Case Name: Hale and wife against Hills
Court: Connecticut Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Connecticut
Decision Date: 1830-06
Citations: 8 Conn. 39
Docket Number: 
Parties: Hale and wife against Hills.
Judges: Peters and Bissell, Js. were of the same opinion.
Reporter: Connecticut Reports
Volume: 8
Pages: 39–45

Head Matter:
Hale and wife against Hills.
In a case where the defendant claimed title under a deed, the delivery of which was disputed, after the defendant had adduced evidence to prove a delivery, the plaintiff offered evidence to prove, that during the last sickness of the grantor, and a few days before the delivery claimed by the defendant, the defendant broke open the trunk of the grantor and took from it the deed, together with sundry other papers; and that upon the defendant’s presenting these papers to the grantor, he ordered the defendant “to put them back into the trunk, and not to meddle with them again it was held, that such evidence was inadmissible, as it neither conduced to prove that the deed was not subsequently delivered, nor to disprove the facts advanced by the defendant to evince its delivery.
Where the defendant offered evidence to prove, that after the making of a deed, under which he claimed title, the grantor had, several times, declared, that it was his intention to deliver the deed, and that the defendant should have the land therein conveyed, accompanied by evidence that soon after the making of the deed, the defendant entered into possession of the land, with the assent of the grantor, and had remained in possession until his death : it was held, that such evidence was inadmissible, as it furnished no reasonable or probable presumption that the contemplated delivery took place.
The test of mental sanity, is, not whether the person has sufficient understanding to know what he is doing, but whether he has the right use of his reason.
This was an action of ejectment for a tract of land in Glastenbury, claimed by the plaintiffs, in the right of Eunice Hale, the wife.
The cause was tried, on the general issue, at Hartford, February term, 1830, before Bissell, J.
Israel Hills, in his life-time, was the undisputed owner of the demanded premises. He died intestate, on the 17th of September, 1827. Eunice Hale, one of the plaintiffs, is one of his children and heirs at law. The defendant is his grandson ; and claims title by virtue of a deed from him, dated the 27th of June, 1826. It was admitted, that at the time of making this deed, the grantor was of’ sound mind, and so continued until his last sickness, and until within a few days of the delivery of the deed claimed by the defendant. The plaintiffs denied, that there had ever been any actual delivery of the deed to the defendant. They further insisted, that if it had, in point of fact, been delivered, yet the grantor, at the time of such delivery in fact, was not of sound mind, nor capable of making a legal delivery. The defendant claimed the reverse of these propositions; and the questions thus arising were the only questions involved in the trial.
Hartford,
June, 1830.
It was admitted, that the deed was delivered, if it was ever delivered, on the 27th of August, 1827.
The defendant offered evidence to prove, and insisted that he had proved, the facts claimed by him in relation to the delivery. To prove that the deed had not been previously delivered to the defendant, and also to prove, that he had tortiously obtained possession of it, for the purpose of procuring a delivery of it, the plaintiffs offered evidence to prove, that during the last sickness of the grantor, and a few days before the pretended delivery, the defendant broke open the trunk of the grantor, and took from it the deed, together with sundry other papers; and that, upon the defendant’s presenting these papers to the grantor, he ordered the defendant “to put them back into the trunk, and not to meddle with them again.” To the admission of this evidence the defendant objected; but the judge admitted it.
The defendant then offered sundry witnesses to prove, that after the making of the deed, and while the grantor was of sound mind, he had, several times, declared, that it was his intention to deliver the deed, and that the defendant should have the land therein conveyed; accompanied by evidence, that soon after the making of the deed, the defendant had entered into possession of the premises, with the assent of the grantor, and had remained in possession until his death. This evidence was offered, by the defendant, for the two-fold purpose of shewing the previous determination of the grantor that the defendant should have the land, and of repelling the evidence offered by the plaintiffs. To the admission of all the evidence so offered by the defendant, the plaintiffs objected; and it was excluded, by the court.
Much evidence was offered, by both parties, to shew the condition of Israel Hills and the state of his mind, on, and for a few days previous to, the 27th of August, 1827.
The judge instructed the jury, that if they should find, that the deed was in fact delivered, and that the grantor, at the time of such delivery, had sufficient understanding to know what he was doing, although his mind might be greatly weakened and impaired, they ought to return a verdict for the defendant. But if they should find, either that the deed was not in fact delivered, or if delivered, the grantor was so far under the influence of delirium, or the powers of his mind were so prostrated, that he did not know what he was doing, they ought to return a verdict for the plaintiffs.
The jury gave a verdict for the plaintiffs; and the defendant moved for a new trial.
Hungerford and W. W. Ellsworth, in support of the motion,
contended, 1. That the evidence offered by the plaintiffs, to prove that the defendant broke open his grandfather’s trunk and took out his papers, and that the old gentleman reprimanded him for doing so, sometime previous to the delivery of the deed, Was improperly admitted; as it had no bearing upon either of the controverted points in the case.
2. That the evidence offered by the defendant of the grantor’s declared intention to deliver the deed, and that the defendant should have the land, accompanied by proof of the fact that the defendant went into possession with the assent of the grantor, should have been received.
3. That the charge of the jury was incorrect, inasmuch as the test of mental sanity which it prescribes, is not the true one. A mad-man may know perfectly well, and a sane man may not know, what he is doing. The jury could not safely follow such a guide. It could only mislead them.
N. Smith and F. Parsons, contra,
contended, 1. That the evidence offered by the plaintiffs was proper to account for the defendant’s possession of the deed without delivery, and to shew, that when the transaction to which such evidence related, took place, there had been no delivery, and that there was none then.
