Wilson v. Wilson
Wilson v. Wilson
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
This is an appeal from a Decree of Judge Moore confirming the report of Master Danham ordering the cancellation of a deed of conveyance of real estate from plaintiff to defendant, duly recorded. The action was for that purpose, and after issue joined the case was referred to the Master, who made his report, recommending the same.
The report of the Master should be incorporated in the report of the case. Defendant appeals, and by six exceptions challenges the Judge’s conclusions and seeks reversal of the same.
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There is no doubt but that the plaintiff is old and had physical infirmities, due to age, but we cannot conclude from his evidence, and that of others, that he was mentally incapacitated to such an extent as not to know what he was doing, and that his solemn deed of conveyance should be set aside; that he should be allowed to get out of what some of his family and his neighbors think to be a bad trade on his part.
*461 The facts of the case were not such as were the facts in Craddock v. Weekly, 85 S. C. 329, 67 S. E. 308, and Devlin v. Devlin, 89 S. C. 268, 71 S. E. 966, but the principles applicable are those announced by Mr. Justice Hydrick in the last case.
The consideration was a valuable one; the deed was properly executed and delivered; no concealment; a neighbor drew the deed; it was properly witnessed. There is no preponderating evidence of fraud, undue influence, or overpersuading, such as to overreach the father and substitute the judgment of the son for that of the father; in executing the deed the father exercised his will and judgment, and should not, under the evidence, circumstances, and facts, be allowed to repudiate his solemn act.
The exceptions are sustained and judgment reversed.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting) : I am satisfied that the findings of the Master, who had all the witnesses before him, concurred in by the Circuit Judge upon the facts and the law of the case, are not overborne by the testimony for the defendant, but are supported by the weight of the testimony.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.