Parks v. Parks, 19 Md. 323

19 Md. 323 | Md. | 1863

Cochran, J.,

delivered the opinion of this0Court:

The proceedings in this case were originally instituted by Elisha Parks and others, for tho purpose of procuring a sale of the real estate of Peter Parks, deceased, and a distribution of the proceeds among his heirs at law. The property was sold, and upon the trustee’s report of the sale, the auditor stated two accounts, B and C, making entire but different distributions of the proceeds of the sale to the several persons claiming and entitled to claim as distributees. By account B, the distributive share of each child of the deceased was ascertained to.be $2,066.47, and that amount was audited to the appellant, as one of the children. By account C, stated under instructions from the appellees, the appellant was entirely excluded from the distribution, and the portion claimed by him, as shown in account B, properly apportioned among the other distributees and heirs at law. The first of these accounts was ratified nisi, and excepted to by the appellees, on the alleged ground that the appellant was not entitled to claim or have any portion of the fund to be distributed. Testimony was taken by the auditor on the question presented by the exceptions, upon which the Court passed an order sustaining the exceptions and ratifying account C, by which the appellant was excluded from the distribution, from which o'rder this appeal was taken.

The exceptions to accoimt B, upon which the question for our determination arises, were: 1st. Because the claim or share of the appellant, as one of the heirs at law of Peter Parks, had been previously “paid and satisfied;” and 2nd, because the other heirs at law had settled any claim the appellant might have had against his father’s estate, by an arrangement upon which the appellant confessed a judgment to that estate, for a sum or balance above his claim as one of the heirs at law. From the evidence, the last exception appears to have been predicated upon an alleged agreement made in a suit brought by the administrators of Peter Parks against the appellant, that a settlement of all claims of the estate against the appellant, and of all claims of the appellant against the estate, should be effected hy his confession of a judgment for $1,500, with a stay of execution without interest. The evidence offered to show that such an agreement was made, at most, only proves that a mere verbal arrangement to that effect preceded the confession of the judgment. There is nothing to show that there was a consideration for the agreement, or that it was at any time reduced to writing, nor does it appear by any order or paper in the case to have constituted any part of the terms upon which the judgment was confessed. Having been objected to as void under the statute of frauds, for these reasons, it is sufficient to say that the exception founded upon it, though not formally abandoned, was not relied on by the appellees in the argument of the case.

To sustain the 1st exception, the appellees offered in evidence a bond executed in consideration of natural love and affection, and the sum of twenty-five dollars, by Peter Parks to John, on the 29th of April 1851, for a conveyance of the reversion of a tract of land containing two hundred and fourteen acres, recited in the bond as leased by him to John, on the 14th of March 1848, for ninety-nine years, renewable, &c., and subject to an annual rent of one dollar. The testimony of several witnesses was also taken, from which it appears that the property described in the bond and lease executed to John Parks, equalled in value the whole of the remaining real estate of Peter Parks, sold by the trustee under the original proceedings in this case. It also appears that John, when a young man, returned home and purchased from his father, Peter Parks, the stock on the farm, and entered into a contract with him to carry on the farm op shares, which contract, by the admission of both of them to the witness, Bozley, was continued until the father purchased the property described in the bond and lease. After the purchase of that tract, John entered into a like contract to carry it on, and moved from the home place to it for that purpose. The testimony of Parrish, offered by the appellant, proves that he wrote' the lease recited in the bond, and tbat Peter Parks- remarked tbat his reason for giving tbe lease to John, was in part “because bis wife would not sign away her right,” and further, “because John bad done more for him than all tbe rest of bis children,” and bad also a “lame daughter to support.” Upon this evidence tbe appellees contend tbat tbe property described in tbe lease and bond was conveyed-to John Parks as an advancement from bis father’s estate, and tbat John, for tbat reason, is not entitled to participate in tbe distribution of tbe proceeds of tbe remainder of bis father’s real, estate, without bringing tbe portion so advanced into account. On tbe other band, tbe appellant contends tbat tbe evidence proves valuable services were rendered by him for bis father, and tbat tbe proof of such services rebuts the inference tbat an advancement was intended by tbe bond and lease of tbe 214 acres. Tbe evidence relied on by tbe appellants, establishing the fact of services rendered, was objected to in argument by tbe appellees, as inadmissible for tbat purpose, on tbe ground tbat its effect was to vary tbe consideration set forth in tbe bond and lease.

