimant for the boy to go and live tvith him, and she refused to allow him to go; whereupon he told her that if the child could not come and stay with him he would not pay for his keeping, that he was willing to pay his schooling, and give him a home with him, which was where' he belonged, as he understood it. A room was fixed up for him in the home where Mr. Zilley then resided, and subsequently Zilley tried frequently to get the boy to live with him, but claimant would not consent. He continued to make his home with the claimant down to the 13th of January, 1895, when his father sent him to Faribault, Minnesota, to school, where he remained until after the death of the latter.
It was found by the circuit court, among other things,, that no allowance for or provision respecting the expense of the education and support of said children was made by the judgment, and no application to the court in respect thereto or in respect to the custody of said children was made by either party after judgment. The youngest child, Clayton A. Zilley, became ten years old July 9, 1889, and had at all times since the divorce resided with his mother, the claimant, excepting short periods of time, since he attained the age of ten years, not exceeding in the aggregate six months. He was attending school at Faribault, Minnesota, the greater portion of the time when not so residing with bis mother, and during the residue of such time he was with his father, August Zilley, and his second wife, upon said farm. He visited and resided with his father for a few days at a time on several occasions after he became ten years of age, but preferred to reside with his mother, and returned to her on each such occasion, and made his permanent residence with her of choice, because his father was unwilling to compel, or did not compel, him to reside with him. Between July 9,1889, and March 7,1895, the date of the death of August Zilley, the claimant furnished said Clayton A. Zilley his board and lodging, and cared for him for and during five years and two months at her sole cost and expense, which board, lodging, and care were reasonably worth $1,072; and after said 9th day of July, 1889, and prior to March 7, 1895, said claimant furnished to said Clayton A. Zilley necessary clothing, at the cost to her of $146.50; and nothing had been paid to or received by her from any one for or on account of such board, lodging, and care, or for such clothing. The claimant filed a claim against the estate of said August Zilley, deceased, in the county court of Rock county, for such board, lodging, care, and clothing, for the sum of $1,444, and the county court, by its judgment, wholly disallowed said claim, and the claimant appealed therefrom to the circuit court.
The foregoing facts were found by tbe circuit court, and that the executor of the last will and testament, George H. Crosbjq had in his hands assets, properly applicable thereto, more than sufficient to pay the said claim. There was evidence that the deceased, August Zilley, desired the boy Clayton to live with him, and on one occasion sent for the boy, and the claimant said that he did not have to go if he did not want to. In answer to the question why she kept the boy, she testified that the boy stayed there, and “ I felt under obligations to have him stay.” It appeared that the father was able and willing to properly provide fojr the boy, and desired that he should'live with him. The circuit court reversed the judgment of the county court, and allowed said claim at the sum of $1,218.50, and adjudged that it be paid to the said claimant b}^ said executor, with the costs of the action.
The guardian ad litem, of the two minor children of the said deceased, to wit, said Olayton A. Zilley and Edna Zilley, a daughter by bis second wife, appealed.
B. F. Dunwiddie, guardian ad litem, contended, inter alia, that a divorced wife and mother cannot recover from the estate of her husband, on the settlement thereof in the county court, for support and maintenance furnished voluntarily by her to her own child, where, under the decree of divorce, the father is entitled to the custody of the child, and has been at all times desirous, ready, and able to give the child a home and provide for its support, but is prevented therefrom by the influence and refusal of the mother. Ramsey v. Ramsey, 121 Ind. 215; Jiieh v. Rich, 88 Hun, 566; Burriü v. Burritt, 29 Rarb. 124; Gushmcm v. Hassler,' 82 Iowa, 295; Hampton v. Allee, 56 Kan. 461; Harris v. Harris, 5 id. 46; Hall v. Green, 87 Me. 122; Brown v. Smith, 19 R. I. 319; Chester v. Chester, 17 Mo. App. 657; Gotts v. Ciarle, 78 Ill. 229; Finch v. Finch, 22 Conn. 412; Chandler v. Dye, 37 Kan. 765; Fulton v. Fulton, 52 Ohio St. 229. The power given the circuit court by sec. 2363, E. S. 1878, to modify the judgment in the divorce action deprives other courts of any jurisdiction over the care, custody, maintenance, or education of the children. Nnder the divorce decree they became the wards of the circuit court, and all applications ■affecting their custody or maintenance must be made to that court in the divorce action. The claimant could' not have maintained an action in any court against Mr. Zilley for the support and maintenance of the boy, Olayton, intermediate the decree and the -death of Mr. Zilley. She was limited to her application under the section cited. Ramsey v. Ramsey, 121 Ind. 215; Hoffman v. Iloffman, 15 Ohio St. 427; Williams v. Williams, 13 Ind. 523; MeHees v. MoNees, 97 I£y. 153; Brow v. Brightman, 136 Mass. 187; Stetson v. Stetson, 80 Me. 483; Sullivan v. Learned, 49 Ind. 252; Shaw v. McHenry, 52 Iowa, 182; Leming v. Sale, 128 Ind. 317; Jennings v. Jennings, 56 Iowa, 288; Bennett v. Southard, 35 Oal. 688.
