Case Name: Moore v. Moore
Court: Arkansas Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Arkansas
Decision Date: 1959-03-09
Citations: 230 Ark. 213
Docket Number: 5-1786
Parties: Moore v. Moore.
Judges: Harris, C. J., Robinson, J., dissent.
Reporter: Arkansas Reports
Volume: 230
Pages: 213–216

Head Matter:
Moore v. Moore.
5-1786
322 S. W. 2d 77
Opinion delivered March 9, 1959.
[Rehearing denied April 13,1959]
Howell, Price & Worsham, for appellant.
Wayne Foster, for appellee.

Opinion:
Paul Ward, Associate Justice.
Appellant, Beulah Moore, and appellee, Hugh J. Moore, (colored) were married in November, 1937, lived together until April 1, 1956, and on December 23, 1957 the appellant filed an action for divorce.
The complaint alleged acts of physical violence, and that she had an interest in certain real and personal property in Little Rock. The prayer was for a divorce, possession of the real property, alimony, costs and attorney's fee. In due time appellee filed a general denial and also a cross-complaint for a divorce on the grounds of adultery.
After testimony was taken on behalf of both parties the trial court granted appellee a divorce and gave appellant nothing in way of a property settlement.
Ark. Stats. § 34-1209 reads, in all parts pertinent to this case, as follows: "If it shall appear to the court . . . that both parties have been guilty of the adultery, . . . then no divorce shall be granted or decreed. ' '
In this case it does appear to this court that both parties were guilty of adultery. The trial court found from the testimony that appellant was guilty of adultery (that being the only ground upon which appellee's cross-complaint was based) and, since we cannot say this holding is not supported by the weight of the evidence, we see no point in reviewing that testimony.
We are also equally convinced by the uncontradicted testimony that appellee was also guilty of adultery. In that connection the testimony of Yvonne Powell was, in substance as follows: I live across the street from Alberta Powell, who is a widow and who has had children born to her since her husband died. I have seen appellee go over to her house regularly during the day and also at night; I have seen him leave very late at night; this has been going on over a period of several years; I have heard that appellee claims some of those children as his own. The record shows that the witness has been in a wheel chair all her life.
It is true that there is no evidence of the specific act of adultery on the part of appellee, but the same thing is true regarding appellant.
Prom the above it follows that the decree granting a divorce to appellee must be reversed.
It appears from the record that considerable personal and real property is involved, concerning the ownership of which the testimony was highly conflicting and unsatisfactory, but that matter may now be subject to further litigation.
Reversed.
Harris, C. J., Robinson, J., dissent.