Marshall v. Marshall

The pleadings in this cause admit that the plaintiff, prior to his alleged marriage with the defendant, had been married to one Elizabeth Marshall, who in the year 1858, by the judgment of this court, procured against the present plaintiff a judgment of divorce for adultery committed by him. The decree in that cause contained the clause prescribed by the statutes of this State permitting the said Elizabeth to marry again, but forbidding the present plaintiff from contracting a second marriage during the life-time of the said Elizabeth. The pleadings further concede that the parties to this action, they both then residing in this State, were on the 20th day of September, 1866, married in Susquehanna, in the State of Pennsylvania, and that after the marriage the parties returned to this State and resided therein. The defendant avers

After the parties to this suit had become, as it is alleged by the plaintiff, husband and wife, they lived together as such until about July, 1873, when the plaintiff, claiming the marriage to be a legal and valid one, commenced this action to be relieved and free from its obligations on account, as he declares, of the adultery of the defendant.

The cause being at issue, a motion was made at the special term for issues to be tried by a jury and denied. Judge Donohue, who held the term, deciding that a citizen of this State who in contempt of its laws and its judicial decree had contracted a second marriage, had no standing whatever in the court for the purpose of being relieved from obligations which had been assumed contrary to the injunctions of such laws and such decree.

The plaintiff appealing to this court from such order, presents two questions for adjudication: First. Was the marriage with the defendant a legal and valid marriage ? Second.- If it was, has the plaintiff who disobeyed thé judgment and decree of a court of competent jurisdiction any standing whatever in that court when he comes therein and asks to be relieved from obligations which he -has assumed contrary to its express command ?

In the discussion of these questions it will be observed that both parties, at the time of the alleged marriage, were residents of this State, owing allegiance to its laws. When they left its territory for Pennsylvania and had the marriage ceremony there performed, it was (as must be assumed from their immediate return) with the intention to make this State their domicile, and although it may be true that the husband did not fear “an indictment for bigamy,” if the ceremony was performed here and which he had no reason to fear (People v. Hovey, 5 Barb. 117 ), still, from the express averments of the complaint, it is evident that while residing here they went into another State for the simple purpose of being united in

The validity of a marriage like the present has been an open question in this State. In Cropsey v. Ogden, 11 N. Y. 228 , Johnson, J., says:' “It is not necessary for us to consider what would have been the effect of a marriage celebrated out of this State. ETo such question was presented in the case.” In Haviland v. Halstead, 34 N. Y. 643 , Davies, Ch. J., says: “The question is not here whether a marriage contracted in another State and solemnized there between these parties would be a legal and valid marriage here, but whether, in effect, this plaintiff, a party to an illegal and void contract by the laws of this State, can in effect enforce it here.” It is true that Smith, J. (pages 646 and 647), in the same case says: “ It may be assumed that if a marriage had taken place between the parties in ETew Jersey, in pursuance of their contract, such marriage would have been recognized and treated as valid by the courts of this State, even although the parties had gone into New Jersey with intent to evade the laws of this State.” But this doctrine has never been so held in this State. In support .of this statement the learned judge cites several Massachusetts cases and Story on Conflict of Laws. It will be shown hereafter that this is not now the law of Massachusetts, and that in the most recent edition of Judge Story’s work a marriage like the present is declared to be void.

As the question then is as yet unadjudicated here, let us see what statutes we have for our guidance: (1) A marriage contracted by a person situated as is this plaintiff is forbidden. “Whenever a marriage shall be dissolved pursuant to the provisions of this article, the complainant may marry again during the life-time of the defendant; but no defendant convicted of adultery shall marry again until the death of the complainant. 2 R. S. 146; § 49. - (2) But not only is such a marriage forbidden, but another provision (2 R. S. 139, § 5) reiterating the forbidding declares “ every marriage contracted in violation of the provisions of this section shall,

I am aware that it is argued that our statutes are fully satisfied by a construction which limits their prohibition and declaration to a second marriage contracted within this State, and that our legislature did not intend to pronounce one void which was celebrated ■beyond that limit. In' answer to this position it is insisted that, however plausible the suggestion is, it involves consequences so grave that courts should never adopt it and thereby impute an intent to our law-makers to do that which the moral sense condemns. If the assumption be true that the legislature of New York only intended to declare the second marriage void, when the same took place within its State lines, then it must also be assumed that they intended to permit a party divorced for his or her adultery to go beyond these limits and marry again whilst the former husband or wife was living, and that this was- done, when its evident effect, as could be plainly seen, would be the destruction of the system of marriage and divorce which they had created. Will it be seriously argued that this was intended? That our legislature really designed when either party to the marriage relation desired to sever that tie, and contract another, to place every facility within easy reach so to do, and to tempt that party to sin to accomplish the purpose?

