p. 140The points presented on the appeal sufficiently appear in the opinion of the court.
B. 0. Conable, for the appellant, plaintiff.
I. The court erred in refusing to allow the plaintiff to prove the amount paid by him in consequence of the illness and confinement of his daughter.I. The plaintiff had proved that the defendant had debauched his daughter, and that at the time of the debauching she was under age, and lived in his family, where she performed various acts of service for him; that she became pregnant by reason of her illicit intercourse with the defendant, and was confined and delivered of a child at the plaintiff’s house; and that the plaintiff' bore the expense of her confinement. This proof made out a clear cause of action, and entitled the plaintiff to show the amount of damages he had sustained, one item of which was the necessary expenses which he had been compelled to pay.II. It is not a good objection to the plaintiff’s proving the amount of expenses paid by him that his daughter had become of age prior to her confinement.1. She was under age at the time the cause of action accrued, which arose when she was seduced; from that time the plaintiff had a cause of action against the defendant.2. The expenses paid by the plaintiff were the necessary result of the defendant’s wrongful acts, although not incurred till after the daughter became of age.3. At the time of the daughter’s confinement she was still living with the plaintiff, and supported by him; and continued, except during her illness, to perform service for him as she always had.4. Even if of age at the time she was seduced, it would make no difference; her father would still be entitled to recover, under the facts in this case. (Badgley v. Decker, 44 Barb. 577 . Lipe v. Eisenlerd, 32 N. Y. Rep. 229 . Reeves Dom. Rel. 292.)3U. Eor is it any good objection to the plaintiff’s proving
p. 141the expenses paid by -him, that the defendant afterward gave. evidence tending to show that the daughter was a female of unchaste character.1. Evidence of unchastity only goes to the damages ; the plaintiff is entitled to recover his actual damages, although his daughter was of previous unchaste character. (Ackerly v. Haines, 2 Caines’ 292. White v. Nellis, 31 N. Y. Rep. 405 . 2 Greenl. Ev. § 577. Verry v. Watkins, 7 Carr. & Payne, 308.)IV. The court erred in allowing a witness (Campbell) to contradict the daughter about being in a supper room, both because such evidence was immaterial, and the defendant having interrogated the daughter on the subject, was concluded by her answer. Howard v. City Fire Ins. Co., 4 Denio, 502 . Commonwealth v. Buzell, 16 Pick. 158 .)V. The court erred in allowing the defendant to prove acts of improper intimacy between the daughter and the' other persons, as the defendant having interrogated Margaret on the subject, was concluded by her answers; the evidence was immaterial, and evidence of specific acts of unchastity was incompetent; the defendant could only give evidence of general character for chastity.VI. The court erred in charging the jury, that, in order to constitute seduction, the defendant must use insinuating arts to overcome her opposition and gain her consent; and must, by his wiles and persuations, without force, debauch her.It is no defense to a civil action by the father for the seduction of his minor daughter, that she consented willingly, and that no insinuating arts, wiles, or persuasions were employed to'gain her consent; nor even would it be a defense if she had invited or solicited the connection.She has no right to consent. The action is brought for injuries done to the rights of the father, without his consent. The daughter is his servant, and he is entitled to her service; and in this case she was actually in his service. She could not, by any contract or act of her own, either
p. 142• with or without the intervention of a third person, deprive her father of that right. To say that the presence of willingness on the part of the infant daughter, and the absence of wiles or artifices on the part of the seducer, is a defense to an action by the father for his damages, is equivalent to saying that the infant has it at all times in her power to deprive her father of his right to her services, without his consent. Such a doctrine is contrary to reason and to the fundamental principle that no man can be divested of his rights by the act of another, without his consent.VII. The court erred in charging that, if the testimony of the defendant was true, there could be no doubt that he was not guilty of seducing the defendant’s daughter, and the plaintiff could not recover.The defendant, in his testimony, admitted a clear case for the plaintiff; that he took the plaintiff’s daughter out for a walk, to a house of assignation; invited her to go in, which she did; he then had connection with her, and after-wards had connection with her at the same and other places; and did not deny that he was the father of the child. Upon this evidence the only question for the jury was one of damages. (Verry v. Watkins, 7 Carr. & Payne, 308.) The court, in the case last cited, in charging the jury, said: “ If you think that the defendant had such intercourse with the daughter of the plaintiff, as caused him to be the father of the child to which she gave birth, your verdict must be for the plaintiff.” (Ackerley v. Haines, 2 Caines, 291.)
