103 S.E. 890 | N.C. | 1920
Lead Opinion
after stating the facts as above: We do not see that the cases cited by the learned counsel for the defendant militate at all against
It appears here that the land now in question was formerly owned by the husband; that he conveyed it to his wife, and she a month afterwards reconveyed it to him, which gives color to the theory that there had been some understanding between them entered into for théir joint benefit, by which she was under some obligation to act as she did by executing the deed to her husband, and that the clerk found the arrangement^ whatever it was, was not unreasonable or injurious to her. We would not change his finding, if we could do so, without knowing what evidence the clerk had before him. In the absence of such knowledge, we must presume conclusively that his decision was correct. It cannot be reversed simply upon suggestion that he found erroneously, or upon extraneous matter, without first setting aside his judgment for fraud or upon some other legal and adequate ground. While the order or judgment stands, it must be respected as importing verity, as “jurisdiction existing, any order or judgment is conclusive in respect to its own validity, in a dispute concerning any right or title derived through it, or anything done by virtue of its authority.” Yanfleet on Collateral Attack, sec. 17, p. 29; Irvine v. Randolph L. Corporation, 111 Va., p. 408. The clerk of the court had jurisdiction to hear the evidence and determine therefrom whether the deed would be reasonable and not injurious to the wife, and his judgment is final and conclusive until reversed in proper proceedings for that purpose. The following cases show what the law is in this State with respect to judgments of courts which have general jurisdiction, and
With regard to courts of special or limited jurisdiction, the rule is not so broad as the other which is applicable to those of general jurisdiction, but they also are, to a certain extent, immune from indirect or collateral attack, as will appear from the text-books and decisions. Justice Hoke says, in Fann v. R. R., 155 N. C., at margin p. 139: “In this day and time, and under our present system, it seems to be generally conceded that the decrees of probate courts, when acting within the scope of their powers, should be considered and dealt with as orders and decrees of courts of general jurisdiction, and where jurisdiction over the subject-matter of inquiry has been properly acquired, that these orders and decrees are not, as a rule, subject to collateral attack.”
Referring to administration on an estate, where the question as to the domicile of the intestate and the place where his assets are as determining the right of administration and the power of the clerk to appoint a personal representative, he further says: “These are the very questions referred to him (the clerk) for decision. But if a person has been selected contrary to the prevailing rules of law, the error must be corrected by proceedings instituted directly for the purpose, and not by a collateral attack on the letters,” citing several cases.
It may be, as we have said, and now repeat, that the clerk ascertained and determined from all the facts and circumstances that the conveyance by the husband to the wife, and her reconveyance to him one month afterwards, were acts done in furtherance of an arrangement or agreement between them to advánce their joint interests, and that, instead of being injurious, it was reasonable and a distinct advantage to her. We can conceive of circumstances in which she might be benefited. But whatever the nature of the transaction was, we must presume the clerk acted properly, and rightly, instead of improperly and wrongly, as there is no principle which would justify the latter conclusion in a collateral proceeding.
There is nothing in the objection that the probate of the husband was taken after the wife’s death. He assented to the conveyance, at the time it was executed, as stated by the clerk in the first certificate made at the
There was no error in Judge Webb’s ruling as to the plaintiff’s title.
Affirmed.
Lead Opinion
CLARK, C. J., concurring. This is a controversy in regard to the title of land arising out of the sale of the same by the plaintiff to the defendant. The tract contains 163 acres, more or less, and the defendant promised to pay for the same the sum of $125 per acre, the number of acres to be ascertained by a survey of the premises, upon the payment of which sum the plaintiff promised to convey to the defendant a good title to the said land free from all liens and incumbrances. Plaintiff was originally owner of the land, and on 10 May, 1898, conveyed it to his wife, R. E. Frisbee, by deed of that date duly proved and registered, and on 10 June, 1898, she conveyed it back to him "for and in consideration of ___ dollars," the amount not being set forth in the deed, and it being agreed that no consideration passed from the plaintiff to his wife for the last mentioned deed. The deed from his wife to plaintiff was jointly executed by him with her, and witnessed by R. E. Wells, and was proved, and afterwards registered, upon the following certificate of the clerk of the Superior Court of Buncombe County, where the land is situated on the waters of Turkey and Newfound creeks:
North Carolina — County of Buncombe.
I, J. L. Cathey, clerk of the Superior Court of Buncombe County, do hereby certify that R. E. Frisbee (and her husband, J. M. Frisbee, consenting thereto in writing as heretofore appears) personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the due execution by her of the foregoing deed, the said R. E. Frisbee being by me examined, separate and apart from her said husband, touching her voluntary execution of the same, doth state that she signed the same freely and voluntarily, without fear or compulsion of her said husband or any other person, and *471 that she still voluntarily assents thereto, and it appearing to the undersigned clerk that same is not unreasonable or injurious to the said R. E. Frisbee, and all things appearing to the satisfaction of the undersigned clerk, it is adjudged that the foregoing is not unreasonable or injurious to the said R. E. Frisbee. Therefore, let the same, with this certificate, be registered. This 9 June, 1898.
J. L. CATHEY,
Clerk of the Superior Court of Buncombe County, N.C.
State of North Carolina — County of Buncombe.
The due execution of the foregoing instrument by J. M. Frisbee was this day proven before me by the oath and examination of R. M. Wells, the subscribing witness thereto. Let said instrument and this certificate be registered.
Dated 26 January, 1920. JOHN H. CATHEY,
Clerk of the Superior Court of Buncombe County, N.C.
North Carolina — Buncombe County.
I, J. H. Cathey, clerk of the Superior Court, hereby certify that J. M. Frisbee this day personally appeared before me and acknowledged the due execution by him of the foregoing instrument. Let the same with this certificate be registered. This 26 January, 1920.
