Opinion
02-06-1914
EPLEY v. EPLEY.
Scovel & Harding, of Camden, for exceptant.
Action by Wilburt Epley against Luella Epley. On exception to the master's report. Exception sustained, and divorce advised.
Scovel & Harding, of Camden, for exceptant.
BACKES, V. C. The charge of adultery alleged in the petition is established. The defendant deserted the petitioner in 1909, and during the separation she gave premature birth to a child in March of 1913. The master to whom the cause was referred advised against a decree of divorce, because it appeared from the testimony of the petitioner that in June of 1912 he received from his wife a letter asking him to take her back, which he failed to do. The master, relying upon Rapp v. Rapp, 67 N. J. Eq. (1 Robb.) 236, 58 Atl. 167, conceived this to be a bar against recovery. The difficulty with this view is that the facts presented do not create a situation to which the doctrine of the Rapp Case is applicable. The principle there laid down and illustrated by the authorities therein cited is that to bar a right to divorce for the defendant's adultery, because of a previous desertion by the petitioner, the desertion must have been willful, continued, and obstinate for a period of two years next before the filing of the petition. The recrimatory act must be of such a character which, if standing alone, would itself afford a ground for divorce. The two years did not elapse between the time of the receipt of the letter and the beginning of this suit.
Furthermore, it appears that the defendant was a chronic deserter, and it is not to be assumed that the husband's failure to become reconciled immediately upon his wife's offer to return constituted a willful desertion on his part. The termination of the wife's desertion, and the beginning of the husband's, would in a large measure depend upon considerations of her good faith in making the offer. See, also, Freeman v. Freeman, 88 Atl. 1071.
The exception is sustained, and the divorce will be advised.