Case Name: Withers v. Weaver
Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1849-05-27
Citations: 10 Pa. 391
Docket Number: 
Parties: Withers v. Weaver.
Judges: 
Reporter: Pennsylvania State Reports
Volume: 10
Pages: 391–394

Head Matter:
Withers v. Weaver.
An assignment of a certificate of deposit in trust for a son of the assignor, who reserved the right to use the money during his life, and directed the residue tc be paid at his death to his son, is not a gift which passes the property, for want of actual delivery; though the assignee surrendered the certificate and took out a new one during the life of the assignor.
Where it was covenanted by an ante nuptial settlement that the real and personal property of the husband and wife should be held and enjoyed after the marriage, during their joint lives, as if the articles had not been made, and that if the wife survived she should have all the real and personal estate of which the husband should die seised or possessed: the husband during the mar. riage, has the power to make a gift of personalty, if it is perfected hy delivery during Ms life.
In error from the Common Pleas of Lancaster.
Jacob Weaver and Mary, his wife, before their marriage executed a deed, by which it was covenanted that their estates, real and personal, should, after the intended marriage, be held and enjoyed by both during their joint lives,-as if those articles had not been entered into; and that, if the said Mary should survive her intended husband, she should then “have, hold, and enjoy, all the estate, real and personal, whatsoever, of him, the said Jacob, of which he shall die seised or possessed of, to and for her own use and benefit, and for her heirs and assigns for ever, subject to the payment” of his debts, &c.
Prior to the marriage, Jacob Weaver had deposited $400 in the Lancaster Savings Institution, for' which he held a certificate. After the marriage he assigned this certificate, and the money due or to become due thereon, to Withers, the defendant. After the death of Jacob Weaver, his widow brought this action for this money, which had been paid after the death of Jacob Weaver. On the trial, it was proved that on the day of the execution of the assignment, Withers surrendered the old certificate, and took out a new one for the principal and interest which had accrued. This assignment had been made to Withers, in trust for M. Weaver, a son of Jacob Weaver. It was a gift, being intended as a provision for the son. When it was executed, Jacob Weaver directed it to be delivered to Withers, saying it might be he would want some money; if he did, he would call on Withers for it; he had made arrangements with his son that whatever was advanced to him should, at his death, be settled by his son, and the balance paid over to him.
The court (Lewis, P. J.) directed a verdict for the plaintiff, and judgment accordingly, considering that a gift without consideration was not within the terms of the settlement.
Frazer and Stevens, for plaintiff in error.
The intention was, that both parties should have the uncontiwerted power over their respective estates during the coverture: 1 Raw. 78; Chit. on Cont. 73-4; Broom Leg. Max. 238-241.
Ford, contrd.
May 27.

Opinion:
Rogers, J.
In the articles of marriage settlement, it is agreed that the estates of the respective parties, real and personal, shall, after the consummation of the intended marriage, be held and enjoyed by both during their joint lives, as if the articles had not been entered into. Each, therefore, during the coverture, had the entire and uncontrolled dominion over their respective estates; could grant, sell, or transfer the same, with or without a valuable consideration, for love and affection, or dispose of the same by gift or otherwise, at their will' and pleasure. The words used are, they shall " hold and enjoy;" and the court say: " giving it away without any valuable consideration whatever, is neither 'holding' nor ' enjoying' it, but is disposing of it to another to 'hold and enjoy.' If this might be done, the contract stood at, the pleasure of Jacob Weaver entirely. It is something or nothing, at. his election. If this be so, it is next to no contract at all."
The position of the learned judge, if it proves anything, proves too much; for the same identical words are used as to the interest of the wife, if she survives her husband. In that event, she is " to hold and enjoy," so runs the contract, "all the estate, real and personal, of her intended husband." Nay, more: her devisees or legatees are to hold by the same tenure. Now, is it a reasonable supposition that the parties intended to restrict her or her legatees from using or disposing of the property either by will or otherwise, as they might deem proper ? The proposition, I agree, must, be taken with this limitation: that the transfer must be bond fide, and not in fraud of the marriage contract; but the quo animo with which the transfer was made, is a fact which the court was bound to submit to the jury. I throw the point of consideration entirely out of the question, for a gift is a transfer of property without consideration. Indeed, when there is a valuable consideration, however small, it ceases to be a gift, and assumes the character of a contract. If, then, this was a gift made bond fide by the father to his son, not intended in fraud of the marriage contract, I see nothing in the settlement which controls it; and if there was nothing else in the case, the judgment should be reversed. It must be agreed there is nothing in the case which partakes of the character of a contract.
The question, then, is, was there a gift consummated by delivery to the donee ? If there was not a gift, the money remained the property of Jacob Weaver. He died possessed of it, and consequently, after his decease, by the terms of the contract, it passed to his wife. Whitman Brenner, who was a witness to the transfer, says it was to be the old man's as long as he lived, and his son's at the old man's death. So George B. Withers says, he, Mr. Weaver, gave it to him, and told him he should give it to his father. "It might be the old man might want some money. If he did, he would call on my father for it; and he had made some arrangements with Mitchell at his death, and the balance to be paid over to Mitchell; but he did not think he would want any of it." From this testimony, which is uncontradicted, it is manifest the money, after the transfer, remained as before, subject to his disposition and control, and that it continued his property until his death.
Although, then, Jacob Weaver had power, notwithstanding the contract, to dispose of his property as before his marriage, either by sale or gift, yet, as he has not exercised the right by delivery, the money passes to the wife by the operation of the contract.
Judgment affirmed.