54 N.C. 195 | N.C. | 1854
This case adds one more to the many, which have recently been before the Court, in which the plaintiff has sought by parol proof, to convert a deed absolute on its face, into a trust or security for money, upon the allegation that the clause of the declaration of trust or redemption, was omitted by reason of ignorance, mistake, fraud or undue advantage. The principles upon which relief is given, and the kind and amount of testimony which is 'required in such cases, are attempted tobe fully set forth, and explained in Clement v. Clement, decided at this Term, (ante 111,) and need not be again repeated. Before proceeding to the enquiry whether the plaintiff has supported his allegations, by the necessary proof, it is proper that we should dispose of the objection urged by the defendants against the bill, for the want of parties. It is contended that ás a part of the trust, which the plaintiff’s charges was intended to have been inserted in the deeds to the defendant, Pigford, and omitted by means of his fraudulent contrivance was for the two daughters of the plaintiff, they
The objection raises the question, whether the plaintiffs daughters have such an interest in the land and slaves, by reason of the trust which he intended to declare for them, as can give them any right in their father’s lifetime to enforce it in Equity? Our opinion is, that they have not. It is a well settled rule in Equity, that a contract will not be specifically enforced if it be not founded on a valuable consideration. Adams Eq. 78, Woodall v. Prevatt, Busb. Eq. Rep. 199. Here was no contract between the defendant and the plaintiff’s daughters, and no consideration moving between them. As between the daughters and their father, there was indeed a meritorious consideration, but as his intended bounty to them was imperfectly executed, it could not be enforced against him in his lifetime, though it might be, if his intention remained' unaltered at his death, against any person claiming by operation of law without an equally meritorious claim : Adams Eq. 97. — Garner v. Garner, Busb. Eq. Rep. 1. The father’s title to the land and slaves conveyed to the defendant, so far as his daughters are concerned, remained therefore, unaffected by his intended disposition of them, in their favour, and he alone is entitled to call upon the defendant to execute the alleged trust. The daughters and their husbands have no direct and certain interest in the subject matter of the suit; nor Indeed, any other interest, except the possibility of succeeding to the estate of the father, as his heirs at law and next of kin, and of course, they would be improper parties -to the suit. If this view of the case be correct, and we think it is, it disposes also of the objection to the competency of these persons as witnesses for the plaintiff. It is not pretended but that children may be witnesses for their father, though they may ultimately be benefitted by the decision of the suit in his favor. Their relation to him may affect their credibility but not their competency.
“ I was present and witnessed such with Hugh Sharpless— Mir. Pigford presented a receipt to Mr. Watkins to sign, which Watkins refused to sign. Pigford then asked him what he would do, and he said he would sign a receipt that he had received these four negroes. Mr. Pigford told him to sign that receipt, and not to come back there after any more property. Mr. Watkins then signed it. This was the second receipt as prepared.” The account of the transaction given by Watkins himself is much more full and circumstantial, stating among other things, that the receipt which he refused to sign, expressed that his wife, “should never expect to receive any more of Hugh Lamb’s property.” The enquiry occurs at once to every mind, why, if the gift of the slaves was free and voluntary, take a receipt at all ? Why permit the donee to hig-gle about the receipt ? Surely the records of benevolence might be searched in vain for such another instance of impertinence on the part of a donee, and forbearance on that of