Owings v. Wiggins
Owings v. Wiggins
Opinion of the Court
In 1868 plaintiff and James K. P. Owings were married, and were divorced in 1893. On the first day of May, 1881, plaintiff’s husband purchased the eighty acres of land here in controversy. The money used in the purchase of the land was the separate property of plaintiff though the legal title to the land was taken in the name of her husband. • It appears that these persons did not live together as husband and wife for the last ten or twelve years of their married life, plaintiff residing on the land and her husband the greater part of that time living in the state of Arkansas.
This suit is prosecuted by plaintiff, in equity, the purpose of which is to secure the cancellation of the mortgage, and mortgagees’ deed, on the ground that she, being at the time a married woman, had no power without joining her husband to make the mortgage; also to set aside the deed from her husband to defendant as being in fraud of her rights.
The court found for plaintiff and granted all the relief sought. Defendants appealed.
W.e are unable to agree with the learned circuit judge in the conclusions of law drawn from the facts found. The evidence shows that plaintiff inherited from the estate of her father money with which this land was purchased. The statute in force when the purchase was made provided that all personal property •coming to a married woman by inheritance, or by purchase with her separate money, should be and remain her separate property, and under her sole control. R. S. 1879, sec. 3296. Under the deed, then, by which this title was acquired, the husband took, by operation of the statute, the legal title in trust for the sole and separate use of plaintiff and so held it when the mortgage was made.
It is well settled in this state that a married woman may convey her separate estate without being joined in the deed by her husband. • The mortgage therefore had the effect of passing to the mortgagees all the equitable interest plaintiff had in the land, and was valid and binding on her. Turner v. Shaw, 96 Mo. 28; Pitts v. Sheriff, 108 Mo. 116; Small v. Field, 102 Mo. 120.
The agreement between plaintiff and her sureties that the latter could institute such proceedings as might be necessary to secure the legal title from the husband was sufficient authority for them to secure such title by deed. There was no fraud in taking the deed.
Judgment is reversed and cause remanded with directions to enter judgment dismissing plaintiff’s petition and for costs against her.
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