Case Name: J. M. Halbert, Appellant, v. Minor M. Halbert et al., Appellees
Court: Iowa Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Iowa
Decision Date: 1927-07-01
Citations: 204 Iowa 1227
Docket Number: 
Parties: J. M. Halbert, Appellant, v. Minor M. Halbert et al., Appellees.
Judges: Evans, C. ’ J., and Stevens, Faville, and Kindig, JJ., concur.'
Reporter: Iowa Reports
Volume: 204
Pages: 1227–1229

Head Matter:
J. M. Halbert, Appellant, v. Minor M. Halbert et al., Appellees.
July 1, 1927.
Rehearing Denied December 17, 1927.
Paul.W. Bicharás and Paul V. Wilson, for appellant.
Ca/rrigan ■(& Cgrrigan and Ferguson, Barnes & Ferguson, for'Farmers’State Bank, appellee.

Opinion:
Vermilion, J.
Sarah A., Halbert died testate, seized'of 80 acres of land. By her will, which was duly admitted to probate, she directed that all of her real arid personal propérty, except household goods, be sold by her executor. Out of the proceeds certain legacies were to be paid to her children,' including $3,000 to the appellee Minor M. Halbert, and the balance was given to her five children, share and share alike. The appellánt, J. M. Halbert, and the appellee Minor M. Halbert are her sons, and are legatees under her will.
Prior to the death of Sarah A. Halbert, Minor M. Halbert exécuted arid delivered to appellant what is desigriated as an "assignment, conveyance arid mortgage" of.all his interest in any property he might receivé as heir, devisee, or iegatee of Sarah A. Halbert, including, by particular description, any such interest in the land owned by her; to secure his note for $2,682.90. This- instrument was filed for -record priot to the death of the testatrix, and recorded. Subsequent to the death of the testatrix, the appellee Minor M. Halbert and his wife executed and delivered, to the appellee Farmers' State Bank of Blair, Nebraska, a mortgage upon an undivided one fifth of the land left by the testatrix, to secure their note of $1,700 to the bank, and Minor M. Halbert also executed and delivered to the bank an assignment of $1,700 and interest of his share of the estate of his mother, as security for such note.
The action is by the appellant, to foreclose his mortgage and to establish the lien of his assignment, and the only controversy is as to the priority of liens or fights, as between appellant and the Farmers' State Bank.
It appears to be conceded that appellant's lien upon, or right to the payment of his debt out of, the interest of Minor M. Halbert,- Being ¡of record, .is- superior and prior to any right of the bank's, unless the appellant is estopped, as against the bank, to claim such priority. '
Some question is made as to- the sufficiency of the evidence to establish the facts relied upon as an estoppel. It is the claim of the appellee bank that, before making the loan to' Minor M. Halbert, its cashier wrote to the clerk or recorder in-Montgomery County, Iowa, where the land was situated, asking if there were any incumbrances on the estate of Sarah A. Halbert, and that a reply was received from the appellant that there were none. The appellant was the executor of the estate. He testified that the clerk of the district court called his attention to- a letter received from the Farmers' State Bank at Blair, asking for a description of the real éstate of the estate and. if there were any incumbrances against the estate, and that he made a reply to the letter, giving the description of the land, and saying that there were- no incumbrances against the estate, except the ordinary expenses incident to settling up the estate.
It is urged that these facts do not warrant the application of the doctrine of estoppel.
The inquiry of the bank related only to incumbrances against the éstate of the deceased, and not to those against the interest of Minor M. Halbert in the estate. The appellant's reply was responsive to- tbe inquiry,- and gave truthfully all the information asked. There.were no incumbrances.against the estate. There is no room for any implication of bad faith. The appellant had no knowledge of, the purpose of .the bank in mailing the inquiry,- and -had no' reason--to believe -that it - intended to- -rely upon the information asked-for, as showing that the interest of Minor M...Halbert in the estate was free from incumbrances. Appellant's mortgage was of-record. .Under these circumstances, no duty, or obligation rested- Upon, appellant, when- he undertook to respond to the inquiry, to db more than make a correct answer. This he did. -He -is not now asserting anything to the contrary of what, he stated. We see no element of estoppel in these facts. Hubbard & Spencer v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 33 Iowa 325.
The judgment is — Reversed.
Evans, C. ' J., and Stevens, Faville, and Kindig, JJ., concur.'