Westcott v. Miller

42 Wis. 454

• Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
• Decided: August 15, 1877
• Status: Published

Opinion

Cole, J.

The title to the land in controversy is derived from Alvin "Willard, who died in 1840, unmarried, intestate and without issue, leaving, him surviving, his mother, one brother and six sisters. The circuit court does not specifically find that he was twenty-one years old when he died; but from the evidence we have no doubt such was the fact. It appears that, a month or so before his death, he executed to his brother Erastus a warranty deed of an undivided half of the lands which he had previously entered, and of which he held a patent from the United States; and the plaintiff Mrs. Westcott, who was about thirty when her brother died, says that she had known him from her childhood. These circumstances afford a very strong presumption that Alvin was more than twenty-one when he died; and the case will be determined upon that assumption.

The first question to be considered is as to the rule of descent of the real estate; and this is manifestly controlled and governed by the territorial statutes of 1839. On the part of the defendant it is claimed, that under sec. 38, p. 184 of these statutes, the mother, as next of kin, took the whole estate of which Alvin died seized, and that consequently the title to the land is vested in him. On the contrary, the plaintiffs insist that the land descended to the mother, brother and sisters equally. This question can hardly be considered an open one in this state, for this reason: The statute of 1839 was adopted substantially from the statutes of Massachusetts, and had received a judicial interpretation in that state before its enactment here. It must therefore be presumed that the territorial legislature, in enacting it, intended to take it with the construction which had been placed upon it by the courts of that state. This familiar rule in the construction of statutes is one which has been frequently recognized and acted upon by this court. Draper v. Emerson, 22 Wis., 148, Perkins v. Simonds, 28 id., 90, and Wiesner v. Zaun, 39 id., 188, are a few of the many cases which might be cited in confirmation of tlie correctness of tliis remark. The two latter cases are very apposite, as they involved, a construction of the statute of descent; and the cases of Mayo v. Boyd, 3 Mass., 13, Sheffield v. Lovering, 12 id., 490, and Nash v. Cutler, 16 Pick., 491, were cited and followed. It is true that in Perkins v. Simonds and Wiesner v. Zaun, we were considering the rule of descent of ancestral estate under the 39th section, and not the case where the intestate acquired lands by purchase. But still an examination of the cases in the 3d and 12th Massachusetts will show that the courts did not confine the application of this section to ancestral estate, hut say that it referred to all other estate of the deceased child which did not come within the provisions of the first clause, and that the purpose of the whole section is to regulate the descent of intestate estate. The counsel for the defendant say that the precise question„ in those cases was as to the rule of descent where the property of the deceased child was derived from the parent by inheritance, and that whatever is said as to what rule would obtain when the child acquired the land by purchase, is obiter. This criticism may be just, but nevertheless these remarks very clearly show the view taken by the courts of Massachusetts of the meaning and intent of the statute; and, as already observed, the presumption is that the legislature enacted it here with this construction. And we are therefore constrained to hold that, though section 38 provides that Alvin’s estate should descend to the next of kin in equal degree, yet the effect of this section is controlled by the other section, and the mother only took equally with the brother and sisters. This result is one which it would be difficult for me to reach were the question new or unembarrassed by the Massachusetts cases. C. J. Parsons admits, in Mayo v. Boyd, that this interpretation is not consistent with the strict letter of the statute; but he observes that the deviation is not greater than is frequently necessary in order to collect the true intent of the legislators. And Mr. Justice Jackson, by his historical view of the legislation upon the subject, gives, in Sheffield v. Lovering, the rationale of this construction, and explains how it happened to be adopted in the first instance. But one approaching the statute as it now stands, without reference to this construction, would probably quite confidently say that the mother would take the whole estate as next of kin, and did not come within the clause of the 39th section, which provides apparently for another case where she should inherit equally with the brother and sisters.

This brings us to the questions arising upon the statute of limitations.