For the respondent there was a brief by Ruger, Horcross dé Ruger, and oral argument by William Ruger.

Opinion:
PiNNEY, J.
At the common law the husband was primarily liable for the support of his minor children. 2 Kent, Comm. 190. In McGoon v. Irvin, 1 Pin. 532, it was said that " by every principle of law upon the subject, recognized and strengthened by our statute, parents are under legal obligation to maintain and support their children who are of tender years and helpless." The statute (K. S. 1878, sec. 1503) makes the father primarily liable to support his minor children. When the marriage is dissolved by divorce, the duty of parents to maintain their children remains as before, for children are not parties- to the divorce suit and do not lose any rights thereby. Hence the father's duty to maintain them after the divorce, where there is no decree of the court relating thereto, especially if their custody is not taken from him, remains as before. After the parents were divorced all duties and obligations to each other- ceased, and they became as strangers to each other. Nelson, Div. & Sep. § 981. The claimant owed the husband no duty as ivife, and her duty to support the child continued, as before, secondary, and his primary. 2 Bishop, Mar., Div. & Sep. § 1210; Plaster v. Plaster, 47 Ill. 292. It is generally laid down that the liability of the husband to a divorced wife, in respect to the support of the children, is the same as to any other third person, except as provided in the decree. If the court makes no order either for custody or support of children of the marriage, the divorce leaves the father's liability as at common laAv, and the mere divorce does not terminate his liability. 2 Bishop, Mar., Div. & Sep. § 1220; Thomas v. Thomas, 41 Wis. 233. In a proper case, it seems, after the marriage is dissolved, he may be answerable to the mother for maintenance rendered the children while living with her. Stanton v. Willson, 3 Day, 37; Buckminster v. Buckminster, 38 Vt. 248. The father is under legal obligation to provide for the support of his children, even if they remain with their mother after her divorce, and, as against the public and the children, he cannot escape the duty. Courtright v. Courtright, 40 Mich. 633. Where the decree has granted the custody of the children to the wife and contains no provision for their support, it has been held that the father is not liable for the support of the children. But this is upon the ground that, the statute having made it the duty of the court to provide for their custody and maintenance upon divorce, it will be presumed that the decree has made all the provisions on that subject that ivere necessary; that the decree is conclusive as to the respective rights and obligations of the parties, subject to the right to have it modified as subsequent exigencies may require. As the decree makes the parties strangers as to each other, it is generally considered that a divorced husband is not liable to his divorced wife for necessaries furnished a child of the marriage in her custody unless by agreement, express or implied; that there must be either an express promise, or facts from which one can reasonably be inferred. Ramsey v. Ramsey, 121 Ind. 215; Cushman v. Hassler, 82 Iowa, 295. And. it has been considered that the support of the child, under such circumstances, by the mother, was but the voluntary performance of a natural duty, and that her remedy was to apply to the court for maintenance of the child when the divorce was granted. These, and other cases of a similar purport, are confidently relied on as decisive against the claimant.
In McGoon v. Irvin, 1 Pin. 532, where the husband had procured a legislative divorce from his wife, and had left the minor children of the marriage in a family of a third person to be supported, the mother afterwards obtained the custody of the children without his knowledge and consent, and refused, on demand made in behalf of the father, to give them up. She afterwards intermarried with I., and the children were supported and educated by him. In an action by L against the father to recover for their support, it was held that McG-. had a legal right to the custody of the children, but, as he had not attempted to assert it against I., the law would presume that McG-. had assented to their being in the control and custody of I.'s wife, their mother, and that I. could recover, though the act of the mother in obtaining the custody of the children before her second marriage might have been wrongful. And it was said by the court that " when a parent permits a stranger to maintain, support, and instruct such children, in no way objecting to the act,, but rather assenting and advising therein, the law will presume that he knows his obligations, accepts the services, and assumes to pay." It was also said that " there was no duty or obligation on the plaintiff to notify the defendant to take the children away, or leave them to suffer until he could see the defendant and make an express contract about their support and maintenance. Such a course would have merited the reprobation of every humane and upright man. .The defendant had the legal right to the possession, and could have enforced it at any time. He should have first moved in the matter, and, on failure to do so, the law would presume that possession elsewhere was with his approbation and consent." In the leading case which holds the father liable, under circumstances like the present, the court approves the doctrine that, if a minor is forced out into the world by the cruelty or improper conduct of the father, necessaries may be supplied, and the value thereof may be recovered from the parent. " There is evidently no satisfactory reason," said the court, "for changing the rule of liability, when, through ill treatment or other breach of marital obligation, the husband renders it necessary for a court of justice to divorce the wife and commit to her the custody of her minor children. If, under such circumstances, upon the allowance of alimony with custody of children, the court omits to make an order for the children's maintenance, the father's natural obligation to support them is of none the less force. The duty of support is not evaded by the husband so conducting himself as to render it necessary to dissolve the bonds of matrimony and give to the mother the care and custody of the infant offspring. It is not the policy of the law to deprive children of their rights on account of the dissensions of their parents, to which they are not parties, or to enable the.father to convert his own misconduct into a shield against parental liability'-." But, obviously, this reasoning can only apply where the husband is at fault and the decree is silent as to his liability. Pretzinger v. Pretzinger, 45 Ohio St. 45S, approved in Bishop, Mar., Div. & Sep. § 1223, and in Fulton v. Fulton, 52 Ohio St. 229.