VIH. The court erred in charging that the jury had the right to consider the evidence tending to prove the previous unchastity of the plaintiff’s daughter, as bearing upon the question of actual seduction.1. The only ground on which this- evidence could be received or considered, was upon the question of damages. (Ackerley v. Haines, 2 Caines, 291.)2. It is no defense to such an action that force was employed to overcome opposition, or to accomplish the seduction. The doctrine that the use of force is a protection to
p. 143the wrongdoer, against an action by the parent for his damages, is monstrous and absurd. It implies that the defendant has the right to do by force what he would not have the right to do by artifice and persuasion. In other words, that the defendant was justified in depriving the plaintiff of his right to his daughter’s service, provided he made use of force in doing so. The jury were substantially instructed to find in favor of the defendant, in case he employed force to debauch the plaintiff's daughter. This led to their verdict for the defendant; for the daughter testified that the defendant did make use of force.
3. Besides, the daughter being an infant, as in this case, was legally incapable of giving consent. She could not, by consent or contract, bind herself; much less could she bind her father. Even if, without the use of wiles or artifice, the infant did consent to, or even solicit, the intercourse, the defendant had no right to do the act, even as against herself, much less as against her father. Any other doctrine is repugnant to every fundamental principle of law, as well as morality. But the court did not put it to them upon this ground, but as bearing upon the question of actual seduction, for the court says: “ For it must be difficult to believe that a woman notoriously unchaste, could, in contemplation of law, be seduced.” This part of the charge misled the jury; from it they had the right to infer, and they were substantially told, that if they found the plaintiff’s daughter was of previous unchaste character, they should find a verdict in favor of the defendant.IX. Upon the conceded facts of the case, as testified to by the plaintiff’s witnesses, and admitted by the defendant, the jury were bound to find a verdict for the plaintiff* and their finding the other way is against evidence.
Edward McCarthy, for the respondent, defendant.
I. It was not error to reject testimony which the plaintiff proposed to offer, to show that he, had paid the expenses of his daughter’s confinement. At the period of her con
p. 144finement the young woman was over twenty-one years of age. Her father was under no legal obligation to pay the lying-in expenses, and the father, no more than a stranger, can recover them by suit against the defendant. Neither could the rejection of this proposed proof have affected the verdict of the jury. It could have been given only as evidence of specific damage, which resulted from the defendant’s wrongful act; if admitted, it would have been matter for the jury to consider when they should have come to determine the amount of damages to be given the plaintiff. But the jury did not get so far as this. By their verdict, they say that the plaintiff is entitled to no damages whatever. (Baynes v. Sinclair, 23 Vt. Rep. 113 . Sargent v.-, 5 Qowen, 121.) The principle is the same in this case as in that where the expense of rearing the child is sought to be recovered by the father of the person seduced. And the same answer is to be given in both cases. Where the parent voluntarily incurs expenses, which indawhe was under no obligation to bear, he cannot charge them as a loss consequent upon the act of the defendant. These were freely and voluntarily assumed by the parent.II. Evidence offered by the defendant was admitted, tending to show that the plaintiff’s daughter was a person of lewd character. To the admission of this evidence objection was made by the plaintiff, on the ground that the defendant was concluded on this point by the previous testimony of the daughter—who could not therein be contradicted, the evidence offered being immaterial. It was not error to admit this testimony.1. In an action to recover damages for the seduction of a servant, evidence of the servant’s unchaste and dissolute conduct and character has always been recognized as material and important. It may be a partial or a complete defense to the action. The jury may give it no more weight than would suffice to reduce a verdict of damages to a mere compensation for loss of service, or they may lay so much stress upon it as to reject he claim of the master to damages
p. 145altogether. And whether their verdict, influenced by this species of evidence, be for the plaintiff in a merely nominal sum, or for the defendant, is of no consequence.
