Stone v. Crofton , 156 Ark. 323 ( 1922 )

Humphreys, J.

Appellee instituted suit against W. C. Stone, in the Howard Chancery Court, to obtain the permanent custody of her son, who was about ten years of age. D. E. Stone, the father of the boy, intervened, and by proper pleadings issue was joined as to ■ which of the three, D. E. Stone, the father, W. C. Stone, the grandfather, or appellee, the mother, was entitled to his custody.

Appellee and her husband, D. E. Stone, were divorced in 1917, and the custody of their boy, then four years of age, was awarded to W.. C. Stone. At that time W. C. Stone owned and resided upon 320 acres of land in Black Land Township. He owned considerable property, and was able and willing to care for and educate his grandson. His immediate family consisted of himself and wife. After obtaining the custody of his grandson he and Ms wife maintained and supported him as became their station in life. The neighborhood in which they lived afforded both school and church facilities. The schools, private and public, were taught about six months during the year. The boy attended regularly, and had advanced to the third grade when this suit was commenced. W. C. Stone is now 73 years of age and his wife 50.' He still owns and resides upon his home place, and is able to and desirous of supporting and educating his grandson.

D. E. Stone regarded the home of W. C. Stone as headquarters, but resided elsewhere most of the time. Subsequent to the separation and divorce he rented land at various- places and lived alone. He did his own housekeeping. He liad a small amount of personal property when the separation occurred, and accumulated very little afterwards. Appellee remarried. She and her husband, Wren Crofton, reside in Mineral Springs, Arkansas. They have no children, own a home, and are able and willing to care for, support, and educate appellee’s son. The church and school facilities in Mineral Springs are good. Schools are taught there nine months in the year.

All parties to this suit are moral, upright citizens.

The record reflects that appellee visited the child on an average of three times a year. Her excuse for not visiting him oftener was that she was made to feel unwelcome in the home of W. C. Stone. She was unable to recall any particular act of inhospitality on the part of the grandparents. She testified that she was not permitted, when visiting them, to converse privately with her son. Her statement in this regard was unchallenged. W. C. Stone testified, however, that he extended every courtesy to appellee on the occasion of her visits.

The cause was submitted to the court upon the pleadings and testimony thus summarized, which resulted in the decree for appellee, for the reason that it was to the best interest of the child to be under the care and protection of his mother. The father and grandfather have prosecuted an appeal to this court.

Appellant, I). R. Stone, insists that the decree should be reversed and'the custody of the child awarded to him upon the ground that the father is the natural protector and giiardian of his children. In support of the contention that the father is preferred over the mother or other blood relations with reference to the custody of his children, the following cases are cited: Verser v. Ford, 37 Ark. 27; Baker v. Durham., 95 Ark. 355; Jackson v. Clay, 89 Ark. 501; Andrews v. Andrews, 117 Ark. 90. These cases do lay down the rule that the father will generally be preferred if, under all the circumstances of the particular case, the best interest of the children will be subserved by awarding- their custody to him. The rule announced in these cases, however, has been changed by statute in this State, in contests between parents for the custody of their children. Sec. 3 of act 257, Acts 1921 of the General Assembly, is as follows :

“Where the husband-and wife areliving apart, there may be an adjudication of the court as to their power, rights and duties with respect to the persons and property of their unmarried minor children. In such cases there should be no preference between the husband and the wife, but the welfare of the child must be considered first in determining the custody of such child, -or the control of its property. * * * ” According to the testimony, the mother is in much better condition to care for and educate the child than the father. The chancellor Avas correct in awarding the boy to appellee in preference to D. R. Stone.

Appellant, W. C. Stone, contends that the court erred in preferring appellee OArer him. While the law prefers the mother over grandparents in reference to the custody of children, there are facts and circumstances in this case which militate against appellee. She has shoAvn little interest in her child, and has permitted the grandparents to expend their means and time upon him for five years. Strong ties of affection have been permitted to grow up between the child and his grandparents. If the apparent neglect of the mother and the ties of affection existing between the child and grandparents Avere the only thing’s to be considered, the equities would greatly preponderate in favor of the kind, generous grandparents. There are other things reflected by the record, which, no doubt, appealed very strongly to the chancellor. The school facilities were much better Avith the mother than the grandparents. The grandfather hád passed his three score and ten, and, in the natural order of things, must live on borroAved time in order to be the protector and adviser of the boy during his adolescent age and young manhood. If the child had been permitted to remain Avith the grandparents he' would grow up Avithout either the father’s impress or the mother’s personal toucli, the most wholesome and telling influences in a life* The mother’s seemingly dormant affection had revived and betokened good for the child. With these- things in mind, and regarding the interest of the child of first importance, we are unable to say that the decree of the chancellor was erroneous.

The decree is affirmed.

Justices Hart and Smith concurring.