Ordinarily, parol evidence is not admissible to add to, vary or contradict a written instrument. We do not think tbat rule can operate to exclude such evidence when offered to show tbe particular character of tbe subject matter of a deed collaterally adduced to support or oppose a controverted right to other property than that described by tbe deed. It is a settled doctrine, tbat written instruments are to be interpreted according to their subject matter, and that parol evidence may be introduced to ascertain tbe qualities and nature of tbe subject to which tbe instrument refers. Greenleaf Ev., 286. If a deed maybe construed by tbe aid of parol evidence of tbe nature and qualities of tbe property conveyed, there certainly can be no objection to tbe admission of such evidence to show tbe character of the property in a case whore the construction of the deed is not involved. The question presented on the evidehoe objected to, is not one of construction of the bond and lease, nor does it arise between the parties thereto, nor can the determination of it either way affect or change their rights or obligations as they stand upon these instruments; but it is, as to the peculiar nature and properties of the estate conveyed, in respect to which these papers are silent; or, in other words, whether that estate, as conveyed, takes the character and legal properties of an advancement, or those of a full and absolute gift, without a view to a portion or settlement. The nature of the estate in these respects follows the intention of the donor, and that intention, as we understand the authorities, may be ascertained by parol evidence of the donor’s declarations at the time of executing the conveyance, or of the donee’s admissions afterwards, or by proof of facts and circumstances from which the intention may be inferred. In the absence of such evidence, and of anything in the deed to indicate the intended character of the property conveyed, the law looking to the equal relationship and right of other distributees, will presume the character most favorable to equal distribution to have been intended by the donor. Powell vs. Powell, 5 Dana, 171. Levering vs. Rittenhouse, 4 Whar., 138. King’s Estate, 6 Whar., 370. Murrell vs. Murrell, 2 Strobhart, 148. 4 Kent Com., 418. Stewart vs. State, 2 H. & G., 114. Stewart vs. Patterson’s Ex’rs, 8 Gill, 46.

There is no effort made in this case to impeach or defeat the title of the appellant under the bond and lease, nor to alter or impair his rights, so far as they relate to the property described in them; but the inquiry is as to rights to other property, in regard to which the bond and lease are incidentally used as evidence. Of these papers thus collaterally brought in question, it may be observed that the exclusion of extrinsic evidence to show their true design, would tend to defeat the provisions of our testamentary laws for the equal distribution of intestate’s estates; and that such evidence for that reason, if for no other, should not be excluded. Stewart vs. State, 2 H. & G., 114.

Upon this view we have to consider whether the evidence offered has the effect ascribed to it by the appellant,—of rebutting the inference that an advancement to him was intended by the property described in the bond and lease. The fact that the appellant was engaged for several years in the conduct and management of his father’s property, is clearly proved, but it also appears from the admissions of both father and son, made to the witness, Bozley, that those services were not gratuitous, but were rendered under contracts. He purchased the stock, and commenced the management of his father’s farm under a contract for a share of the produce derived from it. A like agreement was made for his management and occupancy of the traot described in the lease, and in the absence of evidence that the contract was abandoned, the inference is, that it continued until the relation of the parties was changed by the execution of that instrument. There is no evidence that the appellant during this period did not receive the full share of the produce to which he was entitled by his contract, nor is there any to justify the conclusion that any obligation on either side, originating in their relations as contracting parties, remained unsatisfied at the time the lease.was executed. Under these circumstances the ajjpellant’s services cannot be considered as having induced the execution of the bond and lease, nor can they justify the inference that an advancement was not intended by the property they describe. The declarations of the father to Parrish, at the time the lease was prepared, do not strengthen the case in this respect, for they were as consistent with the purpose of making an advancement, as with that of making a gift, without a view to a portion or settlement, and the question as to the character of the pi operty held by the appellant under the bond and lease, notwithstanding the evidence relied on by him as ascertaining it, must be determined by legal presumption from these papers, and the equal relationship of the contesting parties as heirs at law.

Taking into consideration the value of the property, for the conveyance of which the bond was given, as shown by the testimony of all the witnesses examined on that point, the money consideration recited in that instrument must bo held as merely nominal. The declarations made by the donor to Parrish, show that the transfer of the title to the appellant was not contemplated on the ground of any specific valuable consideration, but that it originated in a beneficent purpose, and was founded on the consideration of natural love and affection, as recited in the bond. In contemplation of law, a father’s natural love and affection move equally to his children, and the delivery or conveyance of a part of his estate on that consideration to one of them, supposes like if not equal beneficence to be intended to the others, and for that reason it implies that the donee shall take and hold the portion so conveyed in virtue of the right to inherit with the other children the father’s estate. Where the property so conveyed consists of real estate, the presumption that a portion by way of advancement was intended, is strengthened, because such property affords to the donee benefits more consistent with the purposes of a permanent settlement, than would be conferred by a like conveyance or delivery of personal estate.

In the absence of evidence to show that the appellant took the property described in some other character than that of an advancement, the law, as shown by the authorities to which we have referred, will presume that it was intended to be an advancement, and that the appellant, in his relationship to the other distributees, is not entitled to claim or hold it in any other character more prejudicial to their distributive rights.

(Decided January 21st, 1863.)

Upon a careful review of the whole case, we think the tract of 214 acres was granted to the appellant as' an advancement from his father’s1 estate, and that he is not entitled -to participate in the present distribution without bringing that property into account.

Having discovered no error in the decree of the Court below, we therefore affirm it, with costs to the appellees.

Decree affirmed.