Finley v. Russell
Finley v. Russell
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The instructions in this case are erroneous so far as they apply to the right of the husband to appropriate the rents due from the lands of the wife. If the husband rented the house and lot, and at the time agreed with the renter to take goods from him in satisfaction of the rent, and the goods were taken or purchased by the husband under the contract, it was to that extent a payment of the rent, whether the rent was credited on the account or not. Sec. I, Act 2, Husband and Wife, provides that the husband may rent the real estate of the wife for not more than three years at a time, and receive the rents, etc. If, then, the contract of renting was made, he paid in goods, and the goods were delivered, it was a payment on the rent whether the wife consented or not.
The rent of the wife’s land will not be subjected to the payment of the husband’s debts, but when the husband has already rented the land (if not for a longer time than three years) and received the rent, whether in money or property, the wife cannot afterwards assert a claim for it, against the tenant. As to the money of the wife, if borrowed by the appellant, of her or her husband, as her
The judgment, however, for the reason indicated, is reversed and cause remanded with directions to award the appellant a new trial and for the further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.