Wilson v. Wilson ( 1858 )

Campbell J.:

The complainants file their bill for the conveyance of two lots of land in Wayne county, alleged to be held by ’the defendant as devisee of Henry 3. Wilson, deceased. The claim for relief is based upon an agreement which is averred to have been made by Henry J. Wilson during his lifetime, under the following circumstances:

In February, 1853, Charles M. Wilson was the owner of a tract of land lying partly south and partly north of the Grand River Road, the larger portion lying south of the road. The north tract was divided into three lots, the midi die one being a tavern - stand then occupied by George Heath. Henry J. Wilson held a purchase - money mortgage on the whole property, for four thousand five hundred dollars,. On the 21st day of February, 1853, Charles M. Wilson, and Jane Wilson, his wife, conveyed the whole premises to Henry J, Wilson, by a warranty deed. On the 2Yth day of the same month, Henry J. Wilson conveyed the tavern - stand, consisting of about eight acres, to George Heath, taking back a mortgage for four thousand five hundred dollars. In July, 1856, Henry died, seized of the remaining premises, and the defendant was made his universal legatee, and also took out. letters of administration with the will annexed. The com troversy in this case arises upon the lots north of the Grand, River Road, upon each side of the Heath tract.

The bill sets up that Charles M. Wilson, being about to go to California, to be absent for some time, and being desirous of disposing of his remaining interest in the property, which was subject to the mortgage to Henry, and, at the same time, of making some provision for his wife Jane, entered into an agreement with Henry, on the 21st day of February, 1853, to sell and convey to him the whole property, including the Heath tract (which the bill states Charles was bound to convey to Heath), and that, in consideration, thereof, Henry agreed to convey to Heath this tract, and also agreed, immediately, and whenever demanded, to execute to Jane Wilson, wife of Charles, a warranty deed of the two adjacent lots. That in pursuance of this agreement, Charles and his wife made the conveyance of February 21st to Henry, and Henry, also in pursuance of the agreement. conveyed the tavern-stand to Heath, but neglected during his life to convey the other lots to Jane. That Charles immediately left for California, and was absent until June, 1856. The bill also contains statements of possession by Jane and her lessees.

The bill does not state whether the agreement was verbal or written. The answer admits nothing, and puts the whole case at issue.

The defense made upon the hearing was two-fold: First, That the complainants do not prove them case in substance, ‘as alleged; and, Second, That the case which they seek to make is within the prohibitions of the Statute of Frauds and the Statute of Uses and Trusts.

We propose to examine first into the case made by the proofs. As the party in default, Henry J. Wilson, died before the bill was filed, and as Mr. Selkrig, a principal witness, died before proofs were taken, justice to all parties requires that the whole transaction should be carefully investigated.

It is very evident that whatever agreement was originally made between Charles and Henry Wilson, was made on the 21st of February, 1853. The bill alleges this, and Marvin’s testimony confirms it. No witness testifies to any previous understanding. The conveyance being then made, and the bargain announced just after to Marvin and Selk-rig, who witnessed and drew the deed, there can be no doubt that the conveyance and agreement were but one transaction. It is equally plain that when Henry received the conveyance, there was an understanding, not only that he should complete the bargain which Charles had made with Heath, but that the adjoining lots were in some way, •and for some purpose, to be held or disposed of for the benefit of Charles or his wife. And in considering this branch of the case, we must determine whether we have ■evidence showing the whole contract, and, if so, what it Was.

The natural inference from the bill would be that Henry-was to take the fifty acres south of the road in satisfaction of his mortgage, and dispose of the rest as Charles then required, namely, by conveying the tavern-stand to Heath, and doing with the other two lots as was agreed» But the proof showing that Heath was to give, and did give, back a mortgage to Henry, nearly, if not quite, equal in amount to Henry’s mortgage against Charles, leaves the» case as if the whole fifty acres south of the road were a mere gift to Henry, or, what is equivalent, passed without any pecuniary consideration. The 'difference between the-mortgages could not have exceeded three hundred dollars, which would be of no account in making up the price of-the land. These facts are not in accordance with the theory of the bill, and it is not at all likely that this could have been all the arrangement. If such had been the real trans-, action, the magnitude of the gratuity to Henry would have made it probable, at least, that any conversation intended to inform relatives or witnesses of the terms of the arrange-, ment would not have ignored so important an item. The matter is mentioned to Marvin as a trade; and such is the. theory of the case. It is much to be regretted that we. have not more light upon this part of the transaction. If-any other consideration passed between the parties, it might-go far to explain the whole affair.

