Court Opinion

ID: 7942881
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-08 23:16:55.092638+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:33:47.977239
License: Public Domain

Grant, J.
{after stating the facts). It is established by the evidence and conceded by defendants that the complainant and his wife did, under some agreement, live with Mrs. Turner from November, 1900, until her death, as above stated. The questions are those of fact. The record is replete with evidence of an agreement on the part of Mrs. Turner to deed complainant the land in consideration for the services of himself and wife in caring for her and attending to her business affairs. Whatever the agreement was, it is fully established that he carried it out. She lived in contentment and happiness with the complainant and his wife, and she so expressed herself to her neighbors and friends and in letters. In one letter, written in February, 1901, to a friend, she refolded to Mr. Turner’s dissatisfaction if she should deed the property to her nephew, meaning the property first agreed upon. Dr. Bradfield, her neighbor, friend, and one of her executors, and a witness for defendants, testified that Mrs. Turner frequently spoke to him about a deed to complainant, and on only one occasion spoke of any conditions. To others she stated that she had made a deed. When she was *510taken ill, she sent for a scrivener to draw a deed. The deed was drawn. After it was drawn she told the scrivener that she wanted to leave it with her papers, so that complainant would get it when she died. Upon being informed that delivery was necessary, and it being suggested that she deliver it in escrow to some third party, she said she would wait until a Mr. Botsford came, and would consult with him about it. She soon after became unconscious, and died without delivering the deed.
Counsel for defendants rely mainly upon a contract dated May 22, 1901, and to continue for one year, between Mrs. Turner and the complainant, in which it was agreed that complainant and his wife should make their homes with Mrs. Turner, and he should collect the rents, use the same in making repairs, expenses of household, etc. Complainant drew this contract, and, at his own suggestion, made a duplicate. Both were retained by Mrs. Turner. The terms of this contract are inconsistent with those now claimed by complainant. There is testimony to show, which the court below evidently believed, that this contract was executed for a particular purpose, and not to interfere in any way with the other contract. The attorney who drew it so testified. Defendant Salem had then returned from the asylum, and was making trouble for his wife. He desired to collect the rents and have a hand in her business affairs. There is testimony to show that this contract was made so that Mrs. Turner might show it to her husband, and relieve her from his annoyances by informing him that she had arrangements made with complainant. The conduct of Mrs. Turner, and the statements she made after this alleged contract, as well as before, are not consistent with the claim now made that this contract of May 23d represented the actual arrangement between the parties. It was perfectly legitimate for them to execute that contract to show to Mr. Turner, without in any manner changing the other. The court found that that was its purpose, and we think the evidence is sufficient to sustain the finding.
*511As above stated, tbe questions are those purely of fact, namely: (1) Was a contract made between complainant and Mrs. Turner for the conveyance of this land to him ? And (2) was that contract carried out by him ? The casé is similar to Lamb v. Hinman, 46 Mich. 112.
The briefs cover 202 pages, taken up almost entirely with analyzing the testimony of the witnesses, and attempting upon the one side to show their discrepancies and unreliability, and upon the other to reconcile and explain them. To make a statement of the testimony of the witnesses, and the conclusions to be drawn therefrom, would make this opinion long and tedious, without benefit to any •one but the parties interested. It is sufficient to say that we entirely agree with the conclusion reached by the court below.
The decree is affirmed, with costs.
The other Justices concurred.