Barker v. Hobbs

Gookins, J. Hobbs, as the assignee of Brower, sued Barker upon a promissory note. Barker answered that the note was given for the last payment of the consideration-money of certain lots in the town of Tipton, which Brower conveyed to him with warranty of title and against incumbrances; that Brower represented to him that he had separated from his wife, and that she had entered into articles of separation with him, by which she had released all claim to dower in said property, which representations were false; that she had been divorced from Brower, by a decree of the Henry Circuit Court; that she threatened to enforce her claim of dower against the property, whereupon he purchased in her claim, and took her release, for which he paid her more than was due on this note; and that her claim was worth what he paid for it. A demurrer to this answer was overruled, and the plaintiff replied, denying the false representations, the divorce, the extinguishment of any outstanding right of dower which was an incumbrance upon the property, &c. Trial by the Court. Finding and judgment for the plaintiff. The defendant appeals. It is immaterial whether the ruling of the Court of Common Pleas was right or wrung upon the demurrer. The decision was in favor of the appellant, and he can not complain of it. The record contains the evidence. W. Carver and J. A. Lewis, for the appellant. D. Moss, for the appellee. In support of the answer, the defendant gave in evidence the record of a decree of the Henry Circuit Court, at the March term, 1853, in the case of Christopher Brower v. Mary Brower, by which they were divorced; also a deed of release from said Mary to the defendant of her interest in the property in question, dated May 30,1853, for the consideration of 100 dollars, and a deed to him from Brower of the property, dated September 28, 1852, for the consideration of 650 dollars. He proved also that Mrs. Brower was twenty-seven years of age and in good health. The consideration of the note, as set out in the answer, not having been denied by the reply, must be taken as admitted. There was no proof of any false representations made by Brower to the defendant. What he said to others is of no consequence. The defendant’s allegation is, that the false representations were made to him. By this evidence the defendant has failed to show that Brower’s wife had any interest in the property. The divorce was adjudged under the act of 1843, which provides that whenever a divorce is decreed on account of the misconduct of the husband, the wife shall be entitled to dower in his lands, in like manner as if he were dead. R. S. 1843, p. 604. No part of the proceedings for divorce is before us except the decree, which shows that it was granted at the instance of the husband; from which, if we draw any inference at all, it is, that it was granted for the misconduct of the wife. Admitting that Barker had a right to extinguish an incumbrance before being disturbed in his possession, a question we do not decide, if he did so he took upon himself to prove that it was a valid and subsisting claim upon the property. Having failed in this, the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas upon the evidence was right. Per Curiam. The judgment is affirmed, with 3 per cent, damages and costs.