Court Opinion

ID: 3734609
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 07:00:53.485378+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:02:10.780657
License: Public Domain

On February 11, 1931, an amended affidavit was filed in the probate court of Greene county charging plaintiff in error, John Peefer, with contributing to the delinquency of Julia Mae Elliott, a minor of about the age of fourteen years.
The plaintiff in error was tried and convicted, as charged in such affidavit, and was sentenced to pay a fine of $400, and costs, and to stand committed to the Dayton city workhouse for a period of one year.
From such judgment error is prosecuted.
Counsel have presented by the record in this case several interesting questions. Counsel for both plaintiff in error and defendant in error have supplemented their oral arguments with unusually exhaustive briefs, containing many citations of authorities, and analyzing many of the pertinent leading authorities both in this and sister states. We feel constrained to compliment both of these young men upon the careful and able manner in which they have presented the respective sides of this controversy.
The record presents an important question not only to plaintiff in error, but in some respects to the public.
We are interested, however, only in determining the law applicable to this case. Courts have no legislative authority, as their work is limited to construing what the law is upon any given subject, rather than setting forth what they might think the law should be.
The testimony in this case is rather brief and there *Page 278 
are few conflicts therein. The case resolves itself therefore into a question of law rather than a conflict of testimony.
The amended affidavit charges in substance that Julia Mae Elliott is a minor of about the age of fourteen years, and not an inmate of a state institution or any institution of correction under the laws of the state for the care and correction of delinquent, neglected and dependent children; that said minor appears a delinquent child in this, that in Greene county, on the 16th day of January, 1931, the said Julia Mae Elliott did knowingly associate with a vicious and immoral person, said vicious and immoral person being one John Peefer, who aided, caused, encouraged and contributed to the delinquency of the said Julia Mae Elliott by aiding, causing and encouraging the said Julia Mae Elliott to associate with him on the aforesaid day, and did then and there unlawfully aid, cause and encourage the said Julia Mae Elliott to be then and there guilty of immoral conduct, in this, to wit, by taking the said Julia Mae Elliott from thecare and custody of her mother, out of the county of Greene andout of the state of Ohio, without the consent of her mother andwithout her mother's knowledge, and did then and there on the dayaforesaid take the said Julia Mae Elliott to Newport, Kentucky,and did then and there represent to the court that the said JuliaMae Elliott was twenty-one years of age, and did then and thereenter into a marriage ceremony, said marriage being without theknowledge and without the consent of the mother of said Julia MaeElliott, and afterward, to wit, on February 9, 1931, the said Julia Mae Elliott did leave her mother in Xenia, Ohio, and Greene county, to go to Springfield, Ohio, and did then and there have illicit relations and illicit intercourse with said John Peefer, the said John Peefer well knowing the said Julia Mae Elliott to be a minor.
The undisputed testimony is that Julia Mae Elliott *Page 279 
was born May 2, 1916; that she lacked about four months of being fifteen years of age at the time of her marriage to plaintiff in error; that John Peefer was forty-one years of age; that they left Xenia on the morning of January 16, 1931, about half past 8 o'clock, and drove to Newport, Kentucky, where they were married, and on the same day returned to Xenia shortly after the noon hour, where they separated, the said Julia Mae Elliott returning to her home, where she resided with her mother, and the plaintiff in error going to Springfield where he was employed and had been employed for several years; that on February 9 the said Julia Mae Elliott was desirous of rejoining her husband and came to Springfield to so rejoin her husband, and lived with him in the apartment that he had rented until the time of his arrest shortly thereafter; that during this short period they lived together as man and wife and cohabited. There is no suggestion in the record that the relations between these people had been improper at any time prior to their marriage, and no suggestion of impropriety is found in the record unless it consists of the marriage itself and in Julia Mae Elliott joining her husband in Springfield in the apartment which had been rented by him, and living with him as his wife from February 9th to the time of his arrest. At the time of her marriage Julia Mae Elliott was a student in the first grade of the high school in Xenia.
A demurrer was filed to the affidavit, and motion in arrest of judgment after conviction was made by plaintiff in error, both of which were overruled.
The offense charged in the affidavit consists of plaintiff in error contributing to the delinquency of Julia Mae Elliott by taking her from the care and custody of her mother, without the consent of her mother, without her mother's knowledge, and in taking her to Newport, Kentucky, and there entering into the marriage ceremony without the knowledge and consent of *Page 280 
the mother, and afterward, viz., on February 9th, living with said Julia Mae Elliott.
