Effinger v. Effinger , 48 Nev. 205 ( 1924 )

Mere fact that witness uses or has used drugs does not impair his credibility in absence of showing that his mind or memory was affected thereby, or that he was under influence at time of occurrence or when testifying. State v. Milosovich,42 Nev. 263; State v. Shuman, 152 P. 1084.

Court may submit case to jury on general issues in law, but not in equity. Simpson v. Harris, 21 Nev. 376; Strattan v. Raine,45 Nev. 10.

Trial court is bound by verdict of jury in law, but may disregard it in equity if not entirely square with judge's conscience. Const. art. 6, sec. 6; Rev. Laws, 4830; Strattan v. Raine, supra.

Divorce case is suit in equity. Sharon v. Sharon, 7 P. 456; Rev. Laws, 5841.

If special findings are inconsistent new trial should be granted. Court cannot disregard some and render judgment on remainder. Barnes v. Sabron, 10 Nev. 217; 38 Cyc. 1931, n. 20.

Finding that defendant is guilty of extreme cruelty is conclusion and not finding of any fact. Cargnani v. Cargnani,116 P. 306.

While recriminatory matter should be pleaded if wife seeks relief, it is admissible though not pleaded to refute allegation that her jealousy was without just cause, and also to throw light on general issue as to whether husband's conduct with other women was of such nature as to justify his wife's jealousy. Gardner v. Gardner, 23 Nev. 213. Instant case is distinguished from State v. Shuman, cited by appellant, for reason that here it clearly appears witness was habitual user of morphine at very time of occurrence of events testified to. State v. Fong Loon, 158 P. 233; State v. Prentiss, 183 N.W. 411.

Defendant will not be permitted to show plaintiff has not been faithful to marriage obligations, although complaint stated he was always faithful, where answer was general denial. As matter of recrimination is affirmative defense, it must be specially pleaded. Newman v. Newman, 98 N.E. 507; Banks v. Banks, 67 A. 853.

Action for divorce is purely statutory in character. Worthington v. District Court, 37 Nev. 212. Even in equity cases where law provides for trial by jury, its verdict is same as in common-law action, and cannot be more readily disregarded. The Western States, 159 Fed. 354; Reider v. Walz, 101 N.W. 601; Mayville v. French, 92 N.E. 919.

Rev. Laws, 5845, gives either party right to trial by jury, in accordance with general rules governing trial of civil actions in district court. In such case, verdict of jury is conclusive. Horn v. Horn, 130 N.Y.S. 591; Garrett v. Garrett, 96 N.E. 882.

Since court adopted findings of jury, whether on theory tenable or untenable, how is appellant aggrieved? That court was satisfied with verdict is shown by its refusal to grant new trial. Stanley v. Stanley, 146 Ill. App. 109; McCauley v. McKeig, 21 P. 22.

Trial court, which hears witnesses, is better qualified to judge their credibility than appellant court which can learn the evidence only after it had been reduced to writing. Verdicts will not be disturbed except for most cogent reasons. Burns v. Loftus,32 Nev. 55.

OPINION In this action respondent sued for and obtained a decree of divorce from appellant. The complaint alleged extreme cruelty. The charges of cruelty were denied in the answer. For a further defense, and by way of counterclaim, appellant charged the respondent with willful desertion, and prayed for a decree of separate maintenance. On the trial of the case, at appellant's request, the counterclaim was dismissed. The case was tried before a jury. Special issues were submitted to the jury, and also a form of general verdict, all of which were found in favor of respondent. A decree of divorce was entered, from which, and the order denying a motion for a new trial, this appeal is taken. 1. Appellant assigns as error the admission of the testimony of Dr. R.H. Richardson, a witness for respondent, whose testimony went to the credibility of Mrs. Burger, a witness for appellant. The circumstances under which the doctor's testimony was admitted are as follows: Mrs. Burger testified that she had resided in Reno at the Gibson Apartments, and that a manicurist, Mrs. McKinney, had apartments next to hers. She stated that she saw the respondent leaving the apartments of the manicurist late at night a number of times. She said she saw him on one occasion leaving about 20 minutes past 2 in the morning, and on another about 1; never before 12. The witness then described in detail the brevity of the manicurist's costume and the affectionate nature of respondent's leave-taking. She also testified as to conversations she had with respondent at the Riverside Hotel in Reno about the 30th of July, 1921, in which he told her that he wanted to get a divorce from his wife; that he had absolutely no reason, but was going to get a divorce, if he had to manufacture some grounds on which to get it; and that as soon as he got it he was going to marry his secretary. The witness also testified that respondent told her in one of these conversations that he would poison his wife, if necessary, to get her out of the way.

