Murphy v. Whetstone

JOHNS, J. W. M. Whetstone was helpless and feeble-minded, and his mother cared for and looked after him during her lifetime. It is apparent that it was her intention to make ample provision for his support and maintenance during the remainder cf his life after her death, and that the conveyance of the 55-acre tract to her son H. F. Whetstone and his wife was made in good faith for that purpose. There is no evidence tending to show the probable or reasonable cost of that maintenance; but it appears that the land then had a minimum rental value of $125 a year, and a maximum of $250. The conveyance of the 55-acre tract of the Whetstones was absolute and “in consideration of the premises and of said conveyance of said real estate.” The grantees, covenanted and agreed that “during the remainder of the natural life of said William M. WTietstone we will at our own cost and expense well and suitably maintain, support, and provide for said William M. WTietstone,” supply him with a home, treat him as a member of their family, and — 303 — furnish him with the necessaries and comforts of life suitable to his station, of “equally as good quality and character as we shall supply and furnish for ourselves or any other member of our family,” so long as he should remain in his right mind and submit to their reasonable control and management. It was stipulated that the contract should not be so construed as to require the grantees to support or care for W. M. Whetstone in case of his becoming insane, if it should become necessary to remove him to an asylum or if it should be impossible to keep him at their home as a member of their family. At the time of the sale of the 55-acre tract to Parker, on September 1, 1909, Almira Whetstone executed the instrument whereby she purported to “release the lands described in the deed above referred to from any lien, claim, or demand whatsoever for the care, support, and maintenance of the said William M. Whetstone and from any and all claims and demands of any kind or.character whatsoever.” Notwithstanding the fact that she then had a dower interest in the lands, by her written instructions the full amount of the purchase price was paid to her son H. F. Whetstone. The instrument of September 1, 1909, was not signed by the defendants Whetstone, but it was for their use and benefit. As a result of its execution the land was sold, and they received the proceeds of sale. After the death of the mother, W. M. Whetstone continued to live with the defendants Whetstone, who provided for his care and support until the plaintiff was appointed his guardian. Although there is a sharp conflict in the testimony and some of it tends to show that they were derelict in their duty, we think that the evidence supports the findings of the Circuit Court to the effect that the Whet — 304 — stones were substantially complying with the terms of the written contract at the time the guardian was appointed. The original contract was in writing, and it was the only consideration for the conveyance of the 55-aere tract to them. The instrument executed on September 1, 1909, on its face purports to be a full and complete release of the Whetstones from any and all liability under the contract. The fact remains that they received all of the proceeds of the sale; that the sale was made before any liability attached to them under the contract; that after the execution of that release there was remaining no evidence of their continuing liability; and that without such liability there would not be any consideration for the original conveyance by Almira Whetstone. It is also true that at no time was such liability on the part of the defendants Whetstone known until the answer was filed and their testimony was taken in this suit. Prior thereto, and after the death of the mother, all of such evidence was in parol and within the personal knowledge of the Whetstones only. Although after the death of the mother they continued to care for the feeble-minded son, there is no evidence that they were doing so in compliance with the terms of the contract, that the instrument continued to be binding upon them; that it was their intention to carry out its provisions, or that it remained in legal force and effect. It was under such a state of facts that the plaintiff applied to the County Court and was by it appointed guardian of the person and estate of W. M. Whetstone, that Lofland was appointed administrator of the estate of Almira Whetstone, deceased, and that this suit was brought. — 305 — The mother, who executed the deed and the release at the time of the sale, is dead, and her son whom she sought to protect is feeble-minded and not a competent witness. Whatever may be the actual facts, the evidence tends to show that she knew and understood what she was doing and was not acting under any undue influence. This case depends upon the legal force and effect of the deed of the 55-acre tract from Almira Whetstone to H. F. and Della M. Whetstone, the contract for the maintenance and support of the feeble-minded son, the purported release of that contract, and the subsequent proceedings and conduct of the parties. 