Freeman v. Freeman
Freeman v. Freeman
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This is an ex parte divorce suit. The petition is filed by the petitioner to secure a divorce from his wife- on the ground that she was guilty of adultery. The adultery on the part of the wife was established. The master, before whom the depositions were taken, advised the divorce, but the advisory master, following the case of Rapp v. Rapp, 67 N. J. Eq. (1 Robb.) 236, recommended a decree dismissing the petition on the ground that the petitioner had willfully, continuously and obstinately deserted the defendant for more than the statutory number of years last past, and was for that reason not entitled to a divorce from her on the ground of his wife’s adultery.
The petitioner worked on the farm of Edward Martin, where the defendant, Martin’s sister, lived. Later, the petitioner left Martin’s farm and went to work for one Burcham. Edward Martin, it appears, had spent money bequeathed to the defendant, and devised a scheme of marrying her to the petitioner.
From the time of the parting on the day after the marriage no request or attempt was made on the part of either to renew the marriage relationship. Shortly after the marriage the defendant visited the mother of the petitioner and informed her that neither she or her son wanted to get married—that she was not pregnant at the time of the marriage, as her brother insisted, and that she had done nothing that could cause such a condition. Defendant also consulted counsel and made a statement, in writing, under oath, alleging the same facts and circumstances as related by the petitioner and his mother. Whether the purpose of this visit was to have the marriage annulled is not disclosed. The attorney who took the affidavit died and no action was taken.
The case before us is not governed by Rapp v. Rapp, supra. In that case there was proof of a willful, continued and obstinate desertion. Here it appears that the separation was acquiesced in by the parties from the moment of its happening. Their entire line of conduct, subsequent to the marriage when freed from the surveillance of the Martins, shows a mutual determination to repudiate a situation that had been forced upon them. A
“A married partner who concurs in the other’s going away cannot complain of the going. The just doctrine is that a party who has consented to a separation cannot while the consent continues convert the other’s determination not to renew the cohabitation into desertion.” Bish. M. & D. 1609.
. A fair inference from the proofs before us is that the couple parted by mutual consent, and that after the parting there was no more disposition or refusal on the part of the petitioner to take his wife back than there was a willingness or disposition on. her part to go back. The above view leads to- a reversal of the decree below and the granting of a final decree of divorce to the petitioner and appellant.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- George M. Freeman v. Agnes M. Freeman
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published