Weems v. First Nat. Bank of Winnsboro
Weems v. First Nat. Bank of Winnsboro
Opinion of the Court
Geo. W. Weems, an unmarried man, more than 20 years of age, died while in the army of the United States on the 27th day of March, 1919. He was survived by his father, A. J. Weems, and a sis *932 ter, Mrs. Lizzie Harper, who are parties to this suit. A short time prior to his de'ath he came from San Antonio, where the military unit to which he belonged was stationed, to Winnsb.oro, Tex., to pay a visit to his relatives. He expected to be ordered to France in a short time. He told different ones while he was at home that he would never go “across”; that, although they might start him, he would not land on the other side. He had lived the greater part of his time, it seems, with his sister, Mrs. Harper, before he entered the military service. For a little while before he was inducted into the army he had lived with some other person, and, while making his hpme there, had purchased a dresser. This he removed to Mrs. Harper’s house before he returned to San Antonio. He told her, and others, that he desired to give her everything he had. When the dresser was placed in her home he gave her the key to it. One of the drawers was locked at that time. After his death this drawer was unlocked, and a package of papers was found deposited in it. Among them was a deposit slip for $300 in the First National Bank of Winnsboro. Lying upon the package of papers was a note containing these words: “This is all yours, X will never call for it.”
Mrs. Harper withdrew the funds from the bank after the officials of the bank had been informed of the statements and acts of the deceased with reference to making a gift of all his effects to Mrs. Harper. The plaintiff in error was told that Geo. W. Weems had given his property to Mrs. Harper and plaintiff in error stated at the time that it was all right with him, and that “the rest of them needed it worse than he did.” Some months after all the foregoing, plaintiff in error qualified as administrator of the estate of Geo. W. Weems, and demanded payment of the money to him by the bank. It seems that at the time this demand was made Weems was fully aware of the fact that his daughter, Mrs. Harper, had already withdrawn the funds. The bank having declined to comply with the demand, suit was instituted by the plaintiff in error and upon a hearing before the court judgment was rendered against him, from which judgment he has prosecuted this appeal.
“No ■ gift of any goods or chattels shall be valid Unless by deed or will, duly acknowledged or proven up and recorded, or unless actual possession' shall have come to, and remained with, the donee or some one claiming under him.”
This article has been construed by our courts to apply only to corporeal property, and not to property of an incorporeal nature, such as that involved in this case.
The judgment of the court below is accordingly affirmed.
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Reference
- Full Case Name
- WEEMS v. FIRST NAT. BANK OF WINNSBORO Et Al.
- Cited By
- 10 cases
- Status
- Published