2. The facts, being admitted, that the relationship of master and servant subsisted between the plaintiff and the person alleged to have been seduced; that there was criminal intercourse between this person and the defendant, to which the plaintiff did not consent, the plaintiff is entitled to exemplary or merely compensatory damages, or to none at all, just as in the opinion of the jury the circumstances surrounding a particular case either present or are devoid of, features of aggravation. These circumstances arise, always and necessarily, from the previous character of the servant. The verdict, based upon consideration of these circumstances, is to be respected, whether it award nominal damages only, to a plaintiff, or entirely acquit the defendant.3. This action is never brought to recover mere compensation for loss of service. Exemplary damages are always sought after, and frequently recovered—and these can be asked for and given only where there has been a seduction: the degradation of an innocent child or servant; the consequent shame and dishonor of her parent or master. Where there has been no seduction of an innocent person, consistency in applying the rule requires that exemplary damages be not given; that the plaintiff recover no more damages than by strict construction will make good his loss, and if no actual or tangible loss has been sustained, that he get no damages at all.4. Previous unchastity or lewdness of the servant may be shown in two ways. First, by evidence of general bad character, and unchaste conduct; second, by evidence of particular acts of lewdness. The servant herself cannot be questioned on these matters; rather, is it her privilege to refuse to answer any questions that will tend to her disgrace; but all other persons who have knowledge, may testify both as to the general bad character of the servant and as to particular acts of lewdness on her part. If she,
p. 146herself, choose to answer respecting these matters, she can therein be contradicted, because these are material to the issue, can always be put in proof, under the general plea of not guilty, and if clearly established, will authorize a verdict of merely nominal damages, or for the defendant.
5. The testimony offered and admitted was material; it directly affected the issue, for it went to show the commission of particular acts of lewdness and unchastity, by the plaintiff’s daughter. (Very v. Watkins, 7 Carr. & Payne, 308. Taylor on Evidence, 1164. Rex v. Robbins, 2 Moody & Rob. 512 . Andrews v. Askey, 8 Carr. & Payne, 7. Greenleaf on Evidence, vol. 2, 10th ed. eh. on Seduction. Cook v. Ellis, 6 Hill, 466 . 1 Phillips on Evidence, 760, 4th Am. ed. Carpenter v. Wall, 11 Adol. & Ellis, 803. Dodd v. Norris, 3 Camp. N. P. C. 519.).HI. The exceptions taken at the trial, viz: (First.) To that part of the charge which says that in order to constitute seduction the defendant must use insinuating arts to overcome the opposition of the seduced, and musit by his wiles and persuasions without force seduce her; or (Second,) to that part of the charge which says, that if the testimony of the defendant be true, he was not guilty of seducing her, and the plaintiff cannot recover; or (Third,) to that part of the charge which says, that the jury in this case have .a right to consider the testimony offered by the defendant, tending to prove the previous unchastity of the plaintiff’s daughter, are untenable.1. The third exception can be disposed of in a word. The authorities are unanimous, and the principle is undisputed, that this kind of evidence shall be admitted. Whether it go to defeat the action altogether or to reduce the verdict to a mere compensation, is nothing to the purpose; the exception is general. Had the court instructed the jury that they ought to weigh this evidence, in determining the question of damages, the charge, undisputedly, would have been correct. Indeed, the court went further than the exception, for the charge says, “ This evidence, in connection
p. 147with other evidence, is competent as bearing upon the question of actual seduction.” This part of the charge is correct, and for the obvious reason (given in the charge itself) to wit, that a woman of notoriously bad character, a common prostitute, cannot be seduced. Though this exception had been as precise as the charge, it would not have been well taken. The court had already said: “ Previous unchaste character of the seduced female is no defense to this action;” it maybe taken into consideration; ought to be considered, however, in determining the fact of seduction. And this fact should be carefully considered, because its presence ought to influence your verdict, certainly as to the degree, perhaps as to the nature of the offense.”2. The second exception is equally groundless. It excepts to what the charge does not contain. The court does not say that upon the testimony of the defendant, the plaintiff’s daughter was not seduced by him»; the court advances an opinion only. “It seems to me,” says the learned judge, “the defendant was not guilty of seducing the plaintiff’s daughter, if his evidence be true.” Surely such.an opinion could have been properly given.The court had already instructed the jury, that they were to determine whether the defendant was guilty of seducing the plaintiff’s daughter. ■ Again, says the court, “It is for you, the jury, and not for me, to say whether the plaintiff has made out a case.” The expression of opinion, then, was properly given, and could not have misled the jury.
