Price v. Holmes
Price v. Holmes
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
Mrs. Cora E. Price and others, daughters of IX J. Holmes, filed a bill in the chancery court of Lawrence county against W. T. Holmes, a, son of D. J. Holmes, deceased, alleging that D. J. Holmes died seised and possessed of the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter and the north half of the north half of the southeast quarter of southwest quarter, section 34, township' 5, north range 11 east, containing fifty acres which had been atempted to be conditionally conveyed by said D. J. Holmes and his wife to the defendant, W. T. Holmes, and a lot of personal property amounting to six hundred and seventy-five dollars, and that letters of administration had been duly granted on said estate, and appraisers appointed, but when the appraisers went to appraise the property that W. T. Holmes claimed all of said
“It is agreed and understood between the parties hereto that the grantors shall have and enjoy the use and occupation of such lands until the death of the last surviving one of them and that within sixty days from the death of such last surviving one of the said W. T. Holmes or his heirs, shall pay the further consideration of this deed above mentioned.”
This deed was signed and acknowledged by D. J. Holmes and Sarah A,. Holmes on the 3d day of October, 1914, before J. 0. Magee, justice of the peace, said deed made Exhibit A, containing the following indorsement or receipt thereon:
“We, the undersigned, being all the heirs and D. J. and Sarah A. Holmes, deceased, except the grantee herein, do hereby acknowledge receipt in full of the fifty dollars to each of us paid as specified in this deed, and we hereby authorize and request a complete cancellation of the vendor’s lien herein created in our behalf. ’ ’
“Q. State to the court just what the agreement was on which you moved to your father’s house to take care of him. Ai. At the timq he told me he didn’t know what he was going to do with the land the next year. How come that to get up he went out to turn out the cows out of the lot one morning, and k. turned them out, and we stopped at the front to talk, and he told me he says, ‘I don’t know what I am going to do with' my land another year; my darkey is going to leave me, and I don’t know what I am going to do with it.’ And I says, ‘Have you thought about getting the darkey down on my place?’ and he says, ‘No,’ and I says, ‘Have got to move and come back to my place,’ and he says, ‘I wish you would get that darkey; see him for me; ’ and I told him I would talk to the darkey, and he said, ‘Tour mother can’t live long, and if she don’t, I just can’t stay here.’ I says, ‘ We may be talking too fast, and I hope we are, but we are talking now in case she dies there has got to be a change if she dies, and if she don’t live and you don’t stay here, I will come and work the place,’ and he says, ‘All right; that will just suit me; I won’t think about moving; the land is yours anyway, and I won’t charge you any rent nor nothing; all I want is a home;’ and he mentioned everything on earth that he had and said,
“Counsel for complainants: We object to that as incompetent, and move to exclude.
“The Court: The objection is sustained. Nobody was present when you were talking? A. No, sir.”
Continuing:
“Q. At the time your father died did he own any of this property that has been testified about in this case? At. No, sir; he did not. Q. At the .time the appraisers came there, was there any property belonging to the estate at that time? A. No, sir. Q. You say that none of this property was in his possession at the time of his death? A. No, sir. Q. It had been turned over to you at that time? A. It had.”
“Counsel for complainants: We object to that.
“The Court: Objection sustained.”
Again:
“Q. Did you give your entire time and attention to your father and mother?' AS. Except three nights in the week. Q. The time that he delivered you that deed expressing the consideration there as a part of the consideration that you were to pay these heirs, his other five children then living, fifty dollars each, do you know jnst what that provision was made for, whether it was intended to take care of the balance due them or not, what was said about it? A. I don’t understand the question. Q. I say at the time he delivered this deed to you, providing that you should pay fifty dollars to each of his five other children who were then living and pay it to them within sixty days after his death', do you know what his object was in making that provision, whether he meant that as a final provision or not?”
“Counsel for complainants: We object, the deed speaks for itself.
“The Court: Objection sustained. Q:. For what purpose did your father indorse this time certificate
“Counsel: We object to that.
“The Court: Objection sustained.”
By eliminating the testimony of this witness there is no evidence in the record to uphold the decree of the chancellor as to the personal property. As we understand the objections and rulings of the court, they extend to the whole agreement testified to by the defendant, and it follows that the action of the chancellor as to the land is sustained and affirmed, but the decree as to the personal property is reversed, and the cause remanded.
Affirmed in part and reversed m part.
Reference
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- Gifts. Gifts causa mortis. Evidence. Under the facts as set out in its opinion in this case the court held that the evidence was not sufficient to sustain defendant’s claim that he was the donee of a gift of personal property causa mortis, in accordance with a prior agreement with the donor, ■ but the court held that the deed to realty set out in its opinion was, valid and binding.