Nichols v. Robinson

211 S.W. 11, 277 Mo. 483, 1919 Mo. LEXIS 38
CourtSupreme Court of Missouri
DecidedMarch 28, 1919
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 211 S.W. 11 (Nichols v. Robinson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nichols v. Robinson, 211 S.W. 11, 277 Mo. 483, 1919 Mo. LEXIS 38 (Mo. 1919).

Opinion

GRAVES, J.

The petition in this case contains two counts, (1) one to quiet title and (2) one 'in ejectment. Each is conventional in form.

To the first count of the petition the defendant answered (1) by admitting his possession and admitting his claim of title, and averring that he held the record title from the patentee down and a general denial of other matters, and (2) the ten-year Statute of Limitations is invoked. To the second count he answered (1) by admitting his possession, claiming ownership, and denying other matters, and (2) a plea of the ten-year Statute of Limitations, and (3) a plea of the 24-year Statute of Limitations.

Reply was a general denial. Judgment for plaintiffs and defendant has appealed.

The facts of this case are simple and to the point. The land involved is conceded to be a part of the homestead of one Martin Asher, who is the common source [488]*488of title. Martin Asher died testate on May 5, 1875. At this point dates are material. He left as his widow, Sarah Asher and a son, A. P. Asher. The fourth and fifth clauses of the will read:

“Fourth: I give- and devise to Elizabeth Asher, wife of my son Arthur P. Asher, and the heirs of her body, all of my real and personal estate, after all my just debts, liabilities and the legacies herein provided for are paid off and satisfied that shall then be remaining and not herein disposed and to their heirs.
“Fifth: It is not intended herein to interfere with my wife’s personal dower.”

The due probate of this will is denied and this becomes a question for decision.

Using the language of appellant’s counsel:

“The residuary devisee, Elizabeth Asher, wife of Arthur P. Asher, had three children, one of whom died in early infancy, and two who were living at the time of their grand-father’s death, namely, Thomas Asher and Rachel Asher.
“Thomas Asher survived his father A. P. Asher and died, unmarried and without issue, leaving his mother Elizabeth and his sister Rachel surviving. Elizabeth Asher died October 12th, 1912. Rachel Asher married Haywood Cook, by whom she had three children, Effie, Woody and Haywood Cook, who are the plaintiffs in this suit.”

Learned counsel for appellant further outlines his claim thus:

“Defendant claims under Sarah Asher, the widow of Martin Asher, on the theory that she took the homestead in fee, and under A. P. Asher, the son of Martin Asher, if the widow took a life estate only, because the will of Martin Asher was not probated and therefore ineffectual to pass title and A. P. Asher took by descent from his father.
‘ ‘ Sarah Asher, the widow of Martin Asher, married Edward Shipman on the 29th day of August, 1875, and after his death was married to Joseph A. [489]*489Morris on January 8, 1877. On the 29th day .of November, 1878, by the name of Sarah Morris, she and her husband executed a deed to Elizabeth Asher and A. P. Asher, conveying lots 10, 11 and 14 of section 5, township 25, range 8, the identity of the grantors being established by the following recital in the deed:
“ ‘This indenture made on the 29th day of November, A. D. one thousand, eight hundred and seventy-eight, by and between Sallie Morris, late Sallie Ship-man, late Sallie Asher; and Joseph Morris, her husband, of the County of Stoddard and State of Missouri, parties of the first part, and Elizabeth Asher and A. P. Asher of the County of Butler and State of Missouri, witne,sseth, etc.’
“Elizabeth Asher and A. P. Asher, her husband, transferred lots 10 and 11 to Williám Stringer by warranty deed dated May 3, 1881, and William Stringer conveyed the same by warranty deed, dated May 26, 1891, to the defendant, Louis Robinson, who has ever since claimed title and held possession.
“Memoranda of conveyances:
“Sarah Morris and husband, quit claim, to Elizabeth Asher and A. T. Asher, lots 10, 11 and 14, Nov. 29, 1878.
“Elizabeth Asher and A. P. Asher, warranty, to William Stringer lots 10 and 11, May 3, 1881.
“William Stringer, warranty, to Louis Robinson, May 26, 1891.”

Counsel for respondents concisely state their case thus:

“Martin Asher left surviving him a widow, Sallie (or Sarah) Asher, who afterwards married a Ship-man and then a Morris, and Arthur P. Asher, a son. Item 4 of his will, provides as follows:
“ ‘Fourth: I give and devise to Elizabeth Asher, wife of my son, Arthur P. Asher, and the heirs o.f her body, all of my real and personal estate, after all my debts, liabilities and the legacies herein provided for [490]*490are paid off and satisfied that shall then be remaining and not herein disposed of, and to their heirs.’
“Elizabeth Asher had three children, Thomas and Rachel, and one child that died in infancy. Thomas died when he was about twenty years old and left no children. Rachel Asher married Haywood Cook. She died September 20, 1911, leaving plaintiffs as her only heirs, they being the grandchildren of Elizabeth Asher. Elizabeth Asher died October 12, 1912, and Sallie Asher, the widow, died in the year 1913.
“Plaintiffs claim title to the land in controversy as residuary legates under the will of Martin Asher. Defendant claims by mesne conveyance from A. P. Asher, the only heir of Martin Asher.
“Defendant contends that the judgment rendered by the circuit court in this cause, should be reversed for the following reasons:
“1. That the lands in controversy constituted the homestead of Martin Asher, and passed to his widow in fee, under the Homestead Act of 1865, which title he acquired by mesne conveyances.
“2. That the will of Martin Asher was not legally probated and hence did not convey the title to these lands, but that the same passed to A. P. Asher, as the only heir of Martin Asher, and that defendant has his title.’’

From the foregoing can be gathered the real issues. In the brief of appellant we find nothing upon the Statutes of Limitation, and he evidently abandons those defenses.

Points for Decision. I. The counsel for respondent, as quoted in the statement above, have pointedly stated the two contentions of the defendant. The defense of the Statute of Limitations dropped from the case and is not even urged or briefed here. There is no question Sarah Asher, the widow of Martin Asher, in fact and law acquired a fee to this land by virtue of the Homestead Act of 1865, the defen[491]*491dant has acquired this title. Further, if the widow aforesaid, did not get the fee, hut only a life estate, and the will of Martin Asher was not duly probated, then the fee passed from A. P. Asher to this defendant. A. P. Asher was the only child of Martin Asher, and absent a will, he would take by descent. The defendant puts all his eggs in the two baskets. In effect he conceded that plaintiffs are entitled to recover, unless under one or the other of the two theories he acquired title.

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Bluebook (online)
211 S.W. 11, 277 Mo. 483, 1919 Mo. LEXIS 38, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nichols-v-robinson-mo-1919.