It appears the plaintiffs were married in 1833, and have ever since been and now are husband and wife. It further appears that one sister, Almira, died in 1842 or 1843, unmarried and intestate; but whether she was over or under twenty-one at the time of her death, it is impossible to determine from the evidence. In 1844, the mother, supposing she took the whole estate as next of kin of Alvin, conveyed the same to Erastus Willard; and he subsequently conveyed the land in question to a party under whom the defendant claims title. Actual possession of the land was taken in February, 1848, under these conveyances, and this action was commenced in July, 1873. The circuit court held that the possession since 1848 was adverse to the plaintiffs, and that the action was barred; in other words, that, notwithstanding the coverture of Mrs. Westcott, the statute ran against her, and also against whatever estate or interest her husband had in the land, growing out of the marital relation. And the first question, therefore, to be considered is, Was Mrs. Westcott, in consequence of being a married woman since the death of Alvin and Almira, under disability, so as not to be affected by the operation of the statute of limitations in favor of the defendant? In the case of Wiesner v. Zaun, above referred to, this question is very fully considered. It was contended in that case that Mrs. Wiesner, the plaintiff, was under no disability when her title accrued, by reason of being a married woman, and that the bar of the statute applied. It was said that all the disabilities of coverture had been removed as to her separate estate, by the statutes which conferred upon her the rights of a feme sole in respect to it, and also gave her the right to maintain actions in her own name to recover such property or for any injury done to it. And, as all legal incapacity, so far as her separate estate was concerned, which by the rules of the common law she was subject to by reason of the marriage relation, had been completely removed, it was claimed that no disability existed in her case. This point was, however, deliberately overruled, after much consideration, and it was held that coverture still constituted a disability under section 13, ch. 138, R. S., and that the statute did not run against a married woman. The reasons for this decision are clearly and elaborately stated by Mr. Justice Lyon in the opinion, and they need not, therefore, be repeated here. It is true, sec. 13, ch. 138, was amended, and married women are no longer exempted from the running of the statute of limitations in respect to actions for the recovery of real 'property. Ch. 29, Laws of 1872. This act attempted to bar absolutely and instantaneously an existing cause of action, which, upon the most obvious principles, it has been held the legislature can not do. Smith v. Packard, 12 Wis., 371, and Osborn v. Jaines, 17 id., 574.

The point whether the husband, who unites in this action, was barred of whatever rights or interest he had in the lands arising from the marital relation, was much discussed upon the argument. The land descended to the wife in 1840, on the death of Alvin; and whatever interest she took as one of the heirs of Almira, on her death in 1842 or 1843. But there has been no entry upon the land, nor any attempt to acquire possession on her part until the commencement of this action. And it will be noticed that the court found that the property had been in the actual adverse possession of the defendant and his immediate grantor since 1848. Under these circumstances, the interesting inquiry arises, What estate had the husband in the property, to which the bar of the statute would apply so as to defeat this joint action?

At common law, by marriage the husband acquired the usu-fruct of all the lands and freehold estate of the wife during coverture; and this estate of the husband might by possibility last during his life. This was called an estate by the curtesy, and is commonly defined to be the interest to which the husband is entitled upon the death of the wife, in the lands or tenements of which she was seized in possession, in fee simple or in tail, during their coverture, provided they had lawful issue born alive which might by possibility inherit the same estate as heir to the wife. 1 Cruise’s Dig., 140; 4 Kent, 29. Eour things were requisite to the existence of this estate, namely: marriage, actual seizin of the wife, issue, and death of the wife. 4 Kent, 28; 1 Washb. on Real Prop., 127 et seq. Under our statute, the birth of issue is not essential to the existence of the estate (sec. 30, ch. 89, E. S.), though, if the wife at her death leave issue by any former husband, to whom the estate might descend, such issue takes the same discharged from the right of the surviving husband to hold the same as tenant by the curtesy. There has been much discussion in regard to what seizin of the wife was necessary in oi’der to give the husband an estate by the curtesy. By the strict rules of the common law, there must not only be a legal seizin in the wife, but seizin in fact, or actual entry taken — pedis possessio,— or the estate would not vest; “ though the former strictness, in this respect,” says Prof. Washburn, “has been relaxed in England, and still more so in several of the United States.” 1 Washb. Real Prop., 135. “ Still,” observes the same author, “it is the general rule of law in both countries, that, if the estate be such that there may be an entry made upon it, there must be such an entry during coverture, in order to give the husband curtesy. If, therefore, a woman be disseized and then marry, the husband must regain the seizin by making an entry during coverture.” Id. In some cases, especially of wild and incumbered land, it has been held that actual seizin in the wife was not essential, but that legal seizin or ownership, with the right of entry on the part of the wife, or constructive possession, was a sufficient seizin to give the husband curtesy. Jackson v. Sellick, 8 Johns., 262; Davis v. Mason, 1 Peters, 506. See also Ellsworth v. Cook, 8 Paige, 643. In Lessee of Borland v. Marshall, 2 Ohio St., 308, Mr. Justice Thuemah, in a very pointed and vigorous opinion, assails'the rule of the common law upon this subject, and thinks there is no longer any ground or reason for recognizing or enforcing it in that state. And the law in that state is, that a husband may have tenancy by the curtesy, though the wife be never seized in deed, either actually or constructively, and though the lands be held adversely by another person during cover-ture. Lessee of Mitchell v. Ryan, 3 Ohio St., 378. But it is admitted that this is an innovation upon the common law, whieh made actual seizin during coverture indispensable to curtesy. Neeley v. Butler, 10 B. Mon., 48; Welch’s Heirs v. Chandler, 13 id., 420; Stinebaugh v. Wisdom, id., 467; Day v. Cochran, 24 Miss., 262.

