Martin v. Walker

94 Ga. 477 | Ga. | 1894

Plaintiff, as administratrix cum testamento annexo of Catherine Banks, sued on December 22, 1891, to recover 220 acres of land. The vei’dict was for the defendant. Plaintiff moved on the general grounds for a new trial, and the motion was overruled. It appeared that Catherine Banks had owned the land, and by her will (probated in January, 1888) she devised all her estate to her husband, A. I. Banks, for life, with remainder to plaintiff in the land in dispute. Defendant introduced a deed dated in 1890, to himself from A. I. Banks, conveying the land in dispute. Also, two promissory notes of Berry King for $100 each, dated February 8, 1886, payable to A. I. Banks agent, or bearer, “ for price of land,” due in 1888 and 1889, and indorsed, “Catherine Banks, teste.” Also, a written disclaimer of title in the disputed premises, for herself as administratrix or individually, signed by plaintiff with her mark. Plaintiff testified that, at the time of the last court, one Brown brought her the disclaimer to sign, and read it to her three times; that she did not understand it and refused to sign it, but offered to go with him to town and see somebody about it; and that he refused this and told her to touch, the pen, which she did. For defendant the testimony was, that the disclaimer was written out on receipt of a message from plaintiff’, and was sent to her by Brown, who read it to her three times and fully explained it to her before she signed it. It further appeared that before the death of Mrs. Banks, one Joel employed an attorney to. collect a debt of about $509 she owed him, secured by deed or mortgage. She was unable to pay it, and went with her husband and Joel to the attorney’s office, carrying the notes of Berry King before mentioned, with other papers. She had used two other notes of Berry King. She asked Joel to see if the money to pay her debt to him could not be obtained from defendant. This was done. Joel received the $599 from defendant, who held the land in payment of that debt. Joel gave- up his papers to Mrs. Banks. The notes of Berry King were turned over to defendant. The land in dispute is the same that King purchased. He lived on the place about a year, working the land, and died there. A. I. Banks died before this suit was brought.

C. P. Crawford, for plaintiff. Whitfield & Allen, for defendant.