Noreen v. Hansen

Per Curiam. This action, by Louis P. Hansen against Beda C. Noreen, based upon the proviso of section 1 of the married woman’s act (Compthed Statutes, ch. 53), was tried without a jury and resulted in a finding and judgment in favor of the plaintiff. The petition alleges that Andrew F. Noreen and Beda C. Noreen are husband and wife; that the plaintiff sold and delivered to them groceries for consumption in their family; that said groceries were necessaries; that a judgment for said groceries was recovered against Andrew, and that an execution issued on such judgment had been returned unsatisfied. The defenses pleaded in the answer are (1) that the statute is unconstitutional; (2) that the statute of limitations has run against the action; [859] and (8) that the evidence fails to show that the judgment against Andrew was for necessaries. Note.-—Husband and Wife.-—Married Woman.—Under a statute which provides that “either- husband or wife may enter into any engagement or transaction with the other, or with any other person, respecting property, which either might, if unmarried,” a married woman is authorized to execute a promissory note with her husband; and she is liable thereon, though the note is given for the individual debt of her husband. Miller v. Purchase, 5 S. Dak., 232.—Reporter. The defendant has fathed to point out any reason to support her contention that the legislature is without power to impose upon a married woman the duty of providing for herself and those constituting the members of her family, and we are not aware of any provision of the constitution with which this statute is in conflict. Its validity has been recognized in at least three decisions of this court. George v. Edney, 36 Nebr., 604; Small v. Sandall, 48 Nebr., 318; Fulton v. Ryan, 60 Nebr., 9. The contention that the statute of limitations has run against the action can not be sustained. The liability of a wife under the statute is secondary; she is a surety for her husband, and the cause of action does not arise against her until an execution based upon a judgment against her husband has been returned unsatisfied. Frost v. Parker, 21 N. W. Rep. [Ia.], 507. The claim that the evidence does not support the finding and judgment is grounded entirely upon the evidence of the defendant and her husband that the groceries in question were furnished to Mr. Noreen to enable him to conduct a boarding house. There is evidence tending to show that the Noreens kept boarders, but inasmuch as it is conceded that the Noreen family consisted of six persons, and that the entire grocery account amounted to only about $10 per month, we are satisfied that the court did not err in holding that the groceries furnished were necessaries for the family, within the meaning of the statute. The judgment of the district court is Affirmed.