Vaughan v. Vaughan, 197 Ill. App. 611 (1916)

Jan. 31, 1916 · Illinois Appellate Court · Gen. No. 21,759
197 Ill. App. 611

L. Brent Vaughan, Appellant, v. Alice R. Vaughan, Appellee. Alice R. Vaughan, Appellee, v. L. Brent Vaughan, Appellant.

Gen. No. 21,759.

(Not to be reported in full.)

Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook county; the Hon. Benjamin W. Pope, Judge, presiding.

Heard in this court at the October term, 1915.

Affirmed.

Opinion filed January 31, 1916.

Rehearing denied February 14, 1916.

Certiorari denied by Supreme Court (making opinion final).

Statement of the Case.

Bill for divorce by L. Brent Vaughan, complainant, against Alice B. Vaughan, defendant, in the Circuit Court of Cook county, and cross-bill by defendant against complainant for separate maintenance. From a decree dismissing the bill for want of equity, and granting the prayer of the cross-bill, with an allowance of seventy-five dollars per month and one hundred and seventy-five dollars for solicitor’s fees, complainant appeals.

The parties were married October 11, 1899, and lived together as husband and wife until October, 1910, and thereafter continued to live in the same house until December 4, 1912.

Complainant was forced to leave his house by a foreclosure of the mortgage and rented two rooms with facilities for light housekeeping, and wanted his wife and their twelve-year-old daughter to occupy, such rooms, but did not himself live there, but went to the Lexington Hotel and later to the University Club. He did not invite his wife and daughter to come to him at either place.

Harris F. Williams, for appellant.

James J. Kelly, for appellee; John A. Burke and John T. Fitzgerald, of counsel.

*612Abstract of the Decision.

1. Divorce, § 53*—when motion to dismiss bill without prejudice properly refused. It is not error to deny a motion of complainant in a bill for divorce to dismiss bis bill without prejudice where a cross-bill has been filed, section 36 of the Chancery Act (J. & A. If 916) providing that “no complainant shall be allowed to dismiss his bill after a cross-bill has been filed without the consent of the defendant.”

2. Appeal and error, § 725*—when record need not show findings of fact. No findings of fact are required to support a decree where the evidence has been preserved by a certificate of evidence.

3. Husband and wife, § 217*—when decree on cross-bill in divorce action for separate support and maintenance and solicitor’s fees proper. In a bill for divorce by a husband where defendant filed a cross-bill for separate maintenance, and the evidence warranted a finding that defendant was living separate and apart from her husband without her fault, defendant is entitled on her cross-bill to a decree for separate support and maintenance and solicitor’s fees.

Mr. Justice Baker

delivered the opinion of the court.