Johnson v. Iss

Mr. Justice Neil delivered the opinion of the Court. An action for breach of promise of marriage. The plaintiff in error relies upon the following section of the Code (Shannon’s Code, sec. 4188): “A second marriage cannot be contracted before the dissolution of the first. But the first shall be regarded as dissolved for this purpose, if either party has been absent five years, and is not known to the other to be living.” A plea was filed making the defense that the plaintiff was a married woman at the time the contract was entered into. To this she filed a replication alleging, among other things, a promise after the five years had expired. In her evidence before the jury, however, she testified that she intermarried with her husband on the 26th of May, 1898, that they lived together three weeks, that at the expiration of that time he disappeared, and that the last promise which the defendant made to her was in January, 1903. This was only four and one-half years after the disappearance of the husband. It thus appeared from the plaintiff’s testimony that while she was still, in the eyes of the law, a wife, she engaged herself to be married to the defendant, Iss. Such a contract, made under the circumstances stated, is against public policy, and can furnish no standing to a plaintiff [116] in any court. Tbe illegality of tbe contract was not cured by tbe fact that tbe marriage was not to take place until after tbe five years prescribed by statute bad” expired, or until plaintiff should procure a divorce from ber. husband. Such contracts are immoral, and cannot be recognized by tbe courts of this State.; and tbe circuit judge acted within bis powers, and correctly, when be arrested tbe further progress of tbe case, and dismissed it, upon tbe illegal nature of tbe demand of tbe plaintiff thus incontestably appearing. Of course, tbe case above stated is to be differentiated from one in which an innocent party makes a contract of marriage with another who is married, in ignorance of tbe fact that such other person is at tbe time a married man or woman. Let tbe judgment of dismissal be affirmed.