Harman v. Harman , 17 C.C.A. 479 ( 1895 )

BUNN, District Judge.

These causes are bills in chancery to enjoin the collection of certain judgments at law recovered by the executors of Jacob Harman, deceased, against the complainants, and to enforce specific performance of a contract for the conveyance of certain lands situate in Iroquois county, Ill. The two cases stand substantially, though not wholly, upon the same equities, and by consent were heard together; the evidence in each of the cases, so far as applicable, to he considered as offered in the other.

It is alleged by the complainants that they each entered into possession of the land severally described in the b’lls of complaint under an agreement with Jacob Harman, resting partly in parol and partly in writing, by which they were respectively to take possession of the land in question, which was for the most part unimproved, cultivate and improve the same, and pay an annual rent, to be agreed upon from time to time, to Jacob Harman, during the continuance of his natural life, and also to pay interest upon certain sums of money advanced to them by said Jacob Harman; and that upon his death they were to have as their own the land, as well as the money so advanced; , that they entered into possession under such agreement, occupying the land for a series of years, numbering from 10 to 15 years, and until the death of Jacob Harman, on February 23, 1885, cultivating the land so occupied, and making large and valuable permanent improvements thereon, and paying the stipulated rent to Jacob Harman, and in all respects fulfilling their agreement with him, insomuch that the same had at the time of his death become, as far as the complainants were concerned, a fully-executed agreement entitling them to a specific performance of the contract.

A large amount of testimony was taken, mainly of a parol character, tending to support the allegations of the bill. But .among the other testimony is a lease in writing of the lands made by Jacob Harman to the complainants, respectively, and which was extended from time to time by the parties. There is no intimation in the lease that there was any other contract existing between the parties, and the court below dismissed the bills, not because the alleged contract was not made and fully executed by the complainants, but because no parol evidence could be received to show that any other relation existed between the parties than that of landlord and tenant as evidenced by the written lease. And, if the case comes fairly within the strict rule of law applied by the court, excluding all evidence of parol testimony showing a fully-executed parol agreement for the conveyance of the land, then the decrees must be affirmed. On the other hand, if it be allowable for this court to consider all the evidence in the case, written and unwritten, in order to determine what the full contract really was under which complainants held, a different result may undoubtedly be reached,' and a larger and better equity meted to the parties.

It is nowhere questioned by the court below that a contract, such as is claimed by the complainants, existed in parol, and that it had been fully executed by the complainants through all the years during which they were in possession of the lands, paying the stipulated rent, and making permanent and valuable improvements, partly from money which they made on the lands and partly from money which they borrowed from Jacob Harman for that purpose. But the complainants’ bills were dismissed on the ground that the evidence of such agreement and the full execution thereof cannot be considered by the court, because it conflicts with and seeks to change .lie effect of the written lease. Upon very full and careful consideration of the cuse this court ⅛ of opinion that, instead of the case coming within the rule invoked by the court below, it comes fairly within one of the acknowledged exceptions to that rule, which is that, where the parties make an agreement, partly iri writing and partly by parol, and do not profess to reduce the entire contract to writing, but only a certain part thereof, it is competent to show the entire agreement. We think the case comes rather within the rule laid down by Greenleaf, and supported by the adjudged cases, as an exception to the rule followed by the court below, -as follows: “Nor dot's the rule apply in cases where the original contract was verbal and entire, and a part only of it was reduced to writing.” See Greenl. Ev. § 284a; 2 Tayl. Ev. §§ 1135-1147; Mann v. Smyser, 76 Ill. 365; Ludeke v. Sutherland, 87 Ill. 481; Bross v. Railroad Co., 9 Ill. App. 363; Ballston, etc., Bank v. Marine Bank, 16 Wis. 125. If this may be (lone in this case, — that is, the entire contract be shown, — as we believe it may, without violence to established rules of law, the court will be in a position to do full justice to the parties according to the real understanding. Indeed, it would rattier imply a serious defect and limitation of the inherent powers of a court, of chancery if, in the circumstances of this case, as disclosed by the evidence, the court were precluded by a rule of evidence from preventing fraud mid doing full justice to the parties according to the facts. As remarked by the court below in its opinion, there is little conflict in the testimony, which goes to show that such an agreement existed as is claimed by the complainants, that it was acted upon and understood all through the deal between the parties,' and fully lived up to and executed by the complainants. Jacob Harman was an old man, was never married, and had no children. He was willing, and even eager, to enter into close family relations with the complainants, w'ho were Ms nephews. He showed a strong desire and will to adopt them as his heirs, and to stand in the relation to them of loco parentis'. He was always a thrifty man of property. He was a man of strong will, and with all his desire to benefit bis nephews he was very tenacious of doing it in his own peculiar way, and without any particular regard to their wishes. When the relation was entered into, and the boys went on to improve the lands, he insisted upon the contract, so far as it secured any benefit to him, being put-info writing, securing the payment of a stipulated rent; while that portion which inured to the benefit of the nephews, and was, indeed, the principal inducement on their part to entering into the arrangement, he was 'willing should rest in parol, requiring them to take his wrord, oft repeated, for its performance, which they were willing to do. Bometimes he would intend to carry out ills part of the contract by making provisions in his various wills for giving them the lands upon his death. At other times, and on three distinct occasions. lie made similar provisions by deeds, which were executed by him, but not to be delivered until his death; thus keeping the reins always in his own hands, and under Ms own control. His will was always law’ to the complainants, and he was always tenacious in hav-ing them accede in all points to his wishes. But there is no evidence that at any time during his life he ever indicated any other intention than that of giving his nephews the land, until just previous to his death, when he sent to Jacob M. Harman, to have him bring him the envelope containing the deeds of the land, in order to make correction of a mistake; whereupon they were delivered up into his hands, which is the last trace that is had of their existence. The evidence shows that the complainants had implicit confidence in their uncle, and were always ready to bend their wishes to his. They were content that the main contrac,t by which they were to have the land upon his death should rest in parol, not doubting, but fully trusting, their uncle that he would do according to their mutual understanding and agreement, which is proven by so many corroborating proofs as to leave' no reasonable doubt of its existence, and the certainty of its terms. The court, in such a case, would not be willing to rest a decree in complainants’ favor upon their testimony alone, though competent to be given under the laws of congress, as the claim for specific performance of the contract for the sale of the land is not against the executors, but against the legatees and beneficiaries under the will. But the complainants’ testimony is corroborated by a large number of other witnesses, who were the neighbors and friends of both parties, who are wholly disinterested, and who give their testimony in such a way as to leave no reasonable doubt of its truth.

The histoiy of the case is substantially this: Jacob Harman was the brother of Anthony Harman, and for many years resided in Warren county, Ind. His brother Anthony, who is the father of the complainants, and also Oscar P. Harman, Waldo L. Harman, John J. Harman, Mrs. Lee, and Mrs. Hamilton, resided in the early 60’s in Randolph county, Mo. In 1852, and again in 1860, Jacob Harman visited his brother Anthonjr, who was then living upon his own farm in Missouri with his boys; among others, the complainants. Having no children, Jacob Harman proposed to take back to Indiana his oldest nephew, Jacob M. Harman, promising to make him his principal heir if he would go home with him to Indiana, and live with him as his son. Jacob M. Harman still being under age, his father declined to let him go until arriving' at his majority. Accordingly, Jacob M. continued to reside with his father until he became 21 years of age in 1862, when he went to.live with his uncle in Indiana, and where he worked for him without compensation, while the little money he had brought from Missouri was placed in his uncle’s hands, and was paid out to him in small sums, as the nephew requested. Anthony Harman, during the war, had become security for a slaveholder, who lost his slaves, and by that means Anthony lost a good part of his property in making good the debt. Being embarrassed, he conveyed his farm in Missouri to his brother Jacob for $1,500, which he received in cash, and thereupon removed to Warren county, Ind., and lived with Jacob upon the farm of the latter, working the farm on shares. This was in the fall of 1864. Just prior to this event, Jacob Harman sent the nephew Jacob M. Harman to Missouri, to take charge of the farm Anthony had conveyed to Jacob, and tliere remained until 3870, when the Missouri farm was exchanged for lands in Indiana, and Jacob M. returned to live with his uncle Jacob in Indiana. Previously, however, to this, — in 1867, —the uncle and nephew had met at Danville, Ill., whither cattle had been shipped from the Missouri farm. At this meeting the relations which afterwards continued so long between Jacob Harman and this nephew began; that is to say, that relationship had its inception at this meeting. It was agreed that Jacob, the unchi, should build a house upon his unimproved land in Iroquois county, Tib, and that the next year Jacob M. should return from Missouri, and take the Iroquois county farm, which comprised several thousand acres, and is mainly the land in controversy in these suits. The agreement was that Jacob Harman should receive rent for the farm during his life, and that upon his death the land should belong to the nephew. Afterwards Jacob Harman wrote the nephew to remain upon his farm in Missouri until he could sell it. The exchange of the Missouri farm for lands in Indiana was brought about in 1870, and it was not until the spring of 1871 that Jacob M. went into possession of the Illinois farm under the aforesaid agreement. Meantime, in 1868, Jacob Hannan had sent another nephew, Oscar I*. Harman, a brother of Jacob M., to settle upon the Iroquois county lands. lie set tied upon a portion of the lands, and began to improve them, in the spring of 187.1, Jacob Harman sent Jacob M. to settle upon and assist in the improvement of the lands. During the first, five years— 1870,1871,1872,1873, and 1874 — the rent was settled by dividing the produce raised upon the land. The money to stock the place was furnished by the uncle, the work donebytlie nephews, who .paid one-fourth of the net proceeds of the land to the uncle. At the close of these years a new arrangement was made. A change was made in the quantity of land to be held by each nephew, and also in the manner of paying the rent. At this time all of the uncle’s lands in Iroquois county wore held by these two nephews, except a small quantity leased to one Gallup, who paid no rent. This lease was bought up, and another nephew, Jeremiah Robert Harman, one of these complainants, was let in to share the land with the other two. At this time the land was apportioned among the three nephews according to the wish of the uncle?, and the division thus made continued until the death of Jacob Harman in 1885, except (hat Jacob M. Harman relinquished one 80-acre tract, and a tract known in the litigation as the “Bumner Tract” of 460 acres was acquired by Jeremiah R. Har-man in 1880. Jeremiah It. Harman desired more land. Bumner owned 460 acres adjoining that allotted to him by the unchi. Jacob Harman owned about the same amount of land in Benton county, Ind. An exchange of these lands was effected by Jeremiah It. Har-man and one Fowler, the son-in-la,w of Bumner: Jeremiah It. Har-man paying $250 towards the difference in the value. This Bunmer tract was added to the land held by Jeremiah It. Harman, and on the same terms as the other, — that he should pay rent during the life of Jacob Harman, and then the lands should be his. Up to this ' time no memorandum of (lie agreement to give the land to the nephews had been put into writing except that Jacob Harman, by his wills, had devised the lands to them, with a remainder over to their children, respectively. In March, 1880, immediately after the Sumner trade was effected, deeds were prepared and executed by Jacob Harman conveying all the lands in Iroquois county to the three nephews. The person who prepared these deeds does not remember the descriptions nor amount of land granted to each, and the deeds were never delivered, but they were absolute conveyances, purporting to give title in fee to the nephews respectively, and his wills also made during the period direct that packages of deeds found among his papers at his death should be given by Ms executors to the persons to whom they were respectively addressed. In 1881 the uncle again executed deeds of the land in Iroquois county to his nephews Jacob M. and Jeremiah R. Harman, but again the scrivener cannot remember the land conveyed in each, but remembers that the deeds called for a considerable quantity of land. In 1882 he executed a third set of deeds which the scrivener, T. M. Davis, with the aid of the original memorandum and plat furnished him by Jacob Harman, and apparently in his handwriting, is able to describe accurately, and which are the same lands claimed in this suit. These deeds were placed by Davis in an envelope at Jacob Harman’s request, and were afterwards sealed up with some other papers by the uncle, and handed to Jacob M. Harman, as one of the executors of his will, to be opened upon his death. This plat and memorandum from which these deeds were drawn, and the testimony of the witness in regard to the transaction, are so important that we subjoin copies of the plat and memorandum with a portion-of Mr. Davis’ testimony, as follows:

