Gooley v. Dewitt

122 N.E.2d 123, 70 Ohio Law. Abs. 338, 1954 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 328
CourtFayette County Court of Common Pleas
DecidedOctober 23, 1954
DocketNo. 21600
StatusPublished

This text of 122 N.E.2d 123 (Gooley v. Dewitt) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Fayette County Court of Common Pleas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gooley v. Dewitt, 122 N.E.2d 123, 70 Ohio Law. Abs. 338, 1954 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 328 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1954).

Opinion

[339]*339OPINION

By CASE, J.

This case is before the court upon Plaintiff’s petition, Defendant’s anwer, Plaintiff’s reply thereto, certain stipulations, testimony, exhibits, oral motions by Defendant for dismissal of Plaintiff’s petition, and arguments of counsel with respect thereto.

The pertinent allegations of Plaintiff’s petition read as follows: (Page one)

“The plaintiff avers that on or about the 1st day of September 1950, she provided funds to Willard DeWitt, to be used by the said Willard DeWitt to purchase for the plaintiff, but in the name of said Willard DeWitt. all of the interest of one Hazel DeWitt Lough in the following described real estate:
“Situate in the State of Ohio, County of Fayette and in the township of Wayne:
“First Tract:
“* * * containing 140 acres of land, more or less.
“Second Tract:
“* * * containing Thirty-eight and sixty-seven one-hundredths (38.67) acres of land, * * *
“such interest consisting of a life estate.

(Page two)

“The plaintiff further avers that said Willard DeWitt did so purchase the land as intended, using the provided funds, and did receive a quit-claim deed for the life estate of Hazel DeWitt Lough on or about the 2nd day of September, 1950.
“The plaintiff further avers that the said Willard DeWitt died on or about the 21st day of October, 1952 and that his widow, Willa DeWitt, was named Executrix and sole beneficiary by his will. Said Willa DeWitt, as executrix, has filed an inventory of the estate of Willard DeWitt in which is included the afore-said described land. Plaintiff says that such land should not be included in the estate of Willard DeWitt since said Willard DeWitt was holding as trustee for the plaintiff. Plaintiff further says that the said defendant claims said premises by virtue of the will of Willard DeWitt and refuses to deliver possession of the same to plaintiff.
“WHEREFORE, plaintiff prays that she be adjudged and decreed to have the beneficial interest in said land and that the defendant be declared trustee for her benefit and the defendant as trustee, be ordered to convey the said land to the plaintiff, and that the plaintiff be granted such other and further relief as she may be entitled to in law or equity, together with her costs herein.”

Defendant’s answer thereto reads as follows:

“Now comes the defendant, Willa DeWitt, and for answer to Plaintiff’s petition admits that on or about the 1st day of September, 1950, certain funds were turned over to Willard DeWitt by the Plaintiff and that thereafter said Willard DeWitt purchased certain premises from Hazel DeWitt Lough. However, defendant denies that said funds were turned over to Willard DeWitt for the purpose as contained in paragraph one of Plaintiff’s [340]*340petition, but says that said funds were a gift to Willard DeWitt by the Plaintiff.
“The Defendant, by way of answer also admits all those allegations contained in the first two sentences of the second paragraph on page 2 of Plaintiff’s petition except the date of death of Willard DeWitt, which was on October 11, 1952 rather than on October 21, 1952, as stated in Plaintiff’s petition.
“Further answering, Defendant denies each and every, all and singular statements and allegations contained in said petition, save and except such as are herein expressly admitted to be true.
“WHEREFORE, Defendant prays that Plaintiff’s petition be dismissed and that she may go hence and recover her costs herein.”

Plaintiff’s reply to Defendant’s answer reads as follows:

“Now comes the plaintiff, a.nd for reply to defendant’s answer, does deny each and every allegation therein contained not previously alleged by plaintiff or admitted by her to be true.”

Upon the issues so joined, this cause came on to be heard by and tried to the court and thereupon the following stipulations were made by and between counsel for the respective parties, as they appear on pages 2, 3, and 4 of the Record:

“MR. RANKIN: If the court please, we desire to make certain stipulations with regard to the public records of Fayette County, Ohio.

First, it is stipulated by and between counsel for plaintiff and defendant that the last will and testament of Harry DeWitt was admitted into the record in the probate court on February 25, 1936 and is recorded in Will Record Book 10 at page 333.

I have here a certified copy of that will, which is stipulated, may be admitted solely for the purpose of showing that a life estate in the real estate described in the petition was devised to one Hazel DeWitt and for no other purpose.

“MR. JUNK: We are willing to stipulate. Make no objection whatever. The records do show recording of Harry DeWitt’s will and the contents thereof are correct records without having any introduction of evidence.
“THE COURT: The record may so show.
“MR. RANKIN: Second, it is stipulated by and between counsel for Plaintiff and Defendant that a certain deed from Hazel Lough, formerly Hazel DeWitt and her husband, Washington Lough, dated September 2, 1950, filed for record September 2, 1950, and recorded in Deed Record Book 82. page 469, which is witnessed by Ray R. Maddox and Charlotte D. Gooley, and is acknowledged before Ray R. Maddox, Notary Public for the state of Ohio, and which is a quit claim deed purporting to convey to Willard DeWitt and his heirs and assigns forever the real estate which is the subject of this cause of action, and that the original deed is hereby entered and stipulated to be the original deed of conveyance so described.
“THE COURT: Is there any objection?
“MR. JUNK: We have no objection.
“THE COURT: Let the record so show. Let the record also show that within a reasonable time a copy will be substituted in lieu of the original.
“MR. RANKIN: Third, it is stipulated by and between counsel for the plaintiff and defendant that by certificate of transfer, issued by the Fayette County Probate Court dated May 12, 1953, and filed for record May 12, 1953. [341]*341and recorded in Deed Record Book 86 at page 189, the life estate which is the subject of this action was transferred from Willard DeWitt, deceased, to Willa DeWitt, together with other interests which are not germaine to this action.
“THE COURT: Are there any objections?
“MR. JUNK: No, we will stipulate that for the records.
“THE COURT: Let the record so show.
“MR. RANKIN: That is all the stipulations we have, your Honor.”

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
122 N.E.2d 123, 70 Ohio Law. Abs. 338, 1954 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 328, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gooley-v-dewitt-ohctcomplfayett-1954.