Does the affidavit charge an offense under the statutes of Ohio? Or, in other words, is it a criminal offense under the laws of Ohio for a man over twenty-one years of age to take a girl a few months under fifteen years of age to Newport, Kentucky, and marry her without the consent and without the knowledge of the mother of said girl? If so doing is a criminal offense under the laws of Ohio, and constitutes delinquency upon the part of the girl, then the plaintiff in error would be guilty of contributing to such delinquency.
Section 1644, General Code, specifically defines what acts constitute delinquency. This section is as follows: "`Delinquent child defined'. For the purpose of this chapter, the words `Delinquent child' includes [include] any child under eighteen years of age who violates a law of this state, or a city or village ordinance, or who is incorrigible; or who knowingly associates with thieves, vicious or immoral persons; or who is growing up in idleness or crime; or who knowingly visits or enters a house of ill repute; or who knowingly patronizes or visits a policy shop or place where any gambling device or gambling scheme is, or shall be, operated or conducted; or who patronizes or visits a saloon or dram shop where intoxicating liquors are sold; or who patronizes or visits a public pool or billiard room or bucket shop; or who wanders about the streets in the night time; or who wanders about railroad yards or tracks, or jumps or catches on to a moving train, traction or street car, or enters a car or engine without lawful authority, or who uses vile, obscene, vulgar, profane or indecent language; or who is guilty of immoral conduct; or who uses cigarettes, cigarette wrapper or substitute for either, or cigars, or tobacco; or who visits or frequents any theatre, gallery, penny arcade or moving picture show where *Page 281 
lewd, vulgar or indecent pictures, exhibitions or performances are displayed, exhibited or given, or who is an habitual truant; or who uses any injurious or narcotic drug. A child committing any of the acts herein mentioned shall be deemed a juvenile delinquent person, and be proceeded against in the manner hereinafter provided."
We assume it will be agreed by counsel that unless the conduct of Julia Mae Elliott falls within the definition of a "delinquent" as defined by Section 1644, quoted above, she could not be legally classed as a delinquent, and, if she was not a delinquent, then it would follow that no one contributed to any delinquency upon her part. It will be noted that entering into a marriage contract without respect to age is not classed as an act of delinquency.
Section 1654, General Code, provides the penalty for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Many authorities have been cited from sister states, but it will not be necessary to consider many authorities outside of Ohio, as our own courts have settled the determining issues in this case.
Questions relating to delinquency have been before the various courts of this state quite frequently, and there are many reported decisions announcing the rules applicable to such cases.
The reasoning found in the case of State v. Meyers, 56 Ohio St. 340,  47 N.E. 138, has application to the case at bar. The first paragraph of the syllabus reads: "A statute defining a crime or offense cannot be extended, by construction, to persons or things not within its descriptive terms, though they appear to be within the reason and spirit of the statute."
The facts necessary to be set forth in an affidavit are pertinently set forth in the following cases, viz.:
In Willison v. State, 3 Ohio App. 244, 21 C.C. (N.S.), 526, 28 C.D., 588, the syllabus is: "In a prosecution for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, the *Page 282 
affidavit, in order to charge a crime, must allege that the minor is under eighteen years of age and is a delinquent within themeaning of the statute, and that the defendant is guilty of contributing to such delinquency."
In the case of Edmonds v. State, 30 Ohio App. 195,164 N.E. 649, the first and second paragraphs of the syllabus read:
"1. There can be no valid conviction on an affidavit which charges no offense against laws of state.
"2. Affidavit charging defendant contributed to delinquency of a minor held fatally defective, even after judgment of conviction, where it did not specify some facts showing minor was delinquent child, within meaning of Section 1644, General Code."
This case therefore requires a determination of the question whether the conduct of plaintiff in error in encouraging, assisting or aiding Julia Mae Elliott to go to Newport and marry him without the knowledge or consent of her mother constitutes an act of delinquency as defined in Section 1644, General Code.
If we correctly understand the position of counsel for defendant in error, it is that this marriage is void under the laws of Kentucky and also under the laws of Ohio, and that the plaintiff in error violated the laws of Ohio by taking this girl to Kentucky and marrying her.
