[121] For New Hampshire, see Pub. Stat. (1900), 592, 593. The law of Connecticut is very general. For instance, the court may assign the woman as alimony any part of her late husband's estate not exceeding one-third thereof. If divorced for her misconduct, all property received from the husband in consideration of the marriage or of "love and affection" must be restored. A minor child must be supported by the parents; and upon complaint of either of them at any time, the court may inquire into their pecuniary ability, and pass a decree against either or both for its just maintenance: Gen. Stat. of Conn. (1888), 612-14. See also Gen. Laws of R. I. (1896), 633-36; Rev. Stat. of Maine (1884), 520-23, where it is provided that, when a divorce is decreed for the adultery of the wife, the husband "may hold her personal estate forever, and her real estate, of which she was seized during coverture, during his life, if they had a child born alive during marriage, otherwise during her life only, if he survives her; but the court may allow her so much of her real or personal estate as is necessary for her subsistence."—Ibid., 522. But by an act of 1903 it is provided that where the wife is at fault the husband is "entitled to one-third, in common and undivided of all her real estate, except wild lands, which shall descend to him as if she were dead;" and the court in its discretion may grant him a part of her personal estate. In all cases the right, title, or interest of the libellee in the libellant's real estate is barred by the decree of divorce: Acts and Resolves (1903), 171.
[122] Vermont Stat. (1894), 509 ff.
[123] Massachusetts made such provision in 1882. Clerks of court are to submit annual reports to the secretary of the commonwealth who is to embody the facts in his own report to the legislature. The first report is to cover the period 1879-82: Supp. to Pub. Stat., 1882-88, 40, 41. In Connecticut and Rhode Island the clerks are to make a similar report to the secretary of the state board of health: Gen. Stat. of Conn. (1887), 566, 567: Gen. Laws of R. I. (1896), 768, 322. The same officer is made register of vital statistics in New Hampshire: Pub. Stat. (1891), 490; and that state has provided that the clerks of the supreme court shall report to the register the record of all divorces decreed since July 1, 1858: Laws (1901), 513. Similar reports of decrees nisi are required in Maine: Rev. Stat. (1884), 522. Vermont has provided for the registration of decrees under general direction of the secretary of the state board of health, who is to publish a biennial report, beginning in 1900: Acts and Resolves (1898), 41 ff.
[124] In this section are considered the laws of the District of Columbia and Porto Rico; the four territories, Arizona, Indian Territory, New Mexico, and Oklahoma; and the fifteen states, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
[125] See chap. xv, sec. ii.
[126] Laws of Md. (1790), chap. xxv. Cf. Bacon, Laws of Md. (1715), chap. 44, sec. 26.
[127] Laws of Md. (1805), chap. xxxiii.
[128] Maryland Laws (1806-7), chaps. xxxix, lxix, lxxvi, lxxvii, lxxx.
[129] Thus the Laws of 1807-8, chaps. xx (no cause given), xxx (no cause given), ciii (desertion and elopement of wife), clxvi (no cause given), yield four cases; and the Laws of 1809, chaps. xxiv, l, two cases more (no cause assigned).
[130] Act of Feb. 27, 1830: Laws (1829-30), chap. 202.