Shelthar v. Gregory

2 Wend. 422

Opinion

By the Court, Sutherland, J.

The material question presented by this case is, whether the return of the wife to the bed and board of her husband terminated the agreement between them to live separate and apart from each other, and destroyed the legal force of the bond which had been given by the husband, as a part of that agreement for her separate maintenance. It probably would not be contended that the bond could be enforced if the plea, in addition to the return of the wife, had alleged that she continued to reside and cohabit with the defendant down to the time of the commencement of the suit. The object of the bond being to secure to her a separate maintenance, there could be no pretence for enforcing it after she had voluntarily returned to the house of her husband, and been there provided for and maintained. But the intention with which she returned seems to me to be more important than the time she remained. If she returned for the purpose of resuming her duties and privileges as a married woman, and was received by the defendant as his wife, then their previous agreement to live separate from each other was at an end, and the bond which had been given for her separate maintenance must fall with the contract or agreement out of which it arose, and upon which it was founded. Her subsequently abandoning her husband, would not revive the bond, or the legal liability of her husband to afford her a separate maintenance. There , , can be no question it the wife, after her return to her husband, and whilst she continued to live with him, had contracted debts suitable to her degree and condition in life, that the defendant would have been liable for them. (Bull. 134. 2 Strange, 1214, note.) If so, he certainly ought not to be compelled to pay the annuity which was intended to exonerate him from all further responsibility on her account. The case of Hindley v. Westmeath, (6 Barn. Creswell, 200, 13 Com. L. R. 141,) seems to sanction the doctrine that a subsequent reconciliation of the parties will avoid a bond which had been given by the husband for the separate support of the wife. The validity of these provisions for the separate maintenance of the wife, when the separation has actually taken place, was recognized by this court in Baker v. Barney, (8 Johns. R. 73.) See also 1 Salk. 116 ; 5 Bos. & Pull. 148; 2 Kent’s Com. 147 ; 11 Ves. 530 ; 2 Cox, 99. There is no force-in any of the special causes of demurrer.

Judgment for defendant on demurrer, with leave to plaintiff to reply, on payment of costs.