Court Opinion

ID: 8359902
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-10-18 00:14:59.898452+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:46:02.693932
License: Public Domain

Smith, J.
The defendant has assigned no reasons in his brief why the judgment should be arrested. It was urged, in the argument, that this woman being a feme covert, could not maintain the action by her next friend. If that argument were to prevail, there would be a failure of justice, which our laws abhor; as there would be no means of enforcing a decree of a wife against her husband for alimony_ The Court of Equity could order a refractory husband to be attached, and the sheriff would let him go if he thought proper; then if the wife could not sue by her next friend, who could ? The law provides no other course. And upon this occasion, I would adopt the course of a very learned judge, “ If there is no precedent, I will make one.”
I think the judge was perfectly right, in refusing to hear evidence to prove the decree had been complied with by Prather, until he was attached. It would have been a great want of respect for the Court of Equity, and an improper interference with their powers. Nor are we to presume that that court would have issued its attachment, to inforce a compliance with a decree that had already been complied with. The remainder of this ease I think *455consisted of facts proper for the consideration of a - , , „ , jury, and I am satisfied with what they have found. I am, therefore, against the motion.
Justices Colcock, Bay, Grim ice, and Brevard concurred.