Alston v. Alston

86 N.W. 55, 114 Iowa 29

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: May 14, 1901
• Status: Published

Opinion

McClain, J.

1 I. Appellees have interposed motions to strike appellant’s abstract from the files, and to affirm the decree, on the ground that the abstract has no names of attorneys appended thereto, and does not purport to contain all the evidence; and also to strike from the files an amended abstract, in which appellant seeks to cure these alleged errors, and a reply filed at the same time. Appellant’s abstract purports on its face to be an abstract of the evidence in this case, and the names of the attorneys for appellant are given in the usual way on the first page. There is no rule requiring that the names of counsel be attached at the end of an abstract, and the motion to strike on this ground must be overruled. It is no longer necessary, in order to secure trial de novo in this court, that the appellant shall formally allege in his abstract that it is an abstract of all the evidence, and that ilie evidence was preserved in the proper manner. Kirchman v. Coal Co., 112 Iowa, 668. Moreover, the alleged defects are cured by the amendment, and although it and the reply were filed two days after the time required by the rules, we do not strike out, in such cases, on motion, where no prejudice appears to have resulted to the opposite party. The ease is fully argued, and there is no reason why it should not be considered on its merits.

2 II. Appellees insisted in the lower court, and still contend here, that appellant cannot have his right as an heir entitled -to inherit by reason of illegitimate parentage and recognition determined in a partition suit, and that he must first establish in some other proceeding the fact of heirship. It is not questioned that one who claims as legitimate heir may bring suit for partition against other heirs in possession of the real property of the common ancestor, and establish his right by proof' that he is an heir. An illegitimate child, when recognized as required by statute, is an heir in the same sense as a legitimate child. In ■each case the plaintiff must show his relationship to the ancestor, and, further, the illegitimate must show recognition. “For the purpose of inheritance, an illegitimate child, when recognized, stands on precisely the same footing as if it were legitimate. If the father dies intestate, both inherit, and such right can only be cut off bjr the will of the father, which is equally effective as to both classes of children.” Milburn v. Milburn, 60 Iowa, 411. In this case the question was whether the subsequent birth and recognition of an illegitimate child would have the same effect as the subse•quent birth of a legitimate child in revoking a will, and it was held that it would. We think the reasoning is fully applicable here. See, also, McGuire v. Brown, 41 Iowa, 650; Johnson v. Bodine, 108 Iowa, 594; Investment Co. v. Caldwell, 152 U. S. 65 (14 Sup. Ct. Rep. 504, 38 L. Ed. 356). We see no reason why, plaintiff may not in this proceeding allege and prove, if he can, that he is the illegitimate son of Willian Alston, and that he: has been recognized .as required by statute to entitle him to inherit.

