Com. ex rel. O'Gara v. O'Gara

• Decision Date: 13 June 1962
• Citation: 198 Pa.Super. 405,181 A.2d 723
• Parties: COMMONWEALTH ex rel. Elizabeth O'GARA v. Frank O'GARA, Appellant.
• Court: Pennsylvania Superior Court

Page 723

181 A.2d 723

198 Pa.Super. 405

COMMONWEALTH ex rel. Elizabeth O'GARA v. Frank O'GARA, Appellant.

Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

June 13, 1962.

Application for Allocatur Denied Aug. 21, 1962.

Frank O'Gara in pro. per.

H. Kenneth Butera, Asst. Dist. Atty., Norristown, for appellee.

Before RHODES, P. J., and ERVIN, WRIGHT, WOODSIDE, WATKINS, MONTGOMERY and FLOOD, JJ.

WOODSIDE, Judge.

This is an appeal from an order of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Montgomery County, directing the appellant to pay $35 per week for the support of his wife and $25 per week for the support of his son. He does not question the order for the support of his son nor the amount of the order for the support of his wife. He contends that he is not liable for the support of his wife because she deserted him without sufficient cause.

The court below found as follows: 'In October, 1957, relatrix, complaining of defendant's mistreatment, left the common domicile. Defendant made certain promises, as a result of which the relatrix returned. On or about May 27, 1960, defendant closed their joint checking account and he began the practice of paying $50 per week to the relatrix for household expenses. In September, 1960, he stopped furnishing her with house money and thereafter, he alone did all the marketing for the household. On October 26, 1960, when the relatrix mentioned something about the expenses, the defendant grabbed her by the hair and threw her to the floor, injuring her head, shoulder and back. As a result, she was obliged to obtain medical care and suffered pain constantly for over a week. Before that time, and since, defendant called relatrix a psychopath, he accused her of stealing, and he made a practice of addressing her in vile and profane language almost every day. He also bragged to the prosecutrix that he had taken a fashion model out to dinner.

'In March, 1961, Mary H. Colton, aunt of the relatrix, stayed for a week with the O'Garas at their house. During that time the defendant used such abusive and threatening language toward the prosecutrix that Miss Colton feared that he might injure the prosecutrix. Relatrix tried to find an apartment within her means, but was unable to do so until June, 1961, at which time she finally left the common domicile.'

A husband has the duty of supporting his wife until facts appear of record which negative such duty. Kaufmann v. Kaufmann, 166 Pa.Super. 6, 11, 70 A.2d 481 (1950). It is not necessary for a wife to present ground for leaving which would entitle her to a divorce in order to receive support. Commonwealth ex rel. Rovner v. Rovner, 177 Pa.Super. 122, 111 A.2d 160 (1955); Commonwealth ex rel. DiPietro v. DiPietro, 175 Pa.Super. 18, 102 A.2d 192 (1954).

The appellant, arguing before us in propria persona, contends that the court below denied him his constitutional right to be heard by counsel. The rule concerning counsel is less strict in this kind...