Opinion
April Term, 1896.
J.C. Julius Langbein, for the appellants.
William L. Snyder, for the respondent.
The controversy between the parties to this proceeding relates to the custody of Arthur Byrne, an infant of the age of about four years, and a son of the petitioner. The appellants are the maternal uncles of the infant, and claim to be entitled to the custody of him, on the ground (1) that they are his testamentary guardians, under the last will and testament of his mother, and (2) that the petitioner is not a fit and proper person to have the custody of his son. The learned judge who heard the case at Special Term overruled both of these claims, and we concur with his conclusions.
The appellants wholly failed to show anything in the character of the petitioner, or in referenee to his conduct towards the infant or its mother, which would have permitted the court to have denied to him the care and custody of his son. The appellants acquired no right in reference to the child, under its mother's will. The petitioner had the legal right to have the custody of his son, and the attempt upon the part of Mrs. Byrne to dispose of his custody during his minority, by her last will and testament, created no right whatever in the appellants as against the petitioner.
At common law the father had the legal right to control his minor child and was entitled to its custody absolutely, to the exclusion of its mother. This rule has been modified by the statutes of this State, and the course of legislation upon the subject appears in 2 R.S. 150, § 1; Laws 1871, chapter 32; Laws 1888, chapter 454; Laws 1893, chapter 175. In the last statute cited every married woman is declared to be the joint guardian of her children with her husband, with rights and duties in regard to them equal to her husband, and upon the death of either parent the survivor is given the right by deed or will to dispose of the custody of such child or children during their minority or for any less time. This statute is still in force, and the petitioner, being the surviving parent, has the sole right to appoint the testamentary guardian of the child, and his right to its custody is absolute (assuming him to be a fit person). ( Matter of Schmidt, 77 Hun, 201.)
It appears that the petitioner and his wife were married in 1890, and in May, 1892, Mrs. Byrne commenced an action in the Court of Common Pleas, in the city of New York, to obtain a separation from her husband, on the ground of cruel treatment. The petitioner appeared and put in an answer in the action. The case, however, was never brought to trial, and was pending, undetermined, in August, 1895, when Mrs. Byrne died. Prior to her death her deposition was taken in the action de bene esse and was filed May 1, 1894. In this deposition she testified to acts of cruel treatment upon the part of her husband towards her. Upon the hearing of this proceeding this deposition was offered in evidence by the appellants, and upon the petitioner's objection was excluded, to which there was an exception. The learned counsel for the appellants strenuously contends that this ruling was erroneous. We are of the opinion, however, that the deposition was properly excluded. The decision of the question is now controlled by section 830 of the Code of Civil Procedure. This section limits the admission of the testimony of a deceased witness, given upon the trial of an action or the hearing of a special proceeding, to a new trial or hearing of the same action or proceeding in which the testimony was given. The ruling excepted to was, therefore, clearly correct, and the order must be affirmed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements.
All concurred.
Order affirmed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements.