Case Name: Janes v. Janes
Court: Supreme Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1839-05-27
Citations: 5 Blackf. 141
Docket Number: 
Parties: Janes v. Janes.
Judges: 
Reporter: Blackford
Volume: 5
Pages: 141–141

Head Matter:
Janes v. Janes.
Monday, May 27.
If a person marry, having a former husband or wife living, the second marriage is void.
ERROR to the Madison Circuit Court.
H. Brown, for the plaintiff.
C. Fletcher and O. Butler, for the defendant.

Opinion:
Blackford, J.
Zachariah Janes filed a petition against his wife for a divorce, on the ground that the defendant had a prior husband then living. A plea denying the charge was filed by the prosecuting attorney. The complainant obtained a decree.
The testimony in the record shows that the defendant was married in the state of Maryland, to Elijah Boston, about twenty-five years before the trial of the cause; that Boston afterwards abandoned her; that she and the complainant were married, in this state, four or five years ago ; and that her former husband is still living.
These facts show that the decree is correct. The first marriage being in force, the second one was an absolute nullity. 2 Kent's Comm. 79. And further, the circumstance that the defendant had a former husband living at the time of her marriage to the complainant, is one of the causes for a divorce enumerated in the statute. Rev. Code,
'The length of time which has elapsed since tl first marriage, or since the defendant was aban first husband, cannot affect the case.
Per Curiam.• — The decree is affirmed with