Miinch v. Miinch

148 Iowa 18 | Iowa | 1910

Evans, J.

Since the entering of the decree below, the above named plaintiff has died, and her administrator has been substituted as a party plaintiff. As the record is made, it will be more convenient for us to refer to the original plaintiff in our discussion of the case and to take no note of the substitution. The plaintiff was the widow of Adam Miinch, who died October 25, 1906. Prior to June 16, 1905, be was the owner of two farms in Delaware county. One of these farms was known as the home farm in Elk township, and consisted of two hundred and sixty-six acres. The other was known as the Coffin Grove farm, and consisted of one hundred and thirty-three acres. He bad two sons and two daughters, Jacob, Mary, George and Elora. On June 16, 1905, be procured a notary to prepare two deeds, both of which were executed by himself and wife on that day. One deed purported to convey tbe Coffin Grove farm of one hundred and thirty-three acres to tbe son George, and tbe other purported to convey tbe home farm of two hundred and sixty-six acres to the son Jacob. They were placed in tbe bands of tbe notary with directions to deliver tbe same to tbe grantees, respectively, after tbe death of the grantors. Some days later, be directed tbe notary to make formal delivery of tbe deeds to tbe grantees during bis lifetime in order to avoid any question of their legality, and to receive them back from tbe grantees and to bold them in trust during tbe lifetime of tbe grantors, and these instructions were followed by tbe notary. Tbe plaintiff as widow brought this action to set aside such deeds and to establish ber dower in tbe real estate in question, and made ber four children parties’ defendant. The two daughters joined with ber in ber contention, and tbe only parties defending are tbe sons, wbo are tbe grantees in such deeds. Tbe deeds are attacked upon three grounds, viz.: (1) That they were never delivered; (2) that they were obtained by fraud and undue influence; and (3) that tbe plaintiff and Her husband were both mentally incompetent to make the same.

1. Conveyances: fraud: findings of court: conclusivness. The trial court found that there was a sufficient delivery, and that Adam Miinch was competent to make the deeds, and that they were valid so far as he was concerned. This finding necessarily disposes of question of fraud, although the trial court 110£ specifically pass upon it. It may be said, also that there is -not the slightest evidence in the record of any fraud. The beneficiaries of the deeds were not present when they were executed.

2. Same: consideratíon: jnental capacity of grantor: evidence. The trial court found, however, that the deeds were invalid as to the plaintiff, and, as we understand the record, this finding is based upon the alleged incompetency of the plaintiff to execute the deeds. That the -, -, , t • c deeds were executed m pursuance oí a . - - previous purpose and understanding is very x x x ° manifest from the record. Just what the understanding was in its details is not so clear, nor do wo find it necessary to ascertain. In a general way the history of the family explains the reason for the conveyances. Jacob was the oldest of the family, and George was four years younger. Jacob had been the “boss” and manager of the farm since a time prior to his attaining his majority. At this time his father owned one hundred and six and two-thirds acres of the home farm, and no more. All of the children were industrious and remained at home until they were married. Mary was married at the age of twenty-four and Flora at seventeen. Each of them received assistance at the time of their marriage to the extent in value of about $1,000. They and their husbands prospered and each owned valuable farms at the time the father conveyed his farms to the sons. Three or four years after Jacob became of age, one hundred and sixty acres were purchased and added to the home farm. Some years later the Coffin Grove farm of one hundred, and thirty-three acres was purchased; both boys continuing at home and farming the land. The newly acquired lands were all paid for out of the proceeds -of such farm. George so continued at home until he was thirty-one years of age, at which time, he was married and moved upon the Coffin Grove farm, which he has occupied and farmed ever since. It is claimed in his behalf that this was in pursuance of an understanding in the family that the first of the boys to be married should take that farm. He moved upon it about the year 1891, and immediately began to improve it, and had expended upon it prior to his father’s death about $4,000 in improvements. Jacob continued with his parents until he was forty-two years of age, at which time he was married.' Thereupon, in 1898, the parents built a home in the town of Greeley upon lots which had been acquired in 1894 and the title to which was taken in the name of the plaintiff; and they moved thereto and 'occupied the same up to the time of the death of the father. Jacob remained upon the home farm and continued to occupy and farm it, and so continued up to the time of the death of his father. At the time the parents removed to Greeley, there was an arrangement between them and the sons. whereby George was to pay them $200 a year, and Jacob was to pay them $300 a year and to furnish their fuel and vegetables and perform other filial services, ^ all of which were performed faithfully, except that no payment was made after the death of the father; this controversy having arisen before the period at which such payments fell due. As witnesses, these defendants declared their readiness to perform these payments to the mother as long as she should live, and we assume from the record that they deem themselves liable therefor if the deeds are held to be valid. ■

That the consideration of the deeds rested in these facts which we have narrated in its principal substance is very clear. Whether there was other consideration to be performed by way of payment to the sisters does not appear from the testimony further than that the father executed a will on June 24, 1905, wherein he provided that certain payments should be made to the daughters. We have no occasion, however, to go into this question. The sole question presented by this record is whether the deeds in question are valid and effective to convey the title to the grantees of the tracts in question. The trial court held them to be so, so far as Adam Miinch was concerned, and no appeal has been taken from that part of the decree. We have no occasion, therefore, to discuss the evidence on that feature of the case further than to say that we are satisfied that the tidal court reached a correct conclusion in that regard. As already indicated, however the trial court found the conveyance invalid so far as the plaintiff herein was concerned. The only question, therefore, for our consideration, is whether the evidence in this record justifies the conclusion that the plaintiff lacked ment'al competency to execute the deeds at the time they were executed. We have gone through the evidence with much care and are unable to agree with the conclusions of the trial court at this point. We do not think that the evidence in this record will justify a finding of mental incompetency on the part of the plaintiff on June 16, 1905. We think that the great weight of the testimony is convincing that the mental condition of the plaintiff was normal for her years; she being seventy-seven years of age. It appears quite clear, also, that she fully understood the purpose of the deeds, and that this purpose was in harmony with her own wishes. At the time the deeds were made, the grantors had considerable money in the bank. Some time later they gave $1,000 to the daughter Flora. Since the death of the father the plaintiff gave to Flora an additional $500. This, however, is said to be in the form of advance compensation for care.

This controversy had its inception among the children. After the death of the father, the mother went first to the old home with Jacob. Later she went to visit with her daughter Mary. In the meantime the two daughters and George filed a contest against the will, and the brewing trouble among the children made the situation of the mother pitiable enough. But we see no sufficient ground for holding that she lacked mental competency to execute the deed. If the deeds had been voluntary in the sense that they were mere gifts, a different question would arise. But, as already indicated, the consideration behind these transactions was very substantial and would have furnished abundant ground for the interposition of a court of equity to grant relief of some kind to the sons for the years of service rendered and for the improvements placed upon the land.

3. Same: delivery. It is argued that there was no evidence of delivery on Parl °f the plaintiff. But delivery 0I1 the part of the husband was enough; it being shown that the wife voluntarily joined in the execution.

It is our conclusion, therefore, that the deeds must be upheld as valid, and that the decree below must be reversed.