Bates v. Bates
Bates v. Bates
Opinion of the Court
Opinion of the Court by
At the date of the contested instrument, it is certainly true, that John Bates, Senr. was in the habit of indulging in the use of intoxicating liquors to very great excess; but it appears from the evidence of both the attesting witnesses to the instrument, that when he executed and acknowledged the same, he was sober, or sufficiently so to understand thoroughly the business he was engaged in, and to comprehend the effect and consequences of his action when consummated. When he first applied to Thomas to prepare the deed, he was warned by him to reflect about what he contemplated doing, that he would thereby deprive himself of his property, and when done, he could never undo it, to think of it until after dinner; and if he then determined to make the deed, to return and he would prepare it for him; he left and was absent an hour or two, then returned, and told Thomas to prepare the deed, for he would make it, and Thomas wrote it, and Bates executed and acknowledged it before 'him, he then being the clerk of the Henry county court.
But the deed was not the offspring of a day’s reflection and a hasty conclusion. Thomas testifies that on several occasions when he had met the grantor, he told him that he intended to convey his land to his three younger sons, and he wanted him to write the deed, and other witnesses testify that he had at divers times and in their presence expressed his determination to convey his land to his three younger sons. So that the conveyance was the com
Upon a careful review of all the evidence in the case, none is found which furnishes the slightest reason for setting aside the deed.
Wherefore, the judgment dismissing the original petition, and the cross-petition with costs, is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.