Hix v. Scott
Hix v. Scott
Opinion of the Court
In assumpsit, plaintiff sued Ais son, wbo dying pending the suit, it was continued against Ms administrator, to recover the sum of eight hundred and forty five dollars, with accrued interest.
The only pica was non-assumpsit, and on the trial before the jury, after plaintiff had introduced his evidence, defendant offered no evidence, but moved the court to strike out the evidence and direct a verdict for him, which motion the court sustained, and the jury so found, and judgment of nil capiat was pronounced thereon against plaintiff, .to review which judgment he procured the present writ of error.
Defendant having died, plaintiff, the only witness to the alleged contract for maintenance and support, was not permitted, by his own testimony, to prove the contract, and the court below manifestly was of the opinion that that theory of the ease had not been made out by any competent evidence. Evidence that was competent, however, clearly proved that plaintiff had for many years before the transaction lived in the State of California, that about July, 1914, seventy years of age, infirm in body, paralyzed, partially blind, and utterly dependent upon some one for care and support, he returned to Raleigh County, West Virginia, where defendant resided, bringing with him all his earthly possessions, consisting of between eight and nine hundred dollars in money, which he had accumulated in his absence; that shortly afterwards, he turned at least six hundred and five dollars of this money over to his son, then married, and who therewith and with
It is doubtful yrhether from the evidence, a contract for support and maintenance could be fairly inferred, so as to carry the case to the jury on that theory. In argument defendant’s counsel rely on the presumption that money or other property so turned over oi; paid to a child was intended as a gift, and not upon other considerations; but it is conceded that this is a rebuttable presumption. •
In the case at bar, was the evidence sufficient to rebut.the presumption of a gift! We are cited to good authority for the proposition that when the facts are as shown in evidence here, that money or property has been turned over or paid by father to son, there is no conclusive presumption of a gift, but the question presented is one of fact for the jury. In 29 Cyc. 1663, we find it stated: “Whether or not a particular transaction amounted to a gift is a question for the jury. ’ ’ In Bachseits v. Leichtweis, 256 Ill. 357, 100 N. E. 197, it is held that the gift by a father to his son or other relative of his entire estate will be rebutted by slight evidence. In Pool v. Phillips, 167 Ill. 432, it is held that: “The presumption that a conveyance of property to the wife at the instance of the husband is intended as a gift is unreasonable where the property so conveyed consists of the husband’s entire estate.” With respect to tangible property, as slaves,
. It is true, as counsel for defendant argue, that the simple giving of a check or payment of money, by father to' son, or by one person to another, is presumptively done in payment of the debt or other obligation, but we think that upon principle, as well'as authority, where such check or payment is given under circumstances such as disclosed in this case, the facts should be submitted to a jury, whether a gift or a loan of the money was intended, wherefore we are of opinion that the court below erred in directing a verdict for the defendant.
' It is argued for the defendant that recovery cannot be had upon the special or upon the common counts in assumpsit. If the jury should find that the transaction between father and son was that of a loan, not a gift, the pleadings are sufficient to admit the proof, and if covered by a bill of particulars for money had and received, proof of a contract for maintenance and support and. a breach of that contract, would support the common count for money had and received. Mr. G-reenleaf, 2 G-reenleaf on Evidence, section 117, page lO'O, says: “The count for money had and received, which in its spirits and objects has been likened to a bill in equity, may in general be proved by any legal evidence, showing that the defendant has received or obtained possession of the
For the foregoing reasons we are of opinion to reverse the judgment, and remand the case to the circuit court for a new trial.
Reversed and remanded for a new trial.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Hix v. Scott, Administrator
- Status
- Published