Wilkinson v. Dellinger

Decision Date01 May 1900
Citation126 N.C. 462,35 S.E. 819
CourtNorth Carolina Supreme Court
PartiesWILKINSON v. DELLINGER et al.

PARENT AND CHILD—EMANCIPATION BY MARRIAGE—LOSS OF SERVICES.

The legal marriage of a female infant after attaining the age of consent emancipates her from her former parental duties; and if a parent is damaged thereby, because deprived of her services, he cannot recover damages from the register of deeds for unlawfully issuing a marriage license.

Appeal from superior court, Catawba county; Shaw, Judge.

Action by E. W. Wilkinson, in the name of the state, on relation, against P. M. Bellinger, register of deeds of Catawba county, and others, on his official bond. Prom a judgment sustaining a demurrer to the complaint, plaintiff appeals. Affirmed.

D. W. Robinson and C. E. Childs, for appellant.

M. H. Yount L. L. Witherspoon, and W. C. Feimster, for appellees.

PAIRCLOTH, C. J. The plaintiff's daughter Elvy at the age of 15 years married one Lawton, and the plaintiff (Elvy's father) sues the defendant on his official bond as register of deeds of Catawba county, for unlawfully issuing the marriage license. The complaint assigns two causes of action: (1) For the penalty prescribed by Code, §§ 1814, 1816; (2) for damages in depriving the plaintiff of the services and companionship of his daughter. The defendant demurred to the complaint for misjoinder of causes of action. He demurs to the second assignment, in that the marriage was lawful, and the plaintiff thereafter was not. in law, entitled to the services of his daughter, and had no property in them. His honor overruled the demurrer to the first assignment, from which no appeal was taken. He sustained the demurrer to the second cause of action, and the plaintiff appealed to this court.

The only question now before this court is the exception to the ruling of his honor on the demurrer to the second cause of action. A female may lawfully marry at the age of 14 years. Code, § 1809. From a time where memory runs not, the parent and those in loco parentis have a right to the company and services of the child during its infancy, and any one unlawfully invading that right is liable to the parent in damages. During the same period of time the law requires the parent to feed, clothe, and protect the infant. This right and these duties go together, and, as a general rule, when one legally terminates the other ceases. The same principle pertains to the relation of husband and wife, and the consequence of its violation is illustrated in Holleman v. Harward...

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9 cases
  • In Re Reynolds' Guardianship., 309.
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • 21 Marzo 1934
    ...is given him under the statute, the marriage of an infant emancipates the infant as to his rights to earnings. See Wilkinson v. Dellinger, 126 N. C. 462, 35 S. E. 819; Little v. Holmes, 181 N. C. 413, 107 S. E. 577; C. S. § 4134. It is strongly urged by appellees that this is a family agree......
  • In re Reynolds Guardianship
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • 21 Marzo 1934
    ... ... would be to bar the infant's substantial rights." ...          In ... Marsh v. Dellinger, 127 N.C. 360, 363, 37 S.E. 494, ... 495, it is said: "The defendants are infants, and the ... court of equity, while it has the power to order ... under the statute, the marriage of an infant emancipates the ... infant as to his rights to earnings. See Wilkinson v ... Dellinger, 126 N.C. 462, 35 S.E. 819; Little v ... Holmes, 181 N.C. 413, 107 S.E. 577; C. S. § 4134. It is ... strongly urged by ... ...
  • Gillikin v. Burbage, 97
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • 15 Enero 1965
    ...not alone constitute complete emancipation. Small v. Morrison, supra; Little v. Holmes, 181 N.C. 413, 107 S.E. 577; Wilkinson v. Dellinger, 126 N.C. 462, 35 S.E. 819; 39 Am.Jur., Parent and Child §§ 64-65 (1942). Whether emancipation is complete, so as to remove the bar to a tort action by ......
  • SAFE DEPOSIT AND TRUST COMPANY v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE
    • United States
    • U.S. Board of Tax Appeals
    • 19 Junio 1940
    ...is given him under the statute, the marriage of an infant emancipates the infant as to his rights to earnings. See Wilkinson v. Dellinger, 126 N. C. 462, 35 S. E. 819; Little v. Holmes, 181 N. C. 413, 107 S. E. 577; C. S. § 4134. * * * These settlements are usually between members of famili......
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