Haberstich v. Elliott

59 N.E. 557, 189 Ill. 70
CourtIllinois Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 20, 1901
StatusPublished

This text of 59 N.E. 557 (Haberstich v. Elliott) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Illinois Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Haberstich v. Elliott, 59 N.E. 557, 189 Ill. 70 (Ill. 1901).

Opinion

Mr. Chief Justice Boggs

delivered the opinion of the court:

This was a petition for partition of the south half of the west half of section 6, township 40, north, range 11, east, in DuPage county, and four acres in section.28, township 41, north, range 11, east, in Cook county, (called the “timber lot,”) among those entitled thereto, as tenants in common, as devisees under the will of Christian Haberstich, deceased.

Christian Haberstich, the testator, died November 3, 1884, leaving a last will and testament, bearing date April 6, 1883, which will was duly admitted to probate. The instrument appointed Elizabeth Haberstich, the widow, executrix, without bond, and otherwise reads as follows:

“First—After the payment of all my just debts and of the expense attendant to my funeral, I give, bequeath, devise and assign unto my wife, Elizabeth, all my real and personal estate, of whatever kind or nature, to have and to hold the same, with all rights, privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining, and full right to dispose of the same at any time and in any manner she may see fit.
“Second—After the death of my wife the property remaining shall be divided among the following of my children in equal shares, to-wit: Magdalina Zarndt, wife of William Zarndt; Carolina Often, wife of Diedrich Often; Gottlieb Haberstich; Eosa Mench, wife of Jacob Mench; Emma Mahler, wife of William Mahler; Fritz Haberstich, Louisa Haberstich, Bertha Haberstich and Laura Haberstich, with the exception of the four first mentioned, whose shares will be subject to the following deductions: From Gottlieb Haberstich’s portion the amount, now unknown tó me, which I, as one of his bondsmen, will have to pay for him; from Magdalina Zarndt’s share the sum of one hundred ($100) dollars; from Carolina Otten’s share one hundred and seventy-five ($175) dollars, and from Eosa Mench’s share one hundred ($100) dollars, they having received the aforesaid amounts from me and given receipts, which are now in my possession.
“Third—My son August Haberstich having received his full share of my estate during my lifetime, shall have no further claim whatever on my estate after my decease.”

It appeared the executrix paid all of the indebtedness of the testator, survived her husband nearly thirteen years and departed this life September 6, 1897.

The bill and the evidence, in the main, were directed to controversies relating to certain conveyances made by or to said Elizabeth Haberstich, widow, as executrix of said testator, asserted to be constructively fraudulent as against the interest of the residuary legatees under the will, and to divers transactions between the executrix and certain of the legatees, in the nature of payments in advance or advancements by the executrix to such legatees on their shares, respectively, under the will. The decree as to these issues is not questioned by this appeal except as to the disposition made by the chancellor of the share of Gottlieb Haberstich, one of such devisees.

Four certain notes, executed prior.to the date of the death of the said testator, were filed and allowed against the estate of the testator, each being signed by the said Gottlieb Haberstich and the testator. The executrix negotiated a loan, and secured the same by mortgage on the lands here involved, to provide a fund wherewith to pay these claims, and paid and discharged them. Said Gottlieb executed and delivered to the executrix an instrument in writing, as follows:

“JSfov 12 1892
“I, Gottlieb Haberstich, do hereby acknowledge that my mother, Elizabeth Haberstich, as executrix of the last will and testament of my father, Christian Haberstich, deceased, has paid the sum of $1300 as the capital and interest of the notes which my father signed as surety, and I hereby agree that the said sum of $1300 shall be deducted from my share of the estate of my father when said estate shall be finally distributed.
Gottlieb Haberstich. ”

The indebtedness incurred by the executrix in order to procure the money to pay the claims allowed against the estate on the notes so given by Gottlieb and the testator was not paid by the executrix, but the payment thereof was extended from time to time, new mortgages being given, the latest of which mortgages being now in full force and an encumbrance and lien on the land. On the 5th day of January, 1898, said Gottlieb confessed a judgment in favor of appellee, Elliott, in the circuit court of DuPage county, in the sum of $556.54, and on the 10th day of November, 1898, executed and delivered to one John Walther a quit-claim deed purporting to convey to Walther all interest the grantor had, by virtue of said will, in the said land in the county of DuPage, hereinbefore mentioned.

The chancellor decreed that Gottlieb was entitled to an undivided one-ninth interest in the “timber lot” in Cook county and Walther was entitled to Gottlieb’s interest in the lands in DuPage county, subject, however, to the lien of the judgment confessed by Gottlieb in favor of appellee, Elliott. On appeal the Appellate Court for the Second District reversed the finding and decree of the circuit court as to the “timber lot,” and ruled that the interest of Gottlieb in that property should be decreed to be subject to a lien for the payment of said $1300 paid by the executrix on the claims allowed, for the payment whereof the testator was but surety for Gottlieb, and otherwise affirmed the decree.

' The contention of the appellants before the chancellor, in the Appellate Court and in this court, was and is, that the testator was surety for the said Gottlieb on the notes filed and allowed against the estate, as hereinbefore mentioned, and that the moneys paid by the executrix to the parties in whose favor those claims were allowed against said estate (which money is now represented by the mortgage resting upon the lands) should be deducted from the share of Gottlieb, or made a charge or lien on the interest of the said Gottlieb paramount to both the lien of the judgment in favor of appellee, Elliott, and the interest of John Walther, as the grantee of said Gottlieb.

Witnesses were produced for the purpose of establishing the indebtedness on which said claims were allowed was the debts of Gottlieb, and that the testator was only a surety. Some of the witnesses so testified, but there is much force in the objection their testimony was only hearsay. The instrument signed by Gottlieb, hereinbefore set out in full, together with other competent testimony, sufficiently established, as against him, the truth of the contention made by the appellants. We think, under all the circumstances of the case, it should also be deemed valid and effectual as against the said appellee, Elliott, and said John Walther. Said Elliott and Walther stand charged with notice that the interest of Gottlieb is such, only, as he should become entitled to under the will of his father. The will expressly declared that from Gottlieb’s share as devisee should be deducted “the amount, now unknown to me, which I, as one of his bondsmen, will have to pay for him.” The notes signed by Gottlieb and the testator were dated before the will was drawn, and were then outstanding. There is no proof he was surety for Gottlieb on any other paper.

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Bluebook (online)
59 N.E. 557, 189 Ill. 70, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/haberstich-v-elliott-ill-1901.