Uloth v. Moodyman

227 S.W. 326, 1920 Tex. App. LEXIS 1235
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedDecember 21, 1920
DocketNo. 7963.
StatusPublished

This text of 227 S.W. 326 (Uloth v. Moodyman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Uloth v. Moodyman, 227 S.W. 326, 1920 Tex. App. LEXIS 1235 (Tex. Ct. App. 1920).

Opinions

LANE, J.

This suit was instituted by John Uloth and wife, Lizzie Uloth, against Alonzo Moodyman, Warner Moodyman, and John McNew and wife, Mattie McNew. They alleged that plaintiff Lizzie Uloth and defendants Alonzo Moodyman, Warner Moody-man, and Mattie McNew are each the owners of a one-fourth undivided interest in certain lots in blocks 1 and 2, including lots 2 and 5, block 1, of the Moodyman addition to the city of Houston, said interest being subject, however, to certain equities of Lizzie Uloth and Mattie McNew therein by reason of the terms of the will of Charles Moody-man, deceased. They pray for partition and adjustment of equities, etc. '

Alonzo Moodyman and Warner Moodyman answered first by general denial, but, further answering, they admit that all the property mentioned in plaintiffs’ petition was owned by the parties as alleged, except lots 2 and 5 in block 1. They allege that 'said lots 2 and 5 are the exclusive property of Warner Moodyman, and pleaded estoppel as against the Uloths and McNews to claim any part of lots 2 and 5. Alonzo Moodyman disclaimed as to all of lots 2 and 5.

Alonzo and Warner Moodyman prayed for such judgment as they should show themselves entitled to under the pleadings and evidence, both in law and in equity.

So far as shown by the record, no answer was filed by either of the McNews, but it is recited in the judgment that they orally adopted the allegations of the plaintiffs.

It was shown that in 1862 one Charles Moodyman was possessed of a certain 6-acre tract of land lying south of and fronting about 150 feet on Washington street in the city of Houston and extending southward therefrom' about 600 feet, being a parallelogram and about 150 feet in width and 600 feet in length; that Charles Moodyman married Mrs. Eliza Parker, a widow, on the 18th day of December, 1869; that at the time of said marriage Mrs. Eliza Parker had two children by a former husband, hereinafter referred to as Jones and Roberts; that after the marriage of Charles Moodyman and Mrs. Parker there were born to them four children, to wit, plaintiff Lizzie, -who married John Uloth; Mattie, who married John McNew; Alonzo Moodyman, and Warner Moodyman; that, after the marriage of Moodyman and Mrs. Parker, Moodyman built a home on said 6 acres of land, and he and his'family resided therein as their home until 1881, at which time he left his wife and children and was not heard of by his family until in February, 1893, at which time they learned that he was liv[327]*327ing at Giddings, in Lee county, Tex.; that, after the departure of Charles Moodyman in 1881, Mrs. Eliza Moodyman and her children by Charles Moodyman believed the whole of the said 6 acres of land was the property of Mrs. Moodyman; that in 1892 there was about $135 to $140 taxes due on said 6-aere tract, and Mrs. Moodyman was desirous of partitioning said 6 acres among her six children, four by Moodyman, the parties to this suit, and Jones and Roberts, children of a former marriage, she instructed John Uloth, John McNew, and Alonzo Moodyman to have said 6 acres survesmd and platted into blocks and lots, and in accordance with said instructions said land was divided into blocks, lots, streets, and alleys, and a map made thereof in accordance with said survey, as shown below:

This map or plat was made Ma,y 12, 1892, filed for record February 20, 1893, and duly recorded on March 20,1893.

On the 13th day of May, the day after said plat was made, Eliza Moodyman executed deeds by which she conveyed to Uloth and wife, McNew and wife, A. Moodyman, Jones, and Roberts, respectively, the lots and parts of lots as made by the plat upon which their several names appear. The consideration expressed in each of these deeds was $1 and love and affection, and it is conceded that in executing the same it was the purpose of Eliza Moodyman to partition the greater part of the 6 acres of land, which all parties at that time thought belonged to Eliza Moodyman, among her children, and this purpose was so understood by all of her children, except Warner Moodyman, who was then a minor and residing with his mother in the old residence situated on the land dividing lots 2 and 5, block 1. All these deeds referred to the plat, and the lots conveyed by them were described by lots and blocks as shown by the plat.

Mrs. Moodyman, at the time of having the plat made, intended that Warner Moody-man should be the owner of lots 2 and 5 as shown thereon, subject only to her homestead right, and this intention was understood by Uloth, McNew, and A. Moodyman, and all of them acquiesced therein and took possession of those lots conveyed to them respectively. Warner Moodyman, who was then about 20 years of age, remained with his mother, living .in the old home situated as indicated on the plat on the dividing line between lots 2 and 5, block 1. However, shortly after this partition was made, to wit, early in the year 1893, it was learned that Charles Moodyman was alive, that he was living at Giddings, in Lee county, Tex., and that the 6 acres of land was his separate property, and that the only interest Eliza Moodyman had therein was her homestead right. As soon as these discoveries were made, Uloth, McNew, and'A. Mi&pdyman went to Giddings, saw Charles Moodyman, told him of the making of the plat and the manner in which Eliza Moodyman had divided the property. All of those parties took the deeds which Mrs. Moodyman had given to them on their visit to Charles Moodyman for the purpose of getting him to sign them. Charles Moodyman refused to sign these deeds, but agreed to and did, on the 18th day of February, 1893, by his deed of that date, convey to John Uloth and wife, John McNew and wife, and A. Moodyman the same property set aside to them by Eliza Moody-man. The consideration expressed in each of such deeds was “love and affection and five notes for $100 each.” John Uloth, testifying in reference to these deeds, said:

“I don’t know if Mr. Moodyman ever saw the plat, but he saw the description in the deeds, and he said he would make a will, and said that it should be divided equally between his four children, and that those who paid him should be reimbursed for what they paid.”

Again:

“After Mrs. Moodyman had this map of the 6 acres made, Mr. Charles Moodyman only eon-[328]*328sidered it to get the field notes to describe the lots, and the money that we paid to the old man was to he reimbursed out of the remainder of the estate after we got our share.”
“What he wanted was his property left to his four children equally.”

John McNew also testified that it was understood that those who paid Mr. Moody-man anything should be reimbursed.

Charles Moodyman refused to convey any part of the 6 acres to either Jones or Roberts, saying that they were the cause of his leaving his home.

On the 1st day of April, 1893, just about one month after he executed the deeds to Uloth and wife, McNew- and wife, and A. Moodyman, Charles Moodyman executed the following will:

“The State of Texas, County of Lee.
“Know all men by these presents: That I, Charles Moodyman, of the county of Lee and state of Texas, being in good health and of sound and disposing mind and memory, do make and publish- this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all wills by me at any time made':
“1st I direct that all my.

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Bluebook (online)
227 S.W. 326, 1920 Tex. App. LEXIS 1235, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/uloth-v-moodyman-texapp-1920.