Seibel v. Rapp

Lacy, J. (after having stated the facts as aforesaid), delivered the opinion of the court. The first assignment of error is as to the action of the corporation court in its construction of the deed of December 19,1868, that the same was not the subject of partition, the wife being, during her life, entitled to the whole income from the same. We think the decision of the corporation court upon this deed was in accordance with a long line of decisions in this court, which cannot now be questioned here. From the case of Wallace v. Dold, 3 Leigh, marg. p. 258, it has been held—with some respectable dissent at first—that the gift to the wife and her child was a gift to the wife. The reference to the children indicated the motive for the gift (Stinson v. Day, 1 Rob. (Va.) 436; Leake v. Benson, 29 Gratt. 153; Bain v. Buff, 76 Va. 371; Mauzy v. Mauzy, 79 Va. 539; Waller v. Catlett, 83 Va. 200), and we think there is no error in the decree complained of on this point. The second assignment of error is as to the action of the corporation court in sustaining the “mutilated deed.” As to this alteration of this deed, by which it was defaced, it will be con [31] ceded, after the complete execution of the deed, the erasure or defacement could have no effect to divest the estate. 2 Minor, Inst. 663. In this case it is evident upon the face of the mutilated paper that the mutilation, hy cutting off the names of the grantor and grantee, was done after the signing and acknowledgment by both the grantor and grantee, such being made plain hy the notary’s certificate. The possession of the deed never passed out of the grantor, so far as the record shows. It was found among his papers after his death and produced by his wife, who does not account for the mutilation; and it is proved in the cause that it was duly signed, both by the grantor and grantee, and duly acknowledged as to both. There is no further proof of delivery than such inference as may be drawn from these circumstances. We do not find this precise question determined in any case to which we have been cited, or to which we have looked, in this State. If these circumstances had been found without the mutilation, then delivery might have been presumed. Ward v. Lewis, 4 Pick 520. Possession of a complete and perfect deed by the party claiming under it, is prima facie evidence of delivery, and, under ordinary circumstances, no other proof would he required. Games v. Stiles, 14 Pet. 322. The general principle of the law is that the formal act of signing, sealing, and delivery is the perfection and consummation of the deed, and it lies clearly with the grantor to prove that the appearances are not consistent with the truth. The presumption is against him, and the task is upon him to destroy that presumption by positive proof that there was no delivery, and that it was so understood at the time. Chancellor Kent in Souverbye v. Arden, 1 Johns. Ch. 240. “A voluntary settlement fairly made is always binding in equity upon the grantor, unless there he clear and decisive proof that he never parted, nor intended to part, with the possession of the deed; and, even if he retains it, the weight of authority is decidedly in favor of its validity, unless there he other circumstances beside the mere fact of his retaining it to show that it was not intended to be absolute.” [32] Bunn v. Winthrop, Id. 329; Chancellor Kent saying in that case: “The instrument is good as a voluntary settlement, although retained hy the grantor in his possession until his death. There was no act of his, either at the time or subsequent to the execution of the deed, which denoted an intention contrary to that appearing upon the face of the deed.” And so, also, in the case of Scrugham v. Wood, 15 Wend. 545, it was said: “Where a deed of lands is prepared for execution, read, signed hy both, and acknowledged as their deed before an officer authorized to take acknowledgments, it is a complete and valid deed, notwithstanding the witnesses present at its execution unite in testifying that there was no formal delivery of it, and the deed after the death of the grantor is found in his secretary among his private papers.” Hone of these cases can he said to be in point, because in the case at bar the deed was not retained in the possession of the grantor, but was found among his papers, or rather was produced hy the defendant in a mutilated and canceled form, with the signatures cut off. I think, there being no proof of when or how this cancellation was effected, and no explanation given of it, the presumption is that the grantor canceled and sought to revoke the deed. And the question here is, what effect did this have upon the rights of the parties concerned ? Was it in the power of the grantor to revoke the deed after he had formally signed, sealed, and acknowledged it in due form, and procured the acceptance of the trustee in the same formal way? In the case of Graysons v. Richards, 10 Leigh, 61, it is said: “When a father by deed of gift conveys land to a sou, and shortly after the son voluntarily surrenders the deed to the father to he canceled, with the design to divest the title out of himself, and restore it to the father, and the deed is canceled, it was held by this court that the son’s title was not divested hy the cancellation of the deed, and the lands shall he charged in equity with the debts of the son.” In the case of Farrar v. Bridges, 5 Humph. 411, it was said: “If nothing remains to be performed in order to give effect to the [33] instrument, its signing, sealing, and attestation as a valid instrument between tbe parties will make it complete and effectual, although the instrument may he left in the possession of the bargainor or grantor.” See Garnons v. Knight, 11 E. C. L. 632; Clavering v. Clavering, 2 Vern. 473; Naldred v. Gilham, 1 P. Wms. 577. In that case the deed was executed, kept in possession (surreptitiously copied), burned, and a new settlement made. The copy was set up by Sir Joseph Jekel as against the subsequent settlement. The case of Hutchison v. Rust, 2 Gratt. 395, is cited as sustaining the contrary doctrine, but an examination of that case, with the arguments of counsel quite fully reported—there was no opinion in this court—shows that the deed was never intended to take effect until a bond had been executed by the beneficiaries, which was never done, and the deed burned. Upon all the authorities, and upon reason, we are of opinion that there is no error in the decree, appealed from under this, the second assignment of error. We are therefore of opinion to affirm the said decree. Decree aeeirmed.