Enos v. Chestnut
Enos v. Chestnut
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court:
It is objected against the decree, that there is a failure of proof of the legal organization of the society defendants in error claim to represent, and of their election as trustees, as claimed in the bill. It is sufficient to say, that there is no denial, in the answer of the.defendants, of such organization, or election as trustees, and the capacity of defendants in error to sue stands admitted, not being denied by the answer.
Without dwelling upon the effect of the alleged donation by the entry on the town plat, as under our statute vesting an unconditional title in the donee as against Pascal P. Enos and his heirs, we are of opinion that there is sufficient warrant for the decree in the evidence as to the agreement of sale of the lots made by Enos. He had subscribed $50 towards building a church. He afterward proposed to give these two lots in payment of his subscription. The offer was accepted, and his subscription of $50 marked as paid. This was in 1829 or 1830. The church edifice was built upon these lots, and this society has ever since occupied and improved them. Here was a valuable consideration received for the lots, the taking them for a subscription of $50, and canceling the subscription. The evidence shows that, at the time, they were not worth more than $50.
We do not see why, upon this ground, apart from the alleged donation, the defendants in error do not show an equitable title to the lots, the right to full title. The decree will therefore be affirmed.
Decree affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Salome Enos v. John A. Chesnut
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Pleading and evidence—matters 'not denied need not be proved. On bill in chancery by trustees of a church society, proof of the legal organization of the church, and of the election of the trustees, is not necessary. When these matters are not denied in the defendant’s answer, they are admitted. 2. Consideration—giving town lots in payment of subscription for a church. Where the owner of lots offered to give two of them in payment of his subscription to a church, of $50, in 1829 or 1830, which at that time was the full value of the lots, and the offer was accepted and his subscription marked paid, and the church went into possession and built a church edifice thereon, and the owner, when asked for a deed, replied he would (and did) mark on the plat of the addition made by him, that the lots were donated for the use of the church, it was held, that, aside from the entry on the plat, the church acquired an equitable, unconditional title, and the right to a full title, by taking the lots in payment of the subscription, and had the right to dispose of them.