Jacobs v. Cunningham

Texas Supreme Court
Jacobs v. Cunningham, 32 Tex. 774 (Tex. 1870)
Lindsay

Jacobs v. Cunningham

Opinion of the Court

Lindsay, J.

Two objections seem to be urged against the judgment in the District Court. 1. That the suit was brought by a feme covert, without the joinder of her husband. 2. That there was no canceled revenue stamp upon the note, which was the foundation of the action, and the instrument of proof upon the trial.

1. The statute, Art. 4636, allows the wife, upon the failure or neglect of the husband, to sue for any of her effects by authority of the court. In instituting suit by the "wife, it would be most regular to aver in the original petition the cause of such failure or neglect. But, with leave of the court, this averment may be made in the amended petition, and the cause proceed to trial. In this case a plea of abatement was interposed to the original petition for the want of such averment. Upon a virtual confession of the truth of the plea, the *776plaintiff asked leave to amend, and in the amendment alleged the insanity of the husband. The court, therefore, did right to entertain the suit and to admit the proof of the insanity of the husband, which the statement of facts shows was sufficiently made manifest. The existence of the cause of the failure or neglect of the husband was also impliedly admitted by the defendant in his execution and delivery of the note sued upon to a feme covert.

2. The mere failure to cancel the revenue stamp upon an instrument, required by law to be stamped, as it does not defraud the government, is not made invalid as an instrument of evidence. The judgment is affirmed.

Affirmed.

Reference

Full Case Name
M. G. Jacobs v. E. F. Cunningham
Cited By
3 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
1— When a married woman, by virtue of our statute (Paschal’s Digest, Art. 4636), sues without joining her husband as a plaintiff, it would be regular to aver in her petition the reason why the husband is not joined; but if' such averment be omitted in the original petition, and the coverture of the plaintiff be pleaded in abatement of her suit, she may by amendment of her petition, by leave of the court, supply such averment and prosecute her suit as though her original petition had been sufficient in all respects. 2— The failure to cancel the revenue stamp on an instrument subject to stamp duty, does not invalidate the instrument as evidence.