JOHN H. CATHEY,
Clerk Superior Court, Buncombe County, N.C.
The last two proofs were taken and the last two certificates were made several years after the death of Mrs. Frisbee.
Defendant resisted recovery of the purchase money and the performance of the contract of sale on the ground that plaintiff could not convey a good and indefeasible title because there being no consideration for the deed from R. E. Frisbee to the plaintiff, the deed to the husband was necessarily injurious to her, and notwithstanding the certificate of the clerk that it was not unreasonable or injurious to her, the deed was void as to her, and the plaintiff, her husband, acquired no title to the land, and therefore could not pass a good title to the defendant as he contracted to do. The court, Judge Webb presiding, was of the opinion that the deed was valid, and that the plaintiff could comply with his contract, and so held and gave judgment for $20,750, the amount due. Defendant appealed.
after stating the facts as above: We do not see that the cases cited by the learned counsel for the defendant militate at all against *472
our view of this case, which agrees with that of the learned judge who presided at the trial. These cases are Sims v. Ray,
It appears here that the land now in question was formerly owned by the husband; that he conveyed it to his wife, and she a month afterwards reconveyed it to him, which gives color to the theory that there had been some understanding between them entered into for their joint benefit, by which she was under some obligation to act as she did by executing the deed to her husband, and that the clerk found the arrangement, whatever it was, was not unreasonable or injurious to her. We would not change his finding, if we could do so, without knowing what evidence, the clerk had before him. In the absence of such knowledge, we must presume conclusively that his decision was correct. It cannot be reversed simply upon suggestion that he found erroneously, or upon extraneous matter, without first setting aside his judgment for fraud or upon some other legal and adequate ground. While the order or judgment stands, it must be respected as importing verity, as "jurisdiction existing, any order or judgment is conclusive in respect to its own validity, in a dispute concerning any right or title derived through it, or anything done by virtue of its authority." Vanfleet on Collateral Attack, sec. 17, p. 29; Irvine v. Randolph L. Corporation,
With regard to courts of special or limited jurisdiction, the rule is not so broad as the other which is applicable to those of general jurisdiction, but they also are, to a certain extent, immune from indirect or collateral attack, as will appear from the text-books and decisions.Justice Hoke says, in Fann v. R. R., 155 N.C. at margin p. 139: "In this day and time, and under our present system, it seems to be generally conceded that the decrees of probate courts, when acting within the scope of their powers, should be considered and dealt with as orders and decrees of courts of general jurisdiction, and where jurisdiction over the subject-matter of inquiry has been properly acquired, that these orders and decrees are not, as a rule, subject to collateral attack."
Referring to administration on an estate, where the question as to the domicile of the intestate and the place where his assets are as determining the right of administration and the power of the clerk to appoint a personal representative, he further says: "These are the very questions referred to him (the clerk) for decision. But if a person has been selected contrary to the prevailing rules of law, the error must be corrected by proceedings instituted directly for the purpose, and not by a collateral attack on the letters," citing several cases.
It may be, as we have said, and now repeat, that the clerk ascertained and determined from all the facts and circumstances that the conveyance by the husband to the wife, and her reconveyance to him one month afterwards, were acts done in furtherance of an arrangement or agreement between them to advance their joint interests, and that, instead of being injurious, it was reasonable and a distinct advantage to her. We can conceive of circumstances in which she might be benefited. But whatever the nature of the transaction was, we must presume the clerk acted properly, and rightly, instead of improperly and wrongly, as there is no principle which would justify the latter conclusion in a collateral proceeding.
There is nothing in the objection that the probate of the husband was taken after the wife's death. He assented to the conveyance, at the time it was executed, as stated by the clerk in the first certificate made at the *475 time, and he joined in the execution of the deed with his wife though his acknowledgment of the execution by him was made some time afterwards. The latter is not the execution of the deed by him, but merely the proof thereof, and the taking of it long afterwards, does not affect the validity of the conveyance. Rev., 953.
There was no error in Judge Webb's ruling as to the plaintiff's title.
Affirmed.
Concurrence Opinion
concurs on the following grounds: Tbe Constitution, Art. X, sec. 6, provides that a married woman shall bold her property in the same manner as if she bad remained single, and may devise and bequeath it, and, “with the written assent of her husband, convey it,” as if she were unmarried. Even this requirement of the husband’s assent has long since been abolished in England, and witb rare exceptions by all the States in this country. It is the sole restriction permitted by our State Constitution upon the wife’s power to dispose of her own property. If Rev., 2107, extended to conveyances, it would be a violation of that provision of the Constitution by adding the requirement that some third party, a magistrate or other official, must give bis wise approval before she can do what the Constitution guarantees that she may do “with the approval of her husband.”
In the second place, out of deference to the Constitution, Rev., 2107, does not mention conveyances of realty. That section comes under subhead 3, entitled, “Contracts between husband and wife,” and an examination of the section shows that it applies only to contracts. In Rea v. Rea, 156 N. C., 530, it is said: “An examination of section 2107 shows that it applies solely to contracts, and not to conveyances; indeed, the word ‘contract’ is used 5 times in that section, besides in the beading. Tbe object of the Legislature was clearly to prevent the wife making any contract witb her husband whereby she should incur liability against her estate which in future might prove a burden or charge upon it, or cause a charge upon or impairment of her income or personalty. To that end not only a privy examination was required, but the certificate of the magistrate that the contract was not unreasonable or injurious to her. This provision does not attempt to add as to conveyances by her (as to which the act of 1911 retains the constitutional restrictions in regard to realty, that .there must be the written assent of the husband and statutory privy examination), any further restriction, such as the approval of a third person. Adding that if it did it would be unconstitutional,” quoted, Butler v. Butler, 169 N. C., 597.