Court Opinion

ID: 6991507
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 03:25:46.248808+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:09:37.814784
License: Public Domain

Wall, J. This was an action on the case by the appellee against Nathaniel Hiding and Lucinda Huling, his wife-The declaration alleged that the defendants, conspiring together, did alienate the affection of John Huling, husband of the plaintiff, and thereby induced him to abandon and desert her. After the suit was begun, Nathaniel Huling was adjudged insane, and upon the trial Lucinda Huling, who had been appointed his conservator, represented and defended for him. When the plaintiff’s testimony wras closed the suit was dismissed as to Lucinda Huling. The jury found the issue for the plaintiff, and assessed her damages at §1,250, upon which, after denying a motion for new trial, the court rendered judgment. Since the trial the defendant, Nathaniel Huling, died, and this appeal is prosecuted by Lucinda Huling, as his executrix. Various errors are assigned, but we shall notice' such only as seem to be most important. It appears from the evidence that the plaintiff, who had been for some time employed as a domestic in the family of the defendants, became unduly intimate with the said John, who was also a member of the family; that she and John were secretly married under circumstances showing that he was quite reluctant to take the step, and that he immediately left her and never sustained conjugal relations with her. A child was born to her about seven months after the marriage, and, more than two years after the marriage, this suit was brought. At the time of the marriage the plaintiff was about nineteen years of age, and John was over twenty-one years of age. At the trial the plaintiff was a witness in her own behalf, and was permitted to testify as to the declaration of the defendant, Nathaniel Huling. The plaintiff was competent as against the defendant, Lucinda Huling, but, as is conceded, she was not competent against the insane defendant, Nathaniel. The court so stated in the presence of the jury, but counsel waived the objection as to the conversation the witness was then proceeding to detail. It was the duty of counsel and of the court to protect the insane defendant from the evidence of an incompetent witness. The conservator could not waive the rights of her ward in this respect. Cartwright v. Wise, 14 Ill. 417; Rhoads v. Rhoads, 43 Ill. 239; Stark v. Brown, 101 Ill. 395; Fietsam v. Kropp, 6 Ill. App. 144. Many other cases illustrating the principle involved might be recited but it is unnecessary. The effect of this testimony was hurtful, nor was it counteracted by the evidence of the insane defendant who was permitted to testify, apparently without objection. He was incompetent because non compos mentis (1 Greenleaf on Ev. Sec. 365), and whatever he might say would have little or no weight with the jury as against the testimony of adverse witnesses who were sane. It is also objected that the plaintiff was permitted to detail the conversations she had with her husband, as to their purpose of living together and as to the opposition of his parents to the marriage. This was manifestly not competent because it was purely hearsay and was highly calculated to prejudice the rights of the defendants. White v. Russ, 47 Mich. 172; Preston v. Bowers, 13 O. St 1. Other objections to the testimony of the plaintiff need not be discussed as upon another trial they can be obviated by excluding the witness altogether. The instructions given for the defendant advised the jury that a parent has a right in a moderate, intelligent and careful manner to advise a son as to his domestic affairs, and even as to living with his wife, and that if such counsel and advice be given in good faith and from worthy motives, the wife has no cause of complaint, even though such advice may contribute in some decree to the result of causing a separation. The distinction between the case of a stranger and that of a parent has been frequently recognized and it is no doubt well settled that a parent may, when acting in good faith, give his advice on this important subject without incurring liability. Hutchison v. Peck, 5 Johns. 195; Smith v. Lyke, 13 Hun, 204; Payne v. Williams, 4 Baxter, 583. Schouler’s Domestic Relations, Sec. 41; 2 Hilliard on Torts, 510. It is suggested by counsel for appellee that in all the cases where this distinction is stated, the action was by the husband for alienating the affection of the wife. Probably this is due to the fact that the action for such an injury was rarely, if ever, brought by the wife. Whatever may have been the right of the wife in this regard at. common law there is no doubt that under the legislation of this State she may maintain the action—Bassett v. Bassett, 20 Ill. App. 543; and there seems to be no sound reason why the parent might not in good faith, and from proper motives, render his advice to a son as well as to a daughter. True, such advice might be more appropriate and needful and more potent in the case of the daughter than in the case of a son, but this would be a difference in degree only and not in principle. We must hold, therefore, that the instruction referred to was properly given on behalf of the defendant. Turning now to the instructions given for plaintiff it will be found that they ignore the relation of the defendant to the husband, and that they authorized the jury to find the defendant guilty although he may have acted in the utmost good faith and moderation. Notably is this so in-the fourth, where it was said that “ if the defendant did in any way or manner, or by any means, influence ” the husband to abandon the wife he would be liable, and that it was “ immaterial in this case whether there may have been other facts or circumstances contributing to cause such wrongful desertion.” The instructions as a whole were inconsistent and contradictory, and in a case like this where, on the proof, there is, to say the least, no little doubt as to the right of recovery, it is important that the law should be given with such accuracy as to make it clear that it was properly understood by the jury. For the reasons indicated the judgment will be reversed and the cause remanded. Reversed and remanded.