Morris v. Landaur & Co.

48 Iowa 234

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: April 18, 1878
• Status: Published

Opinion

Adams, J.

1. trust: es*aWlshment°fThe plaintiff introduced in evidence a deed of the land in question, executed by him to Hicks, and also an envelope upon which a writing was indorsed, in these words r “Deed from Thomas Morris, which is only in trust, and I am to deed back to him anytime he desires.” (Signed.) “E. Z. Hicks.” Considerable parol evidence was also introduced, against the defendant’s objection, tending to show that the plaintiff conveyed the land to Hick» to protect himself against certain claims that were being prosecuted against him, but which claims, he insisted at the time, were groundless, and which were, in fact, groundless, as was afterward determined by adjudication thereon; that Hicks paid nothing for the land, and never took possession; that the plaintiff, at the time the deed was executed to Hicks, was occupying the land as a farm, and continued to occupy it. It is insisted by the defendants that the trust cannot be established by parol, and that the writing indorsed upon the envelope is insufficient.

Whether, as the trust has been executed by reconveyance, parol evidence is not admissible as against the defendants, who were not parties to the agreement by which the trust was created, we need not determine. The writing upon the envelope was evidently made as a declaration of trust, to be used as evidence, if necessary. It showed that some deed had been executed to Hicks by the plaintiff, in trust. A deed executed to Hicks by the plaintiff is introduced in evidence. We think the fair inference is that the deed is the same referred to in the writiug, in the absence of all evidence indicating otherwise. The fact of a trust is established beyond controversy. The only question of doubt is in regard to the identity of the property. The deed introduced corresponded with the writing. We cannot hold, then, that there was no evidence of identification, and it follows that a prima facie case was made for the plaintiff. But it is insisted by the defendants that the conveyance, if made in trust, was made to defraud creditors, and that the relief sought should be denied him upon that ground, if upon no other. We think that this position, also, is not well taken. It does not appear that the plaintiff was indebted or subject to any contingent liability. If there were no creditors, we cannot say that the conveyance was made to defraud creditors. We think, therefore, that the judgment of the circuit court must be

Affirmed.