Thomas M. Davis testified, among other things, as f ollows:

“He said he wanted to make deeds for those Illinois lands for the hoys out there. That he before thought of leaving them by will, but said he had made up his mind now to leave them by deed. That he would like to have me prepare deeds. That the next time I came over I could bring them out for him, and have his acknowledgment. At that timé we made a plat of the lands, and fixed out the description of the lands, — divided them as he wanted it amongst the boys, Matt, Oscar, and Bob. I have that plat now. [Witness here produces plat referred to.] He also wanted a deed made for eighty acres to one of the True heirs. Jacob Har-man was present when I prepared that plat. I-le saw that plat after I had prepared it, and looked over it, and said that it was as he wanted the deeds made. The written description on the side of the paper I call the plat was put there at the time the plat was made. It is in my handwriting. I got this description from Mr. Harman after we made the plat. He showed me what he wanted Jacob M. and Oscar P. to have, and then we took from the sections there the right descriptions. The words ‘as settled’ on this paper I suppose are in Mr. Harman’s handwriting. But I don’t know. I didn’t see him write it. They were on the paper when I put these descriptions on. Who wrote them I cannot tell. They have nothing to do with this paper. Jacob Harman furnished this i>ieee of paper upon which this plat was made. The word ‘Featherland’ was written across the edge of the paper at that time. That has nothing to do with the paper that I know of. Mr. Harman, at the time of making these deeds, said these boys in Illinois went there to farm these lands and to improve them; and then at his death they were to nave them. Any way it was to be divided in the manner in which the deeds were made. lie said they were paying him so much money every year, but I don’t recollect his stating liow much they paid every year. There was nothing said about their paying interest. At the same time I prepared a deed for eighty acres of land for this True boy. He said he wanted that eighty-acre tract to be deeded to the True boy. He was an heir in Virginia. The first time he spoke about it he said he would have to see the Illinois boys, and get them to release that, and then he wanted to deed that to him. And then he went on, and told how he wanted to make the deed, and all the circumstances. The piece on the plat marked with the'letters ‘J: R. H.,’ the north ⅛ of the northeast ½ of 19, was a piece of land over on the state line that he wanted to deed to Jeremiah R. Harman. He said he would see Matt, and get him to release that and this are one both. He wanted the eighty over next the state line to be deeded to Jeremiah R. Harman, and I prepared the deeds that deeded that to Jeremiah. I made a deed for Jeremiah R. Harman’s land, and one to Matt, and one to Oscar. The True deed was not mude just at that time. It was made some time after that, because there was another matter that he wanted to try to fix up about the True land. He said he would not make that for a while. Two weeks may have elapsed between the time I made that plat and went home and prepared the deeds and took them back to him. It may have been as much as a month. Mr. Harman acknowledged the deeds that I had made, and I took the acknowledgment. I don’t know whether Matt Harman had come from Illinois to Warren county between the time.of my making the plat and coming back with the deeds. After having taken this acknowledgment I put the deeds in a white envelope, and laid them on the table. He said: ’Do not seal the envelope. I have some other papers that I want put in with the deeds;’ and then he said, ‘When Matt comes down, I will turn them all over to him.’ And he said, ‘When I put in those papers I will seal it, and mark on the back of it “To be opened at my death” ’; and he said: ‘When Matt comes down, I will deliver them to him, and let him keep' them, and at my death he can open them, and there will be the deeds. He can give the deeds to the boys, and there will be his deed for his land.’ I never saw the white envelope afterwards. I do not know anything about it. I did not see him write anything on it. He talked frequently about the lands in Illinois when I was there. He told me about the agreement with the boys in regard to the lands, more than once. I do not recollect that he ever told me what they were to pay per year for the use of the land. If he did I have foigotten it.”

It is insisted by complainants’ counsel that the making and delivery oí these deeds was a conveyance of the land. But the difficulty with this view is that the deeds were not delivered to take effect at that time, but were delivered to the nephew Jacob M. Har-man, as one of the executors of Jacob Harman’s will, to be opened and finally delivered to the proper parlies after his death; and were afterwards recalled by him, so that no delivery of the deeds to pass immediate title was ever effected. It is further insisted that if the deeds did not serve to pass the title they constituted a memorandum in writing to take the case out of the statute of frauds. But the difficulty with this view is that the deeds are not produced, and so the existence of the memorandum in writing is depending wholly upon oral testimony, which to allow would seem to he to nullify the requirement of the statute. But we do not consider it necessary to determine that question, because we think the case fairly taken out of the operation of the statute upon the well-settled ground of part performance of an oral contract, for the conveyance of hind, of which we shall speak hereafter. The importance of this testimony consists rather in its furnishing a strong and almost conclusive corroborating circumstance of the other testimony, showing that a parol agreement in fact existed for the conveyance of the land, notwithstanding some provisions of the leases which make strongly to the contrary, and which at first might seem quite inconsistent with the existence of such a parol contract.

These' provisions contained in the leases constituted in the court below the stumbling block of the case, so far as complainants are concerned, and can only be explained, if at all, by the peculiar relation of the parties and the peculiar manner of their dealings with one another, by which Jacob Hannan kept everything under his own control, and required his nephews to trust to his word.

These several least's executed by the parties, with the indorse-ments and extensions, are as follows:

Lease of Jacob 51. and O. P. Harman.

This agreement made and entered into on this the first day of March, 1875, by and between Jacob Harman, of Warren County, and State of Indiana of the first part, and Jacob M. Harman & Oscar P. Harman, of Iroquoise Oounty and State of Illinoyse of the second part, (witnesseth) the party of the first part lias this day rented or leased to the second party for the term of two years from tins date, one cirtin tract or parcel of land lying and being in Iroquoise County and Stale of Illinoyse, It being the lands on which the second partys now reside known and described as follows (To-wit) N. ⅛ of N. W. Qr. Sect. Section 19, West ⅛ of Section .18, liange 10, and Section 13 Sect. 34 Ifl. ¾ of Sect. 15 — N. ½ oí N. ½' Sect. 24 — N. ⅛ oí N. E. Qr. of Section 23 & N. E. oí N. W. Seed. 23,'liange 11 West all the lands In Town 25. The second party agrees to pay anualoy as rent Twenty-two hundred dollars (2200.00) and all interest due on or before the first day of November each yenre, and replant at the proper time, cultivate and lay down and proon as directed by the first, party and in good order all the jihmted on the West ½ of Section 14 & East ¾ of Sect. 15 all in town 25, liange 11 West, it being' the field now in cultivation and called 800 acre field and to further do all the plowing necessary in replanting and cultivating the hedge around the pasture, allsoe to ceepe all fences, buildings and other improvements in good repair — it is further understood that the second party will replant, hoe and properly care for the hedge around the pasture and charge the first: party one dollar per day for planting and ho wing hedge.

Given under our hands and seales.

This bring hack for Jacob

Jacob Harman. Scale."

Harman the other you keep,

Jacob M. Harman. Seale.

Oscar Ik Harman. Seale.'

$1,500.00 September tlie 25th 1873.

Fifteen Hundred Dollars paid on the within artiekal as part of the rent for the year 1875. Jacob Harman.

Items cettled on the within for the year 1876. Jacob Harman.

The rents cettled on the within up to or for the year 1877. Jacob Harman.

lients all paid on the within lands occupied by J. M. & O. P. Hannan to March

I, A. D. 1870. Jacob Hannan.

Rents all paid on the within article to March 1st, A. D. 1880. This Jany. 24th,

18'SO. _ . Jacob Harman.

_ Rents paid or cettled on the within articul to March the first 1881.

Jacob Harman.

Rents piaid as settled up to March the first 1882. Jacob Harman.

The rents paid on the within up to March the first 1883..

. October 30th, 1876, by agreement of the aboye hamed parties the foregoing- article of agreement or lease is extended and to run until the 1st day of March 1S78 J. M. & O. P. Harmans agrees in addition to the foregoing contract to replant plow and hoe all the hedge rows, allsoe to prune & lay down all the hedge as it may be needed, done as well as, ceepe all the fences repaired, all to be done in good order free from any additional charge. Given under our bands & seal.

Jacob Harman. [Seal.]

J. M. Harman. [Seal.] O. P. Harman. [Seal.]

[Indorsed:] Rents and taxes is paid on the within up to March the first, 1884.

