Montgomery v. Payne

Simmons, Justice.

Mrs. Payne inherited an undivided one fifth of the land in dispute from her father. In 1878 her husband made to John M. Berry a warranty deed conveying the premises in dispute, to secure a loan under section 1969 et-seq. of the code. On this deed was indorsed a statement in writing, signed by Mrs. Payne, that after having been made acquainted with the contents of the deed and being fully informed of its purpose, she of her own free will consented thereto. In 1883 Berry reeonveyed the premises to Payne, and the conveyance was recorded on the day it Was dated. Payne afterwards, on the 17th of January, 1884, gave to Thomas Berry a mortgage on the same land, and Payne failing to pay at maturity the note to secute which this mortgage was given, the mortgage was foreclosed and the land levied upon under the judgment of foreclosure; and Mrs. Payne interposed a claim to an undivided interest in the land. On the trial of the claim, the plaintiff offered as evidence the deed to John M. Berry, with written indorsement of Mrs. Payne thereon, above referred to, and also the reconveyance by John M. Berry to Payne of the same premises. The plaintiff also offered to prove, that after the mortgage to Thomas Berry was executed, Mrs. Payne applied for a homestead in this land as the property of her husband, but that on account of objection by the husband, the application was never acted upon. The court, on objection of the claimant, ruled this evidence inadmissible, and the plaintiff assigns error thereon.

We think the evidence was admissible. While it was not sufficient to absolutely estop Mrs. Payne from asserting title against the mortgagee, it was admissible in determining the question of title made by her in the claim ■case. It was admissible for the purpose of showing that the title to the premises in dispute was in Payne at the time the mortgage was executed, and that his wife, the claimant, had knowledge of the state of the title at ■that time. The deed from Payne' to John M. Berry might have estopped her from claiming the land as against John M. Berry, but we cannot say that it would have the same effect in favor of Thomas Berry. Whether it would or not might depend upon her knowledge of the facts and the knowledge Thomas Berry may have had of the true state of the title, and upon whether he acted upon the admissions made by her or not. The deed of John M. Berry reconveying the premises to Payne, and its record, would tend to show notice on the part of the wife that the title was in him at the time the mortgage was executed. Her application to the ordinary for a homestead in the land would also tend to show that she recognized the title of her husband in the whole tract.. Judgment reversed.