2. That the evidence offered by the defendant was properly excluded; as it did not conduce to shew, that the deed was delivered. The declaration of an intention to deliver, does not go to prove a delivery; still less does a man’s going into possession of land, with the assent of the owner, prove, or go to prove, that it was conveyed to him by deed delivered.
3. That the defendant has no reason to complain of the charge. If the grantor, at the time of the delivery, had not sufficient understanding to know what he was doing, surely he was not compos mentis.

Opinion:
Hosmer, Ch. J.
The only controversy, in this case, regard ed the defendant's title, claimed by him under a deed said to be executed by Israel Hills, deceased. It was insisted, by the plaintiffs, that this deed was never delivered; and if it was, that at its delivery, the grantor was of unsound mind.
1. The sole object of evidence is to ascertain the truth of the disputed facts or points in issue; and none ought to be admitted to any other point. 1 Phill. Evid. 126. Here, the question in issue was, whether there had been a delivery of the deed. Now, the evidence offered by the plaintiffs had no bearing on this point. It neither conduced to prove, that the deed, at a subsequent time, was not delivered, nor to disprove the facts advanced, by the defendant, to evince its delivery. The sole possible effect of such evidence was to withdraw the attention of the jury from the only relevant enquiry, and to diminish the proper force of the defendant's evidence, by infusing into their minds a prejudice against him. It follows, very clearly, that the evidence ought not to have been received.
2. The evidence offered by the defendant, to prove declarations by Israel Hills, of his intention to deliver the deed, prior to the delivery claimed, and to prove the subsequent possession of the land, by the defendant, with the assent of Israel Hills, was properly excluded, by the court. No case has been cited to prove the admissibility of such evidence; nor am I aware, that any exists.
An intention to do an act affords no proof that the intended act was done; and the possession of the land, with the assent of another, at most, is presumptive evidence of an existing intention to make and deliver a deed at a subsequent time. The only mode in which an intention to deliver a deed has been admitted in evidence, is, when it accompanies the actual delivery, and thus becomes part of the res gesta. Com. Dig. tit Evidence. A. Co. Litt. 36. a. n. 223. Perk. 143, 4. Bushel v. Pasmore, 6 Mod. 217. Wheelwright & al. v. Wheelwright, 2 Mass. Rep. 452. 13 Vin. Abr. 23 K. pl. 12. a. Taw v. Bury, 2 Dyer 167. b. Alford and Lea's case, 2 Leon. 110. Souverbye & ux. v. Arden & al. 1 Johns. Chan. Rep. 240. Goodright d. Carter v Straphan & al. Cowp. 201. This all essential point of delivery, so easy to be proved as it is, if there has been no gross neglect, and so necessary to be guarded for the general security, cannot be established or affected, by a declared intention to deliver a deed in futuro. Such evidence furnishes no reasonable or probable presumption that the contemplated delivery took place.
3. It was claimed by the plaintiffs, that if the deed was ever delivered, the grantor was, at its delivery, of unsound mind. On this point much evidence was exhibited at the trial. The charge of the judge embraced this principle, that the act and deed of one, who has a sufficiency of intellect to know what he is doing, whether he is the subject of debility of mind or of insanity, is valid.
Had the controversy regarded the weak state of the grantor's mind, without a pretence of his being otherwise unsound, I should consider the charge as exceptionable. I admit it to be established, both at law and in chancery, that if a man be legally compos mentis, be he wise or unwise, he is the disposer of his property, and his will stands as a reason for his actions. 1 Pow. on Contr. 30. Osmond v. Fitzroy & al. 3 P. Wms. 129. But it would demand great consideration before it should be affirmed, that the mere knowledge of the act a person is doing, which, for aught I can discern, may be asserted of an idiot, would constitute him compos mentis. I think he must know something of the nature and consequence of the act.
Be this, however, as it may, it appears from the motion and the charge of the judge, that not long before the delivery of the deed was claimed, Israel Hills was of sound mind; and whether he was compos mentis, or incompetent by reason of delirium, was the real question between the parties. To this state of the controversy the charge of the judge was not adapted.
It is a fact universally known, that a person may be non compos mentis, and yet possess great vigour of intellect, unusual power of reasoning, peculiar subtility and shrewdness, and a strong recollection of all the relations he stands in to others, as well as of all the acts and circumstances of his life. His mind, however, is unsound, by reason of the delusive sources oi thought; all his deductions within the scope of his malady being founded on the assumption of matters as realities without any foundation, or so distorted and disfigured by fancy, as in effect to amount to the same tiling. Rex v. Hadfield, Erskine's Speeches. I admit, that both Lord Coke and Sir Mathew Hale define a person non compos mentis to lie one who wholly loses his memory and understanding: but this alone, if the expression is understood literally, is the condition of a person reduced to idiocy. These learned judges meant nothing more than, by a common figure of speech, putting the cause for the effect, to declare, that he is a person of unsound mind, who entirely loses the natural exercise of his faculties. So are they understood, by Sir William Blackstone, who defines a lunatic or person non compos mentis, to be "one who hath had understanding, but by disease, grief or other accident, has lost the use of his reason." 1 Bla. Comm. 304. Beverley's case, 4 Co. 124.
Israel Hills might know, that he was delivering a deed, and yet the right use of his reason be so impaired as to leave him no rational understanding concerning the nature of the transaction. It is justly said, by the late Ch. J. Swift: "It must ap, pear, that the person had not understanding sufficient to comprehend the nature, extent and consequence of the contract he was making, in order to render it void." 1 Swift's Dig. 173. And, on the other hand, although he knows the act he is doing, if this is the extreme limit of his understanding, he is non compos mentis. The charge to the jury, in my opinion, was incorrect.
I would advise a new trial.
Peters and Bissell, Js. were of the same opinion.