Colbert v. Miller

32 N.W.2d 500, 149 Neb. 749, 1948 Neb. LEXIS 79
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedMay 20, 1948
DocketNo. 32391
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 32 N.W.2d 500 (Colbert v. Miller) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Colbert v. Miller, 32 N.W.2d 500, 149 Neb. 749, 1948 Neb. LEXIS 79 (Neb. 1948).

Opinion

Wenke, J.

The appellants Hannah Colbert, Etta Elliott, and Kate Curtis, as plaintiffs, brought this action in the district court for Antelope County against the appellee Charles A. Miller, Jr., as defendant. The appellants’ purpose in bringing the action is to quiet the title in themselves to 360 acres of land in Antelope County. From a decree in favor of the appellee, their motion for new trial having been overruled, the appellants have perfected this appeal.

The source from which all parties claim to have received their title is Charles A. Miller, Sr. Since he is now deceased he will herein be referred to as the deceased. The appellee, Charles A. Miller, Jr., is a nephew and the appellants are sisters of the deceased and will be herein referred to as appellee and appellants, [751]*751except when it is necessary to refer to the appellants individually. In such instances they will be referred to by their Christian names of Hannah, Etta, or Kate.

By their action the appellants seek to cancel a deed from the deceased to the appellee which is dated February 2, 1938, and was recorded August 1, 1944, to the lands that are herein involved and to quiet the title in themselves under and by virtue of either or both of the following: A deed from the deceased to themselves dated June 10, 1946, and recorded June 12, 1946, or the last will and testament of deceased dated June 10, 1946, which has been allowed and admitted to probate by the county court of Antelope County on March 17, 1947.

The first question presented is the validity of the deed from deceased to appellee dated February 2, 1938, for if this deed is valid then any question raised as to the validity of any subsequent deed or will of the deceased in favor of the appellants becomes immaterial as they would be inoperative insofar as the lands herein involved are concerned.

Insofar as appellants contend that the appellee’s pleadings should be dismissed because of the defenses therein pleaded being inconsistent, we find thé following principle is applicable thereto: “The rule is that more than one defense may be interposed to the same cause of action, provided they are not inconsistent with each other; they are not inconsistent unless the proof of one necessarily disproves the other. Blodgett v. McMurtry, 39 Neb. 210, 57 N. W. 985; People’s Nat. Bank v Geisthardt, 55 Neb. 232, 75 N. W. 582; Hilmer v. Western Travelers Accident Ass’n, 86 Neb. 285, 125 N. W. 535; Ford & Isbell Lumber Co. v. Cady Lumber Co., 94 Neb. 87, 142 N. W. 300; Maier v Romatzki, 95 Neb. 76, 144 N. W. 1036; Schellpeper v. Sporn, 112 Neb. 192, 198 N. W. 1012.” Tighe v. Interstate Transit Lines, 130 Neb. 5, 263 N. W. 483. We find no such inconsistencies therein.

The appellants contend the trial court erred in admitting incompetent evidence over their objections and in [752]*752excluding evidence and declarations of the deceased made by him long after the execution of both deeds involved herein and after he had any interest in the subject matter of this action. This assignment of error, in the form made, is subject to the following rule: “Our uniform holding has been that the assignment must point out and specify the particular evidence of which complaint is made before we will consider it.” Tarpenning v. Knapp, 79 Neb. 62, 112 N. W. 290. See, also, Smith v. Western Union Telegraph Co., 80 Neb. 395, 114 N. W. 288.

Nevertheless, in considering the record we will, in determining whether any evidence received or offers of proof rejected, to which objections were made, are competent and to be considered by this court, apply the following principles:

Plearsay testimony is incompetent and, as stated in Shold v. Van Treeck, 88 Neb. 80, 128 N. W. 1134: “Hearsay testimony which is incompetent is not made admissible by reason of the death of the person who made the statement sought to be proved.”

