Albany Fertilizer Co. v. James
Albany Fertilizer Co. v. James
Opinion of the Court
Albany Fertilizer Company obtained a judgment against Juby James, in the city court of Albany, upon which a fi. fa. was issued, and by the sheriff levied on the following property: “ One light bay mare mule name Della, one black mare mule name Bird, one black mare mule name Dell,.one bay mare name Emma, one bay mare name Kate, 110 acres in cotton, and 50 acres more or less in corn, levied on as the property of the defendant.” To this property a claim was filed by Richmond James and Mary James, and by Juby James, next friend of Florence, Oscar, Tossie, and Fannie James. When the case was called for trial, the claimants admitted the levy, and the possession of the property levied on in the defendant in fi. fa. at the time of the levy, and assumed the burden of proof. After the evidence and charge of the court,
It is not necessary in this connection to consider all the grounds in the motion for a new trial. It appears from the testimony in behalf of claimants that they relied upon the following paper as the basis of their title: “Doughty Co Ga. January 5 1894. this is to certify the will of Elizor James I hear by make my will one dark bay mear mule name bird one muse collard mear mule name bell one bay mear name Emer one two horse wagon one buggie three 350 hundred & fifty dollars in cash which are my own Personnel Propity I hear by will to my children All of said Propitv which are above discrobe in this will to Eichmon James Mary James Osker James Tossie James Fannie James Eitton by J S Williams Witness N. A. Dent W. W. Watson.” This paper did not contain the signature of its alleged maker, Eliza James. It did not even have her mark to it. It was attested by only two witnesses. While they swore positively that she signed it, and they saw her sign it, yet they admitted they could see no signs of even a mark made by her upon the paper. The witness, however, who wrote the paper swore that she did not sign it, and the paper seems to bear evidence upon its face that her signature was never attached to it. It will be noted that the property described in the paper, with the exception perhaps of one or two of- the stock levied on, was not included in the levy. It appears from the testimony that these claimants were the children of the defendant in fi. fa., and of his wife Eliza James. There was some evidence introduced, principally by the defendant in fi. fa., that the property levied on belonged to his wife. It was claimed that she gave it to these claimants, but the only basis of that gift is the written paper above. That paper was clearly testamentary in its character. There was no evidence that there ever was a delivery of any of the property levied on to either one of these claimants. Among the grounds in the motion for a new trial, besides the general ones, was an assignment of error on the admission of that paper in evidence, over the objection that the same was testamentary in its character, was not signed by the alleged maker, nor probated, nor properly witnessed, and could form the basis of no title to the property. Error is further assigned on the following charge of the court: “ In this con
Reference
- Full Case Name
- ALBANY FERTILIZER COMPANY v. JAMES
- Status
- Published