Equity Pleading and Practice, Amendment. Equity Jurisdiction, Court will not aid to establish title acquired for unlawful purpose.
A bill in equity, by a married man against a single woman, sought to establish the plaintiff's title to household furniture used in an apartment in which the plaintiff and the defendant had been living together, and a stipulation was made by the counsel for both parties that the title to the property should be tried in the suit. A master to whom the case was referred found for the defendant upon the issue of the title to the furniture. After this finding against him the plaintiff moved for leave to amend his bill by alleging a debt from the defendant to the plaintiff, and seeking under R.L.c. 159, § 3, cl. 7, to reach the furniture as the property of the defendant. The judge who heard the case denied the motion. Held, that, even apart from the fact that the property, so far as it was not exempt from attachment, apparently could have been reached at law, the motion to amend was denied rightly.
In a suit in equity by a married man against a single woman to establish the plaintiff's title to household furniture used in an apartment in which the plaintiff and the defendant had been living together, if it is found by a master, on evidence not reported, that the defendant bought the furniture with money supplied to her by the plaintiff for the purpose of inducing her to become and remain his mistress and that she did so become and remain, and that the furniture so bought was not bought or used for any lawful purpose but was intended and used by the parties to surround and guard their intercourse with a setting of safety, seclusion and ease, the court will not consider whether the plaintiff has any title to the furniture, as, even if he has, the court will not aid him to secure the title to or possession of property which was a part of the price of such unlawful conduct, but will leave the parties in the position in which they have placed themselves.
SHELDON, J.
1. The plaintiff's motion to amend his bill was denied by the Superior Court, and he has appealed from that order. It would be a strange thing if, after bringing his bill for the purpose of establishing his title to and right of possession of the household furniture mentioned, and after obtaining an agreement of the parties that the title to the property should be tried in this action, he could at the same time and in the same bill seek to reach that furniture as the property of the defendant under the provisions of R.L.c. 159, § 3, cl. 7. Apart from the fact that this property, so far as it was not exempt from attachment, apparently could have been reached at law, this liberty was rightly refused to the plaintiff.
2. It is difficult to see how upon the facts found by the master it could be said that the title to the furniture was in the plaintiff. The money with which the defendant bought it from time to time was a part of what he gave to her. None of this money was furnished to her by him for the specific purpose of buying furniture for his benefit. All the money which she expended for furniture the master has found was furnished to her by the plaintiff precisely as the money which she expended for other things was furnished to her by him, — upon her asking for it, though without any express understanding or agreement between the parties as to whether it was a gift or a bailment; and the plaintiff admits that the other money which he furnished to her, except certain specific loans, was really a gift to her. Under these circumstances, it is not easy to see how he was harmed by any of the rulings of the master, or how any of his exceptions can be sustained.
But we do not deem it necessary to pass upon this question. The master has found, and as the evidence has not been reported this finding is conclusive, that the money supplied by the plaintiff to the defendant was for the purpose of inducing her to become and remain his mistress; and that she did so become and remain. This includes the money with which the furniture was bought and paid for. And the furniture itself, bought with the money furnished for this unlawful end, was not bought for or used with any lawful purpose, but was merely designed and used by the parties to surround and guard their intercourse with a setting of safety, seclusion and ease. It was a part of the price given by him to her to secure the continuance of their meretricious relations. Under these circumstances, the court will not interfere to secure to the plaintiff the title to or possession of property bought with money which he has thus made a part of the price of such unlawful conduct. It will leave the parties in the position in which they have placed themselves.
The decree of the Superior Court denying the plaintiff's motion for leave to amend his bill and the decree dismissing his bill with costs must both be affirmed.
So ordered.