151 Ga. 40 | Ga. | 1921
1. TJie constitution of 1868 did not and that of 1877 does not contain any provision forbidding the head of a family to alienate his reversionary interest in a homestead set apart under the statutory provisions now embraced in the Civil Code of 1910, §§ 3416, 3417. Walker v. Hodges, 113 Ga. 1042 (39 S. E. 480); Carrie v. Carnes, 145 Ga. 184 (88 S. E. 949). Where the beneficiaries of such homestead estate acquire an absolute title to the reversionary interest in the property out of which the homestead estate was carved, and it does not appear that it was the intention of the beneficiaries to keep the two estates separate, the lesser or homestead estate is merged in the greater or absolute estate, and the beneficiaries in whom the two estates unite may convey the fee in the land absolutely or for the purpose of securing a debt. Goodell v. Hall, 112 Ga. 435 (37 S. E. 725); Muscogee Manufacturing Co. v. Eagle & Phenix Mills, 126 Ga. 210 (7), 218 (54 S. E. 1028, 7 L. R. A. (N. S.) 1139).
2. Applying the foregoing principles, the jury was authorized to find that the land was not incumbered by a homestead estate at the time of the execution of the security deed.
3. On the question of usury in such deed the evidence was conflicting, and the verdict finding against the plea of usury was authorized by the evidence.
Judgment affirmed.