In the light of these decisions, it is difficult to understand what estate the husband had in the land, upon which the statute would run so as to prevent a recovery herein. The wife took the property as heir-at-law, and never had actual possession, nor even constructive possession, for more than twenty-five years prior to the commencement of this action. Indeed, the property has been in the actual adverse possession of another during that period. If, by reason of the marital relation, the husband would be entitled to the usufruct of the land, is it not obvious that entry and possession by himself or wife are essential as the foundation of this right? He may be entitled to rents and profits when possession is obtained, but we cannot well see that he has any vested interest in the land before sucb possession is secured. The husband’s interest in tbe wife’s land is not tbe land itself. Even where issue was born which might inherit, he had but a life estate, and that only, in strictness, where he reduced it into possession during the coverture. Stoolfoos v. Jenkins, 8 S. & R., 167. In analogy to this rule, we are forced to the conclusion that the husband had not such an estate or interest in the land as could or would be a bar to this action. When actual possession is acquired, then his marital rights will attach, whatever they may be. It follows from this view, that the position that Mrs. Westcott could ■ not maintain the action until after the death of her husband, is untenable.

It may be conceded that Mrs. Westcott, upon whom the title was cast on the death of her brother and sister intestate, had such a seizin in these wild and uncultivated lands as would constitute her husband tenant by the curtesy on her death. Eut, as remarked above, that seizin was constructive merely; a seizin in law, not a seizin in fact, no actual entry having ever been made; and there was a disseizin in 1848, since which time the lands have been held adversely. On the rehearing of the cause, the learned counsel for the defendant claimed, and took the position more distinctly than in his first argument, that this action could not be maintained because the husband’s rights were conclusively barred, and that Mrs. Westcott must wait until his death, when she might bring a suit to recover her property. By the judgment from which this appeal is taken, however, it is expressly adjudged that Mrs. Westcott was barred of all right and estate in the land when this action was commenced. This adjudication would obviously be an absolute bar to an action brought by her after the death of the husband, and is therefore erroneous upon the theory now advanced as to her rights and remedies. But the counsel further contends that the husband might have brought an action in his own name, without joining his wife, to recover his freehold interest, or life estate, at any time after 1848, and, as lie did not until the statute had run against him, this joint action is barred. It is undeniable that there are decisions which sustain this position. But it seems to us the doctrine which these cases lay down is not sound, or not consistent with the principles of the common law. The fundamental error in them consists in assuming that the husband has a separate estate, distinct from the rights of his wife, upon which he can recover in an action of ejectment. In Strœbe v. Fehl, 22 Wis., 338, Dixon, C. J., in speaking of the interest of the husband in the real estate of his wife, uses the technical language of the common-law pleaders in these remarks: “At common law the husband acquires by the marriage a freehold estate in the lands of the wife, but not the fee, which still remains in the wife. Both together have the whole estate, and therefore in law they are considered as seized in fee, and must so state their title in pleading. The husband cannot aver in pleading that he alone is seized in fee in right of his wife, because the fee is in the wife, and of this he is seized jointly with her.” p. 342. The chief justice refers to Melvin v. Proprietors of Locks and Canals, etc., 16 Pick., 161, as an authority in support of these remarks. Wilde, J., in that case, considers upon authority this question of pleading, and says the established form in all real actions brought by husband and wife is to state or allege the title as being in both jwe moris. “ In real actions for the recovery of the land of the wife, and in a writ of waste thereto, the husband and wife must join.” 1 Chitty’s Plead., 11th Am. ed., p. 84. The correct way of pleading the title is to allege seizin in fee in the husband and wife, in the right of the wife. Took v. Glascock, 1 Saund., 250 e, and note (4), p. 253, in Mr. Sergeant Williams’ edition; Polyblank v. Hawkins, 1 Doug., 329. Now this is an action for the recovery of the lands of the wife, and concerns her separate estate. The husband is joined in conformity to established precedents, and as hé may be under the statute. Sec. 15, ch. 122, R. S Confessedly, on tlie death of the husband, Mrs. Westoott might maintain the action; and, if the husband should die pending this suit, the action would survive to the wife. The counsel does not seriously question the correctness of these positions. But he insists that this action is barred by adverse possession, though the wife, the- real substantial owner, was under disability all the time, and was within the saving clause of the statute. It seems to us it would be illogical to so hold, especially in view of the rule recognized in Strœbe v. Fehl, supra, which we think is correct, and to which we adhere.

The point we have just been considering is very learnedly and fully discussed in Watson v. Watson, 10 Conn., 77, and Lessee of Thompson's Heirs v. Green, 4 Ohio St., 216, where the reasons on both sides of the question are presented in an able and forcible manner. We could add nothing valuable to the discussion, were we to continue it; we therefore take leave of the cause by saying that we remain of the opinion first announced, that this joint action is not barred.

This case was tried by the court without a jury. Ordinarily in such cases we do not order a new trial; but, on account of the obscurity of the evidence upon some material points, we think the rights of the parties will be promoted by another trial.

By the Court. —The judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and a new trial ordered.