Carlton v. Cameron

Texas Supreme Court
Carlton v. Cameron, 54 Tex. 72 (Tex. 1880)
1880 Tex. LEXIS 127
Gould

Carlton v. Cameron

Opinion of the Court

Gould, Associate Justice.

Although the instrument of July 16, 1836, had the form of a deed, and was placed upon record, it was nevertheless testamentary in its character, and inoperative as a deed, if the intention of the maker appears to have been that it should take effect only on his death. LooMng to the terms of the instrument, the nature of the reservation, and of the estate to be created, and bearing in mind that the court below, acting without a jury, passed upon all questions of fact, we are of opmion that the court did not err in its judgment, if it was based on its opimon that the intention of the maker was that the instrument take effect only on Ms death, and-that it was therefore testamentary in its character. There is ample authority supporting such a construction of similar instruments. Hester v. Young, 2 Kelly, 46; Turner v. Scott, 51 Pa. St., 130; Epperson v. Mills, 19 Tex., 67; Ferguson v. Ferguson, 27 Tex., 344. As we are of opinion that on this ground the judgment is correct, it is not material to pass on other grounds on wMch it is also sought to support it.

The judgment is affirmed.

Affirmed.

[Opimon delivered December 7, 1880.]

Reference

Full Case Name
Margaret J. Carlton v. John Cameron
Cited By
19 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
1. Deed, when operative as a will only.—An instrument in the form of a deed, containing, in favor of him who makes it, the reservation, “2ST. B.— The said Abner Lee, holding in reserve all the within named estate, both real and personal, during the natural life of the said Abner Lee,” is testamentary in its character and inoperative as a deed, if the intention of the maker appears to have been that it should take effect only on his death. \ ■"