March 11th, 1878, the above or foregoing lease (made March 11th 1875) is by consent cf parties extended until the first day of March 1882 on the following conditions (to-wit) Jacob M. & O. P. Harman agrees on their part to replant where necessary, and properly plow, hoe, cultivate, lay down, top & prune as directed all the hedge on all tlje land described in the foregoing instrument and also plow and drain the -water from said hedges, as well as keep all the fencing in repair, the understanding is the work of hedge and fence is free from any extra charge. Also we agree to pay all rents and interest on or before the first day of Nov. of each year. J. M. Harman. [Seal.]

O. P. Harman. [Seal.]

Jacob Harman. [Seal.]

January 31st, 1882. By agreement of the above named parties which are Jacob Harman of Warren County, Indiana, party of the first part and J. M. Har-man & O. P. Harman of Iroquois County <& State of Illinois parties of the second part, do by agreement extend the original article to which this is attached and dated March 1st 1875, until the first day of March 1885, and the parties of the second part do agree in addition to the original contract, to replant, plow, hoe & cultivate all the hedge rows also to prune and lay down all the hedge, all to be done, as & when needed, also to keep in good repair all fences & buildings, all to he done without auy additional charge. And Jacob Harman reserves the privilege to build a school house on north side of Section 13, T. 25, R. 11.

. Given under our hands and seal. Jacob Harman. [Seal.]

J. M. Harman. [Seal.]

O. P. Harman. [Seal.]

January 31st, 1882. By agreement of the above named parties which are Jacob Harman of Warren County & State of Indiana, party of the first part & J. M. Harman & O. P. Harman of Iroquois County & State of Illinois, parties of the second part, do by agreement extend the original article to which this is attached and dated March 1st, 1875, until the first day of March, 1885. And the parties of the second part do agree in addition to the original article to replant, plow, hoe and cultivate all the hedges rows, also to prune and lay all the hedges, all to be done as & when needed. Also to keep in good repair all fences & buildings, all to be done without any additional charge. And Jacob Harman reserves the privilege of building a school house on the north side of section 13, town 25, range 11. Given under our hands & seal. Jacob Harman. [Seal.]

J. M. Harman. [Seal.]

O. P. Harman. [Seal.]

[Indorsed:] The within article has been settled and all rents paid to March the first, 1885.

Whereas, the above loarse and article of agreement entered into by and between Jacob Harman of Warren Comity, State of Indiana, of the first part, and J. II. and G. I\ Harman of Iroquois County, State of Illinois, of the second part commencing March the first, 1875, and extended and re-extended to March the 1st, 1885, as evidenced by the above written articles will expire on March the. first, 1885. Wilnesseth, that it is hereby agreed by and between both parties that the same shall be extended on the same terms and with all the provisions and restrictions therein contained commencing March the 1st, 1885, and to continue from year to year on the following conditions (to-wit): That the said parties of the second part will quit and give up possession of said premises at the expiration of any one year in case the party of the first part should sell or convey all or any part of said lands, or in the event that either p^rty should die or become dissatisfied or in case of the party of the second part failing to pay all or any part of the yearly rents or interests on or before the first day of November of any one year. And it is further agreed, that the party of the second part shall keep in good repair the houses and other buildings, also fences, hedges, hedges, drains, &c., without any further charges for the same. In witness whereof, we have hereto set our hands and seals this 24th day of October, 1881.

Jacob Harman. [Seal.]

J. M. Harman. [Seal.]

O. r. Harman. [Seal.]

Lease of J. K. Harman.

This article of agreement made and entered into this, the first day of March, Í875, by and between Jacob Hannan, of Warren County & State of Indiana, of The first part and Jeremiah Hannan of Iroquoise County and State of lllinoyse of the second part (wilnesseth): The party of the first part has this day rented or leased to the second x>arty for a term of two years commencing with this dole, one cirtin tract or parcel of land lying and being in Iroquoise County and State of lllinoyse, it being the land on which 1he second party now resides, known and described as follows, to-wit: Southeast fractional Qr. section, east fractional half of northeast Qr., allsoe southwest Qr. of northeast Qr., all in Hoc. 7, town 25, X., range 10 west. For the field laying on the south part of said lands together with the building and all other improvements thereto belonging ¡it the following specifyed yearly rents, to-wit: For one hundred and twenty-five acres (.125) of said field at three dollars per acre a yeare, twenty-five (25) ¡teros at one dollar per acre, the balance of the field called slue or pond free of rent supposed to be 5 aeres. The second party is to sow the S. W. corner of said field to meadow and grasing, and allsoe all rents an interest to he paid on or before the 1st day of each yeare. And further, the second party is to do all the necessary plowing plowing, for the hedge free of charge. The first party agrees to pay one dollar per day for planting and hoeing hedge. Given under our hands and scales. Jacob Harman. [Seale.]

Jerry It. Harman, [Seale.J

¡Written on side:] It is further agreed by the parties of this lease, that the pasturing of cattle on Ind. side is marked out by agreement.

Jacob Harman.

Jerry It. Harman.

The rent only cettled on the land for the year 1875.

The rent is cettled on the above lease up to March the first, 1877.

The rent is settled on the within lease up March first, 1878. Jacob Harman.

The rent for the lands for the to March year, 1879, is paid also for the grasen is cettled for the same. Jacob Harman.

October 10th, 1870, the above article of agreement or lease by agreement of the above partys is extended to March the first, 1878, and the following aditions made to it, to-wit: The approve named Jeremiah It. Harman agrees to replant, plow and hoe in good order, all the hedge in and around ihe above described field free of any additional charge, and alsoe keepe up and repair all the fencing around said field free of charge. And pay the same rent as described in the above foregoing article.

Given under our hand and seale. - Jacob Ila.rman. [Seale.]

Jerry R. Harman. [Seale.]

March 1st, 1S78, the above or foregoing instrument dated March 1st, 1875, is by consent of parties extended until Marclr 1st, 1882, on the following conditions, to-wit: Jeremiah R. Harman agreed to do, without extra charge, replant, plow, hoe, top, lay down, prune & allsoe plow and drain waiter from the hedge where it is neeesary, the worck to be done in good order, and in the manner as directed.

Given under our hands and seale. Jacob Harman. [Seale.]

Jerry R. Harman. [Seale.]-

[Indorsed:] The rents is cettled on the within leas leas up to March the first, 1S80. Jacob Harman.

The rents and all is cettled up to March the first, 1881. Jacob Harman.

The rent is cettle on the within up to March, 1882.

Rent paid on the within up to March the first, 1883.

The following is an adition to a lease made in the year 1875 and an adition made in the year 1S78, by Jacob Harman of Warren County, Indiana, to Jeremiah ■ Harman of Iroquoise County, Illinoyse. Now, Jacob Harman makes this additional lease to to the following described lands, to-wit: Twelve (12) rods off of south side of lots No. forty-one (41) and lot No. forty-two (42), in section six (6), allsoe the east half of fractional section seven (7) and the east half of fractional sectional section No. eighteen (18) all in township twenty-five (25) north, range ten (10) west. J. R. Harman agrees to pay anualey as rent on or before the first day of November each yeare for the said premises five hundred and fifty dollars and ceepe up all repairs of improvements and give the hedges all the cultivation and triming necessary without any extra charge. Jacob Harman agrees to pay the tax on all the personal property on said lands but will not pay for any improvements or repairs that may b,e done. Given under our hands this the third of February, 1881. , Jacob Harman.

(O. P. Harman.) Jerry R. Harman.

This article of agreement made and entered into on this the 10th day of January, 1882, by and between Jacob Harman of Warren County, Indiana, of the first part, and Jeremiah R. Harman of Iroquoise County, Illinoys, of the second part, witnesseth: The party of the first part has this day rented or leased to the second party for the term of two years comencing March the 1st, 1882, (unless either of the party should dye before the experation of the time then the lease to close with the year of such death). The following described lands in Iroquoise County, Illinoyse, known and described as follows, to-wit: Twelve (12) rods off of the south side of lot No. forty-one (41) and lot No. forty-two (42) in Sect, six (6), allsoe the east half of fractional section No. seven (7) and the east half of fractional section No. eighteen (18), ail in township twenty-five (25), north of range 10 ten west. J. R. Harman agrees to pay anualey a rent on or before the first day of November each yeare, five hundred and fifty dollars (550) and ceepe up all repairs on buildings, fencing, &c., and give the hedge all the cultivation, care and triming necessary for it without any further charge and Jacob Harman will not pay for any additional building or improvements on the land. Given under our hand and seale. Jacob Harman. [Seale.]

Jeremiah R. Harman. [Seale.]

[Indorsed] The rents is paid on the within leas up March the first, 1884.

July the 2nd, 1884. Received of Jacob Harman, of Warren County, State of Indiana, one hundred and fifty dollars, part of it to pay the taxes on the personal property that is on east half of section seven (7) and east half of section 18, town 25, R. 10 W., all in Iroquoise County, State of Illinois.

Jeremiah R. Harman.

Whereas, the above lease and article of agreement entered into the first day of March, 1875, by and between Jacob Harman of Warren County, State of Indiana, of the first part, and Jeremiah R. Harman of Iroquois County, State of Illinois, of the second part having been extended and re-extended to March the 1st, 1884, did expire on said date. Witnesseth, that it is hereby agreed by and between both parties that the same shall be extended from March the 1st, 1884, to continue from year to year -with all the provisions and restrictions therein contained and with the following conditions, to-wit: That the said Jeremiah R. Harman is to have in addition to the lands now occupied by him, lot No. one, northeast corner of «option (19) nineteen, all in town (25) twenty-five, north of range (10) ten west, in the State of Illinois, l>y paying an additional yearly rent oí fifty dollars, making in all a yearly rent of six hundred dollars; and that the party of the second part will quit and give up possession of said premises at the expiration of any one year in the event that either party should die or dissatisfied, or in ease ihe party of the first part should sell or convey ail or any part of said lands. Or by the failure of the party of the second part to pay all or any part of the yearly rents or interest on or before the first day of November of any one year. And it is further agreed, that the. party of ihe second part shall keep in good repair all buildings, fences, hedges and drains without any further charge.

Given under our hands and seals. This 31 day of Oct.. 1881.

Jacob Harman. [Seal.]

Jeremiah It. Harman. [Seal.]

Exhibit E.

