Vasey v. Board of Trustees

Mr. Justice Thornton delivered the opinion of the Court: The facts of this case are briefly as follows: Benjamin and Fountain Seawell purchased the land in controversy, in the year 1855. In 1860, they, with their wives, executed a mortgage on the premises to appellees, to secure the payment of a note then signed by them and Samuel Sea-well. Thomas Seawell signed the note sometime after the execution of the mortgage. It is claimed, that parol partition was made between the two Seawells soon after the purchase. There was no possession in conformity therewith. Benjamin was never in possession, and the occupancy of Fountain was of the whole tract, so far as it could be. In 1866, Fountain Seawell conveyed the land to appellant, having purchased his brother’s interest a short time before the sale. In the deed to appellant, the right of homestead was Avaived, but there ivas no release of it in the mortgage. A bill Avas. filed to foreclose the mortgage, and it Avas alleged therein that the mortgage Avas executed to secure the note signed by the four SeaAvells. Appellant answered, and filed a cross bill, setting up the parol partition, and claiming the right of homestead in him, as grantee of Fountain SeaAvell. The first objection is someAvhat technical, that the allegation, as to the object of the mortgage, was not sustained. It is true, that Thomas had not signed the note at the date of the mortgage, still the allegation is substantially true. The note Avas of the same date, and for the same amount; in fact, it Avas the same note, to secure Avliich the mortgage AAas given— except there Avas an additional security. Concede that there Avas no allegation to meet the changed character of the note, the objection should haA?e been taken in the court beloAV. If sustained, the bill might have been amended. As Avas said by this court, in Webb et al. v. The Alton Marine and Fire Insurance Co. 5 Gilm. 223, a party should not be permitted to remain silent while a cause is progressing, and then raise such objections at the hearing, or in the appellate court. Such practice AArould not be promotive of justice. We are not satisfied that there was any parol partition. It Avas evidently intended, but never consummated. Even if it Avas agreed upon, there Avas no several possession ; and there is no evidence of either actual or constructive notice of such partition. A parol partition, to be valid, must be folloAved up by possession. These parties were tenants in common. Exclusive possession of one, of a particular part of the estate, accompanied by a denial of the co-tenant’s right to such part, may create a legal presumption of partition. Tomlin v. Hilyard, 43 Ill. 300; 1 Wash. on Real Prop. 430. The facts do not show such relation between the parties. Was there any abandonment of the homestead? It is contended, that there can be no release or waiver of this right,' except in writing, and in the mode directed by the statute, and that it is the policy of the law to restrain the alienation of the home, and secure it for the wife and children. The law does exempt a certain amount of property from levy and forced sale. In this regard, the law is liberal and benevolent; and this policy of securing a home for every head of a family, has always been fostered by the courts. But the law does not prevent the alienation of the homestead. It is not guilty of the absurdity of confining a man to a particular habitation. The ambulatory character of our population would resent such a restriction. If the citizen desire a hearth and a domestic altar, he can enjoy them, exempt from levy and forced sale, but the law will not force them upon him. Nine months before the conveyance to appellant, Fountain Seawell had removed from the premises. Pie says, he intended to return. The facts wholly repel such intention. He left the house; placed no tenant in it; cultivated no portion of the place, and made no use whatever of it. He had executed a mortgage upon it, and the testimony is satisfactory, if not conclusive, that there was a total abandonment. He was still out of possession, at the time of the sale and conveyance to appellant. There is no proof of the animus revertendi. The husband was the head of the family, and had the right to control the residence of his wife and children. The first section of the homestead act exempts the property of the debtor during the life of the husband,-if “occupied as a residence.” Where the husband, with his family, abandons the premises to ruin, and locates elsewhere, it can not be said that he occupies -them as a residence. All the questions involved have so often been decided by this court, that we must regard them as settled. We therefore hold, that the mortgage was not void, and that the homestead right had been waived by abandonment of the premises. Brown v. Coon, 36 Ill. 243; Titman v. Moore, 43 Ill. 170; McDonald v. Crandall, id. 231; Wright et al. v. Dunning, 46 Ill. 271; Hewitt v. Templeton, 48 Ill. 367; Buck v. Conlogue, 49 Ill. 391. The decree of foreclosure is affirmed. Decree affirmed.