Vierling v. Binder

85 N.W. 621, 113 Iowa 337

Opinion

McClain, J.

1 The parties became acquainted with each, other by reason of defendant’s 'advertisement through a matrimonial agency. After considerable coiwespondence, plaintiff agreed to go from Toledo, Ohio, -where she resided, to Burlington, Iowa, the place of defendant’s residence, in order that defendant might become better acquainted with her, and in the mutual hope expressed on both sides that marriage would result if defendant should find himself satisfied to take the plaintiff as his wife. It is not claimed that there was any contract of marriage until after plaintiff reached Burlington, but plaintiff claims that on the second day after her arrival in Burlington (i. e. on June 21, 1898) defendant entered into a verbal contract to marry her, without specification as to the exact time for the marriage, and that again, on November 22, 1898, defendant agreed to marry plaintiff within two months from that date. Bor the purpose of explaining the relations between plaintiff and defendant at the time the alleged agreements were charged to have been made, and also to show that no such agreements to marry were entered into, defendant avers that, during the time he was paying attentions to plaintiff with a view of determining whether he would make her a proposal of marriage, he ascertained that she was afflicted with ovarian and other troubles which impaired and injured her health, and which would prevent her from becoming a desirable wife, and that he-informed plaintiff that, because of her physical ailments and her characteristics and disposition, he was satisfied that she would not make him a desirable wife, and that they should not become engaged, with the intention of future marriage.

2 3 4 I. Appellant.claims that the trial court in an instruction limited the jury to the consideration of the question whether or not the contract of marriage was made and broken, and directed them that this was the sole test of liability, and urges that the evidence of physical defects and poor health should have been considered as a defense to the action for breach of contract, even if such contract was shown to have been made. It is true, no doubt, that physical defects or disease which incapacitate the woman for the marriage state or for the birth of children, if unknown to the other party to the contract at the time the contract was entered into, may be pleaded and proven in bar to an action for breach of the contract of marriage. Gring v. Lerch, 112 Pa. St. 244(3 Atl. Rep. 841) ; Goddard v. Westcott, 82 Mich. 180 (46 N. W. Rep. 242). Likewise the incapacity or unfitness of the man for the marital relation, accruing after the making of the contract, without his fault, or unknown to him at the time the contract was made, may be shown. Shackleford v. Hamilton, 93 Ky. 80 (19 S. W. Rep. 5, 15 L. R. A. 831); Gardner v. Arnett (Ky.) 50 S. W. Rep., 840; Allen v. Baker, 86 N. C. 91; Sanders v. Coleman, 97 Va. 690 (34 S. E. 621). But the diseased condition of the plaintiff, which defendant sets up in this case,' was alleged as bearing on the question whether defendant entered into- any contract of marriage, and not as a bar to the action for breach of contract. Not until appellant asked instruction on this matter did it appear that he relied on any such defense. Eor this purpose the matter should have been pleaded by way of confession and avoidance, and it was not so pleaded. It may be true that, where evidence of matter which is clearly in bar has been received without objection, the court should treat the defense as having been pleaded, and instruct the jury on such issue; but where evidence has properly been admitted on the theory of the case presented by the pleadings, we know of no rule or practice which requires the court to instruct the jury as to the effect of such evidence with reference to an issue not raised by the pleadings. The court therefore properly limited the ■ jury, in the consideraion of the evidence as to plaintiff’s physical condition, to the question whether a contract of marriage was' made, and properly refused to give instructions asked by defendant directing the jury to consider this evidence as tending to show that defendant was not liable for breach of the contract, if made. Certainly-the court is justified in instructing the jury in accordance with the theory on which the case was tried1, and does not commit an error in refusing to present issues which might have been raised, and to which the evidence would have been pertinent, but which were not raised or considered in 'the trial of the case. Appellant seems to think that the evidence in question ought to have been considered by way of mitigation of damages, but he did not in his instructions, suggest that the evidence was to be considered in mitigation, but asked that it be treated as constituting a bar. Moreover, the proper rule of pleading seems to be that even matter in mitigation should be specially pleaded as a partial defense, and cannot be proven under a general denial. Pomeroy, Remedies, section 695.

