Pope

In 1947, after 13 years of marriage, appellant filed suit for divorce. His wife, the respondent, cross-complained, first for separate maintenance, and later for a divorce. After a long and spirited trial, the wife was granted a divorce on the grounds of the cruelty and the habitual intemperance of her husband. In addition, the trial court awarded the wife $3,072.12 costs, $2,000 a month alimony terminable only on her death or remarriage, and $100,000 as her share of the community property. The husband thereupon appealed from those portions of the interlocutory and final judgments apportioning the community property, and awarding her alimony. Thereupon, the wife’s present counsel were brought into the case, and moved for counsel fees in the amount of $20,000 to enable the wife adequately to defend the appeal. The trial court, after a hearing, allowed the wife $15,000 for counsel fees on the appeal. The husband appeals, contending that the amount awarded was excessive.

The defense of the appeal was successfully handled by the attorneys here involved, and resulted in an affirmance of the judgment, except as to a minor portion thereof relating to certain personal possessions. (Pope…