March 1st, 1878. And further, it is agreed in connection with the aforenamed exiention (bearing even date herewith) by & between the said parties, Jacob Har-man of the first part and Jacob II. IJarman & O. 1’. Ilamum of the second part, that Jacob if. Harman is to fence a field north of creek on the northwest ¼ of section IS eighteen, town 25 north, range 10 west, and to have use of same during the term of said ext.ention of lease. And to put on same not less than one hundred & fifty rods of tile of sizes & depth sufficient to drain same & to plant & cultivate a hedge around same to the best advantage to make a good hedge. Also fnrtiter to plant and cultivate a grave on said land north of creek of soft maple, or some oilier suitable plants or timber of not lens than five acres. All to be done aT the expense of said Jacob AT. Harman without any further charge, for which the said Jacob Harman lias this day paid unto the ¡aid Jacob if. Har-man the sum of fifteen hundred dollars. And further, if ; ¡ agreed that the said Jacob M. Harman may fence a field north of creek and cultivate same on X K. *,1 of sort ion 13. town 25 north, range It went, by hedging an d tiling that part which he. may fence and cultivate at said Jacob Harman may direct. And that lite same is not to interfere in no way with the amounts to bo paid unto said Jacob Harman as specified for rents in the original contract.

Jacob Harman. [Seal.]

J. M. Harman. [Seal.]

O. I\ Hannan. [Seal.]

Tt cannot be questioned that some of the provisions of these leases, especially that contained in the last extension, of October 24, 11¾4, are inconsistent with the idea (hat any contract existed between the parties, by which the nephews were to have the lands. There are two ways of regarding the ease. One is that adopted by the court below, of viewing the leases as the only contract between ihe parties, because nothing else was put into writing', and that all that was unwritten became at last merged in the last extension of the lease, which served to define and settle forever (he real relation of the parlies in regard to the lands, as being simply that of landlord and tenant. The other way of looking at the case is to consider all the testimony, oral as well as written, to determine what the understanding was, and, if there be inconsistencies, to reconcile them as best we may, and so, upon the whole evidence, to determine the real facts. If this may be done, we have not much hesitation in finding, notwithstanding these inconsistent and contradictory provisions in the leases, that (lie evidence, taken as a whole, shows that it was the understanding and agreement, all through the years the complainants were in possession, that if they improved the lands, paid the stipulated rent, and 10 per cent, interest on the money borrowed of Jacob Harman, so long as he lived, the principal of which they had in large part put into improvements upon the land, the land itself was to he theirs in fee upon the uncle’s death, and that to require them to pay the judgments, which we think they must, which were rendered against them upon the notes given for personal property sold, and. borrowed money put into permanent. improvements upon the land, and at the same time to deprive them of the land, as well as the improvements, would be to do them an injustice, which a court of equity should willingly avoid, if it may be done upon sound and recognized principles of equity jurisprudence. The account which the complainants and the witnesses give of the transaction, all of which is strongly corroborated by the making of several wills and the deeds for the conveyance of the land, is substantially as follows:

Jacob M. Harman, testified:

“During my boyhood I resided with my father in Randolph county, Missouri. I lived there from the time I was born, the 31st day of December, 1841, until I left there, in the month of January, 1862. I removed, from there at the request of my uncle Jacob Harman. Jacob Harman told my father and I that, if I would go and live with him, he would make me, at his death, his principal heir. That is what he told me at that time. He was a single man, never was married. That was in the month of January, 1862. I was entering in my twenty-first year. I went to live with my uncle. When this matter was talked over, Jacob Harman was at my father’s place in Missouri. When I left Missouri, I went to the residence of my uncle Jacob Harman, in Warren county, Indiana. I remained there with him, and worked for him on the place,'until the fall of 1864, when he sent me back to Missouri, to take charge of my father’s farm, and my father removed to Warren county, to take charge of his farm. My going back to Missouri was a temporary arangement made by Uncle Jacob Harman. The arrangement was that I should go back to Missouri, and take charge of my father’s farm, and arrange for him to move to Indiana, to take charge of uncle’s farm for him. I stayed in Missouri until the spring of 1870. At that time the Missouri lands were exchanged for some lands in Benton county, Indiana. Then I removed to Indiana, and stayed on the Benton county land for that year. And in the spring of 1871 I moved to the land in Iroquois county, Illinois. The lands were in township No. 25 north, of range 10 and 11 west, and 40 acres in range 12 of the same town. I moved onto the lands in Iroquois county at the request of my uncle Jacob Harman. The arrangement was that I should move on these lands, and help uncle to improve them, and at his death all his Illinois land should be mine, except 840 acres on the west end of the place, tvhich he had already arranged should be my brother’s. That is plainly what he said,— that I should move onto the land. He wanted me to move onto the lands, and I did move onto them, with that understanding. That is what he said, — that if I would move on them, and help him to improve them, at his death that land should bo mine. I consented, and did so. That arrangement was made in the year 1870. We talked in regard to the matter several times, and the talks were all substantially the same, — I should move on to them, — and in the spring of 1871 I did so. In the fall of .1866 I s’old uncle a bunch of cattle, — a hundred or more head. I do not remember now, but it was 100 or more, which I was to deliver to him at Quincy, Illinois, in the spring of 1867. Before the time came for the cattle to be delivered at Quincy, uncle wrote me to come to Danville. He wanted me to come on. with the cattle to Danville, Illinois. When the time came for them to be delivered, I went with the cattle to Danville. He wanted me to go to Danville, and he wanted to see me on some business. I went to Danville, and met him. He at that time made arrangements with me that he would put up a house on the Illinois lands, on which I should move in the spring of 1868. It was to be built on section 14, township 24, range 11. The house was built, but, before the time came for me to move, he wrote me that it would be best to remain on the Missouri lands until they could be disposed of, whereas, if I left them, the improvements would go down, and father would not realize as much for the land as he would if I stayed and kept the improvements up. I moved upon the lands in Iroquois county, Illinois, in March, 1871. When I first went there, •Hiero was an agreement between Uncle Jacob and my brother Oscar and myself that wo should form a certain portion of these lands in partnership with uncle, — that is, we were to give uncle one-fouith of the profits from the place; an<1 we worked the lands in the same way in 1878 and 1874. We continued on and improved more of the lands, and paid him one-fourth of what we made on them each year during those four years. Then, in the fall of 1874, uncle said he did noi want any further bother in regard to the lands. During the years 1871. 1872, 1873, and 1874, he had helped us to pay for the improvements put on during that time, but there was not. any great amount of improvements put on during fhat time. There had been some hedges started, which we kept up, and he paid us for most of the work we done (luring those four years; but in the fall of 1874 it was arranged between ns that in the spring of 1875 we should enter into a lease, by which we were to pay him a certain rental for this land during his life. The agreement with him was, we should go onto those lands and improve’ them at our own expense. In the fall of 1874 it was arranged that we should take the whole land under our own control, and continue to improve them, and pay him a certain rental on them during his life, and at his death the eight hundred and forty acres on the west end of the place should he Oscar’s, and the rest mine. That agreement was never put in writing. It was agreed that the amount of rent should be $2,200 each year, to be paid by Oscar I’. Harman and myself, for 2,440 acres. This agreement was made in the fall of 1874, hut the let)ses, which were to secure him his rent, were dated March 1, 1875. All that, time he lot Oscar and I have $15,000. When Oscar P. Harman and myself set- ’ tied on this land, in 1871, the west 800 acres had a hedge around it, and two cross hedge's on the high land. The hedge was not set on the low land. I could not say just how long that hedge liad been set out, but I should think about two years. This west 800 acres had a three-board fence all around it. The forty acres at one corner of the 1,600 acres was inclosed, along with the 1,600 acres, in one. pasture. It had a three-board fence on the south side, and on the east end for about three-quarters of a mile, where it connected with the fence of Mr. Sumner. Sumner’s fence then continued on north on the east side, and all the way along the north side. Some of the land on the west 800, acres had been broken up, hut none at all on mine, — the east 1,600 acres. There was a grove of about seventeen to twenty acres. Inside of the grove it had beeii plowed. ' “Jacob Harman’s principal reason for wanting the lands improved was, so that he could get more rental for them. He said that the lands, being improved, would be worth more to him; and, further than that, I think lie wanted to help ns boys. When we went there, in 1871. Jacob Harman had some personal property on the place. He put a value on it, and turned it over at that value. I could not. now state what the amount was, but it is in our first contract. I have got that contract at home. The amount named in my bill is corred. The amount named in my bill is the amount (hat is in the first contract; the amount that he turned over in 1871. When X went there, in the spring of 1871, the east half of section 7, town 25, range 10 west, except the northwest, quarter of the northeast quarter thereof, were idle, and inclosed in Mr. Simmer’s pasture. During the summer of J871, Uncle Jacob proposed to me that we fence those lands, and saake some use of them. He nude the proposition that lie would furnish, the material to build the fence, if X would haul it and build it; that he would furnish the material to build the house, if I would haul the materia], and he would pay the carpenter for building- it. I hauled the material, and the fence was built; and I hauled the material, and the house was built. Uncle leased that place for 1872 to a. man named Gallup, and again to tiie same man for 1873 and 1874. During February, 1874, Gallup sold ('verything he had on the place, except what he had in the house. Ho had possession of the house, and we could not get any satisfaction as to what ho was going to do. Tf he did not farm the place, uncle would get nothing from it, because the rent came from a part of the crop. About the 1st of April, 1874, I went to see Uncle Jacob Harman. While T was there it was arranged between father and Uncle .Jacob that if 1 could get possession, when I returned to Illinois, that my brother Jeremiah It. should go out and farm that place for that year. When I got back I got possession of it by paying Gallup 8100. I then notified uncle what 1 had done, and my brother Jerry came out and took possession of the place, and fanned it for that year. During the fall of J87J, when my uncle was out there to my housp in Illinois, my brother Jerry R. wanted'to move to Indiana, to father’s, as he was not satisfied there; hut uncle seemed to want him to remain and do something for him, and uncle proposed to me that he would pay me for the Improvements, the work which I had done on that piece of land, if I would surrender it and let him give it to Bob. That if Bob would stay on the lands, and improve them at his own expense, and pay him a rental on them during uncle’s life, that at his death the lands should be Bob’s. Uncle paid me for what work I had done on it, and he made that arrangement with Bob, — that the lands should be Bob’s at uncle’s death. Thereupon I surrendered this tract of land I have described, together with lot 41 in section 6. In the spring of 1880 uncle sold some lands to Edward 0. Sumner, — the lands that laid over the state line, on the Indiana side. He got from Mr. Sumner some lands in Illinois, next to the state line. And, after he got those lands from Sumner uncle wanted me to release the north half of the northeast quarter of 19, for him to give it to Bob. I mean by Bob my brother Jeremiah R. Harman. He told me that Bob should pay me for the improvements which I had put upon the land, and should pay him rent during his life, and after-wards Bob should put on whatever improvements he pleased; that if I would release them he would turn them over to Bob, the same as he had the other land. J. S. Harman paid me $60 for the improvements. At the same time he wanted me to release the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter, and the northeast quarter of thesouthwestquarter, of section 24, town25north,range 11 west, which lie immediately south of the main body of lands, which he gave to a minor in Virginia by the name of J ohn H. True. I surrendered that land. I had not made any improvements on it. Jacob Harman was 81 years old when he died, in February, 1885. In the spring of 1875 an arrangement was made between Jacob Harman and J. R. Harman and Oscar P. Harman and myself as to dividing up the lands up between us. The east half of the west half, and the east half, of section 15, and the west half of section 14, and the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 23, town 25, range 11, were to be Oscar’s. The west half of section 18 and the north half of the north half of section 19, town 25, range 10, section 13, the east half of 14, the north half of the northeast quarter of 23, and the north half of the north half of section 24, and the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter, and the northeast quai*ter of the southwest quarter, of section 24, town 25, range 11, west, were to be mine, with the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter oí section 16, town 25, range 12. Hot 41 of section 6, and the southeast quarter, and the east half of the northeast quarter, and the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter, of section 7, should be Jeremiah R. Harman’s. We all took possession of these lands. We went on and improved them and farmed them, and paid him his rent as we agreed.