The trial court evidently entertained the same view and was of opinion that this marriage was absolutely void both under the laws of Kentucky and the laws of Ohio.
An examination of the Digest of Kentucky decisions discloses the following rules:
"Marriage of an infant without consent of parent or guardian is not for that cause alone invalid." Cannon v. Alsbury, 1 A.K. Marsh. (Ky.), 76, 10 Am. Dec., 709.
"Marriage procured by fraud is voidable only at *Page 283 
election of the party defrauded. The party who commits the fraud is bound and remains bound until the party deceived has made his or her election and will thereafter be bound or not according to the election made.
"The right to avoid a marriage is personal and if not taken advantage of by the party in his life time, it cannot be exercised after his death by his executors or devisees."Tomppert's Exrs. v. Tomppert, 76 Ky. (13 Bush.), 326, 26 Am.Rep., 197.
"As a promise of the infant to marry, is in its nature beneficial, it evidently comes within that description of promises which are not void but voidable only and it was accordingly so held in the case of Holt v. Ward, 2 Strange, 937."Cannon v. Alsbury, 1 A.K. Marsh. (Ky.), 76, 10 Am. Dec., 709.
"The validity of a marriage must be determined by the law of the place where the marriage occurred." Potter v. Stanley,187 Ky. 292, 219 S.W. 167.
Counsel for both plaintiff in error and defendant in error have cited various sections of the General Code of Kentucky.
Counsel for plaintiff in error relies upon Section 2097 of the Kentucky Statutes. The pertinent part of this section reads as follows: "Marriage is prohibited and declared void: * * * 5. When at the time of marriage, the male is under sixteen, or the female is under fourteen years of age."
Counsel for defendant in error quote and rely upon Sections 2105 and 2106 of the laws of Kentucky, as follows:
Section 2105. "No marriage shall be solemnized without a license therefor, issued by the clerk of the county in which the female resides at the time. But when she is of full age or a widow, and it is issued on her application in person, or by writing signed by her, it may be by any county clerk."
Section 2106. "If either of the parties be under *Page 284 
twenty-one years of age, and not before married, no license shall issue without the consent of his or her father or guardian, or, if there is none, or he is absent from the state, without the consent of his or her mother, personally given or certified in writing to the clerk over his or her signature, attested by two subscribing witnesses, and proved by the oath of one of them, administered by the clerk. Where the parties are personally unknown to the clerk, a license shall not issue until bond, with good surety, in the penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00), is given to the Commonwealth, with condition that there is no lawful cause to obstruct the marriage."
Section 11181, General Code of Ohio, defines who may contract marriage in Ohio. This section is as follows: "Male persons of the age of eighteen years, and female persons of the age of sixteen years, not nearer of kin than second cousins, and not having a husband or wife living, may be joined in marriage. Any such person under the age of twenty-one years must first obtain the consent of his or her parents, surviving parent or guardian."
It is admitted that these parties were married in Kentucky; that Julia Mae Elliott represented herself as being twenty-one years of age and that such representation was made in the hearing and presence of plaintiff in error; that a license for such marriage was duly issued by the Kentucky authorities; that they were married by a person duly authorized to perform the marriage ceremony; that they immediately returned to Xenia, where they separated; and that on the 9th day of February she came to Springfield and she and her husband lived together as man and wife for a day or two at least, until separated by his arrest.
He testifies, on page 27 of the record:
"Q. You love and respect this girl, do you? A. Yes, sir, I certainly do. *Page 285 
"Q. You want her to be your wife? A. I certainly do."
She testifies, at page 10 of the record:
"Q. On February 9 you went to Springfield and started housekeeping with your husband John Peefer? A. Yes, sir.
"Q. Do you love and admire this man? A. Yes, sir, I do.
"Q. Do you still love him? A. Yes, sir, I do.
"Q. You have never heard anything against his reputation? A. No, sir, I have not."
Was this marriage between plaintiff in error and Julia Mae Elliott void or merely voidable? If it is absolutely void, then that is the end of this controversy. If it is merely voidable upon the part of Julia Mae Elliott, then it is apparent from the undisputed testimony that she has no desire to avoid the same, and we are of opinion that she is the only one who could avoid the contract if it is merely a voidable contract. In the case ofHoltz v. Dick, 42 Ohio St. 23, 51 Am. Rep., 791, the second and third paragraphs of the syllabus are as follows:
"2. A marriage entered into in this state when the wife is less than sixteen years of age, becomes irrevocable by cohabitation at the time, and after she arrives at that age; and she may also ratify the marriage, at that age, in other ways, as by letters to her spouse, addressing him as her husband, and signing the letters by her Christian and his surname.
