Hodson v. Stapleton

This submitted controversy concerns the right of a public official to maintain an action against a wife whose husband has been the recipient of public relief.

The defendant and her husband were married on October 8, 1901. Between September 1, 1931, and July 1, 1935, the husband received from the department of public welfare of the city of New York monthly payments as old age security relief aggregating $2,025. On January 12, 1935, the defendant’s uncle died leaving a will under which on May 1, 1935, the defendant received a payment of $1,000 on account of her distributive share in the estate.…