Estate of Doyle
Estate of Doyle
Opinion of the Court
Claim Number I.
The first claim was that of Mary Fischer against the estate of James Doyle for the value of a cow sold by James Doyle during his lifetime to his sister, Mrs. Fischer, who resided in North Dakota. It was claimed that the cow died by reason of infirmities which existed at the time of her sale. The only evidence given in support of this claim was that of Elizabeth Doyle, a sister of the claim
Claim Number II.
The second claim against-the estate of James Doyle was made by C. G. Fischer, executor of the will of Bridget Doyle, deceased, for the use and occupation of certain lands. This claim was allowed at the sum of $688.64. It was contended by the claimant that the deceased, James Doyle, occupied the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter and the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section one, in the town of Sherman. The facts in relation to this transaction are fully set out in the case of Doyle v. Fischer, decided herewith (ante, p. 599, 198 N. W. 763). It having been held by the circuit court for Sheboygan county that the de-' ceased, James Doyle, was the equitable owner of the premises under the will of his father, there remains no basis for the claim of the executor against the estate of James Doyle inasmuch as the lands upon which the claim was based are adjudged to be the property o.f James Doyle and not of his mother, Bridget Doyle.
Claim Number III.
This claim was filed by Elizabeth Doyle and consisted of five items. The first item of the claim was for the rent of 110 acres of property known as the Scanlan farm, situated
Inasmuch as by virtue of the judgment in the case of Doyle v. Fischer title to th’e Sheridan forty has been adjudged to be in James Doyle, the claim of Elizabeth Doyle for rental therefor fails, and for that reason so much of the judgment as allows $774.72 is erroneous. The claim for the rental of the Scanlan farm rests upon the following facts: by virtue of the will of Garret Dojde, husband of Bridget Doyle, the title to the Scanlan farm'was vested in Garret Doyle, Jr., subject to a life estate in Bridget Doyle, his mother. The will was made in 1899. James Doyle thereupon entered upon the working of all of the land and continued to work it up to the time of his death in 1920. The elder Garret Doyle died in 1902. His will was not probated. The widow, Bridget Doyle, accepted the provisions of the will, took over all of the personal property, afterward sold it to her son Janies, and on September 10, 1910, Garret Doyle, Jr., conveyed the Scanlan farm to his mother, Bridget Doyle, and on September 17, 1910, Bridget Doyle, the mother, conveyed the same to Elizabeth Doyle, the claimant. There was no change in the relationship! of the parties from the time of the death of the elder Garret Doyle down to' the time of the mother’s death. Bridget Doyle, James Doyle, the deceased, and Elizabeth Doyle continued to live as the members of one family, — James did the work upon the land, harvested the crops, took care of tlie stock;
The question presented is, Will the law, under such circumstances, imply an agreement on the part of James Doyle to pay Elisabeth Doyle the rental value of the land occupied and used by him? Prior to the death of the father in 1902, James had been in the active management and control of the entire farm. He no doubt considered himself in practical effect the owner of the three forties in section one. He knew that under the will of his father his mother had a life estate in the Scanlan farm. There is nothing to show that he knew that Elisabeth Doyle had become the owner of these premises by virtue of a deed to her from her mother. While it is true, as the head of the family, he took the proceeds derived from the joint efforts of the family, it appears by the claim allowed that considerable sums were paid in the shape of notes by James to. Elisabeth: February 1, 1916, he gave her a note for $450; February 9, 1916, a note for $500; and March 10, 1916, another note for $500. He also assigned to her a note by one Fischer to the amount of $1,200. It is claimed that these were payments upon account of rent. There is nothing to- show, however, upon what account they were paid. It is quite as probable that they were a partial division of the proceeds of the family enterprise rather than rent. There is certainly nothing to show, that James Doyle ever intended to acknowledge himself in
By the Court. — Judgment reversed, and cause remanded with directions to enter judgment in accordance with this opinion.
Reference
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