The divorced citizens of New York who have sought other States as a residence to dissolve a contract over which, for the causes assigned, our courts had no power, have certainly been subjected to' a useless and unnecessary expense if our laws are to be construed in accordance with this view óf legislative intent. Why did not these persons commit an open act of adultery, and when freed in this State by a decree of divorce granted for that act, cross over into New Jersey or Pennsylvania, celebrate there a second marriage, and at once return to our State to. enjoy its advantages? This, it is argued, would be all legal and proper, and just what was -intended Can a construction which imports such an intent be sound? Its statement is the best'answer. •

But again: That portion of our statute before quoted which declares a second marriage “absolutely void,” has been con

We assume, then, that so far as it is possible for this State to protect itself against a marriage such as this plaintiff has contracted, by the force of express legislation it hag so done; and if the courts of this sovereignty are bound to respect and hold valid that which its own legislature has declared “ absolutely void,” and to so hold in favor of one of its own citizens, who, at the time he did the forbidden act, as such citizen owed to its laws allegiance and obedience, then it may well be doubted whether it is able to protect its own morals or the sanctities of the married state within its own limits. Hay, it is a matter of no doubt whatever, for if the principle contended for by 'the plaintiff in this cause is sound, then all marriages depend upon the will of the parties who have assumed

It is true that at one time marriages, such as has been contracted in the case before us, have been held good in Massachusetts (Inhab. of Medway v. Inhab. of Needham, 16 Mass. 157 ; Inhab. of West Cambridge v. Inhab. of Lexington, 1 Pick. 433 ), but it seems to have been so held when the statutes of that State simply prohibited them without declaring them void when contracted. Since those decisions were made, however, that State has declared, by express enact- . ment, that marriages contracted by residents thereof under the same circumstances with the present, in another State or country, shall be deemed void (R. S. of Mass., ch. 75, § 6), and the validity of that' l statute has been recognized by its courts. Sutton v. Warren, 10 Metc. 451 ; Commonwealth v. Hunt, 4 Cush. 49 ; see opinion of Dewey, J., pp. 50,51. A well-known Massachusetts author (Bishop) in his work on Marriage and Divorce, whilst maintaining that marriage like the present, when simply forbidden, must be treated as valid, if legal in the State where contracted, also admits (§ 369, vol 1, 5th ed.), that “ this rule, like other common-law rules, is subject to the legislative control,” and that it has been so controlled in Massachusetts “since the contrary point was decided by its courts.” Of the soundness of this doctrine there can be, it seems to us, very little question, unless

This principle has also been decided in the House of Lords in England, -in Brook v. Brook, 7 Jurist, N. S. 422. In that case (page 423) Campbell, Lord Chancellor, said: “ There can be no doubt of the general rule that a foreign marriage, valid according to the law of the country where it is celebrated, is good everywhere. But, my lords, while thé forms of entering into the contract of marriage are to be regulated by the lex loci contractus, the law of the country in which it is celebrated, the essentials of the contract depend upon the lex domicilii, the law of the country in which the parties are domiciled at the time of the marriage and in which the matrimonial residence is contemplated. Although the forms of celebrating the foreign marriage may be different from those required by the law of the country of domicile, the marriage would be good everywhere. But if the contract of marriage is such in essentials as to be contrary to the law of the country of domicile, and is declared void by that law, it is to be regarded as void in the country of domicile though not contrary to the law of the country in which it was celebrated. This qualification upon the rule that a marriage valid where celebrated is good everywhere, is to be found in the writings of all eminent jurists who have discussed the subject.”

It is claimed, however, that this opinion of Lord Campbell, which was sustained by the House of Lords of Great Britain, has no application to the case before us It is submitted in reply that

Brook v. Brook, and the opinion of Lord Chancellor Campbell, is expressly approved in Story on Conflict of Laws (7th ed.), § 124 b. In that work, after stating the rule laid down by the Lord Chancellor, that a foreign marriage is good if contrary to the non-essentials of the law of the domicile, provided it be in conformity with the regulations of the State where it is contracted; but not good if contrary to the essentials, and declared void by the law of the domicile, though permitted and allowed by the lex loci contractus, it is said: “ It seems to us that this qualification of the rule as to the general binding force of the law of the place of celebration of marriage, will enable us to steer clear of most of the embarrassments attending the question,' and at the same time to reconcile most, if not all, of the conflict in the opinions of the leading jurists upon the subject. And, unless this qualification is allowed, there is produced a state of anarchy and confusion upon the subject of this fundamental relation of society — whereby any State may be compelled to recognize the perfect validity and binding force of polygamous marriages. For polygamy is probably recognized by the law of nature, if the majority of the people of the earth are allowed to determine that question by an appeal to the past history of the race. And if the practice of the Hebrews were conclusive upon the matter that will be found to bear in the same direction.”

