Hebard v. Reeves
Hebard v. Reeves
Opinion of the Court
This is a bill filed to enforce a trust claimed to have been created by Rachel Reeves, formerly
First. The amount of these mortgages so held and assigned by deceased to defendant Reeves.
Second. Whether defendant Reeves has paid complainant an amount equal to her share.
Complainant relies mainly, in making her case, upon the testimony given by defendant Reeves in an action brought by one Deborah Tomkins in the United States court, in 1887. On that trial, defendant Reeves testified that he had received from his wife bonds and mortgages to the amount of $20,000. This is the only testimony which the complainant offers which tends to fix the amount, although there was corroborative testimony that there were mortgages in her name. The defendants, on the other hand, have furnished specific evidence from the records in the office of the register of deeds, which, if inaccurate, could be easily disproved, showing that the amount assigned in 1879, at the time of the general assignment of mortgages to defendant Reeves by his wife, was about $10,080; and we are convinced, upon the whole record, that this testimony fairly represents the amount.
In 1888 defendant Reeves deeded to his daughter, the complainant, a house and lot in the city of Grand Rapids, at the agreed price of $6,000. She held a small note against him amounting to $70. Defendant Reeves testifies (and is corroborated by his son in the statement) that, after the death of Rachel Reeves, complainant spoke to him about the estate of her mother, and that at one time he stated to her that, if she desired, he would deed this house and lot to apply on her interest in her mother’s estate. There was no other consideration for the deed than this, and, some time after this alleged conversation, defendant Reeves wrote complainant in regard to the house and lot:
“I will deed it over to you as soon as I receive a letter from you that you will take it, and have it charged up to you at $6,000, less my note for the money you loaned to*178 me, which I should want you to forward to me by return mail.”
Complainant replied that she would like the old home, and a deed was prepared and forwarded by mail, with a request that she send a receipt for $5,930. The receipt was not inclosed with this letter, but subsequently a letter was written from defendant Reeves to her, inclosing a receipt, which read: “Received of A. J. Reeves $5,930, in real estate in Grand Rapids, to apply on my share in my mother’s and his estate.” Complainant did not see fit to sign this receipt, but, instead, wrote one stating that the amount was to be applied on “my share in my father’s estate.”
We think the complainant should be charged with the value of this property, to apply upon her interest in her mother’s estate. The letter from her father to her contained no suggestion that this was to be charged up as an advancement, and the only obligation which the law would recognize upon which it could be charged was that of her father.as trustee. As before stated, there were four children, each entitled to a one-fourth interest of the fund intrusted to defendant Reeves. Upon any basis of computation, allowing the highest rate of interest which it could be assumed was obtainable, we think the fund which is shown by the evidence to have been actually transferred did not amount, at the time of the conveyance, to more than about $17,000, so that it would appear that complainant has received more than her share of her mother’s estate. It is true, this conclusion is reached notwithstanding the testimony of defendant Reeves, given on the trial of the Tomkins case, shows that there was a larger sum in his hands; but we think it is based upon the best evidence adduced before the learned circuit judge, and the mistake, recklessness, or even willful misstatements of defendant Reeves on that trial would not justify the court in ignoring the actual facts, as they are shown upon the record. While his admissions are com
The decree will be affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- HEBARD v. REEVES
- Status
- Published