Supreme Court

Decision Information

Decision Content

1172 BRABHAM V. BRABHAM [240 BRABRAM V. BRAM-1AM .5-3756 398 S. W. 2d 514 Opinion delivered January 31, 1966 1 DIVORCETEMPORARY ALLOWANCESEVIDENCE. Uncorroborated evidence tending to establish cause of action for divorce is adequate to support pendente lite allowances for wife and child which fall within statutory authority of Ark. Stat. Ann. § 34- 1210 (Repl. 1962). DIVORCETEMPORARY A LLOWANCESCONDONATION AS DEFENSE.— Under the proof the cohabitation that occurred during misconduct of appellant and prior to separation of the parties was not an available defense to ad interim allowances under Ark. ' Stat. Ann. § 34-1210 (Repl. 1962). -3. DIVORCEAMOUNT OF TEMPORARY ALLOWANCESWEIGHT & SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE.—In view of earnings of appellant and evidence of appellee as to cost of maintaining herself and child, all allowances made by chancellor held to be within reasonable limits and should not be disturbed. Appeal from Washington Chancery Court, Thomas R. Butt, Chancellor; affirmed.
ARK.] BRABHAM v. BRABHAM 17:1 James B. Hale, for appellant. Putman, Davis & Bassett, for appellee. ORM COBB, Justice. This case reaches us on appeal from a decree of the Chancellor, pendente lite, awarding appellee $350 per month for the support of herself and child during the pendency of her action for divorce. Said allowance falls within the statutory authority of Ark. Stat. Ann. § 34-1210 (Repl. 1962). Appellate review .of the decree providing such ad interim support is fully authorized. See Casteel v. Casteel, 3S Ark. 477 ; Glenn v. ,Glenn, 44 Ark. 46.- The appellant argues three grounds for reversal of the .decree.- " (1) Appellee failed to prove a- prima facie case for divorce. (2) Voluntary resumption of and continued engagement in cohabitation constituted con-donation of any alleged cruelty on the part of appellant. (3) The amount awarded for temporary allowances was grossly excessive." Appellee testified that appellant was employed with an annual salary of $15,000 per year. She also testified in detail as to needs of herself and child which totaled $360 per month. No witness appeared to refute or deny the testimony of appellee. As to point one, we conclude that the evidence here clearly tends to establish a present cause of action for divorce. There is no occasion on this pendente lite appeal to detail such evidence. It is well settled that for the purposes of temporary allowances no corroborating testimony is necessary, and we find that the action of the Chancellor was fully warranted. See Slocum v. Slo-
174 BRABHAM v. BRABHAM [240 cum, 86 Ark. 469; 111 S. W. 806 ; TVood v. Wood, 140 Ark. 361, 215 S. W. 681. As to point two, we conclude that under the proof in this case the cohabitation that occurred during the misconduct of appellant and prior to separation of the parties is not an available defense to ad interim allowances under Ark. Stat. Ann. § 34-1210 (Repl. 1964 Denison v. Denison. 189 Ark. 239, 71 S. W. 2d 1055; Bridwell v. Bridwell, 217 Ark. 514, 231 S. W. 2d 117. . . (I)t is obviously a just rule that the patient endurance of continuous ill-treatment should never be allowed to weaken one's title to relief. The endurance of cruelty and indignities in the hope of better treatment has as much the character of probation as of condonation." 17 Am. Jur., Sec. 238, p. 422. As to point three, we conclude, after considering the earnings of appellant and the evidence of appellee as to the cost of maintaining herself and child, that all of the allowances made by the Chancellor are within reasonable limits and should not be disturbed. Having found no merit in any of the points relied upon by appellant, the action of the Chancellor is in all respects affirmed.
 You are being directed to the most recent version of the statute which may not be the version considered at the time of the judgment.