Mabbett v. Mabbett , 34 Idaho 611 ( 1921 )

MCCARTHY, J.

Appellant sued out a writ of habeas corpus to obtain the custody of his minor children from respondent, their mother. In addition to alleging that he was able to support the children and the respondent was unable, he alleged that she denied him the right to see his children and to furnish them with the necessaries and conveniences of life. On the trial he introduced proof of these latter allegations. After hearing the evidence offered by appellant and the testimony of one wetness on behalf of respondent, the trial judge dispensed with the introduction of further evidence and decided that the custody of the children should remain in respondent. The testimony of respondent’s one witness did not rebut appellant’s evidence that respondent refused to permit him to visit the children and refused to accept money which he sent for them. Appellant’s counsel asked the court to at least order the respondent to permit appellant to visit the children at suitable times, and to accept and use for their benefit money which he sent for that purpose. The trial judge decided that he had no jurisdiction in habeas corpus to make such orders, but that his jurisdiction was confined to the one question of custody. The court found that appellant was ready, willing, and able to furnish respondent and the minor children with a suitable home, and to supply them with the necessaries and comforts of life, wherever respondent might elect to live, whether with or apart from appellant, on condition that he be permitted to visit the children at suitable times; that the children were reasonably supplied with the necessaries and comforts of life by respondent; that both were proper persons to be given the care and custody of the children; that respondent denied petitioner the right to see or enjoy the children; that the children are of the respective ages of two years and ten months, and of four months. As conclusions of law, the court concluded that the writ should be denied, the children remanded to the custody of the respondent, and that the court should make no order giving the appellant the right to see or enjoy the society of the children against respondent’s wishes, or requiring her to accept from him money for the support of the children. Judgment was entered accordingly. From it this appeal is taken. The assignments of error are, first, insufficiency of the evidence to justify the decision of the court; second, that the decision and order of the court are contrary to law; third, that it was error for the court to deny appellant the right to call respondent as a witness.

We will first consider the third assignment of error. On the trial, and before resting, appellant’s counsel said: “I would like to ask Mrs. Mabbett [the respondent] a few questions,” to which respondent’s counsel said, “We object,” and the court said, “I do not think you can cross-examine her unless she goes on the stand herself.” While he did not expressly say so, it is probable that appellant’s counsel desired to cross-examine the respondent as the adverse party under our statute, C. S., 8035.

“8035. A party to the record of any civil action or proceedings, or person for whose immediate benefit such action or proceedings is prosecuted or defended, or the directors, officers, superintendent or managing agents of any corporation which is a party to such record, may be examined by the adverse party as if under cross-examination, subject to the rules applicable to the examination of other witnesses; and the testimony given by such witnesses may be rebutted by the party calling him for such examination by other evidence. Such witness when so called may be examined by his own counsel, but only as to matters testified to on such examination.

“Nothing contained in this section shall be construed in such manner as to compel the husband or wife to testify against the other, nor to compel a witness to disclose information or communications which are privileged by law.”

The last sentence refers to C. S., sec. 7937, subd. 1, which reads as follows:

“A husband cannot be examined for or against his wife, without her consent, nor a wife for or against her husband, without his consent; nor can either, during the marriage or afterwards, be, without the consent of the other, examined as to any communication made by one to the other during the marriage; but this exception does not apply to a civil action or proceeding by one against the other nor to a criminal action or proceeding for a crime committed by violence of one against the person of the other.”

It cannot be claimed that this section prevented the calling of respondent as a witness.

“A proceeding in habeas corpus to determine the right to the custody of a child is a proceeding of a civil nature, and more especially of an equitable nature.” (Jain v. Priest, 30 Ida. 273, 164 Pac. 364; Andrino v. Yates, 12 Ida. 618, 87 Pac. 787.)