"3. Where the parties to a marriage in this state arrive at the common law age of consent, and also arrive at a period when they are man and woman, the parents have no authority to compel a separation in opposition to the wishes and interests of the husband and wife, on the ground that such wife had not, at the time of the marriage, arrived at the age of sixteen years, and that the marriage was without the parents' consent; and where such separation is caused by her *Page 286 
parents, not for her protection, but solely to gratify their feelings of ill-will and hatred toward her husband, he may maintain an action for the injury."
At the time of this marriage, Julia Mae Elliott was of the common-law age of consent.
It is well established in this state that a marriage valid where made is valid here unless expressly prohibited by law.
The case of Klinebell v. Hilton, 25 N.P. (N.S.), 167, is a decision by Judge Rogers, late of the Franklin county common pleas bench. Judge Rogers was recognized as one of the outstanding judges in Ohio.
The syllabus of this case follows:
"1. Marriage emancipates an infant from parental control, and injunction against consortium does not lie where petitioned for by the parents, who allege that their daughter married without their consent when less than fifteen years of age, but who fail to produce consent of the daughter to a dissolution of the marital contract.
"2. The marriage in this state of a girl between twelve and sixteen years of age is not rendered void by lack of parental consent, notwithstanding the statutory requirement that parental consent must first be obtained; and such a contract can be avoided only with the consent of the infant."
A case frequently quoted, also a common pleas decision, is that of Courtright v. Courtright, 26 W.L.B., 309, 11 Dec. Rep., 413. This decision was rendered before the amendment of the statute increasing the age of consent of females to eighteen years. The value of this decision depends not only upon the reasoning contained in the decision, but also upon the fact that the same was affirmed by the Supreme Court without opinion in Courtright
v. Scringem, 53 Ohio St. 685, 44 N.E. 1134. The syllabus in this case is, in part, as follows:
"II. The statutes of this state provide, that a female *Page 287 
may enter into the marriage relation upon arriving at the age of sixteen years, but do not declare that a marriage by her under that age is void. Hence, where a female over the common law age of twelve years, though under the statutory age of sixteen years, enters into the marriage relation in this state, while such marriage would be voidable at the election of the infant, it is by no means void; and if she should continue to live and cohabit in such relation until after arriving at this statutory age, the marriage would become perfect and irrevocable without any further ceremony; if the female should die or not abandon such marriage before arriving at the statutory age, the marriage would become perfect and irrevocable without any further ceremony."
"V. Where a man of full age and a girl over the common law but under the statutory age, both residents of Ohio, go out of this state for the purpose of becoming married in another state, and in accordance with its laws, intending to immediately return and continue their residence in this state, and such purpose and intention is carried out, the marriage thus consummated, can not be set aside, either because it was not contracted in accordance with the law of this state, or because the parties went out of the state for the purpose of evading the laws of this state upon that subject."
Counsel for plaintiff in error has urged various other errors in the brief. It is claimed that the conviction is not supported by the evidence.
While it may be unnecessary for us to pass upon any of the additional grounds of error, yet we shall briefly allude to a few of them.
The affidavit contains a statement that "the said Julia Mae Elliott did knowingly associate with a vicious and immoral person, said vicious and immoral person being one John Peefer," etc.
We have considered the record in this case with *Page 288 
care and are clearly of opinion that the record does not support the charge that John Peefer is a vicious and immoral person, unless he is such solely by reason of his having married Julia Mae Elliott.
The record discloses that John Peefer boarded with the mother of Julia Mae Elliott for about seven years. He states that he left there because of the complaining disposition of the mother. He also states that during this time he not only paid his board, but when her sons were out of work he supported the entire family. In this statement he is supported by a married daughter of Mrs. Elliott. She stated that he supported the entire family at times. It appears that when he left, the mother brought suit against him, which case was tried and decided in his favor. The mother of Julia Mae Elliott came to Springfield a day or so before the arrest of plaintiff in error, and it is claimed made a proposition to plaintiff in error in regard to settlement of this case. The mother does not claim that Peefer's conduct toward Julia Mae Elliott during the time he was living at her house was improper in any respect. She testified:
"Q. You never knew that there was anything going on between your daughter and John Peefer? A. I never saw any crooked move. She was always with me.