3 III. Prior to the adoption of the Code of 1851, the rule of the common law was in force in this state precluding inheritance by illegitimates from the father under any circumstances, and in that Code provisions similar to those now in force were incorporated, by which illegitimates might inherit from the father when recognized by him as his children, as there specified. These provisions have been substantially in force ever since. Plaintiff was born some years prior to the adoption of the Code of 1851, and some of the evidence relating to recognition refers to acts and conversations of William Alston prior to the adoption of the Code. Appellees insist that evidence of recognition must be strictly limited to acts and conversations subsequent to the time when such recognition would by law entitle the plaintiff, if an illegitimate son, to inherit. For this contention they cite the case óf Hartinger v. Ferring (C. C.) 24 Fed. Rep. 15, in which the circuit court of the United States for the Northern district of Iowa reached the conelusion contended for; but we think this position is untenable. The legislature having the right to determine the rules, of inheritance in accordance with which the property of persons subsequently dying sha]l be distributed, may provide as it sees fit with reference to-who shall be heirs. There is no vested right to inherit until the death of the ancestor. It may therefore be provided that illegitimate children already born and recognized shall be considered heirs. The recognition contemplated by the statute is not recognition as prospective heir, but recognition as an illegitimate child;/ and whoever fulfills the conditions of the statute as to the right to inherit, existing at the time of the death of the ancestor, is entitled to inherit under the statute. There is nothing in the language indicating that it was to be applicable to such recognition as should afterwards be made. It describes a class of persons, and declares that persons of that description shall inherit; it does not refer, to or Create a status. It is prospective in its operation as to the right, but there is nothing to suggest that persons of the class described — that is, illegitimates already recognized — shall not inherit under it. It would be as just and reasonable to limit the provisions of the statute to illegitimates afterwards begotten and born as to so limit it to illegitimates aferwards recognized, and it v7ould be just as reasonable in the one case as in the other to argue that to adopt a construction making it applicable to existing illegitimate children would be to give the statute a retrospective effect. But it is not contended by appellees that the statute is to be-limited to illegitimates subsequently begotten and born. The cases of Brown v. Bellmarde, 3 Kan. 35, and Stevenson’s Heirs v. Sullivant, 5 Wheat. 207 5 L. Ed. 70), as well as in the case of Rice v. Efford, 3 Hen. 6 M. 225, on which the latter of these two cases is based, all relate to inheritance by illegitimates under a statute passed after tlie death of the ancestor, and whatever language may have been used apparently supporting the decision in Hartinger v. Ferring, supra, must bo regarded as pure dictum. Van Horn v. Van Horn, 107 Iowa, 247, was a case in.which plaintiff, claiming to be an illegitimate bom and recognized in New Jersey, sought to establish his light to inherit property in Iowa, and defendant contended lliat inasmuch as, by the laws of New Jersey, an illegitimate; son could not inherit the property of the father, his birth and recognition in New Jersey would not entitle him to inherit under the laws of Iowa; but this court says: “The sole inquiry here is, is he [the plaintiff] entitled to inherit the real estate and personal property situated in this state,, under the facts presented in evidence? Our conclusion is that the laws of New Jersey are wholly immaterial to this-inquiry.” Certainly there is no more reason for allowing proof of birth and recognition in a state where those facts do not entitle the illegitimate to inherit than for admitting proof of birth and recognition in Iowa prior to the time when-the statutes of this state made those facts sufficient to- entitle-the illegitimate to inherit. We are of the opinion, therefore, that evidence of acts and conversations on the part of William Alston, tending to show recognition by him of plaintiff as his illegitimate child prior to the adoption of the Code of 1851, may be considered.

4 IV. Before discussing, however, the evidence of William Alston’s recognition of plaintiff, it is necessary to consider what evidence, if any, there is as to paternity; for the defendants’ counsel insist that, even though William Alston supposed plaintiff to be his son, still, if he was not in fact a son, then he could not inherit, and counsel object to much of the evidence with reference to paternity of plaintiff, on the ground that it is mere hearsay, and not admissible. But it is well settled that some evidence which would in general be excluded as hearsay is admissible on the subject of relationship. Prof. Greenleaf states that hearsay in regard to relationship is admitted in cases of pedigree, the principal question in such cases being that of the parentage or descent of the individual, and he says that, “in order to ascertain this fact, it is material to know how ho [the person in question] was acknowledged and treated by those who were interested in him or sustained towards him any relations of blood or affinity.” And while he states the' rule in general as limiting evidence of declarations on this subject to those of deceased persons who were related by blood or marriage to the person in question, it is evident that the relationship insisted upon is that which will give rise to an interest justifying the assumption that the person who made the declaration would know, the fact by general reputation in the family and among persons likely to be reliably informed. 1 Greenleaf, Evidence, 103; and see Jones, Evidence, section 316, and an article in 37 Albany Law Journal, 130. In a leading case on the subject, Lord Chancellor Eldon says: “Declarations in the family, descriptions in wills, descriptions upon monuments, descriptions in Bibles and registration books, are all admitted upon the principle that they are natural effusions of a party who must know the truth, and who speaks upon an occasion when his mind stands in an even position, without any temptation to exceed or fall short of the'truth;” and, further, that the “tradition must be from persons having such a connection with the party to whom it relates that it is natural and likely, from their domestic habits and connections, that they are speaking the truth, and that they could not be mistaken.” Whitelocke v. Baker, 13 Ves. 514. In another case, Lord Chancellor Erskine held that the definite relationship of the person who made the declaration to the person about whose paternity it was made need not be established. “It is sufficient if he says, ‘A. is his relation,’ without stating the particular degree, which, perhaps, he could not tell if asked; but it is evidence, from the interest of that person in knowing the family.” Vowles v. Young, 13 Ves. 140, 147. And in this last case the declaration of a husband as to the legitimacy or illegitimacy of his wife was permitted to be shown. Declarations as to the paternity of a child made by the father and'mother in their lifetime may be shown, and circumstances indicating a recognition of the relationship on their part. Goodright v. Moss, 2 Cowp. 591. The declarations of a member of the family or a relative are admissible, although such person cannot be presumed to have known of his own personal knowledge the particular facts of which he speaks, and must have made the statement upon information derived from others. Jewell’s Lessees v. Jewell, 1 How. 219, 231 (11 L. Ed. 108); Futter v. Randall, 2 Moore & P. 20; People v. Insurance Co., 25 Wend. 205, 209; Copes v. Pearce, 7 Gill. 264; Craufurd v. Blackburn, 17 Md. 49 (77 Am. Dec. 323); Northrop v. Hale, 76 Me. 306 (49 Am. Rep. 615). Of course, facts which might be shown by proof of declarations of a persons deceased may be shown by the testimony of the same person living, so that a witness may testify as to who is his father or as to his age, although, of course, he cannot know the matters by personal knowledge. Webb v. Richardson, 42 Vt. 465; Houlton v. Mantueffel, 51 Minn. 185 (53 N. W. Rep. 541); Cheever v. Congdon, 34 Mich. 296.

