Court Opinion

ID: 7033417
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 06:43:14.473017+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:11:03.060076
License: Public Domain

Davison, J.
This was an action for divorce, instituted by John Lewis against his wife, Sarah Lewis. The causes for divorce alleged in the petition are these: 1. Adultery with one Solomon Hiatt. 2. Abandonment. The defendant, in her answer, which is verified by oath, specifically denies the adultery; and, byway of cross-petition, she alleges that the plaintiff abandoned her without cause, &c., wherefore she prays a divorce and alimony. There was an answer to the cross-petition, and a reply to the answer.
The issues being made, the case was submitted to a jury, who, upon the defendant’s motion, were instructed to find specially upon the following questions, viz., “ Was the defendant guilty of adultery as charged? And if she was, then find whether the plaintiff cohabited with her after a knowledge of'the fact. Which party abandoned the other?” In answer to these inquiries, the jury returned their verdict as follows: “We, the jury, find the defendant guilty of adultery as charged; that the plaintiff cohabited with her after he had knowledge of the adultery, and that he abandoned her.”
Upon a return of the verdict, the plaintiff moved for a decree; but pending this motion, the defendant moved to dismiss the entire cause, on the ground that the verdict did not entitle the plaintiff to a divorce. The Court, however, overruled the latter motion, and rendered a decree in the *107plaintiff’s favor, dissolving the marriage contract then subsisting between him and the defendant.
We have seen that the jury, though they found the defendant guilty of adultery, also found that the plaintiff cohabited with her after he was advised of the fact; hence, it is insisted that the decree is erroneous. The statute whereby this proceeding is regulated, points out adultery as a cause for which a divorce shall be decreed, upon the application of the injured party; but another provision of the same enactment declares, that a divorce shall not be granted for such cause, when the party seeking it has voluntarily cohabited with the other, with a knowledge of the adultery. 2 R. S. pp. 234, 235, ss. 7, 8. But the appellee contends that subsequent cohabitation, with previous notice of the adultery, is a ground of defense, and the defendant having failed to set up such defense in her pleadings, the verdict on that point is not within the issues, and therefore did not disclose a fact noticeable by the Court in rendering its decree.
The rule of procedure in cases for divorce, obviously contemplates a trial of the cause by the Court; and though the Court may of its own motion, by consent of parties, or upon the motion of either party, submit the questions raised by the pleadings to the consideration of a jury; still, the verdict may not be in all respects conclusive. And on final hearing of the cause, the Court may look into the whole case, and disregard so much of the finding of the jury as is plainly without the issues; because the finding of a fact not in issue cannot constitute the basis of a judgment. 2 R. S. p. 121, s. 372. Here, the subsequent cohabitation was plainly matter of defense; but it was not set up in the defendant’s answer, and therefore, not the proper subject of proof on the trial. Id. p. 45, s. 91. “ A finding based upon such proof could have no legal effect in the decision of the cause, and might be rejected as surplusage.” We are inclined, in this instance, to hold the action of the Court, though not in accordance with the verdict, unobjectionable.
During the trial, it appeared in evidence that John Lewis, *108the plaintiff, was not, at the time he filed his petition, a resident of Henry county. Upon this disclosure, the defendant moved to dismiss the suit; but her motion was overruled; and thereupon she excepted. The statute says that, “ Divorces may be decreed by the Circuit Courts of this state, on petition filed by any person at the time a bona fide resident of the county in which the same is filed; of which bona fide residence, the affidavit of the petitioner shall be prima facie evidence.” 2 R. S. p. 234, s. 6. In the petition before us, there is no averment of residence. On that account it was objectionable, but such objection could not be properly raised after the trial commenced. The code (p. 38, s. 50) enumerates certain causes for which the defendant may demur, when the cause of demurrer appears on the face of the complaint; but in a subsequent section it is provided, that when any of the matters so enumerated do not appear in the complaint, the objection, except for misjoinder of causes, may be taken by answer. And “if no. such objection is taken, either by demurrer or answer, the defendant shall be deemed to have waived the same, except, only, the jurisdiction of the Court over the subject of the action.” 2 R. S. p. 39.
These enactments fully sustain the ruling of the Court. The defendant, having failed to demur to the complaint, or raise the objection of non-residence by answer, was estopped from saying that the plaintiff was not a resident of the county in which he commenced the suit.
Solomon Hiatt, the person with whom the adultery is alleged to have been committed, was examined as a witness for the defendant; and the evidence being closed, the Court, in relation to his testimony, charged the jury as follows : “ If the evidence shows him guilty, he is to be regarded as an accomplice, and his testimony is entitled to less weight, and so the jury should regard it. The testimony of accomplices in crime and infamy, is to be received with more caution than that of others.”
This instruction is said to be objectionable — 1. Because the simple fact that the witness had been charged with adultery, is no cause why his veracity should have been *109suspected. 2. The rule in criminal cases, where the character of the witness as an accomplice is admitted, does not apply. These objections are not well taken. The language of the Court is — “ If the evidence shows him guilty, he is to be regarded as an accomplice, and his testimony is entitled to less weight,” &c. This is not an assumption that the mere charge in the petition made him an accomplice. It was the province of the jury to use the proper means to ascertain what credit was due Hiatt's testimony. For that purpose they might look at all the evidence in the cause, and if it proved him particeps criminis, he was of course an accomplice. And the rule stated in the instruction is too well established to admit of controversy. The testimony of an accomplice should be received with caution, and, when received, is entitled to less weight than should be given to witnesses unconnected with the transaction. In respect to the mode of arriving at a conclusion as to the credibility of a witness, we are not aware of any distinction between civil and criminal cases.
W. Grose, for the appellant.
J. T. Elliott and J. H. Mellett, for the appellee.
Per Curiam.
The decree is affirmed with costs.