Thackray v. Den ex dem. Cheeseman
Thackray v. Den ex dem. Cheeseman
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court, was delivered by
The only question raised upon the argument of this cause, was whether the defendant was not entitled to a notice to quit. The facts as they appear upon the bill of exceptions, are these :
The premises in question belong to Louisa Cheeseman, the lessor of the plaintiff. She was a daughter of John Clark, dec.
It was insisted by the counsel for the defendant, that the defendant having entered under an agreement with the lessor of the plaintiff and her husband, and not as a trespasser, he was entitled, upon the authority, and the principles settled by this court, in the case of Den v. Drake, 2 Green’s R. 523, to six months’ notice to quit, before he could be sued by ejectment. But this is a mistake. The case does not fall within the principles settledjn Den v. Drake. The’ title to the land, was in the lessor of the plaintiff, not in her husband, and he had no control over it beyond his own life-time. Her assent to the exchange, or to the possession of the defendant, so long as she did not manifest that assent, by executing and acknowledging a deed, in such way as to pass her estate, was utterly inefficient and void, 4 Bl. Coin. 444. If her husband had made an absolute conveyance of the property, in which she did not join, she might have entered immediately, after his death. Nay, if she had been a party to the deed and had signed and sealed it, but had-not acknowledged it in the manner prescribed by statute, her rights would have remained unimpaired, and she might immediately upon the death of her husband, and without notice, have entered upon the tenant. Such deed as against her, would have been viterly void, and not merely voidable, 4 Cruise Dig. 20, sec. 22; Reeves on dom. rel. 121; Den v. De Peyster et al. 8 Cowen R. 277. So if husband and wife join in a lease, by deed, of the wife’s lands, yet, upon the death of the husband, she may bring trespass; and though in such case, she may, by accepting rent, after the coverture has ceased, establish the lease; Reeves dom. rel. 123; yet if the lease was by parol, her subsequent acceptance of rent would
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- THACKRAY v. DEN EX DEM. CHEESEMAN
- Status
- Published