Case ID: wis_103/html/0521-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Bardeen, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Williams, Appellant, v. Daubner and another, Respondents.
    
      June 5
    
    
      June 22, 1899.
    
    
      [Deeds: Delivery: Agency.
    
    A person, believing herself on her deathbed, executed a deed and delivered it to the scrivener with directions that if she recovered she wanted it back again, and if she did not to deliver it to the grantee.
    The deed remained in the hands of the depositary up to the time of her death. Held, that there had been no legal delivery of the deed, it being subject to her control up to the time of her death, and that thereafter no legal delivery could be made.
    Appeal from a judgment of the superior court of Milwaukee county: Geo. E. Sutheelahd, Judge.
    
      Reversed.
    
    The facts in this case are quite fully set out in the findings. It appears therefrom, and from the evidence, that Gertrude A. Williams, prior to her marriage with plaintiff, was the owner of a house and lot in the city of Milwaukee; that she was affected with consumption, and died on the 12th day of March, 1891; that prior to the 29th day of January, 1891, she executed a will, in which she devised said property to her mother, Jane Sharpies, for life, and after her death to her brother, the defendant Mark Sharpies; that on said 29th day of January, 1897, believing herself to be on her deathbed, she caused said will to be destroyed, and, in order to save the expense- of the probate of said will, she called in the defendant G. Holmes Daubner, and directed him to prepare two deeds of said property, one to her mother for life, and the other to her brother in fee. These deeds were duly executed by her, and were delivered to Mr. Daubner. The circumstances of such delivery are stated by him as follows: “ I asked what I should do with the deeds. She said, ‘ If I recover, I want them back again; and if I do not, you deliver to mother and Mark after I am dead.’ ” Mr. Daubner took the deeds to his office, in Waukesha, and the next day inclosed them in an envelope, and put them in his safe. On the outside of the envelope he made the following indorsement: “Deeds from Gertrude A. "Williams to Jane Sharpies and Marie O. Sharpies, to be delivered to the grantees in case the grantor shall not recover from her present sickness; otherwise, to be returned to the grantor if she recovers.” The deeds remained in Mr. Daubner's possession until Mrs. Williams died. Thereafter the deed to Mrs. Shaples was delivered, whose death occurred shortly prior to the commencement of this action. The other deed remained in Mr. Daubner's possession, and this action was brought by the plaintiff husband, as the sole heir of his wife’s estate, to restrain its delivery. Upon the trial the court concluded that, when the deeds were delivered to Mr. Daubner, the grantor parted with all present or temporary control over the same, and gave judgment for the defendants, from which this appeal is taken.
    For the appellant there was a brief by W. J. cb J. H. Turner, and oral argument by W. J. Turner.
    
    For the respondents there was a brief by Fiebing & Killi-lea, and oral arguments by M. II. Killilea.
    
   Bardeen, J.

The facts in this case are in no substantial dispute. Mrs. Williams executed the deed in suit, and delivered it to Mr. Daubner to hold, upon the understanding that if she recovered from her sickness she was to have it back, and, if not, then it was to be delivered to the grantee named. The sole question is, Was this deed in the hands of Dembner beyond her control ? This case is ruled by Prutsman v. Baker, 30 Wis. 644. The cases do not differ in any essential particular as to the circumstances under which the deed came to the possession of the depositary and under which he was to hold it. It is true that in that case the depositary testified that the papers were under the grantor’s control until he died, but that was merely his conclusion from tlie facts stated, and did not give any additional weight thereto. In determining that the facts stated did not constitute a valid delivery of the deed, Chief Justice Dixon says: “An essential characteristic and indispensable feature of every delivery, whether absolute or conditional, is that there must be a parting with the possession and of the power and control over the deed by the grantor for the benefit of the grantee, at the time of the delivery? The importance of these essentials has been recognized and enforced in this court in the following cases: Campbell v. Thomas, 42 Wis. 437; Schmidt v. Deegan, 69 Wis. 300; Albright v. Albright, 70 Wis. 529; Lehigh C. & I. Co. v. West Superior I. & S. Co. 91 Wis. 221. As sustaining the doctrine of the Drutsmcm Case, and in addition to the cases therein cited, we refer to the following: Baker v. Haskell, 47 N. H. 479; Williams v. Schatz, 42 Ohio St. 47; Porter v. Woodhouse, 59 Conn. 569. The principle emphasized is that the delivery of the deed not being absolute, or conditional so as to be beyond the grantor’s control, and the depositary being a mere agent, the instrument is revocable at any time before the grantor’s death, and is therefore a nullity.

The principles stated seem to fully cover the case at bar, and render extended discussion unnecessary. Under the circumstances in proof, and within the authorities cited, we cannot escape the conclusion that the deed in the hands of Daubner was under the control of the grantor up to the time of her death, and therefore no legal delivery thereof has or can be made.

By the Court.— The judgment of the superior court of Milwaukee county is reversed, and the cause is remanded with directions to enter judgment for the plaintiff for the relief demanded in the complaint.