Case ID: nc_185/html/0005-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Stacy, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

VICTOR LEWIS v. G. V. LEWIS.
    (Filed 21 February, 1923.)
    Wills — Estates—Inheritance—Death of Devisor — Presumption of Death— Deeds and Conveyances.
    The father devised his lands to his four sons as tenants in common, and one of them conveyed to the other, after his father’s death, all of his “right, title and interest in and to the estate of my late father.” One of the sons left home before the death of his father and was not heard of for a period of seven years under circumstances upon which the law would presume his' death, and cast the inheritance from him upon his other brothers: Meld, the presumption of death did not fix the time thereof at any definite time within the seven-year period, and it being necessary for the grantee in the deed to show that his brother predeceased his father, only that part of the land his grantor took under his father’s will passed under the deed.
    Appeal by defendant from Ferguson, at November Special Term, 1922, OÍ WASHINGTON.
    Civil action to recover of the defendant a one-tbird interest in tbe lands of Tasso Lewis, presumably deceased brother of both plaintiff and defendant.
    Upon the facts agreed, his Honor rendered judgment in favor of the plaintiff. Defendant appealed.
    
      Van B. Martin for 'plaintiff.
    
    
      Zeb Vance Norman for defendant.
    
   Stacy, J.

On 2 September, 1895, W. W. Lewis of Washington County died, leaving a last will and testament in which he devised a tract of land, containing 160 acres, more or less, to his four children, Eliza H. Lewis, G. V. Lewis, Victor Lewis, and Tasso Lewis, as tenants in common, subject only to a life estate which was given to the testator’s wife.

On 13 March, 1896, Victor Lewis, plaintiff herein, conveyed to bis brother, G. V. Lewis, defendant herein, by full warranty deed, all his “right, title, and interest in and to the estate (real, personal, and mixed) of my late father.”

Some time during the year 1894, Tasso Lewis left the State of North Carolina, and, at the time of his father’s death, he was thought to be somewhere in the State of Virginia, but he has never been seen or heard of since his departure in 1894 by any member of his family, or by any other person likely to have heard, so far as the parties to this suit are able to ascertain.

It is conceded that Tasso Lewis is presumably dead, but there is no finding as to when he died. It is also conceded that his share in his father’s estate would go to the other devisees under the will of W. W. Lewis, whether Tasso predeceased his father or not. The crucial question is: Do they take as heirs of their father or as heirs of their brother, Tasso ?

The defendant contends that the land in question was originally a part of his father’s estate, and that the plaintiff, by his deed of 13 March, 1896, conveyed to him all his right, title, and interest therein. The plaintiff, on the other hand, contends that he is entitled to a one-third interest in the land as beir to bis brother Tasso, and tbat nothing passed by bis deed of 13 March, 1896, except tbe one-fonrth interest which be acquired as devisee under bis father’s will.

There is no presumption tbat Tasso Lewis’ was dead when bis father died in 1895, nor is there any presumption tbat be was dead at the time of the execution of the plaintiff’s deed in 1896. Manifestly, the interest which the plaintiff derives from bis brother Tasso is as distinct from the interest be bad in bis father’s estate as if be bad acquired h,is title from a stranger, or any other source. Indeed, if Tasso were living at the time, the plaintiff bad no such interest when the deed was made. Gilbert v. James, 86 N. C., 245.

Where a party has been absent from bis home or domicile for a period of seven years, without being beard of by those who would be expected to bear from him, the only presumption arising from such absence is that be is then dead; that is, at the end of the seven-year period; but there is no presumption as to the exact time of bis death. Beard v. Sovereign Lodge, 184 N. C., 154, and authorities there cited.

In the English case of Dunn v. Snowden, 11 W. R., 160, it was held that where a party who takes under a will has not been beard of for seven years, the testator having died after three years bad elapsed, and advertisement issued on the death of the testator, failing to produce any information, such legatee must be assumed to have survived the testator, and cannot be presumed to have died at any particular period during the seven years. See 1 Greenleaf on Evidence, sec. 41.

In the case 'at bar, the defendant’s title being dependent upon bis showing that Tasso Lewis predeceased bis father, and there being no evidence or presumption to establish the fact, we must uphold the judgment in favor of the plaintiff.

No error.