Even if it had been an absolute statement, qualified only by the hypothesis of the truth of the defendant’s evidence, as the exception asserts, it nevertheless would have been correct as a matter of law. If the defendant told the truth, he did not seduce the plaintiff’s daughter. But the exception itself ought not to be regarded, for it is not an exception to the charge or to any part of the charge. The court neither said “ that .if the testimony of the defendant be true, there can be no doubt he was not guilty of seducing her,” nor that “ on this hypothesis the plaintiff can not recover.”
p. 148Throughout the charge, indeed, the court lays stress upon the fact of seduction. And properly, too, for if there had been no seduction, there could have been no damages, except by way of strict compensation for actual loss of service. But nowhere is it intimated that there must be seduction proved, or the plaintiff could not recover. On the contrary, it is strongly expressed, that mere seduction does not conclude the action ; that it is but an aggravating circumstance. The charge might have explicitly declared, that criminal intercourse, and consequent loss of service, were the necessary elements to maintain the action, but no such instruction was asked for. What bearing such an instruction could have had upon this evidence, it is hard to see. Not a word or sentence of the. case shows that the services of the child were of any value whatever to the plaintiff; that their loss affected him in any degree. If the jury had been directed to find a merely compensatory verdict, by what evidence could they have measured it ? Like almost every other case of its kind, this action is brought to recover exemplary damages. It shows cause for these or for none at all. (2 Greenleaf’s Evidence, 10th ed. 508. 8 Blackford, 123. Ackerly v. Haines, 2 Caines, 291.)3. The court says, “Seduction is the offense of a man who abuses the simplicity and confidence of a woman, to obtain by false promises what she ought not to grant. He must use insinuating arts to overcome her opposition and gain her consent, and must by his wiles and persuasion, without force, debauch her.” This language is the foundation of the plaintiff’s first exception.As a legal definition, and in the abstract, this part of the charge is entirely correct. Criminal connection, and seduction, are very different offenses in degree, surely, if not in kind. To have sexual commerce with a prostitute, or a public woman, though she be a minor, and though it give her parent or master a perfect legal right to maintain the action, per quod servitium' amisit, is not seduction, nor what the law means by this term. Neither is it seduction to
p. 149debauch a female vi ei armis. To employ force to debauch a female is no defense to the person against whom an action for loss of service is brought, and the court nowhere in this charge lays down a contrary principle. But an impure assault is no more a seduction than is mere carnal and mutually voluntary intercourse. Any one of the three offenses may be proved either to aggravate, mitigate, or to lead to the rejection of damages; but it is not error to distinguish between them, nor yet to instruct that seduction does not imply force, any more than that rape is not seduction. For what purpose is evidence of previous unchastity always admitted, other than to show whether supposed loss of service arise from voluntary sexual commerce, or the more aggravated offense of seduction, or of impure assault ? (Bouvier’s Law Dic. vol. 2, Seduction, and cases there cited.)In the light of the evidence offered, this instruction not only was correct, but apt and appropriate. Loss of service is the legal gravamen of this complaint, but the virtual ground of the action is the seduction of the plaintiff’s daughter. The plaintiff chose the old form of declaration in case, not trespass, and complains that the defendant did “ entice and persuade ” his child and servant. Not a word of the complaint charges or implies force by the defendant against the female. Not a word of the evidence justifies the supposition that force was used by the defendant. The young woman voluntarily accompanies him to, and cohabits with him at public brothels, many times. It was as necessary, then, as it was apposite, for the court to instruct the jury what seduction was, leaving it for the jury to say whether such an offense was made out.The charge of the court was correct.The daughter of the plaintiff in this case, on her cross-examination, had been interrogated • as to being in a supper room with one Campbell and as to acts of intimacy between her and said Campbell and one Dougherty. Afterwards the defendant called, on his behalf,
p. 150Campbell and Dougherty and interrogated them as-to those matters concerning which the daughter had been questioned. This was excepted to. The objections now urged, to its admissibility, are, 1st. That the evidence was immaterial. 2d. That the defendant having interrogated the daughter on the subject was concluded by her answer. 3d. That evience of specific acts of unchastity was incompetent. The objections are all clearly untenable. Evidence of unchastity, loose conduct, and bad character of the daughter is always admissible, in mitigation of damages.