5 6 With these principles to guide us, and confining ourselves to the consideration of direct testimony, and such hearsay only as is authorized to be received by the well-settled principles above announced, we find that the plaintiff is the son of Octavia Daniels, and was bom in December, 1843, at the home of her brother, in Jefferson county, about 12 miles west of Fairfield; that not long prior to this time she had been working in a hotel in Fairfield; that William Alston was then residing in Fair-field, and continued to reside there, substantially without intermission, until the time of his death; that William Alston and Octavia Daniels were acquainted with each other at that 'time; that each of them were then unmarried; that William Alston intermarried with the mother of defendants soon after the birth of plaintiff; that Octavia Daniels intermarried with one Bradley in 1845,'at Agency City, in an adjoining county, where she continued to reside until her death in 1881; that within a few months after his birth, and under an arrangement by William Alston for a consideration paid, plaintiff was taken to raise by Mr. and Mrs. De France, who lived about seven miles north of Fairfield; that plaintiff lived with the De Frances as a member of their family until the death of Mr. De France, and the marriage of Mrs. De France to one Hite, and with the Hites until the death of both of them; that he was recognized by his mother as her son, and was declared by her to be the son of William Alston; that Mr. and Mrs. De France declared him to be the son of William Alston; and that his half-sister, the daughter of his mother by her marriage with Bradley, knew him as her half-brother, and as the son of William Alston. With reference to the declarations of Mr. and Mrs. De France, they do not come strictly within the rule requiring such declarations to be by a relative by blood or marriage, but it was their family in which plaintiff was brought up, and we hold that their declarations are admissible by reason of such relationship. It' is to b¿ borne in mind that it is not the facts which declarants knew of their own knowledge alone that may be established by such declarations, but the facts of relationship and paternity, and that such declarations are admissible, although they relate only to matters of reputation in the 'family. It is to be borne in mind, also, that there is no possible question in regard to identity. The plaintiff from infancy was known as William D. Alston. He was enrolled by that name when, as a youth, he joined a church, and he continued to be known uninterruptedly by that name. There is no pretense that he was known as the son of Mr. and Mrs. De France. He continued to reside with his foster parents until'their death, and afterwards in the neighborhood, until he was more than •30 years of age, and there are' many witnesses who testify that they know him now as the same person whom they knew as the foster son of the De Frances. It seems to us that the facts are too numerous, and the evidence too strong, and based on the direct testimony of too many witnesses, to be questioned. It is important also, as explaining lack of direct. evidence of some 'important facts, tliat all the parties immediately concerned are dead,' — William Alston, plaintiff’s mother, this mother’s brother and his wife, at whose home the child was born, the husband of the mother, and Mr. and Mrs. De France. The law does not refuse to receive admissible evidence simply because other evidence which -would be more satisfactory i is unattainable. The very reason for admitting hearsay evidence on such occasions is that “it is the best evidence the nature of the case admits, and because greater evils are apprehended from the rejection of such evidence than its admission.” Jackson v. King, 5 Cow. 237 (15 Am. Dec. 468). And see Carter v. Montgomery, 2 Tenn. Ch. 216, 227; Fulkerson v. Holmes, 117 U. S. 389, 397 (6 Sup. Ct. Rep. 780, 29 L. Ed. 915); Eisenlord v. Clum, 126 N. Y. 552 (27 N. E. 1024, 12 L. R. A. 836); Johnston v. Todd, 5 Beav. 597.

