Donaldson v. Donaldson

• Decision Date: 07 April 1927
• Docket Number: 6 Div. 817
• Citation: 216 Ala. 259,112 So. 836
• Parties: DONALDSON v. DONALDSON.
• Court: Alabama Supreme Court

112 So. 836

216 Ala. 259

DONALDSON v. DONALDSON.

6 Div. 817

Supreme Court of Alabama

April 7, 1927

Rehearing Denied May 26, 1927

Appeal from Circuit Court, Winston County; Ernest Lacy, Judge.

Bill for divorce and alimony by Nancy L. Donaldson against J.A Donaldson. From a decree granting certain relief to complainant, respondent appeals. Affirmed in part, and in part reversed and remanded.

Williams & Chenault, of Russellville, for appellant.

T.B Russell, of Haleyville, for appellee.

GARDNER J.

Bill filed by appellee against appellant for divorce and alimony. Upon consideration of the cause for final decree on pleadings and proof, the trial court found the evidence insufficient upon which to base a decree for divorce, but sufficient for the award of alimony, and decreed accordingly. This decree which was rendered on January 5, 1926, authorized the issuance of execution against defendant in the event of his failure to make the payments therein provided. Subsequently defendant filed petition for a modification of this decree and complainant also filed a motion seeking to have a certain portion of defendant's land (165 acres) allotted to complainant for her use and occupancy, and on June 15, 1926 the court declined to reduce the allowance as sought by defendant's petition, and entered a decree appointing a receiver, and also allotting to complainant 40 acres of the 165 acres for her use and occupancy as prayed in her petition.

The appeal is specifically taken from this latter decree of June 15, 1926, and more than six months after the rendition of the decree of January 5, 1926. Section 6127, Code of 1923. The question therefore as to the amount of allowance as fixed by the first decree is not here presented for review. As finally determined, the cause remained as one for alimony only, and, speaking of the power of the court in cases of this character, in Clisby v. Clisby, 160 Ala. 572, 49 So. 445, 135 Am.St.Rep. 110, it was said:

"Courts in this proceeding cannot take property from one and give it to the other. The only duty which the court can enforce is maintenance, and for this purpose can only deal with the incomes of the parties, having no power to compel either to labor for the other; nor should the court divest either of the corpus of his estate."

The learned trial judge was endeavoring to make suitable provision for complainant's support, and was evidently impressed with the view...