Berry v. Webb

SOMERVILLE, J. The present bill is filed for the purpose of correcting an alleged misdescription of certain lands conveyed by one John Berry, in the year 1872, to the appellant, William Berry, and Elizabeth Webb, then Elizabeth ITeatherington ; and for the further purpose of having a partition of these lands decreed as between appellant, who -was complainant in the lower court, and said Elizabeth Webb — the two grantees in the conveyance thus being averred to be tenants in common. We entertain no doubt of the jurisdiction of the court to grant the relief prayed, notwithstanding the fact that the complainant is shown to have been out of possession for many years prior to the filing of the bill, and the defendant, Mrs. Webb, in possession holding adversely for a period of timeless than ten years, so that her title had not become perfect under the influence of the statute of limitations. The correction of mistakes of description in written instruments, established by clear and satisfactory proof, so as to make them conform to the true intention of the contracting parties, is a common ground of equity jurisdiction. — Berry v. Sowell, 72 Ala. 14; Alexander v. Caldwell, 55 Ala. 517; 1 Story’s Eq. Jur. §§ 165-166. So, likewise, is the partition of property owned by joint tenants, or tenants in common. — Deloney v. Walker, 9 Port. 497. This jurisdiction to decree partition exists, whether the title is legal or equitable. When purely legal, the practice is, often, to refer the determination of disputed titles to a jury, to be tried as an issue of fact. — Code, 1876, § 3893 ; McMath v. DeBardelaben, 75 Ala. 68. But, where the title is equitable, the whole question is for the decision of the chancellor, without the intervention of a court of law; equitable titles being peculiarly within the cognizance of courts of equity, and receiving no recognition in courts of law. — Willard’s Eq. Jur. 704. It is observed in Adams’ Equity (7th Amer. Ed.), 230*, note 1: “In cases of equitable estates, or defenses, chancery has, of necessity, jurisdiction over the whole matter.” — -Freeman on Co-tenancy & Part. §439; Coxe v. Smith, 4 John. Ch. 276. This principle is clearly announced and fully recognized in McMath v. DeBardelaben, supra. The defenses interposed to the bill resolve themselves into two. The first is, that the complainant had consented to a verbal partition of the lands, and that each party had occupied [509] their particular part of the premises in severalty, for many years; and that the division thus made, having been acted on by the parties, ought to be regarded as fair and equal by the court, so as not to be disturbed. The second is, that the complainant had failed to show that he had any. title to the lands in question, which could receive recognition in a court of equity. The chancellor sustained the first defense, and, intimating a doubt as to the sufficiency of the evidence as to title, dismissed the bill. We do not decide, at this time, that a parol partition of lands between two co-tenants, followed by less than ten years possession in conformity to it, will be sufficient to bar such a bill, or justify its dismissal.— Yarborough v. Avant, 66 Ala. 526 ; Browne on Stat. Fr. §§ 72, 75; Code, 1876, §2121. But we are of opinion, that the decree dismissing the bill cau be sustained upon the second ground of defense. We are inclined to believe, from the evidence, that the complainant had no title, having exchanged his undivided interest in these lands for the tract conveyed to him by his father, John Berry, in April of the year 1876. It is admitted, that complainant never owned anything but an equity to half of the lands in controversy, the legal title being retained in the father, by mistake, when he executed the deed of February, 1872. This property was conveyed to him as an advancement, valued at six hundred dollars, at the same time that similar advancements, valued at a like sum, were made to Mrs. Webb, and other children of the grantor. When John Berry conveyed the second tract to complainant, in 1876 - which is also recited to be an advancement valued at six hundred dollars— he (the said Berry) went into immediate possession of the tract in controversy, collecting the rents, and claiming ownership of the complainant’s undivided half of it; and simultaneously the complainant himself took possession of the other tract conveyed by the deed. The grantor, about the same time, made a second deed to Mrs. Webb, conveying to her individually the same interest in these lands which was intended to be conveyed to her and complainant jointly by the deed of 1872. There is evidence strongly tending to prove that the complainant agreed to surrender the latter deed, which was in his possession ; and this is corroborated by the suspicious fact, that he withheld it from the record until the death of his father, the grantor, which occurred in the year 1881, when he precipitately had it recorded. The whole transaction thus presents every evidence of an intended exchange of lands. There are, moreover, many admissions proved to have been made by complainant, to various persons, at different times, to the effect that he and his father-had exchanged lands; and like declarations of the father are shown, in his presence. It is true that there are, also, ad [510] missions of the father that the exchange was only of the rents; and the complainant testifies to this as a fact. A careful examination of the testimony satisfies us, that all the facts of the case better harmonize with the theory, that the parties intended an exchange of the titles of the lands, and not a mere retention of rents during the life of John Berry, as is contended. The testimony does not support the view, that the deceased intended a double portion by way of advancement of his estate to the complainant; his declarations to that effect being made in extreme old age, and when he was surrounded by influences which tended to lessen their weight as credible expressions of intention. We are of opinion that the complainant has made a contract to part with his equitable title to the lands in controversy, for which he has received full consideration; and the contract of sale being accompanied by an exchange of possessions, clearly referable to it, he has no title which will justify the relief sought by the'bill. 'J he decree of the chancellor dismissing the bill is affirmed.