7 8 9 V. By Code, section 3385, the illegitimate, son, in order to inherit from his father, unless the paternity is proven during the father’s life, must have been recognized by him as his child, and “such recognition must have' been general and notorious, or else in writing.” The last question for our consideration, then, is whether the evidence shows general public recognition by William Alston of plaintiff as his son. What is required is not that the father shall have recognized the illegitimate as entitled to inherit, but only that he shall have recognized him as his child. Van Horn v. Van Horn, 107 Iowa, 247; Watson v. Richardson, 110 Iowa, 673; Crane v. Crane, 31 Iowa, 296. Now, the evidence in this case show's practically without contradiction, that William Alston, on several occasions, visited the home of Mr. and Mrs. De France wdien the plaintiff was there as a child, spoke to him as his son, was addressed by him as a son would address a father, took special interest in him at a time when he was seriously sick, referred to him as his son in converations with the half-sister and with others, and, ■finally, not many years before his death, executed and delivered to him a warranty deed for 120-acres of land for the. expressed consideration of one dollar. It appears that William Alston was not a man inclined to-be communicative, even to his friends, about his domestic affairs, and he very naturally did not speak without some occasion to do so of his illegitimate son; but it is significant that he knew that his son was called by that name, and that he never by any action, so far as is shown by the testimony of either plaintiff’s or defendants’ witnesses, repudiated the relationship. When spoken to in regard to plaintiff. as his son, he never denied the fact, but on various occasions spoke with apparent interest and concern in regard to his welfare. Defendants’ counsel contend that expressions attributed to William Alston may be explained on the ground of an interest in the plaintiff arising from some other cause than that of paternity, but it appears that on several occasions persons who •were friends or acquaintances of William Alston spoke to him or joked him about plaintiff being his natural son, thus indicating to him that it was a matter, of public comment; and, in view of these facts, acts and conversations on his part thereafter, evidencing an interest in the plaintiff, may properly be construed into a public and general recognition, although, standing alone and apart from the fact of this general belief as known to him, they would not require such an interpretation. But the decision of the case does not depend upon the construction of equivocal acts. There is direct evidence of unequivocal recognition.

Many witnesses were introduced by defendants, who testified that they were well acquainted with William Alston, and acquainted in Fairfield and the neighborhood, and that they never heard of William Alston having an illegitimate son; but it is important to notice that in nearly every case they were persons who were not acquainted with the plaintiff. The fact that William Alston did not speak to such persons in regard to the plaintiff as his son is not to bb wondered at, and does not tend to overcome the evidence introduced by plaintiff tending to show public and general recognition. With reference to similar evidence, this court has recently said that witnesses called to negative the fact of recognition were “acquaintances of the family, to whom he would not be likely to disclose his relations with this woman [the mother of the illegitimate child], and their evidence throws little light upon Comb’s [the father’s] relationship with her or her offspring.” Brown v. Iowa Legion of Honor, 107 Iowa, 439, 444. In Blair v. Howell, 68 Iowa, 619, it is spoken of as a significant fact as bearing upon recognition that the illegitimate child whose recognition was in question in that case “had no other ostensible parentage, and Bowen well knew this, and knew that others knew it.” And the court in that 'case says that Bowen’s general bearing towards the child “being such as involved a recognition, it follows that the recognition was general.” Without claiming that in all respects the acts of recognition in the case we now have before us were as conclusive as those referred to in the case just cited, we think that the view taken by the court of the evidence in that case is very applicable to this one. In Watson v. Richardson, 110 Iowa, 673, we d.enied to claimant the right to inherit on the ground that the evidence did not show a general recognition, but the acts of the putative father there relied upon were less persuasive in their character than those shown in this case; and the same may be said of Markey v. Markey, 108 Iowa, 373. In this case there is no reasonable ground to disbelieve the witnesses for plaintiff as to the material facts, sought to be established. There are inconsistencies in their testimony in reference to other facts and circumstances which may be easily accounted for by the remoteness in time of the matters with reference to which they testify, without, discredit to their truthfulness; and we may extend, as we do, equal credence to the testimony of defendants’ witnesses,, without finding that the credibility of the evidence of plaintiff’s witnesses is, in any material respect-, impaired. If our conclusion were based upon tlie credit to be given to particular witnesses as to facts contradicted by other witnesses, we should feel impelled to give weight to the conclusions of the trial judge, before whom a considerable part of the testimony was taken in open court; but his finding f or defendants was avowedly reached by the exclusion of a. large part of the testimony as incompetent, because hearsay, whereas we find that much of the hearsay evidence was entitled to consideration, under the rule which we have already considered. We therefore find that plaintiff is the son of William Alston, and that he was generally and notoriously recognized by him as such. — Reversed.