Bailey v. Bailey

| Mich. | Apr 10, 1877

Marston, J:

Plaintiffs below, defendants in error, brought an action of ejectment to recover possession of an undivided one-eighth of certain real estate situate in the township of Adrian, Lenawee county; jury trial, verdict and judgment for plaintiffs.

Plaintiffs and defendants both claim title through Daniel Smith, who died in April, 1845, leaving eight children, one of them named Ira, whose interests the plaintiffs below claimed to have acquired by conveyance from his heirs in 1871. The most important questions raised in the case grow out. of the evidence introduced tending to show the death of Ira. It was claimed, and evidence was introduced tending to show, that Ira went to California in 1852 or 1853, and that he had not been heard from since 1856. Simeon Bailey, who went to California in 1855 and remained there till 1867, was examined and testified that he commenced making inquiries in California about Ira in 1856, in the neighborhood where he had been; that he heard different reports about Ira’s leaving this place; some said he had gone on a prospecting tour, some that he had been drowned while crossing a stream; and that although witness continued his efforts to find Ira so long as he (witness) remained in California, he could obtain no trace of him. As evidence tending in the same direction, Sala Smith, a brother of Ira’s, was called and testified that Ira had gone to California in 1853 or 1853; that Ira’s wife had received letters from him after he went away; that he (witness) had been living most of the time near where the wife and children of Ira had resided. He was then asked the following questions:

“State whether since 1856 you or any of the family, so far as you know, have ever heard from Ira.”

“Have you made inquiries from your brothers and sisters to ascertain whether they have heard from him, or know any thing about him? And if so, state, the result.”

These questions were all objected to, objection overruled, and answered. The amount of evidence required to establish death depends very much upon the nature of the case in which the question arises. In cases like the present “oral evidence indirectly proving death, consists of those circumstances from which the death of the person may reasonably be inferred, such as long absence without any intelligence respecting him, reputation in the family, and their conduct thereupon, and other circumstances.” “The presumption of life, with respect to persons of whom no account can be given, ends at the expiration of seven years from the time they were last known to be living.” Where an attempt is made to prove the fact of death within the period of seven years, from circumstances in connection therewith, “there must also be evidence of diligent inquiry at the place of the person’s last residence in this country, and among his relatives, and any others who probably would have heard of him if living; and also at the place of his fixed foreign residence, if he was known to have had any.” —2 Greenleaf Ev., § 278, a, e, f.

Within the rules so clearly laid down by Prof. Greenleaf this case comes, and it does not seem necessary to attempt by any extended discussion to add force to the authority cited. We may, however, refer to John Hancock Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Moore, 34 Mich., 41" court="Mich." date_filed="1876-04-18" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/john-hancock-mutual-life-insurance-v-moore-7928260?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="7928260">34 Mich., 41, where the nature and character of the proof necessary to establish death in civil cases were discussed.

Evidence was introduced and admitted, under objection, that Henry M. Bailey had entered into possession of this land in 1846; that he remained in possession with his children, the plaintiffs below, until the spring of 1872, when Bobert M. Bailey, one of plaintiffs in error, claiming title to the entire property, commenced proceedings to recover possession; these proceedings were commenced under a lease previously given by him, leasing the entire premises to said Henry M. Bailey. This evidence was introduced as tending to show an ouster of the plaintiffs below, defendants in error.

Plaintiffs in error claimed title to the entire premises under a warranty deed from Tristram H. Bailey, dated May 29, 1869, and although they were informed that defendants in error claimed an undivided interest in the premises, they yet insisted upon obtaining and taking actual and exclusive possession of the entire premises, and excluding the other claimants therefrom. "We think such evidence was admissible as tending to prove ouster under our statute.—2 Comp. L., § 6228. See also Valentine v. Northrop, 12 Wend., 495; Carpenter v. Thayer, 15 Vt., 556; Allyn v. Mather, 9 Conn., 127; Humbert v. Trinity Church, 24 Wend., 587; Wright v. Saddler, 20 N. Y., 329; Thomas v. Pickering, 13 Me., 337. Some of the exceptions taken to the charge of the court have already been covered by what has been said; the others are not urged, and upon examination we do not discover any error therein.

As we discover no error in the record, the judgment must be affirmed, with costs, and the record remanded for .further proceedings under the statute.

.The other Justices concurred.