Arthur v. Arthur

10 Barb. 9
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 15, 1850
StatusPublished
Cited by34 cases

This text of 10 Barb. 9 (Arthur v. Arthur) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Arthur v. Arthur, 10 Barb. 9 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1850).

Opinion

Hand, J.

This cause has been very fully and ably argued, and I have given it much attention. It is clear to my mind, disregarding all objections to the nature of the evidence, that the testator at, and at all times after the publication of his will, intended to make a distribution of his property in strict conformity to its terms. I can not give any force to the testimony in relation to the casual remarks said to have been made by the testator, that he was rewarding or paying the defendant for his care or labor. It pretty clearly appears that the defendant, after his marriage, had been assisted by the testator to some of the necessaries of life; and he was, at the time of the conveyance, carrying on his farm upon shares. The testator was occasionally sick ; but the defendant states and proves that, before and at the time the deed was given, he was able to be in the fields, and go to a neighboring village; and the physicians show he had no very serious illness between the publication of the [15]*15will and the execution of the conveyance. Under such circumstances, it is preposterous to say that the conveyance of 29 acres of the best part of his farm; worth $40 per acre, was given by way of compensation. The deed itself rebuts this presumption, and we have the declarations of the grantor and grantee, deliberately made, evincing a contrary intention. Indeed there is no doubt in my mind, that the deed was given by the testator and received by the defendant, and at his request, both supposing the land conveyed would be in lieu of his share under the will. If the defendant can hold double portions in such a case, it is because of some unbending rule of law. Equity is opposed to double portions. But a man may dispose of his own property as he pleases, and his will is a reason for the deed; and if, as matter of law, the defendant has received two shares, the court can not interfere. Two of the points made by the complainants, incompetency and fraud, are wholly unsustained. As to the first, his physician saw and conversed with the testator upon this subject on the day preceding, and his mind was clear and vigorous; and on the day he gave the deed, he settled his account with a merchant two or three miles from his residence, and. so far as appears, with ordinary intelligence. And his explanations to his physician at the time the latter computed the defendant’s share, I think put at rest the question of fraud. There is no doubt but that the defendant had been soliciting a conveyance, and may have induced the testator to comply ; but there is no evidence that he exercised any undue influence, or misled him. On the contrary, it is quite clear that both of them had the same opinion, as to the effect of the deed. Old age alone is not a sufficient reason for presuming imposition. (Lewis v. Read, 1 Ves. jun. 19. Butler v. Benson, 1 Barb. S. C. Rep. 526. And see 3 Denio, 37.) Had there been circumstances inducing the belief that improper means had been employed, the case would be different. (Sears v. Shaffer, 1 Barb. S. C. Rep. 408.)

Upon the hypothesis of a mistake by the testator, or even a mutual mistake as to the effect of .the deed, equity can give no relief. It is simply a mistake of law. Where the parties make just such instruments as they intend to make, and without fraud, [16]*16■ surprise, undue influence or mistake of their rights, but labor under an error as to the mere legal effect, that alone will not authorize a correction by this court. (Hunt v. Rousmaniere’s Adm’rs, 1 Peters, 1. Hall v. Reed. 2 Barb. S. C. Rep. 500. Lyon v. Richmond, 3 John. Ch. 60. 1 Stor. Eq. §§ 113 to 127, and cases there cited. Webb v. Rice, 6 Hill, 219.) A will can not be corrected because the testator misapprehended its effect. Nor, as a general rule, is parol evidence admissible to supply omissions, ■ or to control or explain the intention, or vary the legal construction. (Mann v. Mann, 14 John. 1. Farrer v. Ayres, 5 Pick. 404. Weston v. Foster, 7 Metc. 297. Adams v. Winne, 7 Paige,99. 2 Stor.Eq. § 1531. 1 Phil. Ev. 548. Martin v. Drinkwater, 2 Beav. 215. Irving v. Dekay, 9 Paige, 528. Pole v. Ld. Somers, 6 Ves. 309. Jackson v. Kniffen, 2 John. 31. Jackson v. Sill, 11 Id. 201. Cave v. Holford, 3 Ves. 650.) Many of these cases are very decisive. It follows, that the parol evidence was inadmissible to prove that the testator mistook the nature and legal effect of the deed, or its effect upon his will. The state of the testator’s property and family, and the circumstances that surrounded him, may be shown, but he can not, by parol declarations, give a legal construction to his will, any more than to his deed, ■ That would repeal our present statute in relation to wills, and the statute of frauds before the revision.

But, if the case can be put upon the same ground as the satisfaction of legacies and portions was formerly, I think parol evidenceadmissible to rebut or to corroborate the presumption of satisfaction. I am aware that some judges have made general remarks inconsistent with this doctrine; but, at least, until the recent act there in relation to wills, (1 Vict. ch. 26, 3d of July, 1837,) the rule appears to have been well settled in England. Parol declarations for that purpose, made before and after making a will or the settlement of a portion,' were admissible. In Trimmer v. Bayne, (7 Ves. 508,) Lord Eldon, speaking of the satisfaction of a legacy by a portion, said, “ it is clearly decided that there is such a presumption. It is also clearly established that parol evidence is admissible to rebut the presumption.” Again; “ I fear there is no possibility of saying that parol dec[17]*17larations, both previous and subsequent, are not admissible.” Though in that case, as they were mere gossip, and given in answer to impertinent questions, he gave them no weight. They should be made to the parties .interested, or those in some way connected with them, as a relative, agent, &c. Lord Thurlow> Lord Kenyon and Mr. J. Buller seem to have opposed the rule, or r.ather submitted to it with reluctance; .but a long series of decisions has confirmed it. (Ellison v. Cookson, 1 Ves. jun. 100. Freemantle v. Banks, 9 Ves. 79. Shudall v. Jekyll, 2 Atk. 516. Robinson v. Whitley, 7 Ves. 577. Wallace v. Pomfret, 11 Id. 542. Walton v. Walton, 148 Id. 31. Bengough v. Walker, 15 Id. 507. Herbert v. Reid, 16 Id. 481. Loyd v. Harvey, 2 Russ. & My. 310. Weall v. Rice, Id. 251. Williams v. Crary, 8 Cowen, 246. Kirk v. Eddowes, 8 Jur. 530. Brady v. Cubitt, Doug. 30. 2 Stor. Eq. Jur. §§ 1102, 1114, 1531. Cowen & Hill’s Notes, 1494. 1 Greenl. Ev. § 296. Matt. Pre. Ev. 113, 136, 7, 146, 150). If such evidence is admissible here, and the presumption of satisfaction applies to such a case, there is no difficulty.

If this were a legacy of a certain "amount, under the former law, there would be no doubt that a sum afterwards advanced would, prima facie, apply in satisfaction. (2 Story’s Eq. Jur.

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Bluebook (online)
10 Barb. 9, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/arthur-v-arthur-nysupct-1850.