McManus v. . McManus

133 S.E. 9, 191 N.C. 740, 1926 N.C. LEXIS 166

• Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
• Decided: May 12, 1926
• Status: Published

Opinion

Connor, J.

It does not clearly appear from tbe record whether tbe order from which defendant has appealed to this Court was made in tbe principal action of plaintiff against defendant, for alimony without divorce, under O. S., 1667, or whether it was made in defendant’s cross-action against plaintiff, for divorce from bed and board, upon bis allegation tbat she has abandoned him. C. S., 1660(1).

In an action for alimony without divorce, instituted by tbe wife against tbe husband, under C. S., 1667, an order requiring tbe husband to provide, out of bis estate or earnings, for tbe temporary support of bis wife, pending tbe trial and final determination of tbe issues involved in tbe action, may be made by tbe resident judge, or by tbe judge bolding tbe courts of the district in wbicb tbe action is pending. If tbe husband has separated from bis wife, be must support ber according to bis means and condition in life, taking into consideration tbe separate estate of tbe wife, until tbe issues can be determined by a jury, notwithstanding bis contention tbat be was justified in leaving ber; be is not relieved of bis legal duty to support ber, pending a determination of tbe truth of such charges, unless be alleges and tbe judge finds tbat tbe wife has committed adultery. Public Laws 1923, cb. 52. It is immaterial what counter charges, other than tbat she has .committed adultery, tbe bus-band makes against bis wife. There is no specific statutory requirement that the judge shall find the facts as a basis for his order providing for the temporary support of the wife, except when her adultery is alleged by the husband as a bar to her recovery, or as a basis for his judgment providing a reasonable subsistence, out of the estate or earnings of the husband, after the issues have been determined in her favor by the jury. Allen v. Allen, 180 N. C., 465. This rule, however, does not dispense with the necessity of allegations in the wife’s complaint of facts sufficient to constitute a good cause of action under the statute. Price v. Price, 188 N. C., 640; Horton v. Horton, 186 N. C., 332; Garsed v. Garsed, 170 N. C., 672. If the facts alleged in the complaint are sufficient to entitle her to relief as provided by the statute, an order for her temporary support, and counsel fees, out of the estate or earnings of the husband, pending the final adjudication, should be made by the judge. If the complaint does not allege sufficient facts to constitute a good cause of action under O. S., 1667, an order for temporary support and counsel fees, pending the trial of the issues, or a judgment requiring the' husband to provide reasonable subsistence and counsel fees for the wife after the issues have been determined in her favor, is erroneous.

In an action brought by the wife against the husband, for divorce from the bonds of matrimony, or from bed and board, an order for the payment by the husband to the wife of alimony pendente lite may be made by the judge under C. S., 1666; such an order may also be made in an action brought by the husband against the wife for divorce, notwithstanding the statute provides for the payment of alimony pendente lite by the husband only when a married woman applies to a court for divorce. The statute is remedial in its nature, affirmative in its terms, and cumulative in its effect; it does not conflict with or abrogate the common law. Medlin v. Medlin, 175 N. C., 529. Whether an order for alimony pendente lite is made in an action brought by the wife against the husband, under C. S., 1666, or in an action brought by the husband against the wife, by virtue of the principles of the common law, the judge must find the facts upon which he bases his order for alimony pendente lite. Price v. Price, 188 N. C., 640; Easeley v. Easeley, 173 N. C., 530; Zimmerman v. Zimmerman, 113 N. C., 432; Moody v. Moody, 118 N. C., 926. An order for the payment by the husband to the wife of alimony pendente Hie, is subject to review, upon appeal, by this Court, when made either under C. S., 1666, in an action brought by the wife against the husband, or under the principles of the common law, in an action brought by the husband against the wife. An order for the payment of alimony pendente lite, made in an action for divorce, either from the bonds of matrimony or from bed and board, without a finding by the judge of the facts upon which he mates the order, is erroneous.

The facts alleged in the complaint filed by plaintiff in tbis action are not sufficient to constitute a cause of action under 0. S., 1667. Plaintiff alleges specifically tbat sbe left tbe defendant — first on 6 September, 1924, after having lived witb him for ten days, at his home in Union County, N. 0.; secondly, on 11 April, 1925, after she had returned to his home and lived with him again for ten days at his home in the city of Charlotte. She does not allege that defendant separated himself from her, and failed to provide her with necessary subsistence, according to his means and condition in life, or that he was guilty of any misconduct toward her. No facts are alleged which justify or excuse her in leaving defendant. She alleges only that he failed, neglected and refused to buy a home for her in Charlotte, to pay her debts, and to purchase for her an automobile, costing not less than $2,300, and that she left him because of such failure, neglect and refusal. It is true that she alleges that she married him, and after leaving him in September, 1924, returned to him on 1 April, 1925, because of his promise to buy the home, pay her debts, and purchase the automobile made first before the marriage, and again before her' return to him. He denies these allegations. If, however, the facts are as she alleges in her complaint, they are not sufficient to entitle her to invoke, in her behalf, the well-settled principle that if a husband by his misconduct or wrongful acts towards his wife, compels or justifies her in leaving him and his home, this, in law, constitutes an abandonment of her by him, and will entitle her to maintain an action against him for divorce from bed apd board, under C. S., 1660(1), or for subsistence under O. S., 1667, although in fact she left her husband, and lives separate and apart from him. It is justly held that her conduct in leaving him, under these circumstances, is not voluntary, and therefore not an abandonment by her of her husband. This principle has been consistently recognized and frequently applied by this Court. Crews v. Crews, 175 N. C., 178; Dowdy v. Dowdy, 154 N. C., 558; Setzer v. Setzer, 128 N. C., 171; High v. Bailey, 107 N. C., 70. It is not applicable, however, to the facts alleged by plaintiff in her complaint in'this action. The failure, neglect or refusal of a husband to comply with promises made to his wife, whether made before or after marriage, with respect to property or property rights, although the wife was induced by such promises to marry him, or to return to her husband, after she had voluntarily left him, subsequent to the marriage, cannot be held to justify the wife in leaving her husband, or if she does leave him, because of such failure, neglect or refusal, to entitle her to relief under C. S., 1667. While the law recognizes and enforces the rights of a wife in and to her husband’s property, both during his lifetime and after his death, and will compel the husband so long as he lives to support a faithful and deserving wife according to bis means and condition in life, it will not encourage marriages based solely upon mercenary considerations. Tbe interest of tbe State and of society in tbe status resulting from marriage is too vital to permit a husband or a wife to absolve bimself or berself from tbe performance of duties incident to and arising out of tbe marriage relation, merely because of disappointment as to tbe pecuniary results of tbe marriage.

Defendant’s contention tbat tbe order, if made in plaintiff’s action against defendant, for alimony without divorce, was erroneous for tbat tbe complaint does not allege facts sufficient to constitute a good- cause of action under C. S., 1667, must be sustained.

If tbe 'order was made in defendant’s cross-action. against plaintiff, for divorce from bed and board, it must likewise be held to be erroneous, for no facts aré found to support tbe order. Tbe order must therefore be reversed. Plaintiff may renew her application for alimony pendente lite in tbe cross-action of defendant against her for divorce from bed and board. No order, however, should be made in this action for tbe payment of such alimony, without a finding of tbe facts by tbe judge.

Reversed and remanded.