“ ‘Acts and declarations of the grantor subsequent to the time of the alleged delivery, in hostility to the deed, are incompetent as against the grantee. But acts and declarations in support thereof are admissible, because they are adverse to the interests of the only person who at the time has any interest in overthrowing such deed.’ (Arnegaard v. Arnegaard, 7 N. D. 475, 75 N. W. 797, 41 L. R. A. 258.)” McDonald v. Miller, 73 N. D. 474, 16 N. W. 2d 270, 156 A. L. R. 1328. See, also, 31 C. J. S., Evidence, § 325, p. 1103; Pickworth v. Whitford, 228 Iowa 658, 293 N. W. 47; Kiser v. Sullivan, 106 Neb. 454, 184 N. W. 93; Johnson v. Petersen, 101 Neb. 504, 163 N. W. 869, 1 A. L. R. 1235; 2 Jones, Commentaries on Evidence (2d ed.), § 909, p. 1672; 20 Am. Jur., Evidence, § 605, p. 518.

As to any testimony of the appellants Kate and Etta and of the appellee, relating to conversations or transactions had with the deceased, it was incompetent under [753]*753section 25-1202, R. S. 1943, unless the statutory disqualification was waived. See Holladay v. Rich, 93 Neb. 491, 140 N. W. 794; Haecker v. Haecker, 113 Neb. 587, 204 N. W. 72; Broeker v. Day, 124 Neb. 316, 246 N. W. 490; Fischer v. Wilhelm, 140 Neb. 448, 300 N. W. 350; Owens v. Reed, 141 Neb. 796, 4 N. W. 2d 914; Kellner v. Whaley, 148 Neb. 259, 27 N. W. 2d 183. Of course, this rule does not apply to the testimony of the other witnesses, if their testimony is otherwise admissible. See Dvorak v. Kucera, 130 Neb. 341, 264 N. W. 737.

In considering the record to determine the question of the validity of the deed to appellee, the following principles apply:

“ ‘Where the delivery of a deed is placed in issue, the burden of proof rests upon the party asserting delivery, * * 18 C. J. 413.” Ehlers v. Seip, 136 Neb. 722, 287 N. W. 202. But, as stated in Brittain v. Work, 13 Neb. 347, 14 N. W. 421: “No particular act or form of words is necessary to constitute a delivery of a deed. Anything done by the grantor from which it is apparent that a delivery was intended, either by words or acts, or both combined, is sufficient.” See Brown v. Westerfield, 47 Neb. 399, 66 N. W. 439, 53 Am. S. R. 532; Flannery v. Flannery, 99 Neb. 557, 156 N. W. 1065; Ladman v. Ladman, 130 Neb. 913, 267 N. W. 188; and Kellner v. Whaley, supra.

However, as stated in Kellner v. Whaley, supra:

“ ‘It is well settled, however, that, if a deed fully executed is found in the possession of the grantee, it is presumed to have been delivered by the grantor, and accepted by the grantee, at the date of its execution. Wolverton v. Collins, 34 Iowa, 239; Craven v. Winter, 38 Iowa, 480. This presumption is not conclusive, but it raises a strong implication, which can only be overcome by clear and satisfactory proof. Tunison v. Chamberlain, 88 Ill. 379. (McGee v. Allison, 94 Iowa 527, 63 N. W. 322.)’”

In Kellner v. Whaley, supra, it is also said: “ ‘In suit [754]*754to set aside deed to defendants for want of delivery, plaintiffs had burden of proving nondelivery of deed and producing evidence to overcome presumption of delivery due to defendants’ possession of deed.’ Klatt v. Wolff, (Mo.) 173 S. W. 2d 933.” See, also, Brittain v. Work, supra; Haecker v. Haecker, supra; and Ladman v. Ladman, supra.

As stated in Kellner v. Whaley, supra, quoting from McGee v. Allison, supra: '

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Bluebook (online)
32 N.W.2d 500, 149 Neb. 749, 1948 Neb. LEXIS 79, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/colbert-v-miller-neb-1948.