Blair v. Jones
Blair v. Jones
Opinion of the Court
It is not necessary that we decide whether the bill was multifarious, no demurrer having been interposed on that ground. Hitt Lumber Co. v. Cullman Property Co., 189 Ala. 13, 66 South. 720; Smith v. Toung, 173 Ala. 190, 55 South. 425; Henry v. Tennessee Live Stock Co., 164 Ala. 376, 50 South. 1029; Ford v. Borders et al., 75 South. 398; 1 Cullman Property Co. v. Hitt Lumber Co., 77 South. 574. 2 The testimony not having been taken orally in open court, no presumptions are indulged as to the findings of fact on which the decree is based. Andrews v. Grey, 199 Ala. 152, 74 South. 62; Code, § 5955, subhead 1; Gen. Acts 1915, p. 705.
The question for decision, as stated by appellants’ counsel, is, the correctness of the court’s decree “only as to the failure to cancel the mortgage,” that given June 16, 1915, by Pete and Sallie Blair to A. G. Seay. The grounds on which the mortgage is attacked, and which we will consider, are: (1) That the grantor, Pete Blair, was of unsound mind at the time of the execution of the mortgage; (2)that there was no consideration for the mortgage.
This burden of proof resting on a complainant praying cancellation of a conveyance as a cloud on title on the ground of mental incapacity of the grantor at the time of the execution is to show, by a preponderance of the evidence, ‘the fact of the mental incompetency alleged. Where there were many witnesses and conflicting testimony as to the grantor’s sanity at the time of the execution of the deed, this court has refused to disturb a decree dismissing the bill. Harrison v. Harrison et al., 126 Ala. 323, 28 South. 586.
There is much and conflicting evidence as to the mental incapacity of Pete Blair to transact the business incident thereto, when he executed the mortgage in question. However, indulging the presumptions of his sanity, under this evidence we cannot say that his mental incapacity has been proven by “clear and unexceptionable evidence” (Cotton v. Ulmer, supra): that is, by a preponderance of the evidence (Harrison v. Harrison, supra).
The professional services of the mortgagee, as attorney, admittedly resulted in benefit to Pete Blair, and, in view of his immediate death, to his children. The value of those services is not here to be ascertained; but, as stated by the chancellor, the amount of the actual expenses or obligations incurred by the mortgagee for the mortgagor is a pertinent inquiry on foreclosure or redemption. It is sufficient to say, in this connection, that the attorney prosecuted the divorce proceeding to the desired decree, and that the decree rendered was pursuant to the pleadings and the proof then before the chancellor. The finding of the chancellor in the instant case, as to the decree for divorce, is not now questioned by the argument of counsel. If the *295 value of the attorney’s professional services rendered the mortgagor in that case was fixed by the attorney in his mortgage without consultation with the mortgagor, and was unreasonable, that matter may be the subject of further inquiry as indicated.
The intérest of the infant, James Blair, as such minor child of Pete Blair, deceased, is provided for and secured by statute. That interest, however, is subject to the just and true consideration of appellee’s inortgage.
The decree of the circuit court, sitting in equity, is affirmed.
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- BLAIR Et Al. v. JONES Et Al.
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- 13 cases
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- Published