Leroy v. Norton

49 Colo. 490
CourtSupreme Court of Colorado
DecidedJanuary 15, 1911
DocketNo. 6302
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 49 Colo. 490 (Leroy v. Norton) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Colorado primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Leroy v. Norton, 49 Colo. 490 (Colo. 1911).

Opinion

Mr. Justice Hill

delivered the opinion of the court:

This action was brought by the appellee May Norton against the appellants Ann Leroy and her husband, Frederick Leroy. Plaintiff prayed judgment, that she be decreed to be the owner of certain described land; that she be put in possession of it; that defendants be ordered to convey said premises to her; that she have judgment for its rents and profits and for general relief. The decree was in her favor, from which this appeal is prosecuted.

The ground on which this case was disposed of at the trial was, that the evidence established that the defendant Ann Leroy had the title of the land in controversy taken in her name, but in fact held it as trustee for the plaintiff, whose money was used in payment for it, and that on account thereof a resulting trust was created with the consent of the trustee and cestui que trust.

The only serious errors urged are that the evidence is insufficient to sustain the findings, and that it is insufficient in law and in fact to establish a resulting trust in favor of the plaintiff. There appears to be but little conflict between counsel, upon the law of the case. It is conceded that when real estate is purchased and a conveyance is taken in the name of one person, for the benefit of another, where the price paid is with the money of the other, the estate follows the consideration and inures to the party from whom that consideration comes. The evidence, to sustain a resulting trust, must be clear, certain, satisfactory, trustworthy, and some cases say conclusive; and if, as contended by counsel for appellants, the case must be made out with that fullness and precision which is essential to a conviction in a criminal case, beyond a reasonable doubt — we think,, after a careful exam[492]*492ination of the entire record, the evidence here is sufficient to satisfy this requirement.

The facts of the case disclose the unfortunate condition of a family, repeatedly divided within itself. The plaintiff (appellee) is the daughter of Ann Leroy, one of the defendants (appellants here), whose name was formerly Ann Cavanaugh. When a child the plaintiff came from the East with her father, mother, brother and one or two sisters, to Pueblo county, where the father and mother separated. The mother was awarded the custody of this daughter', and another girl, who thereafter became a Mrs. Nowak, whose ancestors appear to be a matter in dispute. She stated she is an adopted daughter of the defendant Ann Leroy, while Mrs. Leroy testified she is her own daughter.

About the year 1883 the mother took charge of a pesthouse for Pueblo' county, and from that time until 1894 or thereafter, the two girls assisted her in conducting this institution. The evidence for the plaintiff is that at about the time the girls reached their majority they talked of leaving the place, but the mother urged them to stay a few years longer, promising them wages at $25 per month, and they testified that she was at that time securing this amount for their services. There is .testimony that the mother received a salary of $50, $60 and $100 per month, at different times, in addition to what patients paid her for certain services, and that she was also allowed a certain amount for each patient. The evidence is conflicting upon some of • these questions. She continued to conduct this house for about twelve years, and drew all moneys which were paid for services rendered by herself and the girls. After leaking the pesthouse the mother secured a ranch, where the plaintiff worked, the greater part of the [493]*493time for about two and one-half years, doing a large portion of a man’s work in and.about the ranch.

There is so'me contention as to the amount the mother saved from the moneys received from the county for conducting the pesthouse. Plaintiff and the other daughter or step-daughter,. Mrs. Nowak, stated that she had $10,000 from that source at one time, and repeatedly advised them to that effect; also that plaintiff and Mrs. Nowak had in their possession $5,000 of this money at one time, during the panic of 1893, when they were changing the place of its deposit from one bank to another in Pueblo. The mother herself admits she had $4,000 at one time,- that came from the county. To a certain extent, this evidence is immaterial, for the reason we think the record as a whole establishes that there was an understanding arrived at whereby it was agreed and understood between them that the plaintiff was entitled to and was to have $2,000 of this money for her services at the pesthouse, and thereafter on the ranch.

Thereafter, and during the year 1897, the mother and her daughter, Mrs. Norton, came to Colorado Springs for the purpose of buying the property in controversy, at which time it appears to have been understood between them that the place was being purchased for the daughter, with the $2,000 then in the possession of the mother, which money was coming from the mother to the daughter, and, at which time, the mother stated, to at least three people,.in the presence of the daughter, that the place was being bought for the daughter, and with her money. When it was suggested, in that case that the deed be made direct to the daughter for the property, the mother gave, in substance, as the reason for having the property placed in her own name that the daughter had been at the pesthouse nearly all her life, hence was [494]*494inexperienced and did not know how to transact business. After the purchase, it appears both the mother and daughter went to live upon this property and operated it, where the plaintiff remained most of the time until she was married in 1900; thereafter she was there at times, but was with her husband the most of the time until his death, which occurred in November, 1906, when the plaintiff again returned to the ranch with her two children, and continued to stay there the greater part of the time until she was ejected therefrom, about two weeks prior to the bringing of this suit.

From the time of the purchase of this ranch, the defendant Ann Leroy stayed upon it most of the time, but at times again conducted the pesthouse for Pueblo county; at which place she formed the acquaintance of her husband, Frederick Leroy, and on about the 16th of February, 1899, they were married, she being from twenty-five to thirty-three years his. senior. On the 2nd of March, 1899, being about two- weeks after their marriage, the defendant Ann Leroy executed a warranty deed for this property fi> her husband, Frederick Leroy. There was a reservation in the deed reserving to the grantor the free use, occupation, enjoyment and rents of the property for and during her natural life; the consideration paid was one dollar. The plaintiff did not learn of the executing or recording of this deed until about August or September, 1906, which was some two or three months prior to the death of her husband. After hearing a rumor to that effect, they investigated and. ascertained the fact, at which time they protested concerning it; but it appears nothing further was done at that time, presumably on account of the death of her husband, and the further fact that she then returned to the ranch and continued to make it their home for at least a part of the time until ejected therefrom, when [495]*495it appears they had their last difficulty, and at which time she informed Mr. Leroy that she was going to stay on the land until they put her off.

Other evidence admitted without objection, which, if competent, shows that under a similar arrangement with Mrs.

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Bluebook (online)
49 Colo. 490, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/leroy-v-norton-colo-1911.