Substantially stated, Dr. Richardson testified that he was the superintendent of the State Insane Asylum, and that Mrs. Burger was received in that institution under the name of Elizabeth Ware on the 11th day of January, 1922; that she was committed to the asylum for two months as a drug addict of the pronounced type, and that her physical condition was caused by the persistent use of morphia hypodermically. He said that she was emaciated, nervous, and showed all the usual signs in such cases, including the marks of needles. In his opinion, the witness had been addicted to the use of morphia for over a year, and could not have arrived in her condition in a shorter period than six months. In response to a question as to whether drug addicts are worthy of belief he stated:

"My experience is that they are not credible witnesses, and that I would seldom believe one on a subject in which he was interested, unless he was corroborated. They have a tendency to want to distort the truth in preference to telling the truth. That is my experience, and I believe it is the experience of all. A drug addict is not liable to tell the truth, if he can avoid it."

On cross-examination the doctor stated that his statement on direct, that drug addicts were not credible witnesses on a subject in which they were interested, should not have been so limited, but that he meant that they were just as liable to distort the truth as to things they were not interested in. He said, also, that the woman was discharged from the asylum after two months' treatment as cured. He stated that a drug addict, discharged as cured of the habit, had a tendency to avoid telling the truth, but for how long a time thereafter he did not know. He admitted that he had never made any investigation for the purpose of testing this opinion.

We think his testimony was properly admitted. The examination discloses that the doctor was amply qualified by knowledge of the subject and long experience in the observation and treatment of drug addicts to give his opinion that the witness was one, the probable duration of the habit, and its effect upon her mental faculties. The fact was established by the doctor's testimony that Mrs. Burger was a morphine addict of the pronounced type when received in the asylum. On cross-examination he emphasized his opinion given on direct by saying:

"Her appearance was that of a pronounced drug addict. I haven't any doubt about it."

2. If the respondent could establish that she was such at the time of the occurrences and statements concerning which she testified, it was competent to show by expert testimony the abnormal effect upon her mind as to her liability to distort or subvert the truth. The propensity in this regard of an habitual user of drugs is well described and fortified by authority in State v. Fong Loon, 29 Idaho, 248, 158 P. 233, L.R.A. 1916F, 1198. The court said:

"We believe it will be admitted that habitual users of opium, or other like narcotics, become notorious liars. The habit of lying comes doubtless from the fact that the users of those narcotics pass the greater part of their lives in an unreal world, and thus become unable to distinguish between images and facts, between illusions and realities. In Wharton Stille's Medical Jurisprudence (3d ed.), sec. 1111, it is said that `of the mental symptoms,' in the case of a morphinomaniac or other habitual users of drugs, `the most characteristic, perhaps, are the moral perversions. The chronic morphinomaniac is often a confirmed liar. The truth is not in him. * * * There is something quite pathological in this mendacity; the lying is unblushing, inexpert, spontaneous — a sort of second nature. * * * They have been so often narcotized, and thus cut off from actualities, living in a dream state, that they do not seem able to recognize realities when they see them.'"

The mental confusion and impairment of moral character produced by the habitual use of morphine, cocaine, or a like narcotic are established facts in medical research. That such use may be shown for the purpose of affecting the credibility of a witness is also well established. State v. Fong Loon,29 Idaho, 248, 158 P. 233, L.R.A. 1916F, 1198; Anderson v. State,65 Tex. Crim. 365, 144 S.W. 281; People v. Webster, 139 N.Y. 73,34 N.E. 730. In State v. Fong Loon, supra, the lower court was reversed for sustaining objections to questions propounded to a witness on cross-examination for the purpose of showing that he was an habitual user of opium and yen she. The appellate court said:

"And we think it was error for the court to restrict counsel for appellant's attempt to elicit by cross-examination this information from Yee Wee, or to lay the foundation for the purpose of establishing by independent proof that Yee Wee was an habitual user of opium or other like narcotics, the extent of that use, and what, if any, effect it had or was more than likely to have upon the mental balance of this witness, the truthfulness of his testimony, and his capacity to remember and correctly translate the questions of the representative of the state to Fong Chung into Chinese, and Fong Chung's answers into English."

3. Appellant contends that the doctor's testimony does not tend to show that Mrs. Burger was an habitual user of morphine, either at the time she gave her testimony or at the time of the occurrences or statements testified to by her. It may be conceded that the testimony does not tend to show that she was a drug addict when her deposition was given, but we think it has such tendency at the time she claims to have observed the respondent's conduct at the Gibson Apartments and heard his statements concerning appellant at the Riverside Hotel. She claims the statements were made about July 30, 1921. She gives no date as to the occasions on which she saw respondent leaving the apartment of the manicurist, but it appears from the testimony of Mr. Gibson, the manager of the Gibson Apartments, that she came there on the 2d day of August, 1921, and left about the 1st of the following September, and that Mrs. McKinney, the manicurist, whom she claims she saw respondent kissing and caressing on leaving her apartment late at night and in the early morning hours, did not come to the Gibson Apartments until August 14, 1921. Consequently Mrs. Burger's opportunities for observing the actions of respondent and Mrs. McKinney at the Gibson Apartments, as she claims she did, could not have been earlier than the middle of August, 1921. In Dr. Richardson's opinion she was a morphine addict of the pronounced type within this period. As previously stated, he testified that she was such an addict on January 11, 1922, and in his opinion has been addicted to the use of morphia for over a year, and could not have arrived in her condition in a shorter period than six months. We think it was proper for the jury to weigh his testimony in this regard.

