Court Opinion

ID: 7109411
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 12:24:41.176829+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:13:41.209878
License: Public Domain

Waterman, J.
1 Prior to April 30, 1888, plaintiff was • the owner of lots 1, 2, 7, and 8 in block 6 in Bird’s addition to the city of Des Moines, and the north 129-1,- feet of lot 9 of the official plat of the northwest southeast J, section 4, townsliop 78 north, range 24 west of fifth P. M., and also of certain moneys, bonds, and securities. Mary E. Bird was the wife of plaintiff’s son, W. K. Bird, and Louise B. Hyde is plaintiff’s daughter. W. K. Bird had failed in business, and was indebted to a number of persons, who are parties defendant in this proceeding. Both W. K. Bird and Mary E., his wife, are dead, and without issue; and J. W. Geneser, who is a defendant herein, is administrator of their respective estates. Martha J. Jacobus, also a defendant in this action is a sister and sole heir at law of Mary E. Bird, whose death occurred November 15, 1896. Her husband, W. K. Bird, died intestate Mgrch 11, 1897. On April 30, 1888, plaintiff, in consideration of $10 and love and affection, conveyed lots 1, 2, 7, and 8 in block 6, above mentioned, to Louise B. Hyde and Mary E. Bird, reserving to grantor the rents and profits during her life; and on August 5, 1893, in consideration of $1 and love and affection, con*197veyed to the same grantees the north 129-J feet of lot 9, heretofore more particularly described, reserving also to grantor the rents and profits during her life. In March, 1897, W. K. Bird conveyed to his wife, Mary E., their homestead in the city of Des Moines, being lots 3 and I in block 2 in Bird’s addition. In the year 1889 Mary E. Bird received from the Pennsylvania Railroad Company the sum of $2,500 for injuries by her received through the negligence of said company. In the year 1888 plaintiff procured to be issued to Mary E. Bird $2,500 in debenture bonds of the Iowa Loan & Trust Company. They were given because plaintiff had previously advanced the sum of $2,500 to Louise B. Hyde, and she wished to treat daughter and daughter-in-law alike. These latter facts were given in evidence as tending to show the value of Mary E. Bird’s estate, though it must be said that not all of this personalty remained at her death. It is claimed on behalf of plaintiff that Mary E. Bird executed a will, which is lost or destroyed, in which she devised her entire estate to her husband and Louise B. Hyde for their respective lives, with remainder over in fee to plaintiff. This will was never probated.. It is also claimed that at the time plaintiff deeded the property mentioned to Mary E. Bird there was an agreement between them that Mary E. Bird should make a will disposing of the entire estate she might leave at her death, first to W. K. Bird for life, but in such manner as not to be subject to his debts, and remainder in fee to plaintiff if she survived him, and, if not, such remainder to go to Louise B. Hyde. As a part of this agreement, plaintiff was also to make a will of her remaining estate, in which, after making provision for a demented son, all her property was to be given W. K. Bird and Louise B. Hyde, but in such way that W. K. Bird was to have only a life interest, which could not be reached by his creditors. ■ This is a sufficient preliminary statement of the case, although there are a few additional facts which will be set out in their proper connection.
*1982 3 4 *1995 *198Two questions are discussed by counsel: (1) Has the lost will been established ? and has it been established there was a contract to make a will as alleged ? We shall take up only the last of these issues, for our finding upon it disposes of the case. First, it is said the testimony does not establish any such contract, and in this connection it is urged, that some of the testimony received should not be considered. The principal evidence on this point came from Judge Barcroft, who was the legal adviser of Anna K. and Mary E. Bird, and who testifies to their statements made to him. It is claimed that Mary E. Bird was of unsound mind when such statements were made by her. It is true that, as the result largely of the injury she suffered through the negligence of the railway company, she became unsound of mind, in the latter part of her life, but it does not appear that her mind was impaired at the time of which Judge Barcroft speaks. Again, it is said that Anna K. Bird would have been, incompetent as a witness to this contract under section 4604 of the Code, and that she cannot, on principle, be allowed to speak through another. We do not find that this objection was made in the trial court. See Burdick v Raymond, 107 Iowa, 228, as to the form of objection necessary to be made to raise the point presented in argument. This last objection may, however, properly be said to be interposed os to the witness Louise B. Hyde, and in her case it is not good. She has no interest in the subject matter of this action as heir of Anna P. Bird while the latter is still living; nor can she be said to have any interest under the will made by Anna P. Bird at the time of the contract with Mary E. Bird, for this will may at any time be changed; for, although Louise B. Hyde was benefited by, she was not a party to, the contract to make the will. Chicago, R. I. & P. Ry Co. v. City of Ottumwa, 112 Iowa, 300; German State Bank v. Northwestern Water & Light Co., 104 Iowa, 717. ■ The interest *199which disqualifies under this section must be “a legal, certain, and immediate interest.” Birge v. Rhinehart, 36 Iowa, 369. It is further urged that such an agreement, if made, is within the statute of frauds. 'A promise or agreement to make a will in another’s favor is valid, and may be enforced. Allbright v. Hannah, 103 Iowa, 98. If it is for the transfer of an interest in lands, it is taken out of the statute of frauds by the payment of a consideration. Carmichael v. Carmichael, 12 Mich. 16 (40 N. W. Rep. 113). See, also, notes to section 4626, Code. The agreement made by Mary E. Bird was in consideration of the conveyance of read estate made to her by Anna P. Bird and the transfer to her of the debenture bonds. It is claimed there is no evidence that Anna P. Bird paid for these bonds. If this were true, the conveyance of their real estate would still be a consideration. But it is not correct. Louise B. ILyde testifies that her mother gave the bonds to Mary E. Bird, and she is nowhere contradicted. Having settled, then, what testimony we may properly consider, it is enough to say that the decided weight of the evidence clearly establishes an agreement by Mary E. Bird to make a will as alleged.
6 II. But, again, it is urged that the'agreement, if made, was without consideration, for that Anna P. Bird retained the reilts and profits of the real estate conveyed during her life. Leaving out of question the debenture bonds, as to which counsel do not agree, and we have this state of facts bearing ■ on the question under consideration: Anna P. Bird, at the time of the first conveyance, was almost 80 years of age, and in feeble health. The property conveyed was worth $30,000. There was, at the time, every prospect that Mary E. Bird would outlive her grantor, and enter into the full enjoyment of the property conveyed. We cannot but regard the arrangement as advantageous to her.
*2007 8 *199III. It is contended further by counsel for appellant that plaintiff is attempting to establish a trust in real estate *200by parol evidence, in violation of the terms of section 2918, Code. We cannot see that anything of the kind is here sought by plaintiff. There was nothing in this agreement that prevented Mary E. Bird from disposing of her interest in this real estate at any time during her life. The agreement of Mary E. Bird was not to devise to plaintiff any specific property, but only such as she might have at her death. She could not give away the property merely to defeat her obligation, but otherwise her free use of it was not restricted. A contract of this kind creates no trust in the property. Riddle v. Beattie, 77 Iowa, 168; Newton v. Newton, 46 Minn. 33 (48 N. W. Rep. 451) ; Allbright v. Hannah, supra. The contract appears to us to have been fair to Mary E. Bird. When made there was every reason to expect she would derive from it more advantage and benefit than Anna P. Bird could hope for. While a contract of this kind must be clear and certain in order to be enforced, this does not mean that the proof must be so clear as to exclude any controversy over the evidence. We unite in the conclusion that the decree of the district court must be aeeirmed.