(Stark. on Ev. vol. 2,
p. 991.
Saunders on Pl. and Ev. vol. 2,
p. 785.) Such unchastity and loose conduct may always be shown by proving particular instances thereof. The defendant was not concluded by the answers of the daughter. A party is concluded by the answers given on cross-examination only as to such matters as are merely collateral, and not as to those which are pertinent to the issue.
(Bok v.
Vincent, 12
Abb. 137 .
Newton v.
Harris, 6
N. Y. Rep. 345 .) As this defendant had a legal right to prove in mitigation of 'damages matters showing the unchastity, loose conduct and bad character of the daughter, they were pertinent to the issue.
The next exception presented for consideration is to that portion of the charge wherein the judge charged that “In order to constitute seduction the defendant must use insinating arts to overcome the opposition of the seduced, and must by his wiles and persuasions, without force, debauch her.” The definition is strictly accurate. This is the ordinary meaning and acceptation of the word “ seduce.” I have been unable to find that the law attaches any different meaning to it. Indeed it is, substantially, the definition given in BurriH’s Law Dictionary. The bare fact of criminal connection does not of itself constitute seduction. It may be the result of a mere bargain, an immoral one, it is true, incapable of enforcement,, but still a bargain, the proposition leading to which may have emanated from the woman, or which she-mayhave entered into coolly and deliberately,
p. 151well knowing the consequences, in consideration of obtaining some pecuniary or other coveted advantage thereby. Such a criminal intercourse does not fall within the ordinary and popular definition and acceptation of the term “ seduce,” and the law has ascribed a different definition to it. Again; the criminal connection may have been compelled by force. To designate such an act, the law uses the term rape, not seduction.
The next exception to the charge, as stated in the ease, is to that portion wherein the judge charged, “ If the testimony of the defendant be true there can be no doubt he was not guilty of seducing her, and the plaintiff cannot recover.” The words “ and plaintiff cannot recover,” are not in the charge as given. The balance of this portion of the charge is, under the evidence, strictly correct.
The next exception to the charge is to that part of the charge wdierein the judge charged the jury “ that they had a right to consider the evidence offered by the defendant, tending to prove the previous unchastity of the plaintiff’s daughter.” The exception, as taken,' is not well founded. The jury clearly had a right to consider that evidence in mitigation of damages. But the judge charged that the jury had a right to consider it in connection with other evidence as bearing on the question of actual seduction; and perhaps the exception may be considered as extending to this. Even if so, the charge, under the evidence in this case, was correct. There being a question as to whether the defendant did seduce the daughter, raised by the contradiction between the testimony of the daughter and the defendant, the evidence of previous unchaste conduct might well be considered as tending to corroborate the defendant’s evidence.
From the points of the plaintiff’s counsel he would seem to be laboring under the impression that his case is in a shape to raise two questions not before adverted to, viz: 1st. That the fact of a criminal intercourse is of itself suffi
p. 152cient to justify a recovery of damages beyond a mere compensation for loss of service and a reimbursement for expenses incurred; or 2d. That it is sufficient to justify at least a recovery for such loss and expenses. In this, I think, he is in error. All the portions of the charge excepted to are correct. The difficulty is, the charge does not go far enough; it neither affirms nor denies either of these propositions. To bring the question up, the counsel should have called the attention of the court to them by specifically requesting him to charge the affirmative of them,' and excepting, in case of refusal so to do (
Waugh v.