4. It is contended that the court erred in submitting the case to the jury upon the general issue or general verdict, and in denying appellant's application to the court to reject the special findings and general verdict and in disregarding his application to the court to make its own findings and enter a decree in her favor denying respondent any relief. These assignments are based upon the contention that the action is one in equity and not an action at law. This court has heretofore declared, upon authority entirely satisfactory, that a divorce action is statutory. Worthington v. District Court, 37 Nev. 230, 142 P. 230, L.R.A. 1916A, 696, Ann. Cas. 1916E, 1097. Whether, notwithstanding it is essentially equitable in its nature, as appellant contends, we find it unnecessary to determine. By statute either party is given the right of trial by jury. Section 5845 of the Revised Laws provides:

"Either party, on application to the court, may be entitled, at such trial, to have the issue of fact involved in such case and presented by the pleadings, tried by a jury, in accordance with the general rules governing the trial of civil actions in the district court."

5. It is well established that, when a statute requires a question of fact presented by the pleadings in an equity case to be submitted to a jury, then the issue found by the jury is not simply advisory to the court, but binding, as in an action at law. 21 C.J. 592; Mayville v. French, 246 Ill. 434, 92 N.E. 919; Reider v. Walz et al., 93 Minn. 399, 101 N.W. 601; The Western States, 159 F. 354, 86 C.C.A. 354. The rule is recognized and stated in McClave v. Gibb, 157 N.Y. 413, 52 N.E. 186. In The Western States, supra, the reason for the rule is stated:

"When, however, the statute gives to a party the right to a jury trial, it is difficult to believe that it was intended to authorize the court to take this right away and substitute its own findings for the jury's, as in the case of feigned issues sent out of chancery. Such a practice does not give the party a jury trial at all, or, at best, it gives with one hand what it takes away with the other. It seems to us that, consistently with a party's right to a jury trial, the power of the court can go no further than to grant a new trial."

6. When the right of trial by jury is given by statute in divorce actions the verdict is uniformly held to be conclusive as in an action at law and can only be set aside by the granting of a new trial for sufficient cause. 19 C.J. 154; 7 Ency. Pl. Prac. 120; Garrett v. Garrett, 252 Ill. 318,96 N.E. 882; Lowenthal v. Lowenthal, 157 N.Y. 236, 51 N.E. 995; Horn v. Horn, 73 Misc. Rep. 14, 130 N.Y.S. 591; Poertner v. Poertner,66 Wis. 644, 29 N.W. 386; Jackson v. Jackson, 49 Pa. Super. 18.

7. But, even if it were not for the force of the statute in this case, giving the right of trial by jury, it is difficult to see how appellant's point that the findings were advisory only, could be of any avail. The court adopted the findings, as it would have had a right to do in an equitable case, and there is nothing to indicate that it considered the adoption of the findings obligatory, and that, if it had not, it would have disregarded them, and made findings of its own favorable to the appellant. On the contrary, it appears from the written decision which we find in the record, that the conscience of the court was entirely satisfied with the findings and verdict of the jury. Consequently, appellant could be in no wise prejudiced, even if we conceded that her point that the findings were advisory only, was well taken.

8. We agree with appellant's claim that in an equity case a general verdict should not be submitted or received with special findings, but where, as in this case, the findings were adopted by the court, we are at a loss to perceive how the fact that a general verdict was also received could have injured appellant. The same contention was made and held to be without merit in McCauley v. McKeig, 8 Mont. 389, 21 P. 22, cited by respondent, in respect to which the court said:

"One more alleged error is much relied upon by appellant, who claims that this is an equity case, and that the jury should not have been asked or allowed to return a general verdict, and cites as authority cases from the California reports. The respondent, on the other hand, insists that there is a combination of a common-law action with a suit in equity, and that the question of damages was properly made the subject of a general verdict, and cites as authority Basey v. Gallagher, 20 Wall. 670. This might, perhaps, afford a subject for learned discussion; but surely it should not be allowed to disturb a solemn judgment. In what respect was the plaintiff injured by the return of a general verdict? The record shows that the jury did return special findings; that the judge below, sitting as an equity judge, did solemnly accept this formal aid to his conscience, and did approve of the special findings; and the record further shows that upon such acceptance and approval, judgment was entered in favor of the defendant. The judgment and order appealed from are affirmed, with costs."

Appellant assigns as error the action of the court in adopting each of the special findings of the jury, claiming that they are not supported by the evidence and are inconsistent with and contradictory to each other. We find nothing contradictory in the findings, and an examination of the record discloses that there is substantial evidence to support them. Respondent was entitled to a decree on the findings. The various matters in which appellant claims the respondent's testimony was impeached were resolved against her by the jury and the trial court.

The judgment is affirmed.