Wrlla v. Wrlla

173 N.E. 768, 342 Ill. 31
CourtIllinois Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 18, 1930
DocketNo. 20510. Decree affirmed.
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 173 N.E. 768 (Wrlla v. Wrlla) 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
Wrlla v. Wrlla, 173 N.E. 768, 342 Ill. 31 (Ill. 1930).

Opinion

Mr. Justice Stone

delivered the opinion of the court:

Appellee filed a bill in the superior court of Cook county against appellant, his wife, charging that she had induced him to put money into the purchase of property with the understanding that he was to have a one-third interest therein but that she fraudulently and without his knowledge took title to the entire property in herself. The bill sets out that just prior to their marriage appellant had contracted to trade for property known as the South Hamlin avenue property, in the city of Chicago; that on March 12, 1926, just subsequent to the marriage of the parties to this suit, they, with one Charles Marek, with whom the exchange of property was being made, appeared at the office of a real estate broker and completed the transaction; that appellant did not have sufficient funds to complete the deal and that appellee contributed the sum of $2160 for a one-third interest in the property, with the understanding and agreement that he was to have one-third thereof. The bill charges that while appellant informed appellee that the title had been so taken, as a matter of fact she had taken the entire title in herself, and that for more than a year thereafter he did not discover that her statement in that connection was false and untrue, and that, believing himself to be the owner of an undivided one-third of the real estate, he expended over $300 in improvements on the place and contributed his labor to such improvements. He alleges that he discovered, at the time a divorce proceeding was filed against him by appellant, that the property had been taken in her name and he demanded his interest therein, which she refused to convey. The. bill prays that a resulting trust be declared and that appellant be required to account for the income and prayed for partition of the premises. The bill also prayed that parts or shares of the property belonging to him and to appellant be settled and ascertained by the court and that a fair division be made; that •commissioners be appointed to make such division, or sell the property if not subject to such division, and that the proceeds thereof be divided according to the rights of the parties therein, and for other and further relief. The decree does not expressly find a trust existed but finds that appellee put $2160 into the purchase of the premises with the understanding that he was to have a one-third interest therein, and that appellant, in violation of her agreement, took title in her own name. The decree finds that the sum of $2160 paid by appellee fairly represents the value of an undivided one-third interest in the real estate and that appellee owns an undivided one-third interest in the property and directs appellant to make a deed to him within five days, or in case of her refusal that the master in chancery execute such deed. Appellant brings the cause here for review and bases her argument principally on the claim that a re-suiting trust could not have arisen under the facts in this case and that the facts showed that the money was a gift in the nature of a wedding present to appellant.

The evidence shows that these parties met about four months prior to their marriage, which occurred on February 26, 1926; that appellant had advertised for a partner to go into business with her; that appellee told her he had $3000 and that they agreed they would be married; that at that time she had made the contract for the exchange of property which she owned for the South Hamlin avenue property, and that when it came time to close the deal she needed the sum of $2160 to complete the transaction. Appellee testified that appellant told him he should have one-third of the property if he put $2160 into it; that he made a check and gave it to her, and that at the time they met to complete the transaction he asked the broker to read the deed, but that he did not do so. He testified that when he asked that the paper be read appellant said: “What do you want the paper read for ? I must hurry home; I think it is enough; you got one-third of the property;” that he said, “If that is so I am satisfied.” On cross-examination he stated that he wanted to know “how my money is insured in this property,” evidently meaning that he asked the broker to read and translate the deed to him so that he would know what he was getting for his money. He also stated that if he thought there was a mistake in the paper he would have taken his check back again, but that “she told me, T will give you one-third of the property,’ and I gave her the money.” It is evident from his testimony that he thought he was getting a one-third interest in the property at the time. He testified that later, when he found out the deed did not show his interest in the property, he asked her about his money, and she said, “I give you one-third of the property for the money.” It is evident from his testimony that he was inquiring why he did not have the title to one-third of the property. These parties are Bohemians, and it is evident from the record that appellee does not speak English fluently or readily understand it.

Charles Marek, from whom the property was purchased, testified that at the time the deal was closed he received from appellee his check for $2160 to apply on payment of the difference in value of the equities in the lots exchanged, and that appellee then said, “Here is the check for the property.” Marek also testified that appellee asked the broker to read the paper; that the broker read it and was requested to read it again but was stopped from doing so by appellant, who said, “Don’t be afraid; I did not cheat you.” This witness also testified that he on one occasion thereafter heard appellant say that she gave him one-third of the property; that “she put in him one-third of the property right away.”

Mary Marek, wife of Charles Marek, testified that she was present at the time the deeds were transferred, and that when appellee asked the broker to read the papers appellant then said, “Never mind; I won’t cheat you for that one-third;” that she was in a hurry to go home, and that the broker did not read the papers.

May Chybych testified that she heard appellant tell appellee on one occasion that he had one-third in the property.

The testimony of Emil J. Mix and Harry Platt, who were dealers in real estate, was that the property was then worth about $16,000 and was subject to an $8000 mortgage, giving an equity of not to exceed $8000. The chancellor found that the sum of $2160 was a fair consideration for an undivided one-third of this equity.

Appellant testified she was acquainted with appellee about six months before they were married; that she advertised for a lady or man partner to start business; that she had a store room that had been vacant for two months ; that appellee came to see her and she told him she wanted to open a store, and he said he knew nothing about business but later sent her a letter telling her he would marry her and they would start business; that she told him she would not start business with him because he did not know anything about business; that a few days later she told him that if she could get a larger flat she would marry him; that he wanted to marry her because he had a daughter that had heart trouble, who needed a mother; that there was nothing said about money at the time; that between that time and February 19 appellee visited her about three times a week; that they were married on February 26, after she had made the contract to trade for the property on South Hamlin avenue.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

MB Financial Bank, N.A. v. Allen
2015 IL App (1st) 143060 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 2015)
Sawyer v. Creighton
86 N.E.2d 242 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1949)
Pape v. Pareti
42 N.E.2d 361 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1942)
Clifford v. Levin
282 Ill. App. 263 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1935)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
173 N.E. 768, 342 Ill. 31, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wrlla-v-wrlla-ill-1930.