A habeas corpus proceeding of this nature, in which the husband and father is the petitioner, and the wife and mother is the defendant, is a civil proceeding by one against the other within the meaning of sec. 7937, and they are adverse parties within the meaning of sec. 8035. For the same reasons, appellant’s counsel had the right to make respondent his own witness, if that was his intention. The question is: Does the record show a denial by the court of appellant’s right to examine respondent, and resulting prejudice? Counsel did not call her to the stand, nor ask that she be sworn, did not state what questions he proposed to ask her, nor what he proposed to prove by her. The remark made by the court can hardly be called a ruling. Counsel did not assert his right in such a way as to call for a ruling. There is nothing in the record to show that appellant is prejudiced. We conclude that the steps taken by appellant’s counsel and the record made are not sufficient to establish prejudicial error.

We turn, now, to the first and second assignments of error. The evidence is sufficient to support the judgment that the custody should remain in respondent. However, in a habeas corpus proceeding between the parents, involving the right to the custody of minor children, “the court may qualify its award by such limitations and restrictions as may seem expedient to preserve the natural rights of the unsuccessful parent, if this can be done without jeopardizing the welfare of the children.” (Campbell v. Campbell, 76 Mo. App. 396.) In such a proceeding, although the court award the custody of the child to one party, it may grant to the other the right to visit the child at such times and places as may be suitable and convenient. (Campbell v. Campbell, supra; State v. Jones, 113 La. 298, 36 So. 973; State v. Flint, 63 Minn. 187, 65 N. W. 272; Redmond v. Redmond, 113 Mo. App. 351, 88 S. W. 129; Commonwealth v. Smith, 1 Brewst. (Pa.) 547.) The appellant has a natural right to visit his child, and it should be accorded him as far as possible without jeopardizing the best interests of the child. It is the duty of the father to support his children. Where, as in the present case, the money furnished by the father could be advantageously used in supplying the children the comforts, if not the necessaries, of life, we conclude it is within the power of the court, in such a proceeding, to order that the money be used for the benefit of the children. We conclude that the trial court took too narrow a view of the proceeding.

However, it does not necessarily follow that the trial court should be now ordered by this court to make such orders. It may be that respondent had evidence to offer, in rebuttal of appellant’s evidence, and which she was prevented from offering by the course pursued by the court. Then, too, the trial court, having seen the parties and the children, and having heard the testimony, is in a better position to judge of the necessity and propriety of such orders than this court. If necessary, further evidence can be taken on these points. On the oral argument, respondent’s counsel stated, without contradiction, that, since the decision in this ease, the respondent had instituted a suit for divorce against appellant in the same court in which this case was decided, in which she asked the custody of the children. In the divorce case the questions discussed here will also be raised, and can perhaps be decided to better advantage. It may be that the trial court and counsel will think it wise to try the divorce case before resorting to any further proceedings in this case. In regard to the effect of a judgment in a habeas corpus proceeding this court has said: “In the case of Cormack v. Marshall, 211 Ill. 519, 1 Ann. Cas. 256, 71 N. E. 1077, 67 L. R. A. 787, it was held that issues of fact involved in habeas corpus proceedings, involving the custody of a child, when adjudicated, became res judicata, and that a judgment in such a case is a bar to another habeas corpus action in the same court or in another court where the facts involved are the same as those previously adjudicated. This case is in line with the great weight of authority, and many cases are cited and discussed in the opinion.” (Allen v. Williams, 31 Ida. 309, at 314, 171 Pac. 493, 494.)

In regard to the relation between a judgment in a habeas corpus proceeding and a subsequent decree in a divorce action, this court has said: “The decision of a court in a habeas corpus proceeding, whereby the custody of a child is awarded as between its parents, does not make the question of such custody res adjudicata where a subsequent change of conditions is shown, nor preclude the court in a subsequent suit for divorce between the parents from making a further decree in regard to the custody of such child.” (Stewart v. Stewart, 32 Ida. 180, 180 Pac. 165.)

The case is remanded to the trial court with orders to pass upon the question whether the appellant should be permitted to visit his children, and whether money offered by him should be ordered used for the benefit of the children, and to take such further proceedings for that purpose as may be necessary; no costs are awarded on this appeal.

Rice, C. J., and Budge, Dunn and Lee, JJ., concur.