Woodward Iron Co. v. Jones , 217 Ala. 361 ( 1928 )

Counsel's argument for appellant for mandamus is not persuasive under the statutory system for review. Section 7571, Code.

It is established that this court will not look to a bill of exceptions to ascertain the weight or preponderance of the evidence on a given material fact under the Workmen's Compensation Act (Code 1923, §§ 7534-7597). If there is any legal evidence on any reasonable view, or reasonable inference therefrom, that supports the facts found and conclusion announced by the court, it is sufficient under the statute, and the judgment rendered will not be disturbed. Ex parte Sloss-Sheffield S. I. Co. (Greek's Case) 207 Ala. 219,92 So. 458; Ex parte L. N. R. Co., 208 Ala. 216, 94 So. 289; Ex parte Thomas, 209 Ala. 276, 96 So. 233; Ex parte Nunnally Co.,209 Ala. 82, 95 So. 343; Ex parte Shaw, 210 Ala. 185,97 So. 694; Ex parte Coleman, 211 Ala. 248, 100 So. 114; Hardisty v. Woodward Iron Co., 214 Ala. 256, 107 So. 837; Martin v. S. S. I. Co., 216 Ala. 500, 113 So. 578. When the whole record is considered, the complaint was by Hattie Jones, claiming compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act as the lawful and dependent wife of the decedent, "from whom petitioner did receive her support." There was complaint by way of intervention on the part of Annie Williams, alias Annie Jones, as such wife and dependent of decedent. There was answer of defendant admitting employment, death, etc., of decedent; denial that intervener was the lawful wife and entitled to compensation, saying:

"It admits that on, to wit, July 2, 1925, at Bessemer, Ala., said Annie Jones and the said Sam Jones went through a marriage ceremony under a license issued from the probate office of Jefferson county, at Bessemer, and defendant avers that the said Sam Jones at said time was incapacitated to enter into a valid contract, for the reason that he had prior to said time been married to the petitioner in this case, Hattie Jones, from whom he had not been divorced. The defendant on information and belief admits that the said James Edward Jones is the child of said decedent, born out of wedlock, prior to the aforesaid marriage ceremony between said decedent and said Annie Jones. Defendant avers that said marriage ceremony did not legitimatize said child, and that this defendant is not liable to said child for compensation. Defendant admits that after the said marriage ceremony between the said Annie Jones and said decedent, they lived together as if they were man and wife, and that they cared for the said child as if said child were their lawful child from the date of said attempted marriage down to the date of said decedent's death. Defendant admits that said deceased did not contribute anything to the said Hattie Jones, and that he did not visit her at her home at Epps, Ala., nor did she visit him at his home at Lipscomb, Ala. Defendant further admits that from the date of said marriage ceremony at Bessemer, the said decedent acted toward the said Annie Jones and the said child as to a loving and kind wife and child, and spent all his entire income on the upkeep of himself and the said Annie Jones and said child, from the date of said attempted marriage down to his death."

The finding and conclusions of the court, as required by the statute, were to the following effect:

Decedent married Hattie July 12, 1918, at Epps, Ala. They remained on the farm a year or so, the husband working as a "section hand" several years. He went with a "woman named Annie in Bessemer, Ala., to whom a child was born May 10, 1925"; was married to her July 2, 1925, without "divorce, before or since, from the wife Hattie." That decedent "continued to go to see his wife and she came to see him at intervals, and he contributed something to her support until his death, but he was living with Annie, and supporting her and the child at the time of his death and since the child was born.

"The court concludes that Hattie Jones was the lawful wife of the deceased at the time of his injury and death, and that he was contributing something to her support, and that she was not voluntarily living away from him; that he was killed in accident arising out of and in course of his employment with defendant, of which defendant had knowledge, and his average weekly earnings were $17.02."

The insistence is that there is error in the finding, as a fact, that said Hattie, at the time of the death of her husband, was not voluntarily living away from him, and that said decedent was contributing to her support within the meaning of the Workmen's Compensation Act. We have indicated that the decree recites the facts found from legal evidence; concludes and finds that Hattie Jones was the lawful wife of decedent "at the time of his injury and death, that he was contributing something to her support, and that she was not voluntarily living away from him."

The Legislature may, within constitutional limitation, declare presumptions of dependency of a wife and child as affecting the husband under the statute now for consideration. The presumptions declared in the Workmen's Compensation Act, section 7552 of the Code, are not offensive to organic law, as construed in Bailey v. State, 158 Ala. 18, 48 So. 498; Id.,219 U.S. 229, 31 S.Ct. 145, 55 L.Ed. 191. Such are the declarations adhered to by that court. And in this jurisdiction as well. Gulf States Steel Co. v. Griffin, 214 Ala. 126, 106 So. 898; Ex parte Thomas, 209 Ala. 276, 96 So. 233; Gulf States Steel Co. v. Witherspoon, 214 Ala. 130, 106 So. 900; Ex parte Central I. C. Co. (Pennington's Case) 209 Ala. 22, 95 So. 472; Ex parte Jaggers Coal Co., 211 Ala. 11, 99 So. 99; Johnson v. Republic I. S. Co., 212 Ala. 149, 102 So. 44; Ex parte Gude Co.,213 Ala. 584, 105 So. 657.

If the burden of proof was upon the original petitioner, Hattie Jones (Fuquay v. State [Ala.] 114 So. 899¹), to show there was no divorce between the parties, or that the second or attempted ceremonial marriage with Annie Williams, alias Annie Jones, was invalid by reason of the prior marriage and no divorce, the testimony from the several counties indicated was sufficient to show there was no divorce from Hattie. Ex parte Thomas, supra; Ex parte Young, 211 Ala. 508, 101 So. 51.

When all the pleadings are considered, and the findings and decree, and its addition or amendment, are pursuant thereto, it amounts to an adverse disposition of the intervention of Annie Jones and her minor child's claim. The respective parties in interest were duly before the court with jurisdiction of the subject-matter and the persons, and are bound thereby. The effect of the finding of the trial court as to the contributions to Hattie as the wife living in another county was of the character, purpose, and intent of support. In Ex parte Thomas, 209 Ala. 276, 96 So. 233, it is said of the applicable words "in any way" (Gen. Acts 1919, p. 217, § 14, subsec. 1), as applied to support, refer to the character and intent of the purpose of support by the husband giving, providing, and contributing, and not merely to the nature and extent thereof. The latter may be evidence of, or tend to confirm or refute, such character and intent in making contributions under the statute. Code of 1923, § 7552; Ex parte Gude Co., supra; Gulf States Steel Co. v. Griffin, supra.

The petition is denied and the judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.

Petition denied; affirmed.

ANDERSON, C. J., and SOMERVILLE and BROWN, JJ., concur.

¹ Ante, p. 4.