Sayles v. Sayles
Sayles v. Sayles
Opinion of the Court
The petitioner filed her petition for divorce on July 11, 1916, and upon a hearing thereon in the Superior Court the same was deniéd. The petitioner then brought her bill of exceptions to this court where, after hearing the parties and duly considering the questions presented, a new trial was granted. The conclusions of this court as expressed in its rescript granted a new trial may be found in 100 Atl. Rep. 246.
The case was again heard in the Superior Court in April, 1917, the petition was granted on the ground of extreme cruelty and the petitioner was awarded the custody of her children and alimony.
The .case is now before us upon the respondent’s bill of exceptions. These exceptions are three in number. The first two relate to rulings of the court denying motions of the respondent to strike from the record certain questions and answers, and the third to the granting of the petition for divorce on the ground of extreme cruelty.
As the respondent says in his brief, referring to the question of condonation, “We come now to the real and most important consideration involved in this case.” It appears that the petitioner signed and made oath to her petition for divorce and for the custody of her children on July 8, 1916; that the same was filed in court on July 11, 1916. The petitioner also filed on the same day, July 11, 1916, a petition for counsel fees, allowance for the support of herself and children, for the custody of her children, and for an injunction restraining the respondent from any interference with her or her children pending the hearing upon her petition for divorce. Citations were issued upon both petitions and were served the same day, July 11, 1916. The citation issued upon the last mentioned petition notified the respondent that he might appear before the court on July 15, 1916, *173 and show cause why the prayer of the petition should not be granted, such citation including an ex parte order awarding the petitioner the temporary custody of her children and enjoining him as prayed.
After swearing to her petition for divorce and her petition for allowance, custody of children, etc., on July 8, 1916, the petitioner returned to her home where she remained until the service of the citations upon said respondent on July 11, 1916, performing her usual household duties and occupying her husband’s bed. During this period, however, both parties swear positively that there was no sexual intercourse and that owing to the temporary physical condition of the respondent such intercourse would have been impossible. As soon as the citations were served the petitioner left her husband’s home and with her children went to the home of her mother. The petitioner does not claim any acts of cruelty subsequent to the date of the petition. The facts in the cause so far as they relate to the question of con-donation are not in dispute.
Condonation is forgiveness. To be effective it must be voluntary and intentional. Such intention may be expressed in words or it may be implied from the acts of the injured party. In the present case there might be a presumption of sexual cohabitation and therefore of condonation from the fact that the petitioner occupied the same bed with her husband for a brief period after the final act of cruelty of which she complains. Such presumption, however, may be rebutted. Wilson v. Wilson, 16 R. I. 122; Burns v. Burns, 60 Ind. 259; Danforth v. Danforth, 88 Me. 120; Keezer on Marriage and Divorce, § 250.
It has been held that residing in the same house and even occupying the same room will not effect a condonation if the marital relations were not resumed and there was no intention to forgive the fault. Brown v. Brown, 164 Ill. App. 589; Rudd v. Rudd, 66 Vt. 91; Toulson v. Toulson, 93 Md. 754. We think that under all the circumstances of the case the petitioner would be likely to fear that her husband might in some way attempt to deprive her of her children should she temporarily leave them in his sole charge, and that such fear would be a sufficient excuse for her action which not being intended as an expression of forgiveness would not amount to condonation.
The respondent’s exceptions are overruled and the case is remitted to the Superior Court for further proceedings.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Ethel D. Sayles v. James P. Sayles.
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published