Court Opinion

ID: 6616301
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 20:23:18.048215+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:58:28.602246
License: Public Domain

Ellison, J.
This action is founded on a petition for divorce wherein defendant is charged with habitual drunkenness for a period of more than one year, and with indignities to plaintiff rendering her condition intolerable. There was no cross-bill; the answer admitted the marriage but denied the allegations against him,' and charged that plaintiff had repeatedly refused to go with defendant to Dakota and live with him, although he had been ready and willing to provide her a comfortable home there, and further charged her with having joined a conspiracy with certain other parties, not named by him, to defraud him out of certain real estate and other property. The circuit court refused the divorce, and the plaintiff has brought the case here for review.
After an examination of the record, we are satisfied that the plaintiff’s charge of habitual drunkenness is sustained by the evidence. It not being necessary, we do not desire to set forth the evidence in detail as to this charge, which we consider as fully sustaining it, The testimony of employes and associates in business, as well as of others who had abundant opportunity for observation, shows that defendant gave himself up to an inordinate appetite for whiskey which incapacitated him for business and rendered him unfit for the society of his wife. Though not so specific, the evidence further shows quite as conclusively, that in consequence of this habit he failed to support his family and rested content with her dependence upon her relatives.
A great number of letters from her to him were introduced by him at the trial, and these disclose the extremity to which she was put by his inability to care *181for or support her. She had not a postage stamp with which to mail her letters, save those furnished by her relatives, except in some instances where she acknowledges the receipt of a stamp inclosed by him. It is mainly upon these letters which cover a period from March 21, 1886, to July 29, 1888, that reliance is placed to establish that plaintiff condoned defendant’s offense. These letters disclose that she recognized him, the child and herself as constituting an unbroken family. They are filled with expressions of love for him and interest in his welfare. They disclose that she looked Upon their' interests as joint and identical, nor do they contain an intimation that she ever expected their marriage to be dissolved. It is from the tender spirit and never ceasing interest, which is thus betrayed that the contention of condonation arises. But condonation is not an absolute term which can be applied alike to all circumstances which -may surround the marriage relation, and it is not so recognized in the books ? Its application will vary as the offense said to have been condoned may vary. If the offense be adultery, a single voluntary cohabitation, after knowledge of the, offense, would constitute condonation. But if the offense be habitual drunkenness for the statutory period of one year', the continuance of the marital relation by the injured party may, or may not, amount to a condonation.
If we could state a case where the husband should be shown to have been a habitual drunkard for just one year and no more, the offense would be distinct and complete, and, though it then ceased, the wife could maintain an action for divorce ; but, if she voluntarily continued the marital relation after the offense was complete, she would condone or forgive the offense and nullify her right to a divorce. If, however, the husband continues to be a habitual drunkard the offense is continuous and the wife may break off from him at any time and establish her right to a divorce. Remaining *182with him as his wife, after the offense was first completed, should be attributed rather to a patient endurance with the possible hope of a reclamation, than forgiveness of what had gone before. If her patience ceases and her hopes are unfulfilled, the fact that she was patient, and was disappointed, ought not to debar her from showing the offense which he persists in committing. Now it is shown with enough clearness to satisfy us to find it as a fact, that defendant continued the excessive indulgence of his appetite for strong drink until about the time when the correspondence with his wife ended and she ceased any communication'with him. We, therefore, find nothing from this to sustain the contention of condonation.
It appears that parties resided in Kansas City, until January, 1886, when, as it would seem, they separated (she going to her father's house), from an inability on his part to maintain the family. He went out to the Black Hills in Dakota. While he was there and she in Missouri, the greater part of the correspondence was had, and during this time he was informed of her necessities and embarrassments and failed to respond with means for her support or relief. He, however, charges in his answer that she refused to go out to Dakota where he was i’eady’and willing to provide her a comfortable home. The evidence fails to sustain 'these allegations. Her letters, prior to 1888, show a continued appeal to send her money that she might go to him. They show her to have been, not only willing, but anxious, to put up with privation and hardship, that she might be with him to help him improve his condition. They show that she expected each letter from him would inclose her the means wherewith she might make the trip. They show, too, a patient resignation to continued disappointment’ in those expectations, which strongly commend her.
*183In May, 1888, defendant made a trip from the West and was in Kansas City where he met plaintiff at the house of a friend. She had at this time made out her application for divorce, though it was not filed till November following. At this meeting an understanding was had between them, wh ereby he was to furnish her fifty dollars per month for the support of herself and child and was to deed her some property, and she was to go out to Dakota. She says, “He promised to give me fifty dollars a month and to give me a deed to property before he would ask me to go out there to Dakota, as he had failed to support me before, and he promised to stop drinking. I made up my mind not to sue for a divorce, if he did as he promised he would do.” He gave her twenty-five dollars at this time, but never sent any more on his return, nor did he make a deed to any property. He accounts for this by stating a failure to make sales of interest he had in mining claims in Dakota. During the two months following, she wrote him several letters which appear to be as kind -and affectionate as her former correspondence. These matters are also urged as a condonation. We think they do not amount to that. She had become convinced that his continued intemperate habits and mode of life had prevented him from supporting her and the child, but on his promise she consented to delay action. Her expectations and hopes were again not realized and condonation did not take place. Condonation is conditional, and if the offense said to be forgiven is repeated, or not discontinued, there is no condonation. The alleged condonation here was not a forgiving; it was merely a promise upon condition.
II. We have cousidered the matter of condonation, though the suggestion was made at the argument that it was not pleaded and was, therefore, perhaps, not a proper matter for consideration. We are of the opinion that in this respect, in a case for divorce, we need not *184confine ourselves to the allegations of the answer. In such case, there are, as has been said, three parties to the action — the plaintiff, the defendant and the public. It is to the interest of society at large to guard against sundering that relation which is its chief foundation. 2 Bishop Mar. & Div., secs. 229, 230, 231, 234, 236, 238. So far as a defendant would be concerned as a matter of right, which he may assert, he would perhaps be concluded by his pleading. But there is a maxim in these suits : “That a cause is never concluded against the judge.” 2 Bish. Mar. & Div., sec. 253.
Prom the whole case we believe the plaintiff to be the injured party and that she is entitled to the decree granting her a divorce for the fault of the defendant and that she should have the continued custody of the infant child. We will, therefore, reverse the judgment, and remand the cause with directions that such decree be entered.
The other judges concur.