Case Name: BARBARA WATHEN, Appellant, v. CLAUDE WATHEN, Respondent
Court: St. Louis Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Decision Date: 1903-03-31
Citations: 101 Mo. App. 286
Docket Number: 
Parties: BARBARA WATHEN, Appellant, v. CLAUDE WATHEN, Respondent.
Judges: All concar.
Reporter: Missouri Appeal Reports
Volume: 101
Pages: 286–287

Head Matter:
BARBARA WATHEN, Appellant, v. CLAUDE WATHEN, Respondent.
St. Louis Court of Appeals,
March 31, 1903.
Divorce: GROUND, DESERTION: MUTUAL AGREEMENT TO SEPARATE. Where the separation appears from.the evidence to have been the result of a mutual understanding between the parties, .notwithstanding a quarrel that occurred just before it was consummated, a decree of divorce should be denied plaintiff, although defendant made default.
Appeal from St. Lonis City Circuit Court. — Ho#. D. D. Fisher, Judge.
Aeetrmed.
Kurt Von Beppert for appellant.
(1) This court has full power to review the evidence and make out decree as it may deem proper. Deschadt v. Deschadt, 59 Mo. App. 102; Morris v. Morris, 60 Mo. App. 86; Kilpatrick v. Kilpatrick, 80 Mo. App. 70; Ulrey v. Ulrey, 80 Mo. App. 48. (2) The desertion being for the statutory period, willful and without legal excuse or consent, the plaintiff, upon proof of her good character and conduct, and that she was the innocent and injured party, was entitled to a divorce ex debito justitae on the day following the expiration of the time prescribed by statute. Ulrey v. Ul-rey, 80 Mo. App. 48, and case cited; Linch v. Linch, 87 Mo. App. 36.
No brief for respondent.

Opinion:
GrOODE, J.
The parties to this action were married May 14, 1901, and lived together until August 22d thereafter when, the petition alleges, the defendant left home and has since continuously absented himself from the plaintiff without cause for more than one year. The action was began by personal service on the defendant, bat he filed no' answer and made no appearance.
At the conclasion of the testimony for the plaintiff, the circaifc coart dismissed her bill withoat prejadice and an appeal was taken from that judgment to this coart.
We have perused the evidence and are disinclined to interfere with the decision below. In oar opinion the testimony warrants the inference, if it does not compel it, that these parties separated by mataal consent and that there was in no proper sense a desertion or abandonment of plaintiff by defendant. She testified that defendant always treated her well and they got along together pleasantly antil a few weeks before the alleged desertion, when she proseeated an investigation to see whether he was doing night work as he said he was, and finding oat that he was not, she grew very angry with him. This quarrel apparently led to the separation. Plaintiff farther testified she did not care mach aboat his leaving her and made no inqairy for him, bat that she woald have lived with him if he had stayed at home.
The proof of désertion, considered in its best phase, is very weak and we affirm the judgment.
All concar.