Alkire v. Alkire

22 Ohio Law. Abs. 419, 1936 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 1106
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 18, 1936
DocketNo 123
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 22 Ohio Law. Abs. 419 (Alkire v. Alkire) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Alkire v. Alkire, 22 Ohio Law. Abs. 419, 1936 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 1106 (Ohio Ct. App. 1936).

Opinion

OPINION

By BODEY, J.

This case is before the court on appeal.

In his petition plaintiff declares on an express trust and alleges that the defendant holds certain real estate situate in the town of Sedalia, Madk'on County, Ohio, in trust for plaintiff and prays that the defendant be ordered to convey said property to plaintiff.

The amended answer of defendant contains three defenses. In his first defense defendant admits that he attended a public sale of the land described in the petition; that he was the highest bidder therefor; that his bid was accepted; that he received a deed therefor, which was duly recorded; that ever since the date of purchase he has been in possession of said premises; and further defendant denies the remaining allegations of the petition. In the second defense defendant alleges that plaintiff gave to him the sum of $.100.00 in currency and $1200.00 by certificate of deposit, as gifts; that the same were so accepted by defendant and that the proceeds of these gifts were applied to the purchase of the real estate described in the petition. In his third defense defendant alleges that if these sums of money be not found to be valid gifts, then the same were transferred by plaintiff to defendant for the purpose of placing his property beyond the reach of his creditors and with the intent and purpose of hindering and delaying a certain threatened action by one Ida Kellar. ,

By reply plaintiff denies the allegations contained in the second and third defenses of the amended answer and further says that defendant conspired with and induced said Ida Kellar to institute action against the plaintiff and at the time that the real estate described in the petition was deeded to the defendant, plaintiff was the owner of other real estate, of the value of $1750, which was at all times free and unincumbered.

The evidence shows that prior to August 26, 1933 the plaintiff was the owner of an unencumbered piece of property situate in Sedaba, Madison County, Ohio, which was worth from $1500.00 to $1800.00, the same being known as the Peters property; that plaintiff was a widower and a second cousin of defendant; that plaintiff and defendant entered into an arrangement whereby the defendant and his wife would move into the Peters property and would make a home for plaintiff; that plaintiff was to pay therefor the sum of $5.00 per week; that this arrangement became effective in October, 1932; that on August 26, 1933 the property adjoining, known as the Dorn property, was offered for sale at public auction; that the defendant was the bidder for said property, having bid the price of $1300.00; that defendant had no money; that plaintiff furnished to defendant the sum of $100.00 in cash on the day of sale as a down payment; that on January 28, 1933 a safety deposit box had been rented by plaintiff but taken in the name of defendant; that plaintiff had placed his valuable papers in said box; that on Sept. 11, 1933, plaintiff took out of said box r. bond of the face value of $1000.00, cashed it, added to it the sum of $200.00 and directed the cashier of the London Exchange Bank to issue a certificate of deposit payable to defendant for the sum of $1200.00; that said, certificate was issued, delivered to the defendant, and by him used to pay the balance upon the purchase of said Dorn real estate; that the deed for said property was made in the name of defendant and was recorded, plaintiff paying the fees therefor; that the parties then moved into the Dorn property where they continued to live until the latter part of August, 1934, at which time trouble arose and the plaintiff moved away; that prior to the purchase of the Dorn property the plaintiff had had some demands made upon him by Ida Kellar of Columbus, who claimed that he was the father of her child, which had been born on March 29, 1933; that on May 10, 1935 a complaint in bastardy was filed against plaintiff by said Ida Kellar and on September 13, 1935 a settlement of said, proceedings was consummated, whereby plaintiff paid to Ida Kellar the sum of $175.00. None of the foregoing facts are in dispute.

The evidence further discloses that the overtures concerning the purchase of the Dorn property were made by plaintiff and that the entire plan for the purchase and conveyance of the property was engineer[421]*421ed by him. The evidence shows that the plaintiff paid taxes for approximately two years upon the Dorn property and that the defendant claims that he refunded to plaintiff the amount of these payments. Both of the parties contend that they paid insurance and repair bills on the property.

It is claimed that plaintiff made certain admissions concerning the ownership of the Dorn property, but testimony to this effect is denied by the plaintiff. It is apparent from the testimony of defendant that no gift of the contents of the safety deposit box was effected prior to the date of the purchase of this property, as the defendant testifies on page 67 of the record that when the safety deposit box was rented plaintiff told him that the contents should be claimed by him in case of any trouble with the Columbus woman.- In his testimony concerning the purchase of -this property the defendant says at page 69:

“I was out in the back yard when he came out; he says, ‘Pete, how would you like to own that place and live over there?’ I said I would like to do a good many things, but money talks. He says, ‘if you want that go up there to the sale and buy it. I’ll give you the money to pay for it’.”

In his further testimony concerning the pux-chase of this property the defendant said at page 68:

“Q. Were there any other times when he made any statement to you in regard to protecting his property against the woman in Columbus?

A. One other time after I bought this property.

Q. That is the Dorn property?

A. Yes.
Q. All right?

A. The first time was when we. were sitting at the table, the fii’st or second day after we moved there. He looked at me; he says: ‘Pete, this place is yours. You can go ahead and fix it the way you want it. You won’t have to worry. The reason I am giving you this property I would rather you would have every penny I got rather than that woman in Columbus.’ Another time, a short lime after that, I can’t recall how many days, we were out in the yard. He says: ‘Pete, this is all youx-s. I am giving you this. I always want you to have a home. You got this in your name and no danger of them taking it away tx-om you’.”

It is the law that, as between parties who are not closely related, the party who furnishes the purchase price intends that pro¿5erty bought with his money will inure to his benefit.

“It may be considered as settled that when A furnishes B v/ith money to be invested in land, which is so invested, B taking the title in himself, the title thus acquired is held in trust for A.” 40 O. Jur. 275, §98.

It is a well-settled principle, too, that the burden of proof to establish an- express trust upon a deed absolute on its face is upon the plaintiff and that the burden must be sustained by clear and convincing evidfxrce 40 O. Jur., page 167, §34, etc.

We are of opinion that the burden of proof in this case on the issues raised between the petition and the first and second defenses of the answer was on the plaintiff.

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Related

Gooley v. Dewitt
122 N.E.2d 123 (Fayette County Court of Common Pleas, 1954)
Foltz v. Boone
140 N.E. 761 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1923)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
22 Ohio Law. Abs. 419, 1936 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 1106, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/alkire-v-alkire-ohioctapp-1936.