It is scarcely necessary to pursue this discussion. We freely admit that learned publicists and reported cases differ. This State, where the question has never been decided, is free to choose the rule which, in its view, is the sounder in reason, and most conducive to public morals. The effects necessarily resulting from a counter opinion require us to hold that our legislature intended not only to prohibit, but to declare void such a marriage as we have now before us. The later cases, and the later editions of the works of Bishop and Story, hold that a State can declare it void. Unless we are prepared to say that adultery has no effect upon the right of the guilty party again to marry, when divorce has been granted for that sin, and in so holding, to tempt parties to do the act that they may contract a second marriage, we should adjudge these parties not legally husband and .wife, and thus adopt that as the law of all similar cases. It is the alleged wife who makes the point, and she

Apart, however, from the question discussed we think that the decision at the special term was also right for the reason then assigned. The plaintiff was forbidden by the judgment of this court pronounced when divorcing him from his former wife, from contracting a second marriage during her life. That command he has disobeyed, and he now asks the identical court which forbade the act to absolve him from the very contract which he perfected contrary to its mandate.

If he has incurred obligations to another by his disobedience to the court, he should be allowed to relieve himself as best he can. This court has power as was determined in Brinkley v. Brinkley 47 N. Y. 40 , to prevent any person in contempt from taking “ any aggressive proceedings against his adversary.” It may strike out an answer and thus deprive him of a trial. This plaintiff confessedly in contempt, takes an aggressive step against another and founds the right to proceed upon an act which the court had forbidden. If issues, by striking out an answer, may be refused to a defendant who sets at naught the authority of the court, they surely may be to a plaintiff who, in asking those issues, tells this tribunal that its commands are impotent and its judgment a nullity.

I am awdlre that the question in Brinkley v. Brinkley arose out of a proceeding in that cause, and that that case does not, in terms, cover one, when a party in contempt seeks to bring another suit. It does, however, decide that even though a party may be authorized by law to bring or defend a suit, his proceedings therein may be stayed if he is in contempt. The statute which gives the right to a suitor in court to bring or defend an action is the same which authorizes him to proceed in a second.

Concede the power of the court in any case to strike out a pleading because of a contempt committed by that party toward. the court, and it necessarily follows that the only restraint upon the power of the court toward that party is the exercise of a sound discretion.

It would not, it is fully conceded, be the exercise of a sound judicial discretion to hold that a party in contempt has no right to bring any action in this court, but while conceding this, it is maintained with equal earnestness, that when a party seeks relief from an act which he has been forbidden to do, the court to which such application is addressed has a right to withhold the remedy asked. This, we submit, is the exercise of a sound judicial discretion, and is neither arbitrary nor unreasonable. Mr. Marshall had been forbidden by the solemn judgment of this court from contracting a second marriage. This suit is founded upon his disobedience of the command. By it we are informed that our mandate has been disregarded and our power defied, and while communicating this information we are told that that which we have forbidden to be done is valid and legal despite the forbidding, and that we are compelled to use the power which the law has conferred upon us to aid him in the offense he has committed.

We cannot consent thus to stultify ourselves. We cannot so hold and we decide that this is a proper case to refuse the relief sought, and we now place such a refusal among the penalties of such con-tempts if it never has been before so adjudicated.

The order of the special term appealed from should be affirmed, with costs.

