Vamplew v. Chambers

45 N.W. 268, 29 Neb. 83, 1890 Neb. LEXIS 200

• Court: Nebraska Supreme Court
• Decided: March 11, 1890
• Status: Published

Opinion

Maxwell, J.

This is an action to have a certain mortgage on real estate and the foreclosure thereof, and the master’s deed issued in pursuance thereof, declared null and void, and the plaintiffs decreed to be the owners of the property.'

On the trial of the cause the court below found the issues in favor of the defendant, and dismissed the action. The plaintiffs appeal.

The plaintiffs, who were minors when the mortgage was executed, are heirs of one Charles Vamplew, deceased, and claim the property in question as heirs of their father.

It appears from the record that on or about the 16th day of September, 1866, Charles Vamplew, the father of the plaintiffs, being possessed of the property in controversy, and having made the will hereafter referred to, died. This will was duly admitted to probate, and contained these provisions: “I do give and bequeath unto my dear wife, Marian Vamplew, all my real and personal property whatsoever, and whatsoever that I am possessed of, or have claim to, at the time of my decease, to her own use, benefit, and individual control, absolutely, duriug the term of her natural life, with full power and authority to sell the same or any part thereof, if in her judgment considered best and expedient for the benefit and advantage of my dear wife and her and my children me surviving, and for their maintenance, education, and the teaching of them and each of them any trade, business, or profession; and, after the decease of my dear wife, my will and desire is that any property, real or personal, then remaining in .the possession or under the control of my dear wife shall be equally divided amongst my three surviving children, or the heirs of their bodies, or any of their bodies, if any of my children me surviving die before my dear wife, leaving issue lawfully begotten; but in case such of my children as die before the decease of my dear wife, Marian Vamplew, shall leave no issue them surviving, then the share or shares which they or each or any of them would have been entitled to shall be equally divided amongst the survivors or their legal issue them surviving, as aforesaid. But in case of the marriage of my dear wife aforesaid, my will and desire is that the aforesaid bequest to her shall cease and determine, and become null and void, and her authority over all or any of my remaining estate hereby devised shall cease and determine, but not otherwise; and I do hereby nominate and appoint my dear wife, aforesaid, sole executrix of this my will, and guardian of my surviving children during their minority, with the restriction aforesaid, only in case she shall marry again.”

The widow married one Saunders on the 28th of August, 1869. On the 16th day of August of that year she conveyed the property in dispute to one David Neale, her brother-in-law, the nominal consideration being $2,5t)0. Soon after the marriage Neale reconveyed to Mrs. Saunders for the alleged consideration of $500.

In 1871 Mrs. Saunders, while occupying the premises with her children, executed a mortgage on the property in question to the defendant in the action to secure the payment of $2,500 borrowed money. The amount due on the mortgage nQt being paid, an action to foreclose the same was instituted, a decree of foreclosure obtained, and the property sold to the defendant, the sale confirmed, and a deed ordered and made to the purchaser.

It will thus be seen that the principal' question is, Did Mrs. Yamplew have apparent authority under the will to make the conveyance to Neale? The will gave her “full power and authority to sell the same, or any part thereof, if in her judgment considered best and expedient for the benefit and advantage of my dear wife and her and my children me surviving,” etc. She, by the will, is made the sole arbiter to determine whether or not a sale and conveyance of the property should be made, and, having the apparent authority and having exercised it by making a conveyance^ parties who act in good faith upon the strength of such deed certainly are entitled to protection. Here was a regular chain of title on the record, showing a conveyance by Mrs. Yamplew to Neale and by Neale to Mrs. Saunders and a mortgage executed by the latter upon the real estate to which she held the legal title. A stranger in examining the title certainly would find no defects therein, and should be protected. Had defense been made to the action to foreclose, or an offer to redeem been made soon afterwards, it is possible that such defense or action could have been sustained. But our laws favor the repose of titles to real estate, and require those who claim an adverse interest to assert the same within the period fixed by law or be barred.

There is some claim that the defendant had notice of the plaintiff’s rights in the premises Avhen she took the mortgage, but the proof on that point is not sufficient to charge notice.

The judgment is right and is affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.

The other judges concur.

May 22, 1890.

Per Curiam :

A motion for a rehearing has been filed in this case on behalf of the plaintiffs, and it is claimed therein that the plaintiffs are entitled to redeem the premises from the decree of foreclosure. The petition of the plaintiffs contains no statement of facts shewing the amount due to defendant upon the decree; nor is there any offer to pay Avhat is due thereon, or any allegation showing a desire on their part to redeem the property; nor is such relief asked for in the prayer. That question, therefore, cannot be considered in this case and is not decided.