Zeitlow v. Zeitlow
Zeitlow v. Zeitlow
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The substantial controversy is over the question of delivery of the deeds made at Excelsior Springs, Mo. The plaintiff claimed under both deeds—
“Delivery may be effected by words without acts, or by acts without words, or by both acts and words. Whenever it appears that the contract or arrangement between the parties has been so far executed or completed that they must have understood that the grantor had devested himself of title, and that the grantee was invested with it, delivery will be' considered complete, though the instrument itself still remains in the hands of the grantor.” (p. 261.)
(See, also, Ledgerwood v. Gault, 70 Tenn. 643; Standiford v. Standiford, 97 Mo. 231; Douglas et al. v. West, 140 Ill. 455.)
It was for the jury to determine whether it was the intention that the title should pass when the actual deposit of the deeds should be made with Mr. Spilman, or whether it was intended that it should pass pres
The opinion in Worth v. Butler, 83 Kan. 513, is cited as being opposed to these views, but in that case the delivéry depended upon undisputed facts, showing that no delivery had been made and leaving no room for any legitimate inference to the contrary — a situation entirely different from the one now under consideration.
The defendants requested several instructions relative to the Excelsior Springs deeds. So far as these requests embodied correct principles they were sufficiently embraced in the general charge of the court, which clearly stated the rules of law necessary for the information of the jury. Most of the instructions requested, however, declared in effect that the deeds were inoperative for want of delivery. But delivery, as already stated, was a question of fact for the jury.
Objection was made to the oral testimony relative to the proposed plan for division of the land, afterward consummated by the deeds. This evidence was properly received to show the intention of the parties and as part of the history of the transaction. Even if erroneously received, no prejudice resulted. Without separately discussing each of the assignments of error it is held that the petition stated a good cause of action; that the evidence was sufficient to sustain the verdict and special findings; and that no prejudicial error is shown.
The judgment is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Henry H. Zeitlow v. August Zeitlow et ux.
- Cited By
- 17 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- SYLLABUS BY THE COURT. 1. Deeds — Delivery—Intention. Deeds were executed by parents conveying land to their sons and a daughter, respectively, in pursuance of a previous understanding; the grantees expressed satisfaction with such deeds, and upon request of the-grantors promised that they should not be recorded during the lifetime of the grantors, who reserved the rents during such period. It was then agreed that the deeds should be sent to a person named, to be by him held for the grantees, until the death of the grantors. The officer before whom the deeds were executed was then directed by the grantors, in the presence of the grantees, to forward the deeds to the person named. The officer enclosed the deeds in an envelope which, for some unknown cause, he left in the room where they were executed, all the parties being still present. The further disposition of the deeds is unknown and they are lost. Each grantee took possession of the land conveyed to him and her respectively. It is held: (1) that a question of fact was presented whether there was a delivery of the deeds; (2) that if it was the intention of the grantors that the deeds when so executed and placed in the hands of the officer should take-effect as present conveyances the jury were justified in finding that the deeds were delivered at that time. 2. - Same. Words, or acts, or both, showing an intention on the part of the grantors that a deed shall be considered as completely executed and that the title shall at that time be thereby conveyed from the grantors and immediately vested in the grantees are sufficient to show a delivery.