It is to be borne in mind that the divorce in the instant case was granted to tbe claimant against her husband, August Zilley, on tbe ground of bis cruel and inhuman treatment. It was bis marital wrongdoing which led to the separation of the parties and the award of the custody of the boy, Clayton, to the mother until he became of the age of ten years. The case as to the subsequent support of the boy, Clayton A., may well be placed upon the grouhd that the improper conduct of the father had deprived the boy of his rightful and legitimate home, and so gave the right to the mother to supply the necessary support and maintenance, and that the father should be held liable as upon an implied contract, his primary liability still remaining in full force. It is said that the father is released from obligation to maintain his infant children when deprived of their society and services against his will. In Pretsinger v. Pretsinger, supra, it is answered: "If voluntary misconduct on his own part leads to the deprivation, he is himself responsible, and not the court which intervenes for the protection of his children; and if the father, as against a stranger, cannot escape liability for necessaries furnished to his minor children, though regaining with their mother after the divorce, the mother will not be barred of an action against her former husband for the expense of maintaining them. After a dissolution of the marriage relation by divorce, the parties are henceforth single persons, to all intents and purposes. All marital duties and obligations to each other are at an end, and they become as strangers to each other. Upon the establishment of such new relations, a promise may be implied on the part of the father to pay the mother, as well as a third person, who has supplied the necessary wants of his infant child."
The case of Holt v. Holt, 42 Ark. 495, was one where there had been a decree of divorce giving the custody of infant children to the mother, and it was held that this would not relieve the father from his' obligation to support them,— that he was bound to maintain them as long as they were too young to earn their ow,n livelihood; and a court of chancery would, at a subsequent term, entertain the petition of the mother to recover from him her reasonable and proper advances for their support since the divorce, and for an order for their future support. The case of Stanton v. Willson, 3 Day, 37, already cited, was relied on,— " a decision," says Ellsworth, J., in Finch v. Finch, 22 Conn. 421, " well considered, by a court of distinguished and unsurpassed ability, and which, as far as my knowledge extends, has ever been satisfactory to the judges and the profession, and sustained by principles as old as the common law itself."
It was the right, and the duty as well, of the husband to obtain the custody and control of his infant son, and to support him, after he had arrived at the age of ten years. Ye consider it against the policy of the law to encourage a father thus obligated to attempt to ignore or evade his parental duty, or to cast it upon any other party, so as to enable him to convert such parental neglect and misconduct into a shield against parental liability. Domestic and social duty alike required him, when his son arrived a*t the age of ten years, to enforce his parental rights and discharge his parental duties. He knew they were being exercised and performed by another, who as to him was then an utter stranger, and he knew, also, that the disrupted condition of his family relations had been adjudged in consequence of his marital misconduct. We think the case of Pretzinger v. Pretzinger, 45 Ohio St. 458, and other similar cases, indicate the true rule, and that they are in accordance with sound principles of public policy. Ye think there is ample ground from which the acquiescence and assent of the husband may be justly inferred to the provision made by the claimant for the necessary support and maintenance of his son, and which he had failed to furnish for him, so that a promise on his part to compensate the claimant for what she had so expended may be justly implied, as in the case of McGoon v. Irvin, 1 Pin. 532. The cases bearing upon the subject are not, it must be admitted, in. entire accord, but they have turned largely upon questions of public policy in the states where they have been decided.
We hold, therefore, for the reasons stated, that the recovery in favor of the claimant is correct, and should be affirmed.
By the Court.— The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed, with costs against the said appellant to be paid out of the estate of August Zilley, deceased.