I am of opinion that the statute ought to be so construed as to apply to a case where a party, resident and domiciled in this State, and without any intention of changing his residence, steps across the State line to pass through the ceremony of marriage, intending to return, and actually returning to this State and there continuing his residence. At all events, the question is one that has not been settled to the contrary, in this State, and the most direct way to bring it before the court of last resort is afforded by

dissenting. The importance of the question discussed, in the opinion of Mr. Justice Westbrook, not only justifies, but requires a statement of the reasons for dissenting from the conclusion maintained by that learned judge. It affects the rights and the validity, not only of the plaintiff’s marriage, but also that of all others who have solemnized their marriages in other States, after having been prohibited from marrying again during the lifetime of a former husband or wife, by the judgment or decree pronounced by one of the courts of this State. This prohibition follows the statute of the State, and it includes all those cases and only the cases where a former marriage may be dissolved by judgment or decree, by reason of the marital criminal misconduct of the party affected by the prohibition. Wherever a marriage may be dissolved by any one of the courts of this State, for the criminal misconduct of one of the parties to it, that party is prohibited from marrying again during the life-time of the innocent party. A preceding marriage, entered into by the plaintiff, was so dissolved by this court, on the application of his innocent wife. And he was prohibited, by the judgment entered, from marrying again during her life. But, notwithstanding, that, while continuing to inhabit this State, he contracted another marriage with the- defendant, which was solemnized in the State of Pennsylvania, and to hold him released from its obligations now would simply reward him for the wrong which he then committed. It does not appear that the defendant left the State for the solemnization of that marriage, with the design of evading its laws and doing there what would be plainly unlawful here; and for that reason she must be acquitted from all intentional wrong, while the effect of holding her marriage void would be to simply punish her and exonerate her criminal husband, and that is a result which should not be maintained, unless clearly required by the laws of the State.

That the laws require no such severity by construction appears very clearly from the provision which has been made upon this subject. For by that a second marriage by the guilty party in the preceding action is not prohibited “whenever or wherever contracted.” But the prohibition applies to the subsequent marriage of such party whenever or wherever the previous marriage may have been

For that reason, although the statute declares the marriage of the guilty party whose former marriage has been dissolved by a decree of divorce-void, its effect should be limited to the case of marriage solemnized in this State. The purpose of the law was to restrain the performance of the act within this State and not to affect the conduct of its citizens when they might be in other States and under as well as subject to different laws.

This principle has repeatedly been applied to marriages unlawful in the State or country where they have been brought in controversy, but solemnized where the laws imposed no such disability on either of the parties. The general rule is stated by Chancellor Kestt in the following words:

“As the law of marriage is a part of the jus gentium, the general rule undoubtedly is, that a marriage valid or void by the law of the place where it is celebrated is valid or void everywhere.” 2 Kent’s Com. (7th ed.) 59. And he refers to a very early case decided by the spiritual court, in England, sustaining that statement of the law. This decision is stated to have been gravely qriestioned, but it is added that the settled law is now understood to be that which was decided by the spiritual court, and that principle-is “ that, in’respect to marriage, the lex loci contractus prevails over the lex domicilii as being the safer rule, and one dictated by just and enlightened views of international jurisprudence.” Id. 30.

“It is a part of the jus gentium of Christian Europe, and infinite mischief and confusion would ensue with respect to legitimacy, succession, and other rights, if the validity of the marriage contract was not to be tested by the laws of the country where it was made. ” Id. 61. The same principle is maintained by Story in his work on the Conflict of Laws, §§ 89, 113, 114, 123, 123 a, 123 b.

In Massachusetts the validity of marriages solemnized in other States by its own inhabitants, under circumstances prohibited by its

In the succeeding case of Inhab. of West Cambridge v. Inhab. of Lexington, 1 Pick. 505 , which, in its circumstances, was like the case now before the court, the marriage was held valid on the same understanding of the effect of a statute simply prohibiting it. The same chief justice in his opinion said: “ We think it very clear that by the laws of this commonwealth, the marriage of a guilty party after a divorce, a vinculo, if contracted within this State, would be unlawful and void.” Id. 508 . But with that understanding of the effect of the statute prohibiting it, the court held the marriage valid because it had been solemnized in another State, which had enacted no such prohibition.

And in Dickson v. Dickson’s Heirs, 1 Yerg. 110 , the supreme court of Tennessee held the same thing. Catos, J., in delivering the opinion, said: “Had Mary married a second time in Kentucky, such second marriage would not. be void because she continued the wife of Benjamin May, but because such second marriage in that State would have been in violation of a highly penal law against bigamy ; and it being a well-settled principle of law that

The principle that the validity of marriage must depend upon the laws of the place in which it may be solemnized, was further maintained in Putnam v. Putnam, 8 Pick. 433 , where the guilty party to a divorce decreed in Massachusetts, was afterward married in Connecticut. Sutton v. Warren, 10 Metc.’ 451 , and Clark v. Clark, 8 Cush. 385 , sustain the same view of the law. The case of Commonwealth v. Hunt, 4 Cush. 49 , arose after the statute had been changed so as to declare the subsequent marriage void, but that circumstance was not of itself considered of sufficient importance to change the principle. The section making the change, provided that: “In cases of divorce from the bond of matrimony, the innocent party may marry again as if the other party were dead. Any marriage contracted by the guilty party during the life of the other, except as provided in the following section, shall be void, and such party shall be adjudged guilty of polygamy.” The succeeding section included only cases where the court might give.,'the guilty party leave to marry again.

