Wallace v. Bassett

41 Barb. 92 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1863

Potter, J.

The plaintiff’s claim to recover in this action

is based on the tenth section of the act of the legislature, chapter 90, passed March 20, 1860, which is in the following words: “§ 10. At the decease of husband or wife, leaving no minor child or children, the survivor shall hold, possess and enjoy a life estate in one-third of all the real estate of which the husband or wife died seised.’’ Technically, the plaintiff has brought himself within the provisions of this section. He survived his wife; she died in November of the year 1860, leaving no minor child or children. She, at the time of her death, owned the estate in question in her own name in fee; having purchased it in 1858. The defendants were in possession at the commencement of the action; possession had been previously demanded by the plaintiff, and refused by them. This is the plaintiff’s case. The defendants make claim to the estate by devise from Jane Wallace, the wife of the plaintiff, to Catherine Ann Bassett, one of the defendants, now an infant, under whom, through her guardian, the defendants are in possession. The will of Jane Wallace had been duly proved as a will of both real and personal estate before the surrogate of Washington county, and in terms it gave and devised all the testatrix’s real and personal estate to the defendant.. Catherine Ann Bassett. The defendants also set up, by way of estoppel to the plaintiff’s right of recovery, articles of separation between the plaintiff of the first part, Jane'Wallace, his wife, (the testatrix) of the second part; and George Fisher and Lyman H Tucker, trustees therein mentioned, of the third part, dated 8th January, 1848. By these articles the plaintiff and his wife covenanted and agreed to live separate and apart, during their lives. The testatrix to live where and with whom she pleased, without disturbance from him, the plaintiff; that she might enjoy all her estate, goods, furniture, jewels, &c. she brought to him when she became his wife; and the plaintiff therein further covenanted “ that he would not claim or demand any property, which she shall or may hereafter own, or which shall be devised or given to her; or that she may otherwise acquire.” The plaintiff also covenanted therein with the said trustees, parties of the third part, and conveyed to them certain real and personal property which came to him by his said wife, and agreed that he would thereafter convey to them a certain lot of real estate, in trust, for the maintenance and support of his said wife. By the evidence in the case it appeared that this last mentioned real estate had been purchased with the moneys of the testatrix; except about $130. The said trustees, of the third part, agreed to take the estate so conveyed, and to be conveyed, in full satisfaction for the support and maintenance, and all alimony whatever of the said Jane Wallace,” and the property was to be disposed of as the testatrix and the trustees might deem proper; and in consideration of one dollar received from the plaintiff, the said trustees, of the third part, covenanted and agreed with the plaintiff to indemnify and save him harmless from all debts contracted, or thereafter to be contracted, by the' said Jane, or on her account, and to repay to the plaintiff" all debts that he might be compelled to pay on her account, and to indemnify the plaintiff against the expenses of the support and maintenance of the said Jane, his wife, wherever she might be, or whether she might be a town or county charge, to all which the parties respectively bound themselves, their heirs, executors and administrators. The plaintiff subsequently conveyed to the trustees, as such, the lot of land in the agreement mentioned, and the separation immediately took place, and continued during the life of the testatrix. Fisher, one of the trustees, died in 1854. Tucker still survives. Neither they nor the survivor have any claim against the premises, and neither of the trustees ever gave any consent in writing to the testatrix's making a will. These facts constitute the defense.

1. The first question of law that arises in the case is as to the power of the testatrix to make a will. This power did not exist at common law, without the consent of the husband. It was however conferred by statute, by the act for the more effectual protection of the property of married women, passed April 7, 1848, amended 11th April, 1849, (ch. 375, § 3, as amended,) which provided “that any married female may take by inheritance or by gift, grant, devise or bequest, from any other person than her husband, and hold to her sole and separate use, and convey and devise real and personal property, and any interest or estate therein &c., “and with like effect as if she were unmarried,” &c. The act of 1848 authorized married women to receive and hold property; but omitted the power to make contracts, and the power to devise, which power was added by the act of 1849. These powers remained and were in full force when the act of 1860, chapter 90, (Laws of 1860, p. 157,) was passed. This latter act, nowhere in terms, repeals the right or the power of married women to devise their estates; though the third section of the last named act modifies her power to convey and to make contracts, in reference to her separate estate, without the assent in writing of her husband, except in certain cases. If the power to devise so conferred has been repealed, it must be by implication arising from the language of the 96th section of this last named act, which is “that at the decease of husband or wife, &c. the survivor shall enjoy a life estate in one-third of all the real estate of which the husband or wife shall die seised.” Repeal by implication is not a doctrine favored by the courts. Lwarris, in his work on the construction of statutes, 532, lays clown the rule “that a general statute, without negative words, will not repeal the particular provisions of a former one, unless the two acts are irreconcilably inconsistent.” (Foster’s case, 11 Co. R. 63.) In Bowen v. Lease, (5 Hill, 225,) Nelson, Oh. J. said: “The invariable rule of construction in respect to the repealing of statutes by implication is that the earliest act remains in force, unless the two are manifestly inconsistent with and repugnant to each other; or unless in the latest act some express notice is taken of the former, plainly indicating an intention to abrogate it.” As laws are presumed to be passed with deliberation, and with full knowledge of all existing ones on the same subject, it is but reasonable to conclude that the legislature in passing a statute did not intend to interfere with or abrogate any former law relating to the same matter, unless the repugnancy between the law is irreconcilable.” Testing the statute of 1860, by this sensible rule, the power to devise, conferred by the act of 1849, upon married females, is still in force, or was in force at the time of the death of the testatrix.

The two statutes may exist together; the former being in force in cases where a devise is made, the latter in cases of intestacy.

2. I am also of opinion that the plaintiff is estopped from bringing this action by his covenants in the deed' of separation. He covenanted with her that he would not claim or-demand any property which she should thereafter own, or that she might otherwise acquire. The property in question she did afterwards acquire, and did own, and it is now settled that deeds of present separation are valid, so far as relates to the trusts and covenants by which the husband makes provision for the wife, and the indemnity given to the husband by the trustees. (2 Bright on H. and Wife, 313. Rodney v. Chamber, 2 East, 293.) The covenants were mutual and dependent. The trustees, in her behalf, in consideration of property granted and to be granted for her support by the plaintiff, as well as his covenant to claim no property which she might thereafter own or acquire, covenanted on their part to indemnify him against her future support and future alimony. The plaintiff’s covenants were for her benefit, as well as for the benefit of her trustees. Her covenants, and the covenants of the trustees, were for the plaintiff’s benefit. Upon this consideration the plaintiff enjoyed the benefit during her life of all the covenants made by her and her trustees in his favor. The covenants were mutual, reciprocal and beneficial to all the parties, and were acted upon by all the parties; and the consideration was solemnly acknowledged. He was relieved during her life from her support. It would be grossly inequitable and unjust, as well as immoral, not to hold him estopped by his deliberate and solemn covenants. (Dennison v. Ely, 1 Barb. 623.) Estoppels may always be resorted to as a means to prevent injustice, always as a shield. (Pierrepont v. Barnard, 5 Barb. 375.) This is the rule wherever it can be seen that the act, or the covenants, must have had the effect of influencing the conduct of the party setting them up; and especially where the party making the claim has had a consideration, or has induced the other to act upon it. (8 Wend. 480, 483, and cases cited. 13 id. 178. 15 id. 311, 312. Bell v. Thorn, Hill & Denio, 433, 434.)

[Washington Special Term, May 26, 1863.

I think the plaintiff’s complaint should be dismissed, with costs.

Judgment accordingly.

Potter, Justice.]