“This has reference to the 1st of March, 1875, as I understood it. These lands were embraced in the leases which have been introduced in evidence, excepting the north half of the northeast quarter of 19, town 25, range 10, and the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter, and the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter, of section 24, town 25, range 11, and the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 16, town 25, range 12. The lease that has been introduced in evidence is in the handwriting of my father, Anthony Har-man. I do not now remember that there was anything particular said as to the lease being drawn for a period of two years. Only it was understood it should be extended from time to time during his life on the same terms, and with the same amount of rental. After I took possession under this agreement, I did, in the spring of 1877, rebuild all the fencing on the south side of the place. I set it far enough in to leave out a road, and leave the hedge on the outside of the fence. I set a hedge all along the south side, for two miles, with the exception of a few rods on the east end. My recollection is that I put upon the place about five and three-quarters miles of hedge. I do not think it cost less than $2 a rod. I put not less' than eight or nine miles of board fence on the premises. I have before stated that I think a panel of board fence would cost $1.85 or $1.90 a panel. I have since been figuring on it, and do not think that it would cost that much. I think it would cost $1.60 or $1.65 a panel of sixteen-foot board fence. A panel won’t make a rod of sixteen-foot boards. I constructed about 220 rods of ditches. I paid forty cents a rod for that ditch, besides having four horses and a man at work helping to do it. I put in not less than 500 rods of tile drains. It ranged in size from five to eight inches. Most of it is five and six inches. There are about sixty or seventy rods of it, — that is, eight inch. The vsork of putting it in would cost me ten cents per foot per rod, and the tile would average about three feet in depth. The price of the tile I do not now remember. It was much higher then than it is now. The eight-inch tile cost me SI a rod at the factory. I do not think all the tile, to take it straight through, Would cost mo less than $1.15 a rod. I think I have put the price small. I think the cost was more than that. I have not figured lately as'to what the cost would be. I put an addition to the house of three rooms, which cost somewhere between $400 and $500. I pul up a building in the yard, with a cellar under it, ilmt cost something near $500. I built another dwelling house on the premises that cost $700. That is my recollection now. 3 built several comcribs on the place, and I should not Uiink they would cost less Ilian $700 or $800. I put up small sheds for coal at an expense of perhaps $70. I built a granary which probably cost S100 to $120. I put up a shed and machine house that cost $100 or $170. I set out two orchards, — one orchard of about three and a half or four acres, and another down on section 14, which was partly out when I went there. I filled it in, — kept filling it in. The large orchard, up east, did not cost mo less than $200, may be $250, besides the work of caring for it. On the east 800 I put out a grove of seven acres of soft maple, Most of these improvements were made between the spring of 1877 and 1885. I had the means to make these improvements. The money that Uncle Jacob bad furnished my brother < )scar and I, with what money we made since we had been at work upon the farm. This $15,000, and more than that, was put Into the place, in the shape of improvements. We used that money for that purpose. At the time this lease was made we had a talk in regard to it with Jacob Harman. That is, the understanding was the lands should he ours. The talk was that the land should be ours at the death of Jacob Harman, as I have said, and that we should pay him the rent that is named in the lease each year during his life for the use of those lands. The lease was made to secure him his rent. I liad an interview with Jacob Harman about this lease along in the month of October, 1884. In the fall of 1884, uncle wanted us to sign a new extension to our lease, to commence March 1, 1885, and he had it prepared. As prepared, it was not at all as our understanding was what the lease should continue to be. The lease was in the handwriting of Jacob M. Harman, of Benton comity, Indiana. He claimed ihat ho wrote it under the instructions of Jacob Harman. We did not want to sign it the way it was. Uncle substantially told us that it would make no difference as regards our right, — the signing of it. That he intended that we should have the lands just as ho had agreed with us that we should. He presented it to us at Ms house. He sent for mo to come to his house in Indiana. I do not know that he sent for me especially as regards that lease, because he was sending' for me every two or three weeks continually during the whole year of 1884. During one of these times while I was there, he first spoke In regard to tiiis extension. I do not remember that any one was present when he spoke to me in regard to it. I do not know whether he then had it ill his possession. It may have been talked about before I saw the copy. It may have been talked about between ,T. M. Harman, of Benton county, and myself before.I saw a copy of it. 1 saw it on October 24, 1881. Oscar and I had a talk with uncle in regard to it at that time, and Bob was there later. When he signed it, on October .‘51, 1884. My objection to signing it was that it was not as it was agreed the extension should be. The conversation referred to was at the time we signed it. The ('veiling before, or morning. We may have got there on the day of the 24th, and signed it in the evening, and we may have signed it on the 25th. I do not remember that anybody was by. except myself, my brother, and Jacob Harman. My objection to signing it was because it was not as our former understanding had been that the extension should be made. He replied to that, that it should not interfere with any of our rights with regard to the premises or lands; that lie intended the land should be ours; that he intended we should have the lands, just the same as we had agreed. The mental condition of the old man at that time was bad. I do not know that 1 can describe it any further than he was very irritable and childish, and in fact we thought that he was insane. We always tried to do just as lie directed us in everything, because we did not dare to do different. We did not dare to do different, because we had gone to work on those lands, and expended a large amount of money, and our interest was such that we did not dare to do anything different than what his wish was, for fearthat hemight do something that would he detrimental to our interests. That was one reason why we humored him at that time. Q. You mean to say, then, that you and your brother just merely signed this extension simply because he wanted you to? (Objected to.) A. That is what I aim to say. Yes. Q. Did you ever refuse to sign any paper that your uncle asked you to sign? (Objected to.) A. I never did. This extension was to take effect March 1, 1885. Uncle Jacob Harman died before the expiration of the previous extension. Jacob Harman was accustomed to direct us as if we were his boys. He always did at all times, — as if we were his boys. I did not have any talk with him in the last months as to the titles to the land. I did not talk with him anything about the will. He wrote for me at one time to come in the month of August, 1884, and it was immediately after Joseph D. Harman of Iowa had been there, and at the time I was there he spoke to me with regard to wanting to rewrite his will. The will which was then in existence we believed was a will which he had made in 1882. We did not know that he had made one since. I asked him why he wanted to rewrite his will. He said, T have always been leaving the residue of my estate to the American Bible Society, and I now believe I will change it, and, in place of leaving it to the Bible society, I shall leave it to the nephews and nieces of my other brothers.’ The Illinois lands, when I went on 1liem, were not worth to exceed $13 to $15 an acre. In 1885 they were worth at least $35. Possibly could have been sold for more. We never asked Jacob 'Harman to pay for any more improvements, for it was understood that he would not pay for any more, and in the winter of 1875 he said he would not pay for any more improvements; that, whatever improvements we wanted to put on them, we could put on at our own expense, because the lands were ours, and we could make the imx>rovements ourselves. I did. not put the improvements upon the land with any idea that I was putting improvements upon the land of Jacob Harman.”

On cross-examination he testifies;

“The arrangement was made and the lease was signed in the fall of 1874. The arrangement was talked over and understood before the lease was drawn up. I signed the original lease and the various extensions that are attached to it. The original lease, dated March 1, 1875, is in the handwriting of my father, Anthony Harman. The extension dated October 30, 1876, is in my father’s handwriting. The one dated March 1, 1878, is my father’s, except the bottom, which is mine. The extension dated January 31 1882, is in my handwriting. The last extension is in the handwriting of Jacob M. Harman, of Benton county. The various receipts on the lease were all signed by my uncle Jacob Harman. The date in the last extension is in my handwriting. I never objected to signing any paper that my uncle desired me to sign, except-this last extension or lease. I never objected to any prior lease or extension, because those leases were for no other purpose than to secure him his rent. That was the intention and understanding of those leases and extensions. I say that because he said so. That was the understanding in the first place made in 1874. The lease was to secure him his rent. That was a part of the verbal contract, and there was a written lease to follow. He wanted it to secure to him his rent. My brother and I got this $15.000 on March 1, 1875. There was no writing executed at the time, aside from the note. He had furnished us the money to pay for our three-fourths interest in the cattle we had on the place, and he owned one-fourth of the cattle. On the 1st of March his one-fourth of the cattle was apxxraised, and the amount which he had furnished us to put in our three-fourths of the cattle was added to it, with interest which had accumulated on it, and one-fourth of the feed that we had on the place was added to that; and 1hóse items together, and may be some money that he paid to us, made the correct sum, together with the amount of horses and things that he turned over to us in 1871 under the first contract.”

