Moore v. Ransdel

156 Ind. 658 | Ind. | 1901

Lead Opinion

Baker, J.

This is tbe second appeal of tbis case. Ransdel v. Moore, 153 Ind. 393. On tbe first appeal, tbe fourth and fifth paragraphs of tbe complaint of tbe Eansdels were held to state facts sufficient, and tbe judgment on demurrer in favor of tbe Moores was reversed with directions to overrule the demurrer to those paragraphs. After this was done, tbe Moores answered, and a trial, was bad, which resulted in a special finding of facts, conclusions of law, and judgment in favor of the Eansdels. The law of the ease was determined on the former appeal. The question now is whether or not the ease stated in the complaint was made out on the trial.

The fourth paragraph counts upon an express trust in realty. See Ransdel v. Moore, 153 Ind. 393. The special 'finding follows this paragraph except in certain important particulars.

'With respect to the creation of the alleged express trust by the settlor, Elizabeth A. Moore, and the consideration moving to the trustee, Willis E. Moore, the finding is this: After their marriage, Willis agreed that the brothers of Elizabeth should become, either by will or by deed, the owners of the land. Some time before he^death, Elizabeth recognized that she was fatally ill and requested'Willis to get a lawyer to prepare for her signature a deed or a will that would conv'ey the title to her brothers. Willis promised^ but failed to do so until a short time before her death, when die did procure a competent lawyer, who jame and drew up for her and she executed a will disposing of her property, but she determined afterwards that the will was not satisfactory and directed her husband to destroy it, which he did. They then had a private conversation, the nature of which the evidence does not disclose, but a .few minutes afterwards she stated in the presence of Willis' and others: “It is all settled. I have left it with Mr. Moore and he has promised to do right with the boys and I believe he will.- I have left it all entirely with him. I want my brothers to have $500 or $600'each. I have left it entirely with him and I believe he will do right.” Willis then promised her that he would carry out her wishes and vest a portion of her estate in her brothers. Elizabeth was competent to make a will or a deed up to the time of her death, which fact was well known to her husband. She relied on Willis’s promise to her, and died without making a will or a deed. She left quite an amount of property besides the land in question, Soon after the death of Elizabeth, Willis called the Ransdels together for- the purpose of executing to them a deed of the land, the legal title to which was cast upon Willis by the death of Elizabeth. One of the brothers suggested that Willis'should retain the title for them, find a purchaser, and divide the' proceeds among the brothers. This was agreed upon. To evidence the agreement, Willis drew up and delivered to the brothers the memorandum set out on pages 397-8 of the former opinion. Not finding a purchaser at once, Willis borrowed, by mortgaging the land, $1,500 at one time and divided it among the brothers, and $500 at another time for their benefit. In distributing the $1,500, Willis wrote the letter set out on page 399 of the former opinion. Some time afterwards Willis died intestate, leaving as his heirs the Moores who are appellants here. They entered upon the land and claimed absolute ownership. Thereupon the Rahsdels began this suit.

. Elizabeth Moore, under the finding, did not create a trust in the land. ’ At most she created a trust in a general charge upon her whole estate to the extent of $600 in favor of each brother; and that was not the trust sued upon.

Assuming that the' finding definitely establishes that Willis Moore, after the death of his wife, entered into an ágreement with the Ransdels to hold the title as trustee for them, the finding clearly discloses that there was no consideration for such an agreement. (1) The alleged ante-nuptial contract was never made. Even if it had been made, Elizabeth could have waived it; and it would have been waived by her creation of the trust set out in the finding. (2) The vesting of the title in Willis, under a promise by him to his wife to hold the land on the terms of the express trust pleaded, would have been sufficient consideration to support Willis’s agreement with the Ransdels; but the finding is contrary to the allegation. He could not accept the title under a trust that was never created. His agreement ■with the Ransdels, therefore, was to hold his own land in trust for them. Since there was no consideration, and since the agreement was executory, it can not be enforced. And, though Willis might have performed his voluntary undertaking if he had lived, no legal wrong is chargeable to his heirs for refusing to do so.

The fifth paragraph of complaint counts upon a trust ex maleficio, which arose from the fraud of Willis in preventing Elizabeth from making a deed or a will that would convey the land to her brothers. See Ransdel v. Moore, 153 Ind. 393. The finding shows that Willis did not deprive her of the opportunity of. making a deed or a will, and that he executed the promise she exacted of him to vest five or six hundred dollars of her estate in each of her brothers.

The death of one of the appellees since the submission of this cause is suggested.

Judgment reversed, now as of the date, of submission, with directions to restate the conclusions of law and to enter judgment thereon in favor of appellants.

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Rehearing

On Petition fob Rehearing.

Baker, J.

A rehearing is asked because the cross-assignments of error, which challenge the sufficiency of certain answers, were not considered. As the judgment was reversed because the findings did not sustain the complaint, it is immaterial what answers, beyond the general • denial, were filed. The other matters, urged in the petition, were fully determined on the original hearing, and we see no. reason for changing the decision. ' 1

Petition overruled.