Parker v. Parker , 1 Walk. Ch. 457 ( 1844 )

The Chancellor.

The first objection to the plea is that it is not positive, but on information and belief. Where a plea states a fact within defendant’s knowledge, or touching his own acts, it must be positive; but, when it relates to the acts of third persons, to which he is not a party, it is sufficient if it be on information and belief. Drew v. Drew, 2 Ves. & B. 159 ; Coop. Eq. Pl. 228.

Another objection is the plea does not show Philomelia, though a married woman, may not sue and be sued as a feme sole, by reason of the eighteenth section of Chap. 4, Tit. 7, part 2, of the Revised Statutes, p. 344. The section is in these words :

“When any married woman shall come from any other state or country, into this state, without her husband, he having never lived with her in this state, she may transact business, make contracts, and commence, prosecute and defend suits, in her own name, and dispose of her property, which may be found here, in like manner, in all respects, as if she were unmarried, upon all contracts, and for all other acts, made or done, by her after her arrival in this state; and she may make and execute any deeds and other instruments, in her own name, and do all other lawful acts, that may be necessary or proper to carry into effect the powers so granted to her.”

The answer to this objection is, that the bill is not so drawn as to require the defendants, by their plea, to negative the several facts which, under the statute, confer on a married woman the right to sue and be sued, and to make contracts, 'without her husband. Complainant, in drawing his bill, should have anticipated the plea, and charged the necessary facts to have avoided it under the statute; or, after the plea had been put in, amended his bill within the twenty days allowed by the 32d rule of Court. Having done neither, the plea is sufficient. The record, as it stands, shows Philomelia was a married woman when the bill was filed, and that her husband is still living, without stating any reason for his not being a party.

Plea allowed, with leave to complainant to amend his bill in twenty days, on paying costs.