State ex rel. Kronschnabel v. Isenhuth

148 N.W. 9, 34 S.D. 218, 1914 S.D. LEXIS 109
CourtSouth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedJune 29, 1914
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 148 N.W. 9 (State ex rel. Kronschnabel v. Isenhuth) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering South Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State ex rel. Kronschnabel v. Isenhuth, 148 N.W. 9, 34 S.D. 218, 1914 S.D. LEXIS 109 (S.D. 1914).

Opinion

SMITPI, P. J.

An information- was filed iby one Kronschnabel, in the Circuit Court of Beadle County, alleging that one Celeste Issenhuth, aged about 11 years, was an adopted daughter of one John Issenhuth, and in -his custody; that the said' Issenhuth, by his acts, example and vicious training, was depraving the morals of said female child, and 'further alleging specific immoral acts which need not be stated here. Petitioners pray -for an order of the court that the sheriff or other officer talce immediate charge of Celeste Issenhuth, and retain her in custody, subject to the order and direction of the court, until the -hearing and determination of the petition. A citation addressed to John Issenhuth and Celeste Issenhuth was thereupon issued, requiring* them to show cause w-hy an order should not be made by the -court, removing Celeste Iss-en-hufch from the Custody, and a final order that -Celeste Issenhuth be surrendered to a society incorporated! for the purpose of securing homes for dependent children. The citation was returnable August 10, 1912. On the return -day, John Is-senhiuth -appeared and demurred to the petition -and .citation, on ¡tíme grounds, first: that the court has no jurisdiction of the person of the defendant, or the [221]*221subject matter of the action; second: that there jts a defect of parties defendant; third; that the petition does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. The demurrer was overruled and an exception entered. Issenhuth then filed an answer alleging, first: that the act under which the proceedings were 'brought, is unconstitutional 'because of a defective title; 2nd: that the act is void because it attempts' to confer jurisdiction in matters of guardianship on the Circuit Court of this state, which by the constitution is vested in the county courts; third: because. it violates the 14th amendment of the constitution of the United States. The answer also1 contained a general denial of the allegations', of the petition. Issue being joined, the defendant demanded a jury trial, which was conceded by the trial court, and the further hearing adjourned for that purpose. Thereafter, upon a mandate issued by this court, the Circuit 'Court of Beadle County was required to proceed to hear and 'determine said1 matter without the intervention of a jury. State ex rel. v. Taylor, 30 S. D. 304, 138 N. W. 373. The case was heard before Hon. Alva E. Taylor, Judge of the Circuit Court, on Dec. 13, 1912. Numerous' witnesses were examined by the parties, and appellant assigns as error certain rulings of the trial court, on matters of evidence, all of which, we have examined. We are satisfied-that none of these rulings prejudiced appellant’s substantial rights, .and none of them1 are of 'sufficient importance to require discussion. At the conclusion of the hearing, the court entered its decision that it bad jurisdiction of the parties and the subject matter of the proceeding; that Celéste Issenhuth is a female child, ten years of age; that prior to the commencement of said proceeding, she was in the custody of John Issenhuth, and' is 'his child by adoption; and the court further finds and adjudges, that i't is for The best interest of said child that; she be removed from the oustody 'and control of the defendant John Issenhuth. The court thereupon entered an order or judgment that Celeste Issenhuth he surrendered to the South Dakota Children’s Home Society, an institution incorporated under the laws of the state of Soitth Dakota, for the purpose of securing homes for destitute children-.

[1] Thereafter, on May 24, 1913, appellant filed a notice and motion for a rehearing of said -proceeding, before the Circuit Court of Beadle county, demanding that the foregoing -order be vacated [222]*222and set aside, and alleging- «various grounds therefor, among which is unconstitutio-nali'ty of the statute, under’ which sudi proceedings were had; newly «discovered evidence, and insufficiency of the evidence to sustain the finding of the trial court. The record before us does not even purport to contain any of the evidence upon which the finding of the trial «court was based, and for that reason, the question of insufficiency of evidence is not before us on this appeal.

[2] Accompanying the m'otio-n for rehearing-, are affidavits purporting to be statements of various persons, some of whom- are residents and others non-residents of this state, alleged- ita constitute newly discovered evidence, together with an affidavit of Wim. Issenhuth, covering ten pages of the printed record, made as attorney for John Issenhuth. This affidavit -alleges, “that since the hearing before Judge Taylor * * * «considerable new -evidence «has been. «discovered material «to «said cause, all of -which neither s-ai-d defendant nor any of his attorneys was aware of, at «the time of said hearing.” This statement is followed1 by a «long and intricate account «of -proceedings had at the hearing before Judge- Taylor, excerpts from the testimony of certain witnesses; investigations of Wm, Issenhuth, as to the antecedent history of Celeste Issenfaitth, formerly MeGaugh, and other matters. From this «affidavit it is absolutely «impossible .«to determine what counsel claims to be newly discovered evidence. The evidence «heard1 before Judge Taylor is not in the record. No affidavit by John Issenhuth -himself, ap^ pears, and his knowledge of the matters recited, is negatived only by tbe statement of «his -counsel. In the record which purports to be an application for a rehearing, nothing whatever is raad-e to appear «which would have justified «the trial court in granting a rehearing, -even if it «be conceded that tbe trial -court had -authority to grant such rehearing. Upon that question, «we «therefore find it unnecessary to express- any -opinion «whatever. The application was denied by -the trial court,- and1 ¡we think properly. The notice of appeal «is from1 (the order of the «court issued Dec. 20, 19x2, removing 'Celeste Issenhuth- from appellant's' custody, and committing her to the children's home, and from the «order of June 18, 1913, denying the motion -for -rehearing. It is recited in the- record -that counsel for appellant and respondent have stipulated ¡that a single ap-peal might be taken upon which both rulings might be reviewed [223]*223by tíiis court, and that respondent 'should' raise no question as to'a double appeal. Wie do not recognize the authority of counsel to malee any su-dh stipulation, but as the appeal from' the second order requires no further consideration, we shall not disouiss the matter Of the stipulation at greater length. The appeal from the order and judgment of Dec. 20, 1912, standing alone, presents but a cingle question, and that is as to jurisdiction or authority of the e-ircuit court, to entertain the proceeding, and enter the judgment and order complained of.

Appellant’s contention that the Circuit 'Court was without jurisdiction, is founded upon- two grounds. First, that Chap. 71, Daws of 1901, is unconstitutional, because it contains provisions not germane to matters expressed ini the title.of the act; second because the act attempts to confer on Circuit Courts, jurisdiction in matters of guardianship, which jurisdiction is vested in county courts, by the constitution.

[3] The first Contention is without merit, and no authority is cited which sustains it. Chap. 71, Laws 1901, was re-enacted with certain additional provisions, as Chap. 28 of the Political Code of 1903. It is not contended or suggested that the title of the latter enactment is defective.

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

Related

State Ex Rel. Minot v. Gronna
59 N.W.2d 514 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1953)
In Re Gomez
32 A.2d 138 (Supreme Court of Vermont, 1943)
Miles Laboratories, Inc. v. Owl Drug Co.
295 N.W. 292 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1940)
State Ex Rel. Neville v. Overby
209 N.W. 552 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1926)
Brady v. Cooper
193 N.W. 246 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1923)
In re Hook
115 A. 730 (Supreme Court of Vermont, 1922)
State ex rel. Card v. Gray
182 N.W. 320 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1921)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
148 N.W. 9, 34 S.D. 218, 1914 S.D. LEXIS 109, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-kronschnabel-v-isenhuth-sd-1914.