1. It has been settled by numerous decisions of this court that there is,no vendor’s lien in this state. The conveyance here involved was absolute and passed a fee-simple title to the grantees. The consideration therefor was the agreement to provide for and support W. M. Whetstone for the remainder of his life after the death of his mother. In Perry on Trusts (6 ed.), Section 235, it is said: “If the vendor makes the sale for the consideration of his future support, no lien will arise.” In McCandlish v. Keen, 13 Grat. (Va.) 615, 630, it was held: “The conveyance is in consideration of the covenant of the grantee that his estate shall pay the annuity, and the vendor’s lien does not attach upon the property. * * “Upon the whole, I feel no doubt that Mrs. Byrd was content with the personal security of Coke, and that at the time of executing the instrument, neither party contemplated or thought of a lien. And to set it up here would be to carry the doctrine further than it has ever yet gone, which, in view of the ex — 306 — pressions of eminent judges against the policy of such a lien and the marked sense of the legislature in its total abolition by statutory enactment, I certainly am not prepared to do.” In McKillip v. McKillip, 8 Barb. (N. Y.) 552, it is said: _ “Thus, where A. conveys land to B., and in consideration thereof B. covenants with A. to support and maintain him and J., his lunatic son, the covenant creates no lien upon the land in favor of J. # # “It follows, therefore, that the bond could not be declared an equitable encumbrance on the land, even in behalf of the obligee, Archibald, and a fortiori in behalf of the lunatic, who is merely a beneficiary.” In Arlin v. Brown, 44 N. H. 102, 105, the rule is thus stated: “No such lien will exist where no purchase money is agreed to be paid for the land, but where the only consideration for the conveyance is the agreement of the vendee to support and maintain the vendor during the life of such vendor. * * “The sole consideration for the conveyance was the parol agreement of Sarah Brown, stated in the bill. When that agreement was made the consideration was paid as the parties agreed. If it was not; still it was an agreement not for the payment' of purchase money, but for certain personal services of the most indefinite and unascertainable character; and for a nonperformance of which a recovery could only be had of damages altogether unliquidated and uncertain. It has not been held anywhere, so far as we have been able to find, that any lien exists for the performance of .such a contract.” In Brawley v. Catron et al., 8 Leigh (Va.), 522, it is held that: , “The agreement for supporting the vendor and his daughters constitutes no lien in equity upon the land.” , — 307 — In Peters et ux. v. Tunell, 43 Minn. 473, 476 (45 N. W. 867, 19 Am. St. Rep. 252), we find: .“The contract was not to he performed by a single act, and once for all; bnt performance was to extend indefinitely over a period, it might be, of many years, and was to consist of various acts besides the payment of money. What was required to be done was contingent and uncertain, depending ■ upon future events impossible to be calculated or ascertained, and this uncertainty as to what was to be done would continue indefinitely. There was no lien, unless it existed from the beginning, at the time of the conveyance, and before any obligation had become defined, certain, and ascertainable. It certainly has not been generally supposed that the doctrine of vendor’s lien extended to contracts of such a nature.” In Abbott v. Sanders, 80 Vt. 179 (66 Atl. 1032, 130 Am. St. Rep. 974, 12 Ann. Cas. 898, 13 L. R. A. (N. S.) 725), it is held: “A conveyance conditioned upon the furnishing of support to the grantor may, upon breach of the condition, be .foreclosed by bill as though it were a mortgage.” In the notes in 13 L. R. A. (N. S.) 725, we find: “It appears to be well settled that an implied equitable lien does not exist in favor of a vendor of real estate to secure the consideration therefor, when such consideration is the maintenance and support of the grantor during life, some cases stating as the reason therefor that the charge is of too uncertain and indefinite a character [authorities]; while in other cases a lien is denied upon the ground that the covenant of the vendee is substituted for the purchase money, or as a mode of payment of the price of the land, and therefore the land is discharged of the lien [citing authorities].” — 308 — In Burroughs v. Burroughs, 164 Ala. 329 (50 South. 