Tansel v. Smith

Ibach, J. On May 3, 1909, Robert B. Tansel, as administrator of the estate of Robert B. Myers, deceased, filed his verified petition in the office of the clerk of the probate court of Marion county, Indiana, alleging, in substance, that decedent died intestate; that he left no personal property with which to pay debts, but that at the time of his death he owned an undivided half interest in certain real estate in Marion county, Indiana, the interest therein being valued at $600, and praying for authority to sell said interest to pay debts He also averred in his petition that decedent left surviving him two granddaughters, Blanche Smith and Clara Alley, his sole and only heirs at law, who, with their respective guardians, were made parties defendant. Defendant Alley answered in general denial, and Blanche Smith, through her guardian, filed a special answer, in which she averred that at the time of the death of her grandfather, Robert B. Myers, he had no title nor interest in the land described in the petition, but that she held title thereto, by virtue of a certain warranty deed executed to her by decedent in his lifetime; that after the deed was signed, it was placed in the hands of one Vance, who was at the time instructed to hold it until the death of Myers, and then deliver it to grantee; that said deed was delivered to her after the death of Myers. She also filed a general denial. Appellant filed three paragraphs of reply; the first in general denial, the second admitting that Myers signed and acknowledged the deed, referred to in the action, but that there was no consideration for said instrument but love and affection, and that lie intended by the instrument to make a testamentary disposition of his real estate to the grantee; that he reserved to himself the right to recall and retake possession of the deed, and that he retained all right and ownership to the land up to the time of his death; that the deed was not recorded until March 8, 1909; that after he [265] signed the deed he incurred debts, and left no other property with which to pay them. The third paragraph of reply] charges fraud, in that he executed the deed and delivered it to Mrs. Vance to be given to the grantee after his death, for the purpose of defrauding those who might do service for him, or care for him during his last sickness; that he wrongfully concealed the fact of the execution of the deed from his creditors, but represented to them that he was the owner of the land. The demurrer to this reply was overruled. The court tried the case below, and a judgment was finally entered in favor of defendant Blanche Smith on her first paragraph of answer. Appellant then filed a motion for a new trial. The overruling of this motion is the only error presented for reversal. The following is a copy of the deed filed with the answer of appellee Smith: “This indenture witnesseth, that Robert B. Myers, unmarried, of Marion county, in the State, of Indiana, conveys and warrants to Blanche Smith, of Marion county, in the State of Indiana, for the sum of $100, in hand paid, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the following real estate in Marion county, in the State of Indiana, to wit; Beginning at the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section twenty-four, in township fifteen north, of range two east; thence north forty rods; thence east thirty-two rods; thence south forty rods; thence west thirty-two rods, to the place of beginning, containing eight acres. This deed is subject to all the liens on the above-described property. The conditions of this deed are as follows, to wit: Robert B. Myers to retain the possession of the above-described property until his death, then to go to the above-named Blanche Smith. In witness whereof said Robert B. Myers has hereunto set his hand and seal this.... day of...., A. D., 190.. Robert B. Myers, (L. S.) C. C. Vance, O. A. Oyler.” Vance and Oyler signed as witnesses. [266] 1. The conveyance under consideration contains none of the language or peculiarities of a will. All the requirements of a statutory deed are to be found in it, and it plainly vests present estate in fee simple in the • grantee, unless the recital following the description of the land manifests a contrary intent. We do not think such such an intent appears on the face of the deed. “An instrument executed conformably to the statute, which is to operate in the' lifetime of the grantor, and which passes any estate in the property during the grantor’s lifetime, even though the absolute enjoyment of the estate passed is postponed until after the grantor’s death, is a deed, and not a will.” Spencer v. Robbins (1886), 106 Ind. 580. See, also, In re Will of Diez (1872), 50 N. Y. 88. It appears from the evidence in this case that Myers was an old man in failing health. For a number of years he had lived with his granddaughter, the grantee, upon this land. Decedent had the deed prepared; then he signed and acknowledged it, and delivered it to Mrs. Vance. He told her that he had deeded the place to Blanche, and wanted Mrs. Vance, as soon as she heard of his death, to have the deed recorded. She testified that she brought the deed home with her and kept it in her possession until Myers died, when she had it recorded. At the time he handed the deed to her, there was not a word said by him about retaining possession of the instrument, or retaining any control over it. The undisputed facts in this case force the conclusion that it was the intention of decedent so to place the title of the property involved that it should at once pass to the grantee upon the delivery of the deed to Mrs. Vance. He deposited the deed unconditionally, relinquishing all authority and control over it, and we must conclude that the custodian received it then for the use and benefit of the grantee. [267] 2. [266] The deed was absolute in its form, beneficial in its effects, and the delivery so made by Myers to the custodian [267] for the grantee made it effective from the date of such delivery the same as if it had been delivered to the grantee by the grantor in person. The delivery was complete when the grantor had surrendered all authority and dominion over the deed, and put it beyond his power to modify, reclaim or retake it, and an acceptance on the part of the grantee, a minor grandchild, is presumed. McCord v. Bright (1909), 44 Ind. App. 275; Vaughan v. Godman (1884), 94 Ind. 191. 3. Appellant also alleges fraud in the execution of the deed, but says in his brief: “If the deed were effectual and valid, whether it related back or not, his conduct was. either fraudulent, or he honestly believed he owned the real estate up to the time of his death. We believe the latter the more reasonable presumption.” We have searched the record, and are unable to find any evidence which even tends to prove this paragraph of appellant’s reply. 4. Concerning the objection which was made to the admission of evidence relative to 'what the grantor said, after the deed was executed and delivered, about his being the owner of the property, we have concluded that it was clearly inadmissible, and the court committed no error in refusing it. 1. Considering the form of the deed, and all the evidence produced at the trial, it appears to be exceedingly clear that the grandfather had selected his grandchild as the object of his favor; that he desired to remember her for her many kindnesses and services extended to him, and determined to convey the land to her then; not to become effective in the future, but a present conveyance, and with a view of carrying out that purpose and intention he executed and delivered the deed in question. The court committed no error in overruling appellant’s motion for a new trial. Judgment affirmed.