Estate of Hoffman v. Hoffman, 81 Iowa 292

Estate of Hoffman v. Hoffman

81 Iowa 292 | Iowa | 1890

Bothroce, C. J.

i contbtanoe: propenr construction. I. John Hoffman, at the time of his death, was the owner of the undivided half of a íarm> and of the horses, cattle, hogs and farming utensils on said farm. Mathias Hoffman, his brother, was the owner of the other undivided half of said property. John Hoffman was unmarried, and his mother, Margaret Hoffman, inherited his estate. It is claimed by Mathias Hoffman that after the death of his brother, by an arrange - ment with Margaret Hoffman, she conveyed and transferred to him the interest in the property which she inherited from her son, John Hoffman. The administrator’s report sets forth this fact, and it is claimed therein that the personal property above mentioned is the property of Mathias Hoffman. Margaret Hoffman died after making the alleged transfer of her property, and the exceptions to the report of the administrator are taken by her administrator, and by the brothers and sisters of John Hoffman.

It appears in evidence that, on the fourteenth day of April, 1888, Margaret Hoffman made a conveyance of the land to Mathias Hoffman. After the description of the land in the deed there is this clause : “And also one-half of all personal property, of every name or nature, attached to the above real estate.” It is claimed in behalf of appellants that this did not convey the live stock and farming utensils and other property, because they were not attached to. the real estate. In other words, it is insisted that only such property was conveyed as the law designates as “fixtures.” The facts and circumstances surrounding the parties at the time the transfer was made make it very plain that the intention was to transfer the personal property which was on the farm. The word “attached” was not used in any technical sense. If there was, in fact, a transfer of *294anything, it included all the real and personal property of the deceased.

g>_. aelivery. evidence. II. The only real question in the case is, was the deed a completed transaction between the parties so as to pass the title to the property? This depends upon the fact whether there was such a delivery of the deed as to pass the title, and a determination of this question of fact settles the rights of the parties. The deed and other papers were prepared by one Philip Heles. He was a notary public, and took the acknowledgment to the deed. He was examined as a witness upon the trial, and he gave the following testimony on his examination in chief : “I reside in Liberty township, where I was born. Was acquainted with John and Margaret Hoffman during their lifetime. Margaret Hoffman lived with Mathias Hoffman when she died. Remember being sent for by Margaret Hoffman, in April, 1888. Mathias Hoffman came . after me to do some writing for his mother, Margaret Hoffman. I went there, and saw her. She said she would like to dispose of all her property; that she was sick, and didn’t know how long she would live, and wanted to get things straightened up. She told the different sums to set out to the different children, and all the balance to Mathias. The property consisted of real and personal property. It was cattle, horses and general personal property on the farm. This personal property was on the farm occupied by Mathias Hoffman then, and had been owned by him and John before John’s death. She said : ‘ I want to give five hundred dollars to Barbara Hoffman, and two hundred dollars to Nicholas Hoffman, and fifty dollars apiece to the two girls, fifty dollars to Margaret Tilchen, and fifty dollars to Elizabeth Eischen, fifty dollars for saying mass at my death, and fifty dollars for saying mass for John, and all the balance to Mathias.’ The money for saying mass was to be paid to the priest. These sums were to be paid in notes given by Mathias Hoffman. She was to give the farm to Mathias Hoffman to deed the undivided one-half. I made a deed of *295the farm. That deed was delivered to Mathias. The notes were made out and signed. I made them out and Mathias and his wife signed them. I heard Mr. Hoffman say that he paid about nine or ten dollars on each one of the notes. I delivered the notes to Barbara.” In the cross-examination of the witness he stated that the deed and notes were left in his possession, and that the understanding was that he should hold them so that in case she should recover “she could have the property it she liked,” and that there was to be no delivery until she died. In his re-examination, the witness was asked this question : “She did not tell you to hold the deed until after her death, did she?” The answer to the question was as follows: “Don’t know as she did, but Mathias wanted me to hold the deed. Don’t recollect that she said anything about holding the deed. Have held the deed ever since, at the request of Mathias. The old lady never asked me to keep the deed.” He was asked this further question: “When did you understand the deed was to take effect, — from the date of the deed or when?” . The answer was: “Why, I don’t know as there was any understanding about it. The deed was dated on the day I was there.”

This is a proceeding in probate, and the finding of the court is to be regarded as the verdict of a jury. It is not to be denied that the testimony of this witness is not altogether consistent. It appears from his cross-examination that the understanding was that the notes should be left in the possession of the witness; and, in case Mrs. Hoffman should recover, she could “have the property if she liked.” The court was warranted in finding that this was the mere notion of the witness. He testifies elsewhere that Mrs. Hoffman did not ask him to keep the deed; said nothing about holding it, and that Mathias wanted him to hold it. It is to be remembered that the witness was in the presence of the court, and that what may appear in the abstract of his testimony was not really so inconsistent to those who saw and heard the testimony, as it fell from the lips of the witness. We *296think the court was warranted in finding that there was a delivery of the deed to the grantee on the day of its date.

3_. pers0Iiai mSSSio¿?" III. It is claimed that the administi’ator of Margaret Hoffman was entitled to the possession of the personal property, that it might be adminis-tere(3- upon according to law. The record does not show: that there are any debts due from her estate, nor any other reason why the transfer of the property by Mrs. Hoffman should be disturbed. AeEIRMED.