1025, 137 Am. St. Rep. 59, 20 Ann. Cas. 926, 28 L. R. A. (N. S.) 607), the opinion says: “No vendor’s lien exists where the consideration for the conveyance of land is an agreement to support the grantor during life.” 2. The authorities are also uniform on the proposition that, where such a conveyance is made and there is a breach of the conditions, equity will then create a lien or charge upon the property to carry out the spirit and intent with which the conveyance was made. That was expressly held by this court in Patton v. Nixon, 33 Or. 159 (52 Pac. 1048), where the syllabus says: “Equity will grant relief to one who has made a conveyance of property in consideration of her future support, although the plaintiff has a remedy at law, and to avoid a multiplicity of actions will make the maintenance of the plaintiff a charge upon the premises.” It was there alleged and proved that the defendant had refused to keep and perform her agreement. Although the rule is more broadly stated in Watson v. Smith, 7 Or. 448, yet, when analyzed, that decision is also founded upon a failure or neglect to keep the covenants upon which the conveyance was made. Learned counsel for plaintiff has filed an exhaustive brief, but he has not cited and we have not found an authority which holds, under facts such as are shown to exist in this case, that there is op was an equitable lien on the 55-acre tract in favor of W. M. Whetstone. The facts are peculiar. The execution of the original contract for support and of the purported release is admitted. The plaintiff contends that-the — 309 — release was procured and the proceeds of the sale were paid over to the defendants through the exercise of undue influence upon Almira "Whetstone. The defendants Whetstone affirmatively allege that, notwithstanding the release, they are still hound by the parol agreement, as though the release had never been executed. As stated, the testimony does not show that there was any breach of the conditions by which the conveyance from Almira Whetstone was made, and that was the finding of the trial court. Although the original contract and release were in writing, the agreement between Almira Whetstone and the defendants Whetstone was in parol and was a matter within their exclusive personal knowledge. There is no evidence, verbal or written, tending to show that after the release was executed and prior to the filing of their answer in this suit the defendants Whetstone were bound by the original contract or that they recognized and admitted that it continued to remain in force and effect. It is true that in answering the citation of the County Court they appeared and pleaded the original contract, but when the release was introduced in evidence they did not file any further pleading showing or alleging that there had been an oral agreement with Almira "Whetstone that the written contract should remain in force notwithstanding the release. It was under such conditions that the plaintiff was appointed guardian by the County Court and obtained control of the feeble-minded W. M. Whetstone. There is no testimony tending to show that after such custody was granted to the plaintiff the defendants Whetstone notified him that the written contract was still in effect and that they were ready and willing to keep and perform its conditions; in other words, they concealed the existence of the oral — 310 — agreement with Almira Whetstone from both1 the County Court and the guardian who brought this suit. 3. Although for want of proof the decree of the Circuit Court must be affirmed on the merits, yet we are convinced that the suit was brought in good faith, and it resulted in establishing the legal existence of a concealed oral contract that the original pact between Almira Whetstone and the defendants Whetstone should continue in force and effect, notwithstanding the release thereof. Under the terms of the original contract the defendants Whetstone were to care for and support the feeble-minded son of Almira Whetstone during his life after the death of his mother. The guardian was appointed on or about October 1, 1915, and assumed custody of him soon thereafter. It appears from the record that at all times, since the guardian at his own expense has provided a home and maintenance for W. M. Whetstone, and that the latter has no estate outside the contract which his mother made for his support. In all the circumstances we feel that it would be inequitable and unjust if the guardian should not receive a reasonable compensation for such care and support of his ward, and that in equity and good conscience the defendants Whetstone should pay the amount thereof. There is no evidence presented as to what would be a proper charge, or anything upon which this court could base a decree as to the amount. The cause is therefore remanded to the Circuit Court with leave to the parties to frame issues and offer proof as to what would be a just and reasonable charge, and with instructions to the court to render a decree in favor of the plaintiff against the defendants Whetstone for the amount which he should recover for the care and mainte — 311 — nance of W. M. Whetstone. When the defendants Whetstone shall serve a written notice upon the guardian that they are ready and willing to take and care for W. M. Whetstone as provided' in their original contract with his mother, and that they will keep and perform that agreement, they shall then he released from any further charge or liability to plaintiff; and so long as they comply with the terms of the original contract they shall he and remain free from any other obligation for his care and support. Otherwise, the decree of the Circuit Court is affirmed; neither party to recover costs in this court. Affirmed and Remanded. Rehearing Denied. McBride, C. J., and Bean and Bennett, JJ., concur.