The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-08-31
DEED SET ASIDE
TIE SUPREME COURT DECIDES
INTERESTING CASE.

Goyan Shuler, Who Decided His Land
Away For Love and Affection Civ
en- it Back.
"A deed signed by one who had
been in the State Hospital for the
Insane, and the contest for this un-
fortunate's share of an estate valued
at $1,000, are interesting links Of
legal tangle which Friday was set
tied by the Supreme Court of the
State Of South Carolina.
Lawrence M. Zeigler is the plain
tiff-appellant, and D. Weston Shuler
and Govan A. Shuler are the defen-
dants-respondents, all being from
Orangeburg county.
The decision of the Supreme court
by Justice c. A. Woods affirms an
order of Ernest Gary, on circuit,
which set aside the deed of convey
ance by which Govan Shuler gave
his interest in the property to Law
renee M. Zeigler, his half-brother;
therefore, the two brothers are wit
| ners of the suit and Govan Shuler,
whose fits of insanity are described
as being only lat times" remains in
possession of his lands.
The following in part is the re-
markable document by which Govi.n
Shuler is said to have given his
rights in the property to Lawrence
Zeigler.
THAT, I, Govan Shuler, (of Or
angehurg, etc. in consideration Of
the sum of SIS, and love and egection
and long years of constant and uni
form kindness and support, to me in
hand, paid at and before the sealing
of these presents by Lawrence NJ.
Zeigler, have granted, (etc.) all my
| interest in that tract of land con-
tanning 3S acres (and the land is
described.
This is signed as Is the other le-
gal features of bhe paper by Govaa
A. Shuler. The paper is witnessed
according to law, and is, apparently,
all right in every particular.
Several references were held In
the case. Some of the testimony
cleaned from these meetings is as
follows:
Lawrence Zeigler testified that the
land in contest is worth $4,000 to
$1,000. ID. w. Shuler is renting
and holding the whole of the land
himself, and I want my half of the
land and rent value. I have not
got one cent Of the rent from the
place since I had my title. The true
rental of the place is nine 500-pound
bales per annum. That would be
$3.50 for this and last year, and the
proceeding year. Zeigler also said:
Il own one half finterest in the
land. Govan A. Shuler decided me
one-half interest therein by his deed
admitted in evidence. ! want my
share of the land. think it should
be sold for partition.
AS to Govan A. Shuler's condition
two Orangeburg physicians made the
following reports:
1--WE the undersigned physicians
hereby certify that we have this day
visited and personally examined Co
van A. Shuler, of the county of Or
angeburg, State of South Carolina,
and find that the said Govan A. Shu-
ler is a lunatic, and In our opinion
proper person to be confined in the
asylum for care and treatment, and
that we have formed this opinion
from the following facts. He has
been the recipient of a severe injury
on his head, since which time he has
| lost the art of writing and has been
steadily growing worse as to the cor
rect exercise of his mental faculties
and the inability Of his mother to
provide suitable treatment for him
at home.
A. S. Hydrick, M. D.
w. C. Wannamaker, M. D.
Dated 2Sth day of May. 1881"
There was also testimony to show
that Govan A. Shuler was in Branch
vile on the day the deed of convey
ance was alleged to have been sign
ed.
D. Weston Shuler said he had
mortgaged the land to get money to
buy another brothers interest
He did not believe that Govan's
signat ru ewasteohtoernenshretao,O o.
Weston Shuler's statement as to
Govan:
I'm taking care of Govan I gave
him money along. 1 took care Of
Govan all the time, gave him food,
drink, clothes, etc. but l could not
keep him from wandering. If he sign
ed the Mccoy mortgage (referred to
above) he did not know what he was
signing.
The Supreme Courts decision af-
firms the order of Judge Gary.
Holding Good MEETINGS.
The protracted meeting held at
North last week was me of the most
successful ever held in the Baptist
church Of that town, Large cpnS'e.