"Q. Was your daughter in the habit of going out? A. No, sir."
Joe Peefer, a brother of plaintiff in error, testifies as to the conduct of his brother and states that he never knew or heard anything against him. Mrs. Ryan, another daughter of Mrs. Elliott, and a sister of Julia Mae Elliott, testifies that plaintiff in error is a man of good character and she never heard anything against him. This is the daughter who testified that plaintiff in error helped keep the family of her mother when her sons were out of work. Her husband, John Ryan, testifies that plaintiff in error is a good moral *Page 289 
man. Edward Saunders says that he has known plaintiff in error for twenty-five years and that his reputation is good. William Daily testifies to the fact that he has known plaintiff in error all his life, and that his reputation is good. James Demint states that he is in charge of the maintenance department of the Ridgely Trimmer Company in Springfield, that plaintiff in error has worked for them about three years, that he has conducted himself fine and attended to business, and that he (Demint) has not heard anything against the character of plaintiff in error. Charles Foriman, assistant superintendent of the Ridgely Trimmer Company, in answer to the question as to what kind of a man plaintiff in error was, testified as follows:
"A. Well, he has been nothing but a gentleman in my presence and the time he has been employed under me.
"Q. You have never heard anything derogatory? A. No, sir."
This includes all of the witnesses who testified on this subject, with the exception of Mrs. Anderson:
"Q. Mrs. Anderson, I will ask this question of you, whether in your own opinion, by reason of what you have heard in this particular position, whether you would consider a man is guilty of immoral conduct who is 42 years old if he should marry a child 14 years old without the consent of the mother, whether or not he would be guilty of immoral conduct. A. I think he certainly is guilty of immoral conduct, and he or any other man in Greene County who does a similar act should have the limit of the law."
Counsel for defendant objected to the answer and asked that the answer be stricken from the record.
"Court: That will be ruled out; that part of the statement as to the immoral part may stand."
The witness did not claim to personally know plaintiff in error, and her statement is based upon his having married Julia Mae Elliott under the circumstances *Page 290 
disclosed by the record. The question is objectionable for different reasons, chief of which is that it calls for an answer to a question that was for the jury. This is not a case for expert testimony, such as the question objected to seeks to elicit. Had the witness known plaintiff in error, it would have been perfectly proper for her to have testified as to his character or reputation. The objection should have been sustained. The answer was prejudicial and should have been entirely stricken out and the jury cautioned to disregard the same.
Counsel for plaintiff in error also complains of the charge of the trial court, the refusal of the trial court to give certain special instructions to the jury, and other alleged errors. In view of our conclusion as to the law of this case, as above announced, it will be unnecessary for us to consider these additional grounds of error.
We do not hesitate to say that the marriage of a man of the age of plaintiff in error with a girl of the age of Julia Mae Elliott does not meet with our approval, but we are required to determine the legal and not the ethical questions. We must decide such legal questions in view of the state of the law as we find same, rather than as we might think the law should be.
From a consideration of the Ohio authorities, we are unanimously of opinion that the marriage contract in question was not void, but was merely voidable upon the part of Julia Mae Elliott, and she has not sought to avoid the same; that her going to the state of Kentucky under the circumstances disclosed by the record, and entering into such marriage contract without the consent or knowledge of her mother, did not constitute an act of delinquency under Section 1644, General Code; and that plaintiff in error therefore could not be guilty of contributing to her delinquency when none existed.
Entertaining these views, we hold that the trial *Page 291 
court erred in overruling the demurrer of plaintiff in error to the affidavit, and also erred in overruling the motion of plaintiff in error in arrest of judgment, and that the court of common pleas erred in sustaining the judgment of the trial court. This court therefore proceeding to render the judgment which should have been rendered by the lower courts does hereby sustain the demurrer of plaintiff in error to the affidavit, and does also sustain the motion of plaintiff in error in arrest of judgment, and remands the cause for such further proceedings as are provided by law.
Judgment for plaintiff in error.
ALLREAD, P.J., and HORNBECK, J., concur.