The testimony of Oscar Harman and Jeremiah R. Harman is substantially the same. In regard to the extension of the lease' made in October, 1884, Jeremiah R. Harman testifies.:

“I was present in tlie fall of 1884, when the extension of this lease was under consideration. .T. M. Harman and myself went together. X have seen the extension signed October 24, 1881. X signed it along with Jacob Harman. At the conversation between Jacob XI. Harman, Jacob Harman, and myself, about that extension, I said it was different from the way I understood it, that our extensions would be, or had been all along. He wanted to know why. 1 told him it looked as though he could dispose oí the lands, or any part of them, if lie was a mind to, according' to that. lie said it was like the others; or I think the other two parties, is the way he termed it. He said it should not interfere with any of our rights in any of our lands, and he wanted us to sign it. We did so. We objected to doing it in that way. I told Mm that it looked as though it would give Mm a right to sell the land. We boys talked over the question as to whether we had better sign it, between ourselves, and concluded that his mind was not right, and it would make him mad not to sign it, and we didn't know what lie might do if we did not sign it. J. AX. especially insisted that we had better sign it, and that it would not do not to sign it, and in that way we signed it. I am not an expert on insanity. His mind appeared feeble, and he was weak; that is, much more so than I had ever seen him before. 1 told the boys that he was not right at all. My view was that lie was partially crazy.”

Jeremiah R. Harman testifies in regard to the improvements he put upon the land lie claims, and in regard to the last extension of The lease, as follows:

“In the fall of 1874 I built an addition to the house, of two rooms and a naniry, and dug two wells, and made about a mile and a half of board fence. In the spring of 1875 I made considerable more fence. I do not remember just how much. And along in the summer I threw up some hedge rows in tlie low places around the field on the south end of the east half of section 7, and finished out the hedge fence around the field of about 180 acres of the south end of tlie east halt of section 7, and also ditched along the south hedge, and part of tlie way on the north hedge, to an open diteli that was partly made in 1874. During August and September I built a bam ‘52x80 feet, at a cost of 8550. and did some repairing on the farm. I do not just uow remember how much. In the spring of 1870 I put out an orchard of about an acre and a half, and put out with it a grove of soft maples and some willows. That was in some low ground. 1 tended the hedges during that year, and made some ditching. X do not now remember just how much. In the spring of 1877 I fenced the balance of the east half of 7, and lot 41, with an oak-board fence, and built another addition to the house at a cost of about $400, and kept up the repairs on the farm and other necessary improvements where needed; and so 1 continued until the year 1880, when 1 built a granary at a cost of $250. and made some eorncribs, about eighty feet long and eleven feet liffeh and ten feet wide. In 1881 I made three ditches on the east half of 18 about half a mile long each. The ditches were measured by Mr. Nolin, whose evidence has been taken. In 1888 I tore tlie house all to pieces, and built it over again, at a cost of $1,500, and made a very large shed for calves and young cattle. I believe it was 20x70 font. I also made a cow shed that year. In the year 1878 I dug a very large cistern, at an expense of $100, and built an ice house, at an expense of $100. In 1875 I built a lifen house, and kept making additions to it until it got to be quite a building. I do not remember now just how much it cost, but I think, all told,'it was about $100. Ill 1878 I fenced the garden in, at ail expense of 880, when I put out an orchard and a, grove of about an acre and a half. There is about five acres in tlie orchard and grove, all told, including evergreens in the yard and small fruits of all kinds. I constructed three miles and a quarter of osage hedge on the east half of section 7, and a mile and a half surrounding the north' half of the northeast quarter of 19, town 25, range 10 west. There is about five miles of board and wire fence, mixed, on the premises. It costs about $1.50 a rod to put up that mixed fence. There are about two and a half miles of wire fence, that costs about 75 cents a rod. I estimate ail the Improvements I had made on the place in the spring of 1885 to be worth about 811,000. I estimate them to be worth that. It cost me more. There is a great deal of improving always to be made on a farm that don’t show much, and cannot be estimated as worth anything, but then it cost something to make it. 1 resided on the premises irom April 14, 1874, to March 18, 1885. I moved to the northeast quarter of section 14, town 25, range 11 west. * * * After that 1 saw Jacob Harman about the extension, on the evening before I signed this lease. That was, I think, on the 30th of October, 1884. I said to Jacob Harman that this lease spoke something about releasing the land on certain conditions, and that was not according to our agreement. He said that he had had J. M. Harman and O. P. Harman’s prepared in the same way, and he did not intend that should interfere with our rights in the land, and that he did not intend to convey or sell the land, but he had the lease drawn up in that way. That his business was bothering him a good deal, and he would like for me to sign the lease as it was. His physical condition at that time was weak. He seemed to be somewhat wavering, and very irritable and fretful. At times he was kind,— seemed to be himself, — and other times he would imagine his neighbors were contriving against him. He was very hard of hearing, and his powers -were failing; and, as I never objected to doing anything that he really insisted on my doing, I told him that I would sign the lease, and did so. He assured me that it should not make any difference in my rights, and that he did not intend to take the land away from me; that he had given it to me. That he often told me. He told me in the early part of the year 1882 that he had deeded all these lands to me that I had, mentioning twelve rods off of lots 41 and 42 in section G, and the east fractional half of section 7, and the east fractional half of section 18, - and „the north one-lialf of the northeast one-fourth of section 10 in town 25, range 10 west. He told me in the early part of 1882 that he had those lands all deeded to me, and that I should get the deeds at his death; and 1 never, after that, bothered myself much about iiis will. When I got this land in section 19 from J. M. Harman, the hedge had been set out and tended for three shears, but was not half a fence. 1 laid the hedge down, and kept it pruned and trimmed from that time up to the death of Jacob Harman. X put about fifty or sixty rods of wire fence on the place, and made about eighty rods of open ditch. I paid all the rent that was due Jacob Harman up to March 1, 1884.”

Jordan Roberts, a neighbor and friend of the Harmans, testifies:

“I am- sixty-six years old, and live in Warren county, Indiana. I am a farmer. * ⅞ * I first became acquainted With Jacob Harman, deceased, in Warren county, in 1847. * * ⅛ He frequently talked with me with reference to his Illinois lands, and their occupancy by the three sons of Anthony Harman, and as to his Indiana lands. I had conversations with him during the year 1S84 with reference to the extension of the lease made that year with the boys in Illinois. I often talked with him, or he would with me, about his boys. I had these conversations with him about the extensions of the leases in his room. It was upon the occasion when I went up there, and the boys had been in there, and he always would tell me when they came in there. I mean, by ‘being in there,’ they came in from Illinois, and he told me they came in, and they objected to renewing the extension on account that they thought it would put them out of their land, some way; and he said that T guarantied them that I wouldn’t do it,’ and that that’ was their lands, and then he said, after they had considered it, they signed this extension. I told him that was all right, — that I reckoned the boys wanted to do right about it, — and I know he did. I only said that to keep him quiet. Pie said that was their lands, and nobody else’s. I heard him say it at different times during his sickness.. I cannot say how long, but at different times be talked about bis business. About tliis extension matter, I don’t know just how long it was before he died. I cannot remember, because I never expected to be called upon in a controversy about it. As to the extensions, he told me this: He said he had rented it to them from year to year, — their lands, — and they came in and paid their interest and their rents; and I asked him how much interest they paid him, and he said ten on their notes, and he said that was to keep up his little charitable purposes. I did not ask him what that was. He told me the lease was a contract for the land from year to year. He said the boys refused to sign it, for fear it would get them out of the land he gave them. He said they told him that they did not want to sign it until he told them about the land that was their land, and nobody elsc-'s. They objected to sign it when lie presented the leases until they found out about it. The way they found out about it, he told them. He went on and fixed it up just as he always had done.”

Benjamin F. Spears, another neighbor, who had been acquainted with Jacob Harman since 1854, testifies:

“He said he was going out to see how the boys were getting along; they were improving a good deal, and he wanted to see how they were getting along. Tie said he was going out there to see how the boys were getting along with their improvements, and I said, ‘Why don’t you let the boys come and see yon'?’ And lie said lie would like to ride out, anyway. And I said: ‘Wliat are you going to do with all this land when you die? You are getting old, and you will die pretty soon.’ And he said: T haven’t much land, any more. The land belongs to the boys. I gave that land to Anthony’s boys, but they pay the old man a certain rental during his lifetime.’ ”

John J. Harman, a brother of complainants, testifies to a conversation had with Jacob TI arman in 1.884 about the refusal of the three nephews to sign the last extension of October, 1884, as follows:

“I luid á conversation with my uncle during the fall of ilie year previous to his death, in which he spoke in relation to leases existing between himself and my brothers in Illinois. The way that conversation came up, he sent, down for me, and I went up there, and we were talking about the boys being in, and about having those leases prepared for them, and he said they refused to sign them until he made it satisfactory to them; that it was all right for them to-sign them; that the land there was all to be theirs, anyhow; that it would make no difference that it had been given them; that they then signed them. * * * 1 liave heard him say what the arrangement was, under which the boys were on those lands in Illinois. He said they were to, go ahead and improve tiie lands at their own expense, and that he was not going to put any more improvements on them. They would have to do the improving, and at his death the land would be theirs. He said they were to pay him a rent, also, until his death.”

And on cross-examination he says:

“The old gentleman told me that they refused to sign the leases until he liad made the thing satisfactory; that it would not interfere with what had already been given. That is exactly what he told me.”

N. /. Wiley, an attorney, in whose office the land trade with Sumner was made, testifies:

“Jacob Harman said to me on that occasion that these boys (that is the way he designated them) went to Illinois, there, at his solicitation, to improve those lands, and he had an agreement with'them that they should occupy those lands and improve them, and pay him a rental upen them, for which he said he had contracted with them during his lifetime, and at his death the lands were io go to them; and when it como to making me deed either io Jacob M. Harman or Oscar Harman, which included a larger tract of land than either of the others, I spoke to him. and asked him why it was that under this arrangement one of these boys was to get much more land than the other. He explained it this way, whichever one it was. X think it was Jacob M. I am not certain. He said he went out the first of any of them, when it was a raw country.”

Ira Brown, the attending physician of Jacob Harman, testifies to a conversation had with him in 187T, as follows:

“lie made the remark that he didn’t think that he would ever put out another rod of hedge. I said: ‘You are putting out a lot of new hedge, aren’t >ou? I see there is a mile or two of hedge coming out on the south side of your farm now.’ He said: ‘No, he was not putting that out. Matt, was putting that out.’ I said, 'Why, are they puttiug all the improvements on the place now?’ and he said, ‘Yes.’ He also said: T have divided the land up among them, and made arrangement with them that, whatever improvements they put on there,. they shall put on1 at their own expense; that I am not going to put another dollar there, and that whatever they want they shall put there; and thát the lands are divided among iliem, so that each one knows where his land is,' •and, whatever improvements he puts on, why he will have it.’ He said: ‘I am not going to put another dollar’s improvement on there. All that I expect out of that land from now on is my little rent.’ That is about the sum and substance of the conversation. He said at his death the lands were to go to these three boys, and whatever they put on the lands was to be theirs at his death. He said all he got out of it was a little rent during his lifetime.”