Waugh, 28
N. Y. Rep. cited from p. 109.)
But suppose we consider these questions as if they were properly brought up. Allowing a plaintiff in this class of actions to recover damages other than to compensate for the loss of service and to reimburse such expenses as the plaintiff was under a legal liability to incur, is an anomaly in the law. This anomaly has thus far covered those eases only where the female was seduced, (as that term is above defined,) by the defendant.. The anomaly had its origin in detestation of the act of the man, who, after having by his arts, guile and persuasions lured a young, virtuous, inexperienced girl from the path of virtue, casts her off as a thing of shame, plunging her into the deepest of misery, and inflicting the greatest of all injuries on her parents and family. As the commission of the act of connection was with her consent, she could not, under the rules of law, sustain an action in her own name. The courts, then, with the view of punishing so outrageous an act, which otherwise would go unwhipt of justice, allowed the master, when a female servant had thus been seduced, to recover exemplary damages in an action brought to recover for the loss of the servant’s services. Following out the same doctrine, exemplary damages were allowed in all cases where the defendant, by his arts, persuasion and guile had induced the female to consent to the particular act of connection, although she may have previously been unchaste, or guilty of loose and immodest
p. 153conduct; but as it necessarily followed that the seduction of one previously unchaste, or guilty of loose and immodest conduct, would not be as outrageous, as that of one pure and virtuous, the defendant was allowed to give the matter in evidence. The practical effect of this was to proportion the exemplary damages to the nature and character of the seductive arts used, and the previous character and conduct of the seduced; in some instances the damages being merely nominal.
As the action is founded on the relation of master and servant between the plaintiff and the seduced, and the loss of service sustained by the master through the act of the defendant, the exemplary damages being simply a superstructure upon this foundation, it followed that if the foundation was destroyed the superstructure fell with it. Therefore if either the relation of master and servant did not exist, or the master sustained no loss of service, the whole action fell, and no matter how outrageous the conduct of the defendant, no damages could be recovered against him. It will therefore be seen that the means of punishment devised by the courts was inadequate to meet all cases. It, perhaps, is to be regretted that the courts were, by their indignation and detestation of a defendant’s arts, led, against all principle, to fasten on this class of actions the doctrine that exemplary damages could be recovered. They have frequently been obliged to resort to flimsy pretexts to render the doctrine applicable to particular cases, and, after all, there are many cases which they have been unable, by any pretext or fiction, thus far discovered or announced, to subject to the doctrine.
If the courts had not interfered at all, there can be but little question that legislative enactments would have furnished a remedy based on rational principles, and covering all cases deserving to be provided for. As, however, the doctrine, on which exemplary damages are given in these actions, is, that otherwise the defendant would escape from
p. 154merited punishment, since the seduced could bring no action, it is clear it has no application where the connection was had by force, for in that case the woman would have a right of action for assault and battery, the forcible connection being part of the battery, and rendering it an exceedingly aggravated one.
It is equally clear the doctrine has no application, when the connection was had without the use of force or seductive arts. Exemplary damages are given, not to punish for the mere act of connection, but for the disgraceful, dishonorable and outrageous conduct of a man in inducing a female to throw down the barriers of repugnance, modesty and virtue, stifle the monitor of morality, and consent to-an act, the inevitable result of which is degradation.
In closing this branch of the case, I refer to a few extracts from an opinion of that eminent, discriminating jurist, Chief Justice Bronson. (Bartley v. Richtmyer, 4 N. Y. Rep. 38 .) “ The principle is the same as it is in an action for beating a servant, by means of which the master loses his services; In neither case does the act done to the servant give any right of action to the master, unless it results in an injury to him. For the beating itself the servant may sue, and so she might, for the debauching, if it were not for her consent. The principle is plain enough; but it has, to some extent, been lost sight of by the courts in their zeal to punish the defendant, and do something to heal the wounded feelings of others. It is obvious from the nature of the case that the master ought not, in point of principle, to recover any thing more than a compensation for the pecuniary loss which he has sustained, and such was formerly the rule in this action, as it is still where the master sues for the battery of a servant. But it is now settled that a father may recover exemplary damages for the seduction of his daughter. And verdicts for exemplary damages have also been allowed in a few instances, where the action was not brought by the father. But this error has not yet become
p. 155bo inveterate as to be beyond the reach of judicial correction.”
