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Dayton v. Dayton

Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
Apr 30, 1929
107 W. Va. 299 (W. Va. 1929)

Opinion

No. 6374

Submitted April 23, 1929.

Decided April 30, 1929.

Appeal from Circuit Court, Taylor County.

Suit by T.J. Dayton against J.W. Dayton. Decree for defendant, and plaintiff appeals.

Reversed and remanded.

Wm. T. George, for appellant.

W. Merle Watkins, for appellee.


This is a suit for divorce, charging cruel and inhuman treatment. Depositions were taken on behalf of each party. The divorce commissioner found against plaintiff, and the circuit court upheld that finding.

The evidence does not substantiate charges of personal cruelty. The plaintiff testified, however, that the defendant had accused her of marital infidelity. The defendant admitted that he had accused her of being out in the woods or park at night for immoral purposes, and that his accusation was based solely on suspicion. The plaintiff gave plausible explanations of the facts which aroused defendant's suspicions and denied any improper conduct. His accusation amounts to a charge of prostitution, and the plaintiff's uncontradicted testimony establishes its falsity. Under section 6, chapter 64, Code, a false charge of prostitution made by the husband against the wife is deemed cruel treatment, and is ground for a limited divorce. The plaintiff is, therefore, entitled to a divorce a mensa and the decree of the circuit court will be reversed, and the cause remanded.

Reversed and remanded.


Summaries of

Dayton v. Dayton

Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
Apr 30, 1929
107 W. Va. 299 (W. Va. 1929)
Case details for

Dayton v. Dayton

Case Details

Full title:T. J. DAYTON v . J. W. DAYTON

Court:Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia

Date published: Apr 30, 1929

Citations

107 W. Va. 299 (W. Va. 1929)
148 S.E. 118

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