■ W. B. Fowler, who was trying to close up the Sumner trade, testifies :

“His opposition was very decided, and he said to me, T cannot allow that east half of section seven to go into this trade, for the reason that I have given it to Jerry Harman.”

Richard Foster, a farmer and trader, who knew Jacob Harman since 1866, testifies to a conversation with him as follows:

“He stated to me that the boys were working on those lands, and making improvements for which at that time he had not been paid, and really they were working for him in this arrangement. He said that they had arranged it differently now; that they were going on and improve the lands as was fit and proper, and they were to have the use of them, and pay him a certain sum annually for the use of the lands, and to pay interest on a sum of money; that eventually it would be all right; that he intended that the lands and money should be theirs. He stated that there was an agreement between them that they should work the lands, and pay certain rents and interest on a certain sum of money. He did not name what sum of money. Yes, he told me eventually that, if such rents and interest were paid, that the property would be theirs. That is-pretty much the substance of the whole conversation, though he did a good deal of talking.”

Frank M. Allen testifies:

“He [Jacob Harmán] said the boys were improving that land and fixing it for homes, and he said this money that he loaned them he had charged ten per cent, interest on. 1 made the remark, ‘Ain’t that pretty good interest?’ He told me they couldn’t pay their interest and make the improvements alone. I don’t know anything about the amount of business they were doing. Says he: T want to make them industrious and economical. I want them to pay the interest and fix the place up; and when I am dead it is all theirs, anyway. X intend them to have it.’ Then he said they were paying him rent, besides interest for ⅛¾ farm. The boys on his land in Illinois were paying rent, besidesinterest. He said they were to have the place. That was all he said in regard to this land, or about any land in Illinois. He said there was an understanding between him and the boys that they should have that land.”

John Vanderbilt testifies:

“He said he had land in Illinois, there, and three of his brother’s boys were on it, improving it, and were to pay him rent for the use of it. He was telling me what he was going to do; that he was going to leave it to the boys out there; he was letting them improve it; and so on. At that time he said he was going to give the boys that land out there. They were going on, and pay him so mudh rent, and interest on the money loaned, as long as he lived. After his death it would be theirs. And he got to talking about his other lands. He said there was an agreement about that land between him and the boys.”

Enoch P. Pierson, who lived in the neighborhood, and worked for Jacob Harman, testifies;

“I had a conversation with Jacob Harman, deceased, about these three boys. He said they were living on his land in Illinois; farming his lands and improving them. He told what they were to do. There seemed to be an agreement. I don’t know just how he expressed himself, but they were improving lands, and it was to be theirs at his death. I mean the three boys. I think they gave the particulars at the time, but, not being interested, I do not remember anything about it. lie told me about going to the Illinois lands, and something about their paying him, — something about an account. I remember him speaking about it. I do not remember how long it was to continue. This conversation was in the latter part of 1882, at the home place, in Warren county. I was cutting a ditch on the west side of the place, on Kickapoo creek. * ⅜ _ I asked him how the boys were getting along. He told me Bob was dissatisfied the first year he was títere, and said that he had given him an interest in that latid, as an inducement to gethimto be satisfied. It seems to me that he said that Matt and Oscar had had control of these lands, and it was necessary that they should relinquish part of their claims, in order ihat Bob should be satisfied there, which they did. He had procured a parcel of the lands from the other boys for Bob, so he told me. I think he told me then where liobert’s lands were, with reference to Matt’s and Oscar’s, but, not being interested in the matter, I didn’t remember. ⅜ * * Uncle Jacob said: ‘There is a weed growing here on the place, to be scattered over the ground. They could keep them down. I want them to do it, for they know it is theirs when I am done with it.’ ”

J. D. Stingley, a druggist and neighbor, testifies:

“I have heard Jacob Harman talk about his Iroquois lands, and his nephews living thereon. He was a great mail to talk about his business, and he talked 1o me about it several different times in the last fifteen years, up to the time of his death. He told me the arrangement he had with the boys in Illinois, and spoke about it three or four different times. Ho was to give Matt so much land. It seems to me ho would have a little more than the rest. It runs in my mind that he had 2,400 or 2,500 acres of land. Matt was to get a little more, and Oscar was to have the second largest, and Bob the smallest, amount. As I understand it, Matt was to have the largest. He charged them so much a year rent.”

Anthony Ilarman testified as follows:

“He stated to me, and it was my understanding, that they was to have the land to live on, but they had to pay him rent as long as he lived, but that rent was to terminate at his death. Then those lands were to bo theirs.”

And in reference to' what Jacob Harman said about the effect of (lie last lease, and his brother’s mental condition at the time, Anthony Hannan testifies:

“What he said was that it wasn’t to change relations at all; that he only wanted it. And I think he said that, inasmuch that he couldn’t naturally expect to live long, that It was to terminate at the end of the year of his death. My idea was that it was to terminate, and that was the reason for the making of that provision, He said it was no different occasion; it was not to affect the title or our interest. That was the understanding among us all. If we had went into an argument, opposing him, at that time, I think ho would have become an entire maniac. I do not doubt that wo would have had to take him to the hospital, or something of that sort. I think he would have run entirely wild. During the last year of his life we never opposed him, because we were afraid of the result. We thought It would make him that much worse. The biggest craze he had, apparently, was in reference to surveying, and the corners of his land. He would imagine that somebody had moved certain corners, lie would ask timo and again if there had been a survey there, and who had made the survey, and if the comers had been removed; and there wasn’t anything of the sort in existence, and none of us could say the corners were removed at all.”

Títere is also evidence to show that Jacob Harman induced his brother Anthony to give his own land to Ms daughters upon the assurance that he (Jacob Harman) had already made provisions for Anthony’s boys, and that they did not need it.

The only excuse which could warrant so full a statement of the testimony, mainly in the language of the several witnesses, to support the conclusions we haye reached, is the peculiar nature and circumstances of the case. There is also other testimony, of a like character as the foregoing, going to show that the complainants went upon the lands in question, and put large and valuable improvements upon them, under an oral agreement and understanding that they were to pay an annual rent, to be secured by a lease, and 10 per cent, interest upon the $15,000 that Jacob M. Harman had borrowed and the $5,000 that Jeremiah R. Harman had borrowed, and for which they had given their notes to Jacob Harman during his life, and that upon his death the land was to belong to them. Indeed, as intimated by the court below, there is little or no conflict in the evidence upon this question, except that which exists between the oral agreement and some particular provisions contained in the leases, and especially in the last lease of October, 1881; and there can be no doubt that there are provisions in the last-named lease that are inconsistent with the general oral agreement, under which there is such an abundance of evidence to show that the complainants were induced to go into possession and make the improvements. And the question is whether it is competent for the court, upon any proper and reasonable basis, to reconcile these inconsistencies, or whether the leases only can be considered, as determining the true and only relation of the parties. The provision in the earlier leases which is relied upon to show inconsistency is the one which provides that the complainants shall cultivate, prune, and lay down the hedges, and charge Jacob Harman one dollar a day for the work; but considering the relation of the parties, from the whole evidence, it is not very difficult to account for this provision. Jacob Harman had been paying for improvements upon the land. Much of the land was low, and needed to be drained. It was almost worthless for purposes of renting until improvements were made. The evidence shows he had a great partiality for hedges. It was a sort of specialty with Jacob Harman. He wanted good hedges, and he wanted to lielp the boys, and he wanted the place in shape where they could afford to pay rent and a high rate of interest, — much more than the legal rate, or the complainants could afford to pay upon the large sums of money he had advanced to them. In one of the leases the payment of interest is provided for. There is no reason why it should be, as the notes provided for it, but the provision is put in the lease, showing the willingness of the uncle to put everything into writing which secured anything to him, or which inured in any way to his benefit, though he was equally willing that his nephews should rely upon his naked word for that part of the contract which made for their benefit; and the evidence shows beyond question that in general, and until the last year or years of his life, when he was in failing health and had come under adverse influences, he fully intended to carry out his agreement to give them the land. This he did by the execution of wills during the early years of their relationship, and'latterly by making deeds of the land to them, to be delivered upon his death. The evidence is conclusive that in 1882 he executed deeds to the complainants of lands which they are now claiming, and caused them to be sealed up and delivered to Jacob M. Harman, whom he intended then as one of liis executors, to be opened and delivered, upon his death, to the proper parties. It is true that a little before his death he recalled these deeds, probably destroyed them, and made provision in his will by which the land they were to have by the deeds, as well as the improvements, for the most part, were taken from them and given to other parties; and it is now insisted that a court of equity is powerless to do justice in the premises, because of the strict rule of evidence that parol proofs cannot be admitted to change the effect of a written agreement. But if this rule was of universal application a court of equity could not relieve in case of fraud or mistake, and it could not receive evidence to show that a conveyance of Iarid absolute upon its face was intended by the parties as security merely. The money secured might be only a hundredth part the value of the land, and yet equity will permit parol proof to show the intent of the parties that the conveyance is intended as a mortgage only. If a court of chancery, in so important a transaction, and in the peculiar circumstances of this case, is prevented by a rule of evidence from doing full justice upon the premises and all the facts of the case, and satisfying the conscience of the court, it might almost as well shut up its doors, and turn the parties over to their rights at law. The court below held in substance that all the talk and agreements between the parties, running through ten or a dozen years, were merged in the last extension of the lease, which never in fact took effect, because Jacob Harman met his death before the existing lease had expired, and consequently before there was any need of any extension. The provision in the lease of October, 1881, which is supposed to fix forever the relation and the rights of the parties, is as follows:

“Wlioreas, the above lease and article of agreement entered Into by and between Jacob Harman of Warren Comity, Slate of Indiana, of the first part and J. M. and O. I*. Hannan of Iroquois County, Slate of Illinois, of the second pari, commencing March Hie first, 1875, and extended to Marc-li the first, 1885, as evidenced by the above written article will expire March tlie first, 3885, Wit-uosHcth, that it is hereby agreed by and between both parties that the same shall be extended on the same terms, and with all the provisions and restrictions therein contained, commencing “March the first, 1885, and to continue from year to year on the following conditions, to wit: That the parties of the second pari, will quit and give up possession of said premises at the expiration of any one year in case the party of the first part shall sell or convey all or any part of said lands, or in the event that either party should die or become dissatisfied or in case of the party of the second part, failing to pay all or any part of the yearly rents or interest on or before the first day of November of any one year.”

