This bill was for the cancellation of a deed containing a condition subsequent, the nonobservance of which resulted in a forfeiture of estate at the election of the grantor. First Nat. Bank v. McIntosh,
The pertinent conditions of the instant conveyance exhibited with the bill are:
« * * * Bor an(j jn consideration of $5.00 to me in hand paid by R. L. McSwean, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and, in consideration further that the said R. L. Mc-Swean has heretofore rendered in valuable services in taking care of, supporting, clothing, maintaining and making me comfortable, and, in consideration also of the conditions of this deed of conveyance hereinafter expressed,” grants, etc.
And—
“It is hereby agreed and understood that as a part of the consideration of this deed of conveyance the said R. L. McSwean is to take care of, support, clothe, maintain and do whatever else may be necessary to make me reasonably comfortable during my lifetime, and it is further agreed and understood that the absolute title to the said lands shall not pass unto the said R. L. McSwean until my death, but the said R. L. McSwean is to have possession and control of the said land during my lifetime, to cultivate, rent or lease the said lands and to keep the same under good repair, and the income therefrom, or"so much as may be necessary is To be used in assisting him in taking care of, supporting, clothing, maintaining and keeping me reasonably comfortable during my lifetime, as above named and, at my death, the absolute title to the said land shall pass into the said R. L. McSwean, provided, only that the conditions herein expressed are faithfully carried out; If the said R. L. McSwean should neglect, fail or refuse to take care of, support, clothe, maintain and keep me reasonably comfortable, as above named, this deed of conveyance shall become null and void, .and the title to the said lands revert back to me, on the condition that I pay the R. L. McSwean a reasonable amount for taking care of, supporting, clothing, maintaining and making me reasonably comfortable, as above named, the said amount of the reasonable value of his services to be ascertained with 8 per cent, interest thereon, less the net amount received by him as an income from the said lands up to the time his services named ceased to be rendered; and it is further understood and agreed that: Should 1 depart without having this deed of conveyance declared null and void by a proper proceeding in court, or otherwise, this shall be conclusive that the said R. L. McSwean has faitnfully carried out the condition of this deed of conveyance which shall not be questioned by any person except myself during my lifetime, but this deed of conveyance shall be absolute to the said R. L. McSwean and shall not be declared null and void for any other cause except that the said R. L. McSwean shall fail or refuse to carry out the conditions herein named, the said R. L. McSwean in consideration of this deed of conveyance is to pay the taxes on the said lands from this date. * * * ”
Oomplainant’s note of testimony contained no submission on objections and exceptions reserved to rulings of the trial court upon the admission or exclusion of testimony. Davidson v. Rice,
A question of fact was presented by the pleading and proof, and the court found for respondent. The burden of proof of breach of the condition subsequent by respondent was on the complainant; and, after examination of the record, we find no warrant for disturbing the decree rendered. . The monthly allowance made for complainant’s maintenance and comfort is sufficient for her needs and condition in life, and from this allowance there has been no cross-appeal by respondent.
The recent acts of the Legislature, regulating the taking of testimony orally in equity and common-law courts and prohibiting the indulgence of presumptions in favor of the findings of trial courts thereon (Acts 1915, pp. 705, 722 and 824), do not effect a change in the rule of presumption mentioned above. In the case of Hackett v. Cash,
“The Legislature evidently intended, by this act of 1915, to provide for trials without a jury in all courts unless it was demanded, and to do away with the necessity of excepting to the finding or conclusion upon the facts in order to review the same in the appellate court, but did not mean to override a long line of the decisions of this court as to what weight would or would not be accorded the conclusion of the trial court upon the facts. However, if it was otherwise intended, it would be an invasion of the judiciary to require this court to disregard the finding of the trial court upon facts when said trial court had a better opportunity to pass upon and consider the evidence than the appellate court.”
A discussion of the evidence in detail will subserve no good purpose.
The decree of the lower court is affirmed.
<S&wkey;For other cases see same to^e and KEY-NUMBER, in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes
other cases see .same topic and KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes
