Hervey v. Hervey

38 A. 767, 56 N.J. Eq. 166, 11 Dickinson 166, 1897 N.J. Ch. LEXIS 19
CourtNew Jersey Court of Chancery
DecidedNovember 1, 1897
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 38 A. 767 (Hervey v. Hervey) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Jersey Court of Chancery primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hervey v. Hervey, 38 A. 767, 56 N.J. Eq. 166, 11 Dickinson 166, 1897 N.J. Ch. LEXIS 19 (N.J. Ct. App. 1897).

Opinion

Emery, V. C.

This is a bill for support and maintenance under the twentieth section of the Divorce act. Gen. Stat. p. 1270. Subpœna was issued against the defendant to answer the bill and has been duly returned served, and an order for alimony pendente lite and counsel fees has also been made. Application by petition is now made by the defendant (by virtue of special appearance and leave for that purpose) to set aside the service of the subpœna, the order for alimony and all other orders in the cause. The reason alleged in the petition is that-at the time of the service of the subpcena and notices of the application for alimony, the defendant had no actual or legal residence in the State of New Jersey; that the subpcena and notices were served after the 12th of December, 1896, by leaving copies at the residence of defendant’s father in the city of Newark; that on that date defendant left the city of Newark with the intention of being absent for some years and engaging elsewhere in business,” and that he had previously, on account of the state of his health, [168]*168closed out his business interests in Newark with the intention of leaving the city and establishing his residence permanently in Mexico or some other climate more suited to his health. He claims that since the 12th day of December, 1896, when he actually left the city of Newark, he has not had an actual or legal residence in the city of Newark or State of New Jersey. As to his residence in New Jersey, up to the 12th of December, 1896, the defendant alleges that on October 28th, 1895, and previously thereto, he resided in Newark, on Riverside avenue, and not at his father’s residence (128 Montclair avenue); that from that date he was in a hospital until April, 1896, when he was taken to his father’s residence to be cared for during convalescence, and left there about July 1st, 1896, to travel until the latter part of August, 1896, when he again visited his father, expecting, however, that his visit would not extend beyond' the beginning of cold weather, when it would be necessary for him, on account of his health, to go to a southern climate. As one of the questions to be decided upon this application involves, in my judgment, jurisdiction of the court to make the order in question, and this depends to some extent upon the status of the record and proceedings in the cause, a statement of these in some detail is necessary.

The bill was filed on December 16th, 1896, subpoena thereon was issued December 30th, 1896, returnable January 13th, 1897, and was duly returned by the sheriff of Essex county, “served” on December 31st, 1896. On the day of filing the bill notice of an application for alimony pendente, lite and counsel fees was served by leaving copies of the bill and affidavits and notice at the residence of defendant’s father, Daniel E. Hervey, in Newark. The affidavit of service stated that these were served on the defendant “by leaving the same at his residence with a member of his family over the age of fourteen years, on the 16th day of December.” On the day for which notice was given the defendant did not appear, and it being suggested to the chancellor (by whom does not appear) that the defendant had recently left his last place of residence for parts unknown, an order was on that day, December 21st, 1896, made by the chancellor recit[169]*169ing the proof of service of notice of the application for temporary alimony upon the defendant “ by leaving the same at his last-known place of residence ” and the suggestion to the court “ that the defendant has recently left his said last-known place of residence for parts unknown,” and the order then referred the cause to me, as vice-chancellor, to hear the same and advise decree. It was further ordered that the defendant appear on Tuesday, December 29th, 1896, to show cause why alimony pendente lite should not be ordered. No special directions as to service of the order were made. A copy of this order was served on December 23d by leaving at the residence of defendant’s father the affidavit stating that it was served on defendant “ by leaving.the same at his residence.” On the return-day of the order the defendant did not appear, but a solicitor, who stated that he did not appear for the defendant, filed (with the consent of complainant’s solicitor) affidavits of Daniel E. Hervey and Ella Hervey, defendant’s father and mother, stating among other things that the defendant had not resided at his father’s residence since the 12th day of December, 1896, and that on that day he left the state. The father further states that “ he is unable to locate the said Lee A. Hervey so as to communicate with him,” and the mother, “that she did not know of the present whereabouts of the said Lee A. Hervey.” It now appears that, as a matter of fact, the defendant, on or about December 23d, 1896, sailed for Cuba, and both his father and-mother knew this, and his father took down his trunk to the steamer. The affidavits filed on the return day by the complainant as to the manner of service of the original notice of application for alimony,, showed that this was served upon defendant’s mother on December 16th, who said that the defendant lived there; that he was not at home and that she did not know when he would return, and that she took the papers, asking when she should deliver them to the defendant. The order of December 21st was served on December 23d, at the same place, by attempting to deliver to defendant’s father, who declined to take it. The defendant not appearing at the return day, an order was made December 31st, 1896, reciting due [170]*170notice of motion to the defendant and referring the application to a master, to report as to the. amount of temporary alimony and counsel fees. The master’s summons under the order was served on the defendant “ by leaving at his residence ” and by subpoena ad testificandum,. Defendant’s father and other witnesses were examined as to his property. The master reported on January 14th, 1897, that the defendant was possessed of property or had property held in trust for him, a portion of which was productive real estate, the net annual receipts of which were estimated at $550, and that an allowance of $4 per week for temporary alimony and $75 counsel fees should be made.

On Jauuary 18th, 1897, an order for alimony pendente lite at $4 per week, from December 16th, 1896, the date of filing the bill, and for $50 counsel fees, was made. The jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit for maintenance was in the original bill based on the fact of complainant’s residence in the state at the time of the marriage, November 29th, 1896, and the husband’s refusal to provide for her support or to live with her after his marriage, and it was also alleged in the bill that her husband was, at the time of the marriage, engaged in the real estate business in Newark, and that he was possessed of property, real and personal, worth not less than $12,000, but no specification of the property was made. By an amendment to the bill, filed January 21st, 1897, after the order for alimony, it was alleged that about the time of the marriage the defendant owned four tracts of land in Newark (specifying them), and also a note of $5,000, made by a traction company and due in March, 1897, and that he had transferred all his real estate and personal property (including these) to his father, Daniel E. Hervey, and to his business partner, Charles Roller, without consideration and for the purpose of preventing complainant from obtaining any interest thereon, or from being compelled to'support her out of.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Kase v. Kase
86 A.2d 587 (New Jersey Superior Court App Division, 1952)
In re the Adoption of Susan
22 N.J. Misc. 181 (Bergen County Surrogate's Court, 1944)
Elgart v. Mintz
200 A. 550 (New Jersey Court of Chancery, 1938)
Bray v. Landergren
172 S.E. 252 (Supreme Court of Virginia, 1934)
Standard, C., Mfg. Co. v. American Salpa Corp.
166 A. 542 (New Jersey Court of Chancery, 1933)
Swetland v. Swetland
149 A. 50 (New Jersey Court of Chancery, 1930)
Spoor-Thompson, C., Co. v. Bennett, C.
147 A. 202 (New Jersey Court of Chancery, 1929)
Darby v. Darby
277 S.W. 894 (Tennessee Supreme Court, 1925)
Shipley v. Shipley
187 Iowa 1295 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1919)
Wilder v. Wilder
106 A. 562 (Supreme Court of Vermont, 1919)
Wiess v. Goodhue
102 S.W. 793 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1907)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
38 A. 767, 56 N.J. Eq. 166, 11 Dickinson 166, 1897 N.J. Ch. LEXIS 19, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hervey-v-hervey-njch-1897.