Arnold v. McAuliffe

1949 OK 104, 209 P.2d 866, 201 Okla. 639, 1949 Okla. LEXIS 395
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedMay 17, 1949
DocketNo. 33514
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 1949 OK 104 (Arnold v. McAuliffe) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Arnold v. McAuliffe, 1949 OK 104, 209 P.2d 866, 201 Okla. 639, 1949 Okla. LEXIS 395 (Okla. 1949).

Opinion

GIBSON, J.

The land which is the subject of controversy was the family homestead of Michael Feeney, who died testate seized thereof. By the terms of the will the land was devised to his wife, Rachael Feeney, for life with remainder to four daughters named. The life tenant was vested with powers to dispose of the land and use the proceeds in which latter event what was left of such proceeds at death of wife was to be divided among said daughters. Three of the daughters died prior to the testator, one without issue and the other two survived by children who succeeded to the interests which their respective parents would have enjoyed had they survived the testator and who together with the surviving daughter succeeded to the interest which would have gone to the daughter dying without issue had she survived the testator. Mary O’Connor, one of the grandchildren, married Thomas P. McAuliffe, and thereafter died, intestate, survived by her husband and one child, Richard M. Mc-Auliffe. Prior to the death of the widow, and following transactions had with him, the said Thomas P. McAuliffe entered into possession of the premises and has since occupied the same claiming to be the owner thereof.

This action was instituted by the living grandchildren against Thomas P. McAuliffe, Richard M. McAuliffe, his son, Rachael Feeney, also known as Sister Marie Jar lath, the surviving daughter of the testator, and others whose identity is immaterial.

[640]*640The substance of plaintiffs’ petition is that by virtue of the will they became seized as tenants in common of the fee title to said land subject to the life estate of the widow and upon her death became entitled to the possession thereof; that defendant Thomas P. Mc-Auliffe took no title to plaintiffs’ interests in the land through a deed executed to him by the life tenant other than as trustee for their use and benefit; and the relief sought is an adjudication of plaintiffs’ title, possession and an accounting. By his answer and cross-petition defendant Thomas P. Mc-Auliffe denies plaintiffs’ allegations of title and that of the existence of a trust relation, asserts title in himself by virtue of said deed and transactions with life tenant, also open, notorious, exclusive and adverse possession of the premises for more than 21 years, and pleads statutes of limitations and lach-es, and asks that his title be quieted.

The facts material to the controversy are reflected in the following findings of the trial court which are supported by the evidence:

“2. The court finds the facts to be in this cause that Michael Feeney and Rachael Feeney occupied as husband and wife the premises involved in this suit, and that while thus occupying same, ■ said Michael Feeney departed this life on the 11th day of June, 1911, testate, while such husband and wife were occupying same. That his will was duly probated in the County Court of Oklahoma County and on the 8th day of October, 1912, the final decree therein was entered, which decree concludes as follows:
“ ‘It is hereby ordered adjudged and decreed by the Court that Rachael Feeney, the widow of said deceased shall have and hold said above described real estate as a homestead during her natural life or sell the above described real estate and use the proceeds therefrom as long as she lives and what is left of the proceeds from said sale of said real estate shall be equally divided among the heirs referred to in said will.’
“3. That said Rachael Feeney continued in the actual occupancy and possession of said premises, receiving the proceeds therefrom until the spring of 1923. That in April, 1922 she became seriously ill and was placed in St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where she remained until her death, August 23, 1928. That after she had been in the hospital for about a year her funds became exhausted and her bills had accumulated considerably and the farm was her only asset. That after consulting with her attorney, Edward R. Reardon, she was advised by him to make some arrangement to dispose of the farm to take care of such accumulated bills. Thereupon, at the request of said attorney the defendant, Thomas P. McAuliffe and John O’Con-nor, Grandson-in-laws of said Rachael Feeney, endeavored to sell said farm. At one instance they endeavored to sell same for a consideration of $4,000.00 to Clel Mason, but were unable to do so. That at such time the fair market value of said farm was around $4,000.00.
“4. Thereupon, said attorney, Edward R. Reardon, advised that they endeavor to place a mortgage upon the farm to procure funds. Acting upon such advice and at the direction and upon the authority of said Rachael Feeney, a deed of full warranty was executed and delivered to defendant, Thomas P. Mc-Auliffe, to said lands on February 26, 1923, which deed was thereafter filed for record in Oklahoma County on the 2nd day of April, 1923; that said deed was executed and delivered to said defendant with the understanding that he would procure a mortgage thereon and thereafter reconvey same to said Rachael Feeney. That two mortgages, aggregating $1,575.00 were placed upon said premises and the proceeds therefrom kept and held for the use and benefit of said Rachael Feeney.
“5. That on or about April 1, 1923, said attorney, Edward R. Reardon, John O’Connor, father of certain plaintiffs herein, Glessner Geery, notary public, and Thomas P. McAuliffe met with said Rachael Feeney at the hospital for the purpose of reconveying said premises to her. Whereupon, she announced that she had changed her mind and that she did not want the land re-conveyed to her; that it was her desire that the title be fully vested in said Thomas P. McAuliffe in consideration that he would pay all her existing bills [641]*641and continue to pay all her bills and expenses to the hospital, doctors and otherwise, to which offer, in the presence of all the parties, said Thomas P. McAuliffe in all things accepted said offer
“6. The court further finds that said Thomas P. McAuliffe paid all such bills and provided and cared for said Rachael Feeney with care, devotion and concern. That the actual cash amount paid for her by him, including her funeral expenses, exceeded the fair market value of said farm at the time such agreement was made. .
“7. The court further finds that said transaction was open and above board and that no fraud, deceit, deception, over-reaching or undue influence was practiced by said Thomas P. Mc-Auliffe, and the court further finds that there was no confidential or fiduciary relation existing between them at the time of such transaction, except for the short period of time when the deed was placed in the name of Thomas P. McAuliffe and until he returned to the hospital to reconvey the same to her in accordance with their agreement, at which time she refused to accept the same and thereby terminated the agreement by her own overt acts, which act terminated any trust relation existing, and title to said property immediately vested in Thomas P. McAuliffe* as previously stated herein,”

The court further found the facts showing adverse possession for more than 21 years.

As conclusions of law the court found:

“The court finds that by virtue of said will and as the same was construed by the court in its final decree, as above quoted, Rachael Feeney had authority and power to and she did convey to said Thomas P.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Shawnee Hospital Authority v. Dow Construction, Inc.
1990 OK 137 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1990)
Ruby v. Bishop
207 F.2d 84 (Tenth Circuit, 1953)
Johnson v. Johnson
1950 OK 328 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1950)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1949 OK 104, 209 P.2d 866, 201 Okla. 639, 1949 Okla. LEXIS 395, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/arnold-v-mcauliffe-okla-1949.