Smith v. Smith
Smith v. Smith
Opinion of the Court
The bill in this case has for its purpose the annulment of a marriage contract which ivas consummated by the intermarriage of the parties in November, 1890. The prayer for the relief is that the marrage contract be declared null and void and for a decree of divorce a vinculo matrimonii. The alleged ground for the relief asked, is insanity of the defendant at the time of the marriage and at the date of the filing of the bill.
The jurisdiction and authority of the chancery court in the matter of granting divorces in this State is regulated by statute. In chapter 37, p. 491 of the Civ. Code, the grounds for divorce are enumerated, and insanity is not one of the grounds. Notwithstanding what was said in Rawdon v. Rawdon, 28 Ala. 565, we are not prepared to commit ourselves to the proposition that insanity of one( of the contracting parties to a marriage at the time of the marriage would afford any ground for equity jurisdiction. We feel, however, relieved of the necessity of determining that question here, since, in our opinion, the) evidence is insufficient-to authorize relief, even if jurisdiction were conceded. In the present case the respondent being a non-resident was brought into court by publication, and was represented by a guardian ad litem under the appointment of the court. The guardian ad litem filed an answer denying the allegations of the bill. The cause was submitted for final decree on the pleadings and proof. No
The evidence upon the whole is too. weak and unsatisfactory upon which to rest a.decree of annulment of the marriage contract, and a severance of the sacred relation. That the respondent is now insane is a greater misfortune to her than to the complainant, and one that appeals to an observance of the solemn vows assumed at the marriage altar.
Our conclusion is, that the chancellor committed no error in dismissing the complainant’s bill, and his decree will be here affirmed.
Affirmed.
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