Again, he says: “It is worthy of grave consideration whether it would not be well for the legislature to restore the old rule by limiting the recovery to the value of the services lost, and the amount of the expenses incurred in consequence of the injury. Parents would not be less watchful over their daughters for knowing that they could not make a pecuniary profit by their dishonor; and females would not be less chaste, if they knew that disgrace and shame, without any reward, would certainly follow transgression.” “The seducer deserves the severest censure; but if he is charged with any thing more than the pecuniary damages resulting to the parent, it is well worthy of consideration whether the matter should, not be regarded as a public, rather than a private wrong. I cannot yet consent to the modern doctrine that woman’s virtue should be fenced about by penal statutes If it has no higher and: more holy shield, it certainly will not withstand the trial. If such laws were not intended for good, I should regard them as an insult to the sex. There is nothing in this particular case which should tempt us to amend the law, if we had a right to do it, to uphold the verdict. Although Gitty was a witness on the trial there is not a particle of evidence to show that there was any thing Wee seduction, in the ease. JFor aught that appears, she may have heen as much in fault as the defendant.”
The first proposition, then, viz. that in these cases the bare fact of a criminal intercourse is sufficient to justify exemplary damages, is not warranted by any principle, or any adjudged case. With reference to the second proposition, viz. that the bare fact of a criminal intercourse entitles the master, who, at the time of the intercourse, had a right to the services of the female servant which has been impaired by that act, to recover compensation for the impairment of that right, and' for such expenses as he legitimately incurred and was legally liable for, I think it is cor
p. 156rect, but in addition to the difficulty that the judge’s attention was not called to this point, and no request was made to him to submit the case to the jury in this aspect, there is another; the services lost were of the most trivial character, and would call for but nominal damages. Indeed no evidence of their value was offered. Judgments áre not reversed to enable a recovery of but nominal damages. If, then, the plaintiff is not entitled to recover for the expenses which he offered to prove, it would be improper to reverse the judgment for an error in not submitting it to the jury in ■ this aspect, even if the judge had been requested so to submit it.
This leads to the last exception remaining to be noticed, which is to the exclusion of the answer to the question, “ State the amount paid by the plaintiff in consequence of the illness of his daughter arising from her intercourse with the defendant ? ” When these expenses were incurred, the daughter was over twenty-one years of age. Therefore, under the proof in this case, there rested no legal obligation on the plaintiff to incur these expenses. He cannot, by voluntarily taking upon himself a duty not imposed by law, cast upon the defendant a burden which otherwise he would not have to bear.
But at the time the question was asked, the evidence was admissible in another point of view. Proof had been given tending to show a seduction of the daughter by the defendant. It could not then be told how the jury would find on the question of a seduction. All evidence, then, properly admissible on the assumption of there having been seduction, should have been received. Eow, as in the event of the jury finding that there was seduction, they had a right to inflict on the defendant exemplary damages, all evidence which would tend to furnish data for such damages should be received. It certainly is proper that a seducer' should pay lying-in expenses, as well as those of medical attendance. And when these are paid by the parent or master,
p. 157that fact, and the amount of the expenses, should certainly form an item in the exemplary damages given, as well as the injury done to the girl, the disgrace brought on her or her family, or the laceration of the feelings of the parent or those standing
in loco parentis.I think, therefore, there was error in excluding this testimony. But since the jury, after the question of seduction had been fairly put to them, found that there was no seduction, the error has become immaterial. The proposed evidence had not, and could not have, the slightest bearing on the question of seduction, upon which alone the jury rendered this verdict. As these expenses were not recoverable except in case of seduction, and as the jury has found there was no seduction, upon which finding the testimony offered could not possibly have exerted any influence, the error in excluding it has become immaterial, and the judgment should not be reversed therefor.
Judgment affirmed, with costs.