Cole v. Beyland

The action is for debauching the plaintiff’s wife and alienating her affections. The defendant, after denying the allegations of the complaint, pleads, “as a separate and further defense, * * * that long prior to the times mentioned in * * " the complaint the plaintiff herein, by Ms unmanly, unkind, abusive, scandalous, niggardly, penurious, vindictive, and offensive treatment of the said Anna M. Cole [plaintiff’s wife], alienated and destroyed any respect, regard, esteem, love, or affection wMch the said Anna M. Cole ever had, or might have had, for the plaintiff herein, and thereby deprived Mmself of any comfort, aid, or assistance of said Anna M. Cole which he otherwise might have had and enjoyed.” Obviously, the facts alleged gave the defendant no license to debauch the plaintiff’s wife with impunity. They go in mitigation of damages only. 2 Hil. Torts (4th Ed.) 509; Add. Torts (7th Ed.) 596; Sedg. Dam. (8th Ed.) § 480; Palmer v. Crook, 7 Gray, 418; Hadley v. Heywood, 121 Mass. 236; Bunnell v. Greathead, 49 Barb. 106; Coleman v. White, 43 Ind. 429. Such matter in mitigation may now be pleaded as a partial defense (Bennett v. Matthews, 64 Barb. 410; Bissell v. Publishing Co., 62 Hun, 551, 17 N. Y. Supp. 393); and should have been so pleaded here, and expressly stated to be a partial defense only, to save it from demurrer (Code, § 508; Thompson v. Halbert, 109 N. Y. 329, 16 2T. E. 675; Baylies, Code PI. 221). The matters aforesaid having been pleaded as a complete defense in bar of the action, the plea must be tested as such. Thompson v. Halbert, supra.

It follows that the plaintiff’s demurrer thereto must be sustained, with costs.