Tomlinson v. Tomlinson
Tomlinson v. Tomlinson
Opinion of the Court
The grounds alleged for the relief demanded are: (1) Fraud and undue influence on the part of defendant in obtaining the deed to the land in question, and (2) a fraudulent alteration of the deed, after its execution and delivery, in a material part, rendering it inoperative as a conveyance. The answer is a general denial, and averments that the defendant is the absolute owner of the land. As usual in such cases, the evidence is, as to s:me material matters, conflicting, but a careful consideration of all of the competent evidence satisfies us that the following, among other, facts are established: Eliza Tomlinson is the widow of Jesse Tomlinson, who died December 17, 1894. The other defendants are the children of said Jesse and Eliza Tomlinson. Jesse Tomlinson, in his lifetime, was the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land in Jones county, Iowa. That the defendant was a brother of Jesse Tomlinson. Jesse Tomlinson and his wife were both over seventy years of age. Jesse Tomlinson was mentally and physically infirm. He placed great confidence in and reliance on the defendant, who was several years younger than himself. That he was indebted in the sum of about five thousand dollars, and was sued for slander. That he was a man easily irritated, and his obligations and this slander suit annoyed and worried him. Some ten years prior to his death, he had fallen from a horse, and for several years before he died he had failed much in mind and health. He had grown peculiar; would take the farm tools, and hide them; left considerable sums of money in rubbish, in old buildings, an'd in barns; left promissory notes in old tin cans; preached to himself in the fields in a loud Voice; was afraid his son would squander his money. The defendant, taking advantage of the weak mental condition of said Jesse, and with the pretense on his part of aiding Jesse to pay his debts, and of assisting him in the management of his affairs, obtained a conveyance from Jesse and his wife of all their land under the promise that their title to the same should not be affected; that he would not place the deed of record; that when Jesse’s debts were paid he would re-convey the land to him. Relying upon the representations of the defendant, and by reason of his influence over Jesse and his wife, he secured said conveyance, placed the same of record, and, as a part of his scheme to defraud his brother, he pretended to lease said land to Jesse, and entered into a written contract of lease with him. Eighty acres of said land was sold, and with the proceeds of it, and of certain personal property, the defendant paid off all of Jesse’s debts. The one hundred and sixty acres of land which was left has always been in the possession of Jesse or his wife and heirs. Said
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Eliza Tomlinson v. Joseph Tomlinson
- Status
- Published