The court below held that the final relation of the parties was fixed by this extension of the lease, and that all the former talk and understanding between the parties, by which complainants were to have the land, was merged in this wilting. This seems to the court rather a misapplication of the rule invoked, than being a result of the rule itself. If it be conceded that up to October, 1884, when this extension was signed, the complainants had been in possession under such an agreement as is claimed and the evidence points to, making permanent improvements on the faith of an unwritten contract, one expending fifteen thousand dollars and upwards in sueli improvements, and the other from eight to eleven thousand dollars; one giving 14 years, and tlie other 10, of hard and intelligent labor, foregoing the obtaining of land for a home elsewhere for themselves and families on the faith of the unwritten word of this uncle, whom they trusted, — then it seems certain here was a parol contract, which had been substantially executed upon their part, by which they had earned and acquired an equitable title to the land, which gave them the substantial interest, and a right in equity to the legal title, and which was just as valuable and important to them as the legal title. And, if so, how does this extension of lease operate to cut off this equitable right? It must be either by conveyance in prassenti, or by way of estoppel. But the lease does not purport to be a conveyance of any interest in the land on the part of the “complainants. It is simply, on its face, an extension of the former lease, with the same-conditions, and with an entirely new provision added. The old lease would expire on March 1, 1885, then next ensuing. The new extension was not to take effect except upon the expiration of the lease already existing. Before that time came around, Jacob Harman died, so that as a lease the new extension never took effect. The complainants never in fact held the land under the new extension. Except as the seal imports a consideration, there was no adequate or substantial consideration- for the relinquishment of their equity in the land, constituting a valuable property right, assuming that they had one, aside from what was given by the terms of the lease. Nor do we think the provision in question operates as an estoppel to prevent the complainants from showing the truth of the entire transaction. . It would be severe and unjust, and against equity, that it should so operate. > It cannot be considered an estoppel by deed, because the suit is not founded upon the lease, which comes in question only in a collateral way. The lease never took effect, and the complainants never held under it. Bigelow, Estop. (4th Ed.) 341. There is no estoppel in pais. No person has been induced to change his condition to his prejudice on account of the lease. There was no adequate consideration for it in fact, and in the judgment of the court the provision in question is to be taken and considered simply as a written admission by complainants against their own interests, and as such, like any other admission, is subject to explanation. 1 Phil. Ev. (Cow. & H. 5th Ed.) § 418, note 122; Id. § 453, note 129; 1 Greenl. Ev. § 173. This, in the opinion of the court, is the highest and only office this provision can serve, as an admission by complainants, under seal, that their relation to Jacob Harman was only that of tenant to their landlord, and nothing more. In this view, the evidence which it furnishes is to be considered with the explanations given, and in connection with all the other competent evidence in the case. Considered in that light, we cannot doubt that, taking the evidence as a whole, the written and unwritten together, it shows that the complainants held the land under a contract by which they were to go on and make improvements and pay rent during the life of Jacob Harman, and at his death the land was to be theirs; that only a portion of this contract was ever reduced to writing, to wit, that which was to secure to Jacob Harman the rent; that under this agreement, resting partly in writing and partly in parol, the com-plaiuants went on and occupied the land for a series of years, making1 permanent and "valuable improvements, with full knowledge and consent of Jacob Harman, for which they hired money of him, and fully performed the •contract on their part, so that, so far as they were concerned, it was an executed agreement, entitling them to a specific performance. The complainants from 1875 treated the land as their own, in every way. They planted and tended hedges, laid miles of tile and buiit miles of fences, set out groves of fruit and shade trees, built houses, barns, cribs, sheds, and outhouses, expending large sums ef money for these purposes. The facts bring the case fully within the rule for specific performance. Not to grant relief in such a case would be only to encourage fraud, which the statute of frauds, requiring a contract for the sale of land to be in writing, was passed to prevent. The rule, as laid down by Story, is as follows :

“In tlie next place, eouits of equity will enforce a specific: performance of a contract within tlie statute, where the parol agreement lias been partly carried into execution. Tlie distinct ground upon which courts of equity interfere in cases of this sort is that otherwise one party would be able to practice a fraud upon the other, and it could never be the intention of the statute to enable any party to commit such a fraud with impunity. Indeed, fraud in all cases constitutes an answer to tlie most solemn acts and conveyances, and the objects of the statute are promoted, instead of being obstructed, by such a jurisdiction for discovery and relief. And where one party has executed his part of the agreement, in the confidence that the other party would do the same, it is obvious that, if the latter should refuse, it would be a fraud upon tlie former to suffer this refusal to work to his prejudice.” Story, Eq. Jur. § 759.

Tlie last expression of tlie same rule by the United States supreme court will be found in tlie very recent case of Riggles v. Erney, 154 U. S. 244, 14 Sup. Ot. 1083, where the court, after citing many of Us own decisions, say:

“Indeed, the rule is too well settled to require further citation of authorities, ihat if the parol agreement be clearly a.nd satisfactorily proven, and the plaintiff. relying upon such agreement and tliepromise of the defendant toperform his part, lias done acts in part performance of such agreement, to the knowledge of the defendant, — acts which have so altered the relations of the parties as to prevent their restoration to their former condition, — it would be a virtual fraud to allow the defendant to interpose the statute as a defense, and thus to secure to himself the benefit of what has been done in part performance. It must appear, however, that the acts done by the plaintiff were done in pursuance of the contract, and for the purpose of carrying it into execution, and with the consent or knowledge of tlie other party. While acts done prior to tlie contract, or preparatory thereto, such as delivering abstracts of title, measuring the land, drawing up deeds, etc., are not regarded as sufficient part performance, it is otherwise with such acts as taking open possession of the land sold, or making permanent or valuable improvements thereon, or doing other acts in relation to the land manifestly inconsistent with any other theory than that of carrying out the parol undertaking.”

Tlie decisions of tlie supreme court of Illinois, where the land was situated, are equally decisive of the rule. Bright v. Bright, 41 Ill. 97; Kurtz v. Hibner, 55 Ill. 514; McDowell v. Lucas, 97 Ill. 489; Langston v. Bates, 84 Ill. 524; Bohanan v. Bohanan, 96 Ill. 591; Smith v. Yocum, 110 Ill. 142; Irwin v. Dyke, 114 Ill. 302, 1 N. E. 913; Morrison v. Herrick, 130 Ill. 631, 22 N. E. 537.

In many of these cases, which are full and decisive, and which we have examined with care, there were family relations, as in this case, where there is always a temptation to have the contract unwritten, trusting to the confidence of father, • uncle, or other relations. In the circumstances of this case, we are of opinion that the explanation given of the reason for signing the extension of October, 1884, about which there is no dispute or conflict in the testimony, is reasonable, and that its allowance by the court does better justice than to hold the complainants to the strict letter of the recitals, against the great weight of evidence. The evidence of the witnesses is all to the same effect. Jacob Harman was a man of imperious will, and accustomed to have his own way. He was occupying- towards his nephews the relation of a parent and benefactor. He always wished and generally required them to do as he wanted them to do in regard to the land. When one of them wished to buy other land to add to his farm, Jacob Harman told him: “No; you have land enough already. Improve what you have,” — and the nephew submitted. When the nephews wished to borrow money, which they could do at 7 per cent., and pay off their large indebtedness to their uncle, on which they had been paying 10 per cent, interest, Jacob Harman said: “No; you are to pay me ten per cent, as long as I live; and you can afford to do it, as then both the land and the money will be yours, and I want this interest for my peculiar purposes,” — and the boys submitted to their uncle’s will, and paid 10 per cent, until his death, many years after the money was worth but 7 per cent.; and so in many other ways he controlled and dictated their actions, they nevertheless having confidence in him, that he would do as he agreed in regard to the land. In July, previous to the making of the last lease, Jacob Harman had a fall, which confined him some time to the house. Prom this time his health began to fail rapidly, he became fitful and suspicious, and grew7 into that condition of mind that some of the witnesses thought bordered on insanity. In these circumstances, these extensions of the leases, which still had five months to run, were drawn up by the uncle’s man of business, and laid before them to sign, and containing these recitals so at variance with the contract which had subsisted for years,between them. They declined to sign, saying it was not according to their contract and understanding. Jacob Harman said: “Sign, for it will make no difference. I intend you shall have the land just the same.” His brother Jacob M. Harman, of Benton county, uncle of the complainants, said, “Sign, for it will make no difference.” Their father, Anthony Harman, said: “Sign, for your uncle’s life is precarious, and a refusal to sign may endanger it. Your sister refused to sign a receipt for money which she never had, and your uncle will not let her come near the house. If you refuse to sign, you may turn his affections away from you.” After some hesitation they sign, and afterwards Jacob Harman told his friends and neighbors that their signing was to make no difference writh their interest in the land, which they w7ere to have according to the understanding between them. The ultimate question is not what was admitted by the complainants, but what w7as the truth.

But the complainants’ case, so far as they seek relief against the judgments at law upon the notes given for borrowed money and for stock, stands upon a different footing'. The suit, as regards the prayer for an injunction, is against the executors, and the complainants’ evidence cannot be received. But, aside from this, the claim stands upon a different footing in equity. These notes were given upon full and adequate consideration, and were valid obligations in law; and, while there is evidence to show that Jacob Hannan intended to give them the principal at his death, he did not do it, and in not doing it they have not much to complain of, in equity and good conscience. The proceeds of the notes, for the most part, went into improvements on these farms, and it is on this ground that a, specific performance of the contract for a conveyance of the laud is asked. But it would not be equity to give them the land on this ground, and at the same time the money with which the improvements were made. There can be no doubt from the testimony that the complainants paid 10 per cent, interest on this $20,000, on the uncle’s promise that it would be theirs at his death. But in paying that large interest they were doing no more than they had contracted to do in the notes, and they had a right to pay them up whenever they became due. There seems to be no adequate consideration or sufficient equity for giving them this large sum of money and the land as well. The decrees of the court below should be reversed and the (-ases remanded, with instructions to enter decrees as prayed for in favor of complainants, for a specific performance of the agreement for the conveyance of the land severally claimed by the complainants in their bills of complaint, hut denying the relief prayed for by injunction against the collection of the judgments at law.