Case Name: W. A. NORMAN v. BESSIE MAE MILLS NORMAN
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1949-03-02
Citations: 230 N.C. 61
Docket Number: 
Parties: W. A. NORMAN v. BESSIE MAE MILLS NORMAN.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 230
Pages: 61–62

Head Matter:
W. A. NORMAN v. BESSIE MAE MILLS NORMAN.
(Filed 2 March, 1949.)
1. Judgments § 27 c—
The remedy against an erroneous judgment is by appeal, and a motion made before another Superior Court judge to set aside an order on the ground that the court was without authority to enter the order, is properly denied. -
2. Divorce § 13—
Where in the husband’s action for divorce a vinc-ulo, the wife sets up a cross-action for divorce a mensa, the court has the power to make an order for the payment of alimony upon the jury’s determination of the issues in favor of the wife.
Appeal by plaintiff from Sink, J., October Term, 1948, of Jackson.
Affirmed.
M. V. Higdon and W. R. Francis for plaintiff, appellant.
Hugh Monteith for defendant, appellee.

Opinion:
Devin, J.
Tbe plaintiff, husband, instituted his action for divorce a vinculo on tbe ground of adultery. G.S. 50-5 (1). Tbe defendant, wife, answered denying tbe allegations of adultery, and for affirmative relief set up a cross-action for divorce a mensa. G-.S. 50-1 (10). Tbe case was tried before Judge Alley and a jury at October Term, 1947, and resulted in a verdict for tbe defendant, establishing tbe fact that defendant bad not committed adultery, and that plaintiff bad willfully abandoned her and failed to provide her support. Judgment was rendered accordingly, and tbe plaintiff was required to pay alimony.
Thereafter, on 22 May, 1948, plaintiff lodged a motion to set aside tbe judgment of Judge Alley on tbe ground that tbe court was without authority to make an order for tbe payment of alimony. This motion came on for bearing before Judge Sink at October Term, 1948, and was denied.
Clearly, tbe plaintiff's remedy against a judgment thought to be erroneous was an appeal to this Court. Judge Sink properly denied tbe plaintiff's motion. Plaintiff contends, however, that tbe defendant's cross-action for alimony could not be maintained in tbe suit which be had instituted, citing Silver v. Silver, 220 N.C. 191, 16 S.E. 2d 834. In that case it was held that tbe wife's cross-action for alimony without divorce under C.S. 1667 (now G.S. 50-16) would not sustain a judgment for permanent alimony. Ericson v. Ericson, 226 N.C. 474, 38 S.E. 2d 517; Adams v. Adams, 212 N.C. 373, 193 S.E. 274. But here judgment has been rendered on tbe verdict of tbe jury for divorce a mensa, and tbe court bad tbe power to make an order for tbe payment of alimony as incident thereto, as pointed out in tbe Silver case. Shore v. Shore, 220 N.C. 802, 18 S.E. 2d 353; Jenkins v. Jenkins, 225 N.C. 681, 36 S.E. 2d 233; Nall v. Nall, 229 N.C. 598, 50 S.E. 2d 737.
Judgment affirmed.