to the County Clerk, on or before the first day of June, in each year, a statement of the births and deaths which have occurred in their respective townships, cities, and wards during the year ending on the last day of the preceding December. But in the city of Detroit, persons are appointed by the Common Council to perform this duty.

Divorce.—All marriages prohibited by law on account of the relationship of the parties, or on account of either of them having a former wife or husband living; all marriages solemnized while either party was an idiot or insane; all marriages between a white person and a negro, if solemnized within this State; all marriages solemnized when either party was under the age of legal consent, if they shall separate during such nonage, and not live together afterwards, or in case the consent of one of the parties was obtained by force or fraud, and there shall have been no subsequent voluntary cohabitation of the parties, shall be deemed void without any decree of divorce.

A sentence to imprisonment for life, of either party, dissolves the marriage, without any decree of divorce.

[For grounds for granting a divorce, see note to this chapter.]

During the pending of a suit for divorce, the Court has power to make such order concerning the care and custody of the minor children and for the support of the wife by the husband as shall seem suitable and proper; and when a decree is granted, the Court makes such order as to the future care of the children and support of the wife as shall appear just and proper under all the circumstances.

When the marriage is dissolved, on account of the imprisonment of the husband, adultery by the husband, misconduct, or habitual drunkenness of the husband, the wife shall be entitled to her dower in his lands, the same as if he were dead.

The Court has power to grant a divorce from bed and board, without dissolving the marriage, in cases where the ground of complaint is extreme cruelty, or the neglect of the husband to support the wife.

Questions-At what age may parties contract marriage? Who shall not intermarry? Who may solemnize marriages? What examination is required? How many witnesses are required? What is said of certificates and records of marriages? What is required of Supervisors and Assessors with reference to statements of births and deaths? What is said of the care and support of minor children, and of the wife, in divorce cases? For what cause may a divorce from bed and board only, be granted?

NOTE. -The following are recognized by our statute as grounds for granting a divorce, to the aggrieved party: Adultery; physical incompetency; sentence of one of the parties to imprisonment for three years or more; when either party shall desert the other for a term of two years; when either party shall have become an habitual drunkard. And the Court may, in its discretion, grant a decree of divorce for the cause of extreme cruelty, or, on the complaint of the wife, where the husband neglects or refuses to support her, being able to furnish such support. The Court will not grant a divorce to a party who is shown to be guilty of the same crime or misconduct charged against the defendant.

CHAPTER LII.

OF

THE

DOMESTIC RELATIONS, CONTINUED HUSBAND AND
WIFE -RIGHTS OF MARRIED WOMEN.

It is the duty of the husband to maintain and support his wife; and in case he abandon her and leave the State without sufficient provision for her support, the Probate Court may authorize her to sell his personal property, and collect moneys or other property due and belonging to him, and to use the same as her own.

A married woman may dispose of her property the same as if she were unmarried, and may make and enforce contracts for the purchase or sale of property. Her property is not liable for the debts of her husband. She may sue and be sued, in relation to her separate property, without joining her husband in such suit; and may carry on business in her own name. While the husband is liable for the support of his wife, that is, for necessaries furnished her, he is not liable upon her contracts for other things.

The wife may mortgage her property to secure a debt of her own, or that of another person, but a note signed by her as surety, cannot be enforced against her. She may, however, buy goods for use in her husband's family, and be liable therefor, provided the goods were purchased with the understanding that she should pay for them. She may insure her life for the benefit of her husband, or her husband's life for her own benefit.

A mortgage, given by the husband, upon the homestead, or other property exempt by law from sale or execution, is invalid unless signed by the wife.

Where property of the husband has been taken from him on a mortgage, invalid for want of her signature, or upon an execution, where the property was not subject to levy, the wife may bring suit to recover the same, in her own name.

The widow of every deceased person is entitled to dower, or the use, during her natural life, of one-third part of all the lands whereof her husband was seized of an estate of inheritance, at any time during the marriage, unless she has conveyed the same away, or unless she has entered into an agreement to accept a certain consideration in lieu of dower.

Provision is made by law, for an allowance out of the husband's personal estate for the support of the widow and children, until such estate can be settled.

Questions-What is required of a married man as to the support of his wife? In case he abandons her, what provision is made by law as to her support? What rights has a married woman concerning property and the making of contracts? With reference to suits? For what is the husband not liable? What is said of her right to be surety for another? Of her liability for goods furnished to her for the family? Of her right to insure the life of herself or husband? What mortgages are invalid without her signature? What property of her hus band may she recover by suit? What is said of dower? Of an allowance out of the personal property of a deceased husband?

CHAPTER LIII.

THE INTERNAL POLICE OF THE STATE.

OF DISORDERLY PERSONS —WHO REQUIRED TO GIVE SECURITY FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR.

All persons who run away, or threaten to run away, who, being of sufficient ability, refuse or neglect to support their families, or leave their wives or children a burden on the public; all persons pretending to tell fortunes, or where or with whom lost or stolen goods may be found; all common prostitutes; all keepers of bawdy houses, or houses for the resort of prostitutes; all drunkards, tipplers, gamesters, or other disorderly persons; all persons who have no visible calling or business to maintain themselves by, or who do, for the most part, support themselves by gaming; all jugglers, common showmen, and mountebanks, who exhibit or perform for profit, any puppet shows, wire or rope dancing, or other idle shows, acts or feats; all persons who keep in any highway, or any public place, any gaming table, wheel of fortune, box, machine,

instrument, or device for the purpose of gaming; all persons who go about with such table, wheel of fortune, box, machine, instrument, or device, exhibiting tricks or gaming therewith; all persons who play in the public streets or highways, with cards, dice, or any instrument or device for gaming; and all vagrants shall be deemed disorderly persons, and may be required to furnish security for their good behavior, for not less than sixty-five days, nor more than one year thereafter; and in case of failure to furnish such security, shall be committed to jail, until discharged according to law. Such persons may be discharged from confinement on furnishing the security required; or, the Circuit Court may discharge such person if, in the judgment of the Court, the circumstances of the case warrant it, without such security; or may authorize the Superintendents of the Poor to bind out, as servants or apprentices, such disorderly persons as are under twenty-one years of age, until they reach the age of twenty-one years. The Circuit Court may also order disorderly persons to be kept at hard labor for any time not exceeding six months.

Questions-Who are deemed disorderly persons? What may be required of them? In case of a failure to furnish security for good behavior, what may be done with them? What authority has the Circuit Court in such cases?

CHAPTER LIV.

OF THE OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH

PENALTIES THEREFOR.

GAMING AND THE

The law provides that any person who, on the first day of the week, shall engage in any business or labor, except works