Fleytas v. Pigneguy

Martin, J., delivered the opinion of the court. The defendant is appellant from a judgment of separation from bed and board. The record presents but one solitary instance of ill treatment. It appears that the parties have been married for a number of years, and have several children. A witness has deposed that she has resided in the house of Mr. , and Mrs. Pignéguy, for two years, and that some time in May, 1835, during the evening, she went into Mrs. Pigneguy’s room, and found her sitting on the floor, with her head resting on her hands, and declaring one .of her eyes was out; on examination,. the witness perceived' a redness or rather bruise over one of the eyes, and also a redness or contusion of the arms, near the elbow and shoulders, indicating a strong pressure of that limb, and thought she perceived the mark of a nail. Shortly after, the plaintiff, in a paroxism of rage, kicked at the door of the defendant’s '(husband’s) room, with such violence that she.burst it open. Another witness on the part of the plaintiff, (wife,) in relating an account of this domestic broil, states that the defendant remarked he had received a great provocation from his wife. His conduct, however, must be viewed with a considerable degree of aggravation, from the circumstance -of the wife being in an advanced state of pregnancy. A solitary instance of ill treatment of the wife by the husband, during a long cohabitation, when the origin of it does not appear, and is not aggravated in its character, will not au-thorise a judgment of separation from bed and board. It appears from the testimony, she miscarried a short time afterwards; but her physician does not attribute this misfortune to the mal-treatment of her husband. It was occasioned, according to bis account, by her over-excitement, violent exertions, and nervous sensibility. Whatever may be the protection which married women may be entitled to claim from courts of justice, when ill treated by their husbands, we cannot concur with our learned brother, judge of the parish court, that this case presents proper and sufficient causes and grounds, to decree a separation from bed and board. The testimony shows and proves the defendant in this case to be of a quiet, pacific temper and disposition. He contends, on his part, that his wife (the plaintiff) is of a very different temperament. To rebut her assertions and allegations in the petition, which are denied by his plea of the general issue, he offered a witness to prove that she was possessed of a violent and choleric temper and disposition. Her counsel opposed the introduction of this testimony, which opposition was sustained by the court. We have no means of ascertaining the origin of this domestic broil. If the presumption in favor of the weak against the strong, operates favorably to the wife as against her husband, the account given of the defendant, in the evidence offered by the plaintiff, balances it. Her subsequent conduct creates some suspicion, that she provoked the defendant to the quarrel. Husbands are men and not angels. A solitary instance of ill treatment during a long cohabitation, when the origin of it does not appear, and when it is not attended with circumstances which are much aggravated in their character, does not, in our opinion, authorise a judgment of separation from bed and board. It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the Parish Court be annulled, avoided and reversed, and that there be judgment for the defendant, with costs.