111 Iowa 640 | Iowa | 1900
Though dated February 18, 1896, it was not recorded until March 8, 1897. When acknowledged, does not appear. January 29, 1897, Daniels was at Collins, and rented the lot as owner, signing a lease as such, and received rent for one quarter after the levy of the writ, February 5th previous. Thereafter, and up to April 1, 1898, the rent was paid to H. K. Poorbaugh, son of intervener, and employe of the defendant. He must be assumed, in the absence of any explanation, to have been acting therein for Daniels, as the obligation of the lessee runs to him. A son of intervener, who was manager of the defendant’s hardware business at Collins, testified that he had learned something of this sale in February or January, 1897, and that he “did not know that any one owns the place but A. O. Daniels, and father, intervener herein, did not purchase the same.” The evidence is very meagter, and we are not sure the witness meant to be understood as saying his father had not in fact purchased, or that he did not know that he had not. While the recording of a deed is not essential as against an attaching creditor, its delivery is. And we think the evidence in this-case, in the absence of any explanation, may well be deemed sufficient to overcome the presumption arising from the possession of the deed at the trial, and to indicate it did not pass to Poorbaugh before it was filed for record. The grantee was the defendant’s father-in-law. The deed was withheld from l’ecord until needed to protect the property in Daniel’s possession, and during all the time' he controlled1 and leased the lot as his own and collected the rents.