Reedy v. Millizen

40 N.E. 1028, 155 Ill. 636
CourtIllinois Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 14, 1895
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 40 N.E. 1028 (Reedy v. Millizen) 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
Reedy v. Millizen, 40 N.E. 1028, 155 Ill. 636 (Ill. 1895).

Opinion

Per Curiam :

This is a bill to redeem from a sale and deed by a trustee, made April 29, 1878, under a trust deed executed by one Ira A. A. W. Camfield, dated March 1, 1875, and to set aside a subsequent conveyance by the purchaser at such sale to appellee Millizen. Appellants claim as heirs-at-law of Camfield, who is conceded to have been the owner of the land in controversy. The bill was filed less than three years after appellants attained their majority, so that the Statute of Limitations would not run against them unless it had commenced to run during the lifetime of said Camfield, under whom they claimed title.

If the Statute of Limitations had begun to run during the life of the ancestor, Camfield, it is too familiar to require the citation of authority, that his death, and the descent to his minor heirs of his rights and equities in the land, would not interrupt the completion of the bar, and that a court of equity will, in obedience to the statute, and, by analogy, to proceedings at law, give effect to the limitation. This is conceded, practically, and to avoid the effect it is contended that Camfield died prior to the sale and deed by the trustee, April 29,1878, or, at least, prior to the subsequent conveyance to appellee Millizen. His death is not shown, but it is insisted that, he having been absent and not heard from for seven years, the presumption of life is overcome, and there being, in such case, no presumption as to what time, within the seven years, death occurred, (Johnson v. Johnson, 114 Ill. 611,) the facts shown were sufficient to raise the presumption of fact that he died before the said conveyances, respectively,—that is, that Camfield having been so long absent without having been heard of or from that 'the presumption of his death arose, the facts shown raised the further presumption that the death occurred on or about January 1, 1878, and prior to the making of said trustee’s sale and deed, and that, the title of Camfield having devolved by descent upon appellants, and they being under disability, the statute did not commence to run.

The rule is well established that absence for seven years without the whereabouts being known, and without having been heard from during that period, raises, at the expiration of that time, the presumption of death. (Whiting v. Nicoll, 46 Ill. 230; Johnson v. Johnson, supra; Lawson on Presumptive Evidence, rule 43, and cases cited.) When, however, a thing is shown to exist, its continuance is presumed until the contrary is shown or a conflicting presumption arises. Hence, unless it be shown that death' occurred prior to the expiration of the seven years’ absence, or some conflicting presumption arises from the facts proved which would overcome the presumption of the continuance of life, the presumption of life would obtain until the full expiration of the period, when the contrary presumption of death, from the continued absence, would arise. While, therefore, it is true that there is no presumption that death occurred at any particular time within the seven years, it is also true that, in the absence of contravening facts or controlling presumptions, it will be presumed that life continued during the entire period. Clark v. Camfield, 15 N. J. Eq. 119; Montgomery v. Bevan, 1 Sawy. 660 ; Burr v. Lion, 4 Whart. 150 ; Eagle’s case, 3 Abb. Pr. 218 ; Hancock v. Am. Life Ins. Co. 62 Mo. 26 ; Dean v. Bittinger, id. 101; Hopewell v. DePinney, 2 Camp. 113; Whiteside’s Appeal, 23 Pa. St. 114.

The various courts found it necessary to establish an arbitrary period upon the expiration of which death would be presumed, and they have fixed a period of seven years, probably as analogous to and in harmony with the statute of 1 James I, chap. 11, sec. 2, and 19 Charles II, chap. 6, the former providing a like period where the wife might marry upon continued absence of the husband, and the latter to obviate the necessity of establishing the .death of cestuis que vie in certain cases. (Lawson on Presumptive Evidence, 202.) No discussion, however, will be necessary of the reasons for the establishment of the rule. At the expiration of seven years the presumption of death arises by law, so that the absentee is to be treated and accounted as dead, just as the common law regarded him as living until death was proved. In neither case is life or death actually proved, but he is accounted as living until, by reason of his absence, he is presumed to be dead; and, as a matter of right and of equity, the relations of parties affected by his life or death are to be determined by these technical presumptions.

It follows, necessarily, that the presumption of the continuance of life may be overcome by proof of facts and circumstances raising a contradictory presumption or by stronger conflicting presumptions, as, where the presumption of innocence conflicts with the presumption of life, in which the latter gives way and the presumption of innocence obtains. ■ (Johnson v. Johnson, supra.) So if circumstances be shown which will be deemed sufficient to raise the presumption of death before the expiration of the seven years’ absence or at any particular time within the seven years, the presumption of life will be overcome. Lawson, in his work on Presumptive Evidence, in stating what circumstances, if proved, will overcome the presumption of the continuance of life, lays down the following rule: “That within that time

he was in a desperate state of health.” (Rule 49.) “That his habits, character, domestic relations or necessities would have made it certain that if alive within that period he would have returned to or communicated with his residence, home or domicil.” (Rule 52.) Numerous others are given, but these alone are applicable. The subject is usually one of very considerable difficulty, but must be determined by a consideration of the facts proved and the natural and legitimate inferences arising therefrom. The condition of health of a party when last seen or heard from always becomes an important subject of inquiry. If the party is afflicted with some disease liable to immediately produce death, or some specific malady which would necessarily undermine and destroy health and life, the presumption of an early dissolution would be greatly increased. So the age, habits of life, habits as to the use of stimulants or drugs, and, indeed, any conditions from which a presumption as to the continuance or destruction of life would arise, are proper to be considered. So, also, where one has lived an upright life and enjoyed the confidence of his acquaintances, is successful in business, attached to his family, contented,' and fond of the associations of home, it is to be fairly presumed that if alive he would speedily return, or at least communicate with the objects of his affection. On the other hand, if his relations with his family were strained, if he was in straightened circumstances, unhappy, and discontented with his surroundings and associations, the likelihood of his return or communication would naturally be much lessened. The natural inference arising in one case would be opposed to that arising in the other, and as proof of one would tend to overcome the presumption of life, so proof of the other might, to a greater or less degree, when, considered in connection with the traits of character and habits of the particular person, tend to strengthen that presumption, or at least fail to create a contrary presumption. Webster v. Berchmore, 13 Ves. 362; In re Hall, 1 Wall. 85; Tisale v. Connecticut Mutual Ins. Co. 26 Iowa, 170, and authorities supra.

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Bluebook (online)
40 N.E. 1028, 155 Ill. 636, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/reedy-v-millizen-ill-1895.