Dewey, J., in the case last referred to, commenting upon the section just quoted, held that it in terms only forbid the guilty party from marrying in that State, and that the adjudicated cases fully sustained the validity of the marriage then before the court, if it had taken place prior to the enactment of a succeeding statute prohibiting parties from marrying in another State to evade the laws of Massachusetts.

That provided that “ When persons resident in this State (Massa- ' chusetts) in order to evade the preceding provisions, and with an intention of returning to reside in this State, go into another State or country and there have their marriage solemnized and afterward return and reside here, the marriage shall be deemed void in this State.” After that enactment it could not be otherwise than that the preceding current of authorities should no longer have the force of law in that State, but they are still entitled to weight and

In Ponsford v. Johnson, 2 Blatch. 51, the question was presented to the United States circuit court held by Judges Relsom and Betts, whether a marriage solemnized in Rew Jersey between inhabitants of this State was valid when one of the parties was the guilty party in a preceding decree of divorce. That brought up the precise point now under consideration and the marriage was held lawful, and the court added further, that the ruling would be the same even if the parties had both left this State to evade the restraint imposed upon one of them by its laws.

The case of Brook v. Brook, 9 H. of L. Cas. 192 (S. C., 7 Jur. R. S.-422), constitutes no exception to the principle now maintained. The marriage there was solemnized in Denmark, between British subjects, and it was held void because opposed to the ecclesiastical policy of that kingdom. It was between the former husband and surviving' sister of a deceased wife, parties prohibited from intermarrying by the laws of England, and, therefore, within the exception already mentioned, by which polygamous and incestuous marriages will not be sanctioned, even though solemnized in countries whose laws permit them. Lord Campbell, who delivered one of the leading opinions in the case, said, that “It is quite obvious that no civilized State can allow its domiciled subjects or citizens, by making a temporary visit to a foreign country, to enter into a contract to be performed in the place of the domicile, if the contract is forbidden by the law of the place of the domicile as contrary to religion or morality, or to any of its fundamental institutions.” Id. 212.

The plaintiff was clearly in contempt, for marrying in violation of the decree to which he was a party; and if he were applying for relief in that action, his disobedience would constitute an answer to his application. Garstin v. Garstin, 4 Sw. & Tristr. 73, 75; Cavendish v. Cavendish, 15 W. R. 182 . But no case has been found holding that, because a party is in contempt in one action’ he shall not be at liberty to commence and prosecute another, for that reason, in no way connected with the one in which the contempt was committed. Such a principle would close the doors of a court of equity to all applications for redress, by a party in contempt, of every name, nature and character. So comprehensive a result has not yet been declared, nor intimated as a lawful consequence, following a party’s disobedience of the orders and decrees of courts of equity.

The plaintiff’s marriage was valid, as already shown, and the defendant as well as himself was bound to observe its obligations. If she has so far failed as to entitle him to have the marriage dissolved under the laws of the State, he cannot be deprived of that right because he disobeyed a preceding decree to which she was not a party.

The statute has prescribed the causes for which such' an action maybe maintained and declared the reasons for which a divorce may be denied after the defendant’s infidelity has been established, and the objection that the plaintiff is in contempt in' some other case to which the defendant is in no way a party is not among them.

The general rule upon this subject has been declared in the following terms: “It is to be observed, however, that the rule that a party cannot move till he has cleared his contempt is confined to proceedings in the samé cause and that a party in contempt for non-obedience to an order in one cause will not be thereby prevented from making an application to the court in another cause relating to a distinct matter, although the parties to such other cause may be the same; and this privilege has been carried to the extent of allowing a defendant in each of two creditor’s suits to administer the same estate, to move in one of them in which he was not in contempt to stay proceedings in the other in which he was.” 1 Daniell’s Ch. Prac. (4th Am. ed.) 505; Clark v. Dew, 1 Russ. & M. 103; Taylor v. Taylor, 1 Mac. & G. 397; Turner v. Dorgan, 12 Sim. 504. The order should be reversed and an order entered awarding issues as moved for by the plaintiff.

Order affirmed.