M'Ginney v. Wallace
M'Ginney v. Wallace
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
In this case, I am of opinion the nonsuit should be set aside. I am entirely satisfied with the case of Pitts vs. Mangum, 2 Bailey, 588. Every parol gift must take effect immediately, or at least, the donor must part from the title, at the time of delivery. If he reserves to himself a dominion beyond the control of the donee, the title still remains in him. In such case, delivery does not consummate the gift, because of control reserved by the donor. This was the case in Mangum vs. Pitts. There the donor, although he delivered the negroes, expressly reserved to himself the use of the property, during the joint lives of himself and wife. It was an attempt to create an estate in a chattel, by parol, to commence in future, which cannot be allowed. The case of Mangum vs. Pitts, was decided on the authority of the case of Inabnet, reported in Judge Brevard’s MSS. Reports, Sec., decided full 30 years ago. In this case it was proved, that after the delivery, the donor said, “ daughter, you must let her (the negro) work for grandfather while he lives.” And although Hopkins, the donor, kept the negro, he always spoke of her, as the plaintiff’s negro ; and when the negro was sick, sent for the plaintiff’s mother to nurse her ; and she also paid the expenses of her confinement, when her children were born. Now, these are circumstances, which may create a doubt, whether the donor did not intend to part from all dominion over the negro,
The motion is granted.
JOSIAH J. EVANS.
We concur,
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.