5 II. Appellant complains of the refusal of the court to sustain the motion made by him at the conclusion of his evidence asking that plaintiff be required' to submit to a physical examination by physicians to be appointed by' the court, for the purpose of determining whether her physical condition was such as to present an obstacle to marriage. Without discussing the question whether, if defendant had properly pleaded such defensive matter as a bar, such an examination could have been ordered, it is enough to say that the result of such an examination would have had no bearing on any issue in the case. The only question at issue involving plaintiff’s physical condition related to the times when defendant’s promises of marriage were alleged to have been made, and not to her condition at the time of the trial, as involving her fitness to marry. It is plain that the motion was with reference to this theory of the case; for defendant alleges in his motion that he 'sets' forth in his answer, as a part of his defense, that he could not become engaged to or marry the plaintiff since their first acquaintance, among other reasons, owing to her physical infirmities and disabilities,” and the court overruled the motion on the ground that the cause of action was based upon' a' breach of contract. As bearing on the question as to whether defendant did promise to marry plaintiff, the evidence of her physical condition was collateral only, and did not relate to the matter immediately under investigation. Certainly a physical examination should be ordered only when it is necessary to determine the existence of the very cause of action or defense pleaded in the case. Such an examination is for the purpose of bringing before the jury, as nearly as may be, the real evidence relating to the cause of action or defense. 2 Jones, Evidence, section 397 et seq.; Schroeder v. Railroad Co., 47 Iowa, 375; Hall v. Town of Manson, 99 Iowa, 678, 711. The question at issue in this case was whether the contract had been made, and the physical condition of the plaintiff was not real evidence with reference to that question, even though it might bear collaterally upon it.

6 III. The defendant assigns as error the overruling of 'his objection to the testimony of a witness whogave evidence as to the specific pieces of real property owned by defendant, and their value. The contention is that, while evidence of the defendant’s reputation as to wealth is admissible, it is not proper to show specifically what property he had at the time of entering into the contract of marriage. There’is an observation in Kniffen v. McConnell, 30 N. Y. 285, which seems to support appellant’s view; but this is made without citation of authority, and is out of hármony with the other decisions on the subject. It is true that evidence of general reputation is admissible. Chellis v. Chapman, 125 N. Y. 214 (26 N. E. Rep. 308, 11 L. R. A. 784); Stratton v. Dole, 45 Neb. 472 (63 N. W. Rep. 875), But it seems to have been the common practice in such cases to allow specific evidence of defendant’s pecuniary circumstances to be introduced. Rime v. Rater, 108 Iowa, 61; Sprague v. Craig, 51 Ill. 288; Douglas v. Gausmann, 68 Ill. 170; Clark v. Hodges, 65 Vt. 273 (26 Atl. Rep. 726). This Is in accordance with the general theory on which the jury :are allowed to take into account the defendant’s financial 'Condition in such actions, to-wit, that plaintiff has lost a pe euniaxy advantage by reason of breach of the contract which she would have had if the contract had been carried out. What plaintiff has lost in such cases is not merely marriage to a man reputed to be wealthy but marriage to a man who has actually the means to support her in such style as his reputation in this respect would justify. 3 Sutherland, Damages, section 98; Holloway v. Griffith, 32 Iowa, 409; James v. Biddington, 6 Car. & P. 589; Coolidge v. Neat, 129 Mass. 146; Allen v. Baker, 86 N. C. 91; Bennett v. Beam, 42 Mich. 346 (4 N. W. Rep. 8).

7 8 Appellant also objects that the evidence introduced related to his pecuniary condition at the time of the trial, and not at the time of the making of the promise, but the time to which the evidence related was not so remote from that at which the promise was claimed to have heen made as to render it inadmissible on that theory. Defendant could have shown, if he saw fit, that this property was acquired' after the making of the promise. Dent v. Pickens, 34 W. Va. 240 (12 S. E. Rep. 698). More than this, the evidence was without prejudice; for the total amount of defendant’s property as testified to by the witness did not exceed the amount of defendant’s wealth as stated by him in his correspondence with plaintiff prior to the alleged contract.

IV. Appellant assigns as error the refusal of the lower •court to grant a new trial on account of the insufficiency of the evidence to support the verdict, hut we find that there is a conflict in the evidence, and have no occasion to interfere with the result. — Affirmed.