Spiva v. Jeter

Court of Appeals of South Carolina

Spiva v. Jeter

30 S.C. Eq. 434

DecidedDecember 15, 1857

StatusPublished

This text of 30 S.C. Eq. 434 (Spiva v. Jeter) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of South Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Spiva v. Jeter, 30 S.C. Eq. 434 (S.C. Ct. App. 1857).

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Opinion

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

DuNKIN, Ch.

It is not supposed, or contended, that the paper executed 26th September, 1844, was a release of dower. It was no more than an agreement, and, assuming that the defendant, when he purchased from the plaintiff’s husband, was made acquainted with this ante-nuptial arrangement, he must be presumed to have understood the character, and effect of the instrument. The obligation of the plaintiff to release any interest she might acquire, rested in contract, and [439]*439depended on the fidelity with which the conditions of the contract were fulfilled by her future husband. ,Under the circumstances detailed in the evidence, neither the husband, nor his heirs, would have any claim- to the interference of this Court, in enforcing the execution of the contract; and the purchaser from him, having a knowledge that the dower had not been released, would have no higher equity to insist on the performance of the agreement; and to invoke the aid of this Court in restraining the plaintiff from the prosecution of her legal rights.

It is ordered and decreed, that the appeal be dismissed.

Johnstok, Dargaw and Wardlaw, CC., concurred.

Appeal dismissed.

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The opinion of the Court was delivered by

DuNKIN, Ch.

It is not supposed, or contended, that the paper executed 26th September, 1844, was a release of dower. It was no more than an agreement, and, assuming that the defendant, when he purchased from the plaintiff’s husband, was made acquainted with this ante-nuptial arrangement, he must be presumed to have understood the character, and effect of the instrument. The obligation of the plaintiff to release any interest she might acquire, rested in contract, and [439]*439depended on the fidelity with which the conditions of the contract were fulfilled by her future husband. ,Under the circumstances detailed in the evidence, neither the husband, nor his heirs, would have any claim- to the interference of this Court, in enforcing the execution of the contract; and the purchaser from him, having a knowledge that the dower had not been released, would have no higher equity to insist on the performance of the agreement; and to invoke the aid of this Court in restraining the plaintiff from the prosecution of her legal rights.

It is ordered and decreed, that the appeal be dismissed.

Johnstok, Dargaw and Wardlaw, CC., concurred.

Appeal dismissed.

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Bluebook (online)

30 S.C. Eq. 434, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/spiva-v-jeter-scctapp-1857.