36 Md. 196 | Md. | 1872
delivered the opinion of the Court.
The question presented by the first and second bills of exception in this ease, is the admissibility of parol evidence to shoAV that' the deed from Sophia Fitzhugh to Benjamin Lancaster, under which the appellee claims title, is truly located upon the plats. The deed describes the land sued for as beginning “at a rock on the north side of the road from Boons-
While the general rule was conceded by the counsel for the appellee, that parol evidence was inadmissible to alter or change a written instrument, it was contended that this deed was so ambiguous in the courses and distances given, that parol evidence must be admitted to explain them. The effect of the offer is very clearly to our minds not to explain, but to change the language of the deed, and to insert words which it doe-; not contain. If there is any ambiguity, it is a patent one, and the evidence offered, instead of explaining and giving effect to the terms of the deed, varies and contradicts them. “Parol evidence cannot be admitted to contradict or control the language of a deed. But latent ambiguities may bo explained by such evidence.” 3 Wash. on Real Prop., 347. In the case of Newcomer vs. Kline, 11 G. & J., 457, a bill in equity was filed to insert the word dollars in a single bill which bad been drawn for “ three hundred and ten, for value received.” To this bill the defendant demurred, among other reasons assigned, upon the ground that the complainant had a remedy at law, and could maintain an action upon the single bill by making proper averments in the declaration, stating that the omission of the word dollars was the result of a mistake in writing the single bill, and proving the averments by parol evidence. The Court, in their opinion, say, “The complainant had not full and adequate remedy at law, and was therefore entitled to the relief which be solicited at the hands
To admit the parol proof, offered in this case to explain and modify the deed before us, would be in direct opposition to the principles here laid down. It would make the deed “rest partly in writing and partly in parol;” would substitute an important word for another — that is perches for degrees— and fill up by inserting the word perches, what is claimed to be a blank at the end of the description of the second and third lines of the track of land, which -was intended to be conveyed. This cannot be done. In the case of Thomas vs. Turvey, 1 H. & G., 435, which was an action of ejectment, title -was claimed, under a levy and deed by the sheriff for “ part of a tract of land called Borough Hall,” without further description. It was attempted to identify by extrinsic evidence the land levied upon and sold, but the Court held it to be inadmissible. They say “a deed for part'of a tract of land, designating the quantity, but without any description of the part sold,, when unsupported by the principle of election, would bo -void. The ambiguity on the face of the conveyance cannot bo- explained by extrinsic circumstances.”
It was very strongly urged in the argument for the appellee, that before a deed is declared void for want of certainty in the description of the lands intended to be conveyed, the law will lay hold of extrinsic facts and call in surrounding circumstances to aid in the interpretation of the expressions used. This will depend upon the character of the uncertainly, which it is attempted to remedy, and will be understood by a reference to one of the many cases in which this doctrine is announced. In the case of Crafts vs. Hibbard, 4 Met., 452, it is said, “ it is well settled that parol evidence cannot be introduced to contradict or control the language of a deed, but it is equally well settled that latent ambiguities may be explained by such evidence. Facts, existing at the time of the conveyance and prior thereto, may be proved by parol evidence, with a view of establishing a particular line
The deed before us does not present a case of latent ambiguity, but the uncertainty and ambiguity complained of is apparent upon its face. The parol evidence, which was offered and admitted by the Court below, as set forth in the first and second bills of exception, alters and contradicts it, and we think was clearly inadmissible. This deed is vital to the recovery of the appellee, who was plaintiff below, and as it cannot be located, there is no reason for sending the case back for a new trial.
Judgment reversed.