Mayberry v. Woodard , 1898 Ill. App. LEXIS 330 ( 1898 )

Mr. Justice Crabtree

delivered the opinion of the court.

This was an action for forcible detainer, brought by appellee against appellants, under the sixth paragraph of section two of the forcible detainer act, to recover the possession of a farm.

On a trial before the justice of the peace appellants had judgment, whereupon appellee prosecuted an appeal to the Circuit Court and the cause was tried de novo; the court directed the jury to find appellants guilty and a verdict was returned accordingly, upon which judgment was entered after a motion for new trial had been overruled. Appellants bring the cause to this court by appeal.

Prior to February 10,1877, the lands in controversy were owned by Eichard Mayberry, father of appellant Herbert E. Mayberry, and on that date the father conveyed the farm to his sons, Herbert E. and Henry C. Mayberry, the consideration expressed in the deed being natural love and affection ajid the covenants contained in a certain life lease of the same date, and covering the same premises, executed by the sons to the father and mother, for the purpose of securing to said Eichard Mayberry and wife, so long as either should live, a support and maintenance, “ with kind and suitable attendance, medical and otherwise, in case of sickness or need,” and expressly giving to either of the parents, so long as he or she might live, the privilege of residing upon the premises if they should desire so to do. The lease expressly refers to the deed and is declared to be a part and parcel of the same, and provides that a breach of the conditions of the lease should operate as a defeasance of the deed. The lease was acknowledged and duly recorded. At the time of the execution and delivery of this deed and lease, Richard Mayberry and wife were living on the farm in question and continued so to live there until the death of Richard, since which time his widow, Elizabeth May-berry, has still remained thereon occupying the house on the premises with appellants. It appears from the evidence of Herbert R. Mayberry that a year or two after the date of the deed and lease above mentioned, Henry C. Mayberry conveyed his interest in the premises to appellant Herbert R., who was thereafter the entire owner of the same, subject, however, to the life lease. Herbert R. Mayberry, having mortgaged the premises to appellee and being in default thereon, to satisfy the mortgage, executed to appellee a quitclaim deed of the premises, bearing date August 12, 1897, for the expressed consideration of $12,000. Appellants and Elizabeth Mayberry were then residing on the farm and in the same house.

Appellee demanded possession under his deed and failing to obtain it, brought this suit. Elizabeth Mayberry came into the Circuit Court, although not a party to the suit, and sought to interplead and set up her alleged rights under the life lease, but this was refused by the court. Whether this was error or not is a question not before us for determination. Elizabeth Mayberry has not prosecuted any appeal from the decision of the court, and appellants have not assigned the ruling for error, even if they would have had a right to complain, which we do not now concede.

The first point insisted upon by counsel for appellants is, that Elizabeth Mayberry was a necessary party to the suit. We are not inclined to take that view. Appellee claimed the right to possession under his deed from appellants. If they were grantors in possession at the time the deed was made, then under the paragraph of the statute referred to, he would be entitled to recover, so far as they were concerned, and to determine that question as against them it was not necessary to make Elizabeth Mayberry a party. She could not be divested of her rights, if any she had, without having her day in court, but we think it is not for appellants to complain for her that she is not made a party. The real question for determination was, whether appellants were grantors in possession. Appellee introduced some evidence for the purpose of proving such possession, by showing the manner in which the premises had been occupied by appellants. To rebut this proof, appellants offered in evidence the life lease to Bichard and Elizabeth Mayberry, but the court refused to admit it and gave a peremptory instruction to the jury to find the defendants guilty. We think under the circumstances this was error. As we have already said, the material question was, whether or not appellants were grantors in possession. If they were not, appellee could not maintain the suit. If, as claimed by appellants, the possession was in Elizabeth Mayberry under her life lease, we think this would be a good defense to the action. We are of opinion the defense based upon the life lease, and all the facts and circumstances bearing upon the question of possession, should have been permitted to go to the jury for their determination under proper instructions from the court. It was error for the court arbitrarily to take the question from the jury.

Counsel for appellant strongly insist that the proofs as to demand of possession are insufficient, and that therefore the action can not be maintained. Upon examination of the evidence we are disposed to hold that the demand was sufficient.

But for the reasons given the judgment will be reversed and the cause remanded.