Barker v. Barker
Barker v. Barker
Opinion of the Court
This is an action brought by the plaintiff against the defendant to require a reconveyance of certain premises. On the trial of the cause the court rendered a decree as follows.
“Now on this the 18th day of April, 1888, being the third day of the term hereof, this cause came up for hearing, and after hearing the evidence and argument of counsel the court finds that the signature of the plaintiff, Clara B. Barker, was obtained by undue influence and that the same*136 was not signed by her own voluntary act. It is therefore ordered and decreed by the court that said deed as to plaintiff be set aside and held for nought, and that all rights and privileges of the plaintiff attach to the following described premises, to-wit: ,,The south half of the southwest quarter of section twelve, township eighteen, range twelve west, in Greeley county, Nebraska, and that the defendants pay the costs of their action, taxed at $...... And the court further finds that the signature of deceased was genuine and voluntary, with leave to plaintiff to apply for further order herein at next term.”
The testimony tends to show that the plaintiff is the widow of Bradley B. Barker, a brother of A. W. Barker, defendant; that on or about the 26th day of January, 1887, said Bradley B. Barker died; that less than two days before his death he made a will, under the provisions of which the plaintiff was to receive $100; that on the next day after the will was signed it was submitted to an attorney of the defendant, who then suggested. that the defendant procure a deed from Bradley and wife. The defendant was present in the law office of the attorney referred to and understood the purpose of such attorney to procure for him a deed for the premises in question from the plaintiff and her husband, but seems, if the testimony is to be believed, to have taken no part in the discussion of the matter. The estate was heavily encumbered, all the personal property being covered with chattel mortgages and the real estate by mortgages to a considerable amount. The land in question was the homestead. Bradley B. Barker had three children by a former marriage, the oldest, at the time of his death, being about sixteen years of age and the youngest about nine years. The plaintiff and said Bradley at the time of his death had been married about thirteen months, and had one child then about three months old. A considerable portion of the debts owing by the estate seem to have been due to defendant, A. W. Barker’.
Some objection is made to the jurisdiction of the court it being claimed that the county court had jurisdiction, but such is not the case. Tlie district court alone has jurisdiction in such matters. Upon the whole case it is apparent that the judgment is right and it is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Clara B. Barker v. A. W. Barker
- Status
- Published