Leaving this question, and looking simply to the equities, claimed for Jane Wilson upon the two lots in controversy, the inquiry next arises concerning her individual rights — the bill being filed entirely on her behalf. The allegations are, that Charles was about leaving for California, and that the arrangement was made, partly to settle up his affairs with Henry, and partly to make provision for his wife. Such would be an appropriate and natural occasion for a settlement for her- benefit. But, according to the testimony of-the complainant’s witnesses, his intention to go to California was form.ed some, time after the date of this agreement, and — whether formed or not — was not expressed either to his relatives or to those to whom the terms of the bargain were communicated. These witnesses do not connect the original bargain with any allusion to California. And inasmuch as the origin of the provision for Jane is made, by the bill, to spring from the intention of Charles to go there— and such would be a very likely thing to originate it — the evidence should be examined with some regard to this theory.

In looking^ into the testimony, to ascertain what the original bargain was, we are compelled to disregard almost entirely the depositions on behalf of the defendant. They are mainly declarations of Henry Wilson; and 'while the complainants are entitled to prove his admissions, the rule will not allow his declarations to be introduced on behalf of Ms representatives, any more than of himself if he were living. The case must therefore stand, so far as the terms of the contract are concerned, upon the testimony of Mary Wilson (mother of Charles and Henry), George Heath, and Russell Marvin, a brother-in-law of the Wilsons.

Mary Wilson testifies that Henry informed her that, in the trade, he had taken back the south tract, and Charles was to have the two lots, and they were to be deeded to the wife of Charles. She is not asked, nor does she testify, at what time this statement was made to her. Taken alone, it certainly has a strong tendency in favor of the complainant’s case. George Heath, who was informed of the arrangement within a few days, testifies that it was agreed that Charles was to have the lots. The only allusion he heard to Jane was when he applied to Henry to buy the lots, and Henry replied he could not sell them; that they belonged to Charles; that he had not given Charles a deed of them; that Charles was going to California, and, if he never came back, he would give the deed to the wife of Charles. Marvin testifies that on the day the deed was made to Henry, the bargain was stated to Mm by the parties, in presence of Mr. Selkrig. According to that statement, Henry was to allow Charles what he had already received from Heath, and give np the notes and mortgage, and give Charles the land on the north side of the road. No mention was made of its being deeded to any one in particular. But on the night before Charles left for California, which was the 30th of April or the 1st of May, the matter of the property was talked over at a family meeting at Marvin’s, and Henry was to give a deed to Jane whenever she wished it. "

Looldng at the whole case, we can not tvóid the conclusion that the probabilities are in favor of the idea that the disposition of these lots for the separate use of Jane was not determined on until Charles concluded to go to California, and formed no part of the original arrangement. That such an arrangement was finally made, is highly probable, but we can not satisfy ourselves that the testimony goes any further.

With this view of the facts, we can not grant the relief prayed for. Not only must the contract, when resting in parol, be proved in the clearest manner, but it must be substantially the same set forth in the bill. An original agreement to deed to Charles, or to hold subject to his disposal, might stand upon very different legal grounds from an original agreement to convey to Jane. And a subsequent agreement in her favor would also stand on a very different footing from an original one, and would require proof of the considerations which led to it.

The grave questions arising under our statutes touching the validity of any of these arrangements, we do not now propose to consider. They can only be applied with certainty where the facts are well ascertained, and proof is made of a definite agreement. If the parties should be enabled hereafter to procure such proof as will warrant them in seeking relief, those legal principles may come up in a shape to authorize action upon them. We refuse relief in this case because, whether the bargain in question would have been regarded as legal or illegal, it is not made out to our satisfaction by tbe evidence.

The bill must be dismissed, but it may be done without prejudice.

The decree of the court below must be reversed, and a «decree entered dismissing the bill of complaint, with 'costs, ■without prejudice.

The other Justices concurred.