Case Name: Albert T. Dunham et al., Executors, etc., Respondents, v. Albert G. Sage, Appellant
Court: New York Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1873-02-18
Citations: 52 N.Y. 229
Docket Number: 
Parties: Albert T. Dunham et al., Executors, etc., Respondents, v. Albert G. Sage, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Reports
Volume: 52
Pages: 229–232

Head Matter:
Albert T. Dunham et al., Executors, etc., Respondents, v. Albert G. Sage, Appellant.
(Argued February 7, 1873;
decided February 18, 1873.)
Under the provisions of the Code limiting the time for the commencement of actions, as amended in 1851, the disability of marriage declared thereby, which prevented the running of the statute against a married woman (§ 101, sub. 4), gave to her five years additional in case the disability continued so long, but only gave one year additional after the disability ceased^ (§ 102.)
Accordingly held, that where an award was made in favor of a married woman in 1857, she dying in 1862, that an action by her executors, commenced thereon in 1867, was barred by the statute.
Appeal from order of the General Term of the Supreme Court in the third judicial department, reversing a judgment in favor of defendant entered upon the decision of the court upon trial at circuit without a jury. (Reported below, 5 Lans., 451.)
This action was brought upon an award in favor of Elvira A. Dunham, plaintiff’s testatrix, made and published August 31, 1857, by which defendant was decreed to pay her §2,000, and interest from Hay 1, 1854.
The testatrix was a married woman, and so continued until her death, which occurred February 4, 1862.
This action was commenced February 18, 1867. The defence was the statute of limitations. The court below held the cause of action barred, and dismissed the complaint.
Esek Gowen for the appellant.
Plaintiff’s claim was barred by the statute of limitations. (Ball v. Bullard, 52 Barb., 141.)
George W. Miller for 'the respondents.
Mrs. Dunham’s cause of action did not accrue until after her death, and was not barred by the statute of limitations. (Bucklin v. Ford, 5 Barb., 398; Code, amendment of 1851.)

Opinion:
Peckham, J.
The award to the testatrix sued upon was made and published August 31, 1857. She was then a married woman, and the money awarded was then due. She died February 4,1862, and this action was commenced February 18, 1867. Is the action barred by the statute of limitations %
The disabilities declared by the Code, as amended in 1851, which prevented the running of the statute against " a person entitled to bring an action," were, if the person at the time the cause of action accrued, be either " 1. Within the age of twenty-one years; or, 2. Insane; or, 3. Imprisoned on a criminal charge, etc.; or, 4. A married woman." (Code, § 101, sub. 4.) But it was then further provided, that " the time for such disability is not a part of the time limited for the commencement of the action, except that the period within which the action must be brought cannot be extended more than five years by any such disability, except infancy, nor can it be so extended in any case longer than one year after the disability ceases."
The object of all rales for the construction of statutes is to learn the purpose of the act.
It will be observed that the whole provision as to disabilities is made subject to the last clause thereof; " nor can it (the disability) be extended in any case longer than one year after the disability ceases." x
Everything is in force, each disability is preserved until we arrive at the last clause, and there the whole must submit to that.
That clause will not apply in many cases. The disability (" a married woman ") may continue over eleven years. In such a case, the person has the whole eleven years in which to bring the action. It may continue two, three or four years.
In such case, the disability has no effect upon the statute of limitations. It may continue seven years; then the person has one year thereafter in which to commence his action. Thus the party has six years in any event. Eive years additional, in case the disability so long continue, but in any event only one year additional after the disability ceases.
The plaintiffs' counsel insists that this one year additional only applies to an infant.
Then why was not appropriate language used to express that purpose?
The words, "except infancy," immediately precede this clause.
Why did it not say, nor " in that case," or " in such case," or " in case of infancy ?" Instead of these are the comprehensive words, "nor can it be so extended in any case." Broader words are not easily found.
Besides, there would seem to be no reason whatever for such a limited construction. Why should a married woman have more time to sue, after her disability ceases, than an infant ? .
Generally, she is more cognizant of her rights than the infant.
She can sue while married more readily and easily than an infant, especially since the acts of 1848-9.
The act itself recognizes this, as it only allows to her a disability of five years, though she may remain married over fifty.
But the infant's disability is conceded to extend until after he arrives at age.
Again, the legislature was evidently intending to reduce the time of disabilities, a very sound measure in principle, and this construction promotes that object. This intention was perfected in 1870, by striking out the disability of marriage entirely.
As this action, then, was not commenced within the ordinary statute of six years, nor within one year after her disability ceased, the complaint was properly dismissed.
That the letter of the testatrix had the effect to take the case out of the statute was not urged by the plaintiff upon the argument, and I think is without force.
The order appealed from should be reversed, and judgment at Special Term affirmed.
All concur.
Order reversed and judgment accordingly.