Ferrell v. Delano
Ferrell v. Delano
Opinion of the Court
Ferrell sued Mrs. Delano and Tracy and Chas. Delano in trespass to try title to lots 2, 3, and 5 in block 54, in or near the town of Lissie, a part of the Ashmore Edwards one-third league; said lot containing in the aggregate 17% acres. Mrs. Delano and Tracy Delano answered *1040 by plea of not guilty, and ten years’ limitations. They alleged for further plea that plaintiff is claiming under a pretended deed of date November 13, 1907, from Mrs. Delano for said lots in consideration of $50; that on and prior to said date there existed a conflict between the south lines of lots 4 and 5 of said block as fenced by defendants, and the north line of state school land south of said lots, then claimed by one John Linderholm; that on November 12, 1907, one Oscar Linderholm, as agent of John Linderholm, explained to Mrs. Delano such conflict as a narrow strip across the south end of lots 4 and 5 and offered her $50 for her release of said strip, which offer she accepted, and an agreement was then made that she should go to Eagle Lake the next day and execute such release to John Lind-erholm; that, accordingly, she went there and was presented with an instrument and informed by Mr. P. Putney, the officer before whom she was to execute and acknowledge it, that it was an agreement to turn loose or convey said strip in accordance with the agreement made the day before; that she asked the said notary and conveyancer if it would affect the lots 2, 3, and 5, and was assured by him that it would not, and then she executed it by making her mark; that she could not read and understand the instrument, and relied solely upon his representations and statements as to its contents and effect; that the instrument, in fact, was a conveyance to John Linderholm of lots 2, 3, and 5, in controversy herein, and was procured from her by such false representations. She set up further by plea that she is informed and believes, and so avers, that the said conveyancer was ignorant of the field notes and description of the strip of land intended and agreed to be conveyed and was ignorant of the fact, as was defendant, that said deed was written to convey other and different land than that agreed and intended to be conveyed, and that said false statements as to the contents and effect of the instrument were so made ignorantly and by mistake; that she (Mrs. Delano) was equally ignorant of the field nots and description of the conflicting strip to be conveyed and of the fact that the deed purported to convey lots 2, 3, and 5; that by reason of the premises the said deed is not and never was the act and deed of Mrs. Delano and is therefore void; that she has been in actual pedal possession of the said lots, claiming to own the same; and that plaintiff and all other persons have at all times had actual notice of her possession and claim, and of said pleas defendants put themselves on the country. The defendant Ohas. Delano, a minor, by guardian ad litem, adopted the said answer and prayed to go hence. There was no prayer by defendants for affirmative relief; the matter of said pleas being pleaded as defenses.
The legal effect of the deed from Mrs. 'Delano to Linderholm was to pass any title she had. This effect could not be denied, except upon allegations sufficient in equity to set it aside, and upon prayer for such relief, or for general relief. Here there was no prayer at all in connection with the pleas.
Without passing on the sufficiency of the pleas for want of a prayer for affirmative relief in the absence of exceptions, we are of opinion that that part of the second paragraph of the charge which told the jury to find for defendant if Mrs. Delano did not intend to convey the land by the deed of November 13, 1907, was error. That fact alone was not sufficient of itself to annul the deed. The equitable circumstances enabling her to set it aside must have been found, as well as the want of intention to convey the land. In the form this clause appears in the charge, it was calculated to mislead the jury and cause them to find for defendant on that fact alone.
We find no evidence that this permissive possession of defendant, which began in subordination to the title of the Pierce estate, was ever repudiated in such manner as to convey notice of an adverse claim, to the owners of said estate, until within 10 years of the filing of this action. In this condition of the evidence, it should be held that there was no title acquired by limitations against the title of the one under whom the husband went into possession.
As the cause is to be remanded, it is proper that we express ourselves as to certain other questions which will probably be material on another trial.
Reversed and remanded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- FERRELL v. DELANO Et Al.
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- 5 cases
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- Published