Court Opinion

ID: 3659436
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 06:11:33.023278+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:50:33.840404
License: Public Domain

This appeal is prosecuted for the review of a judgment rendered upon an agreed statement of facts. The defendant contracted to purchase the land in question, but refused to accept the deed *Page 286 
tendered by the plaintiffs for the alleged reason that they could not convey an estate in fee. The plaintiffs trace their title through mesne conveyance back to Nina Dillon, who died leaving a last will and testament dated 8 February, 1882. The material item of the will is as follows:
"I do hereby devise and bequeath unto my beloved mother, Eliza Nixon, all of my estate of every kind to have and to hold the same for and during the term of her natural life, and upon the death of my mother, the said Eliza Nixon, I devise and bequeath all of my said estate unto my daughter, Harriet N. Dillon, to have and to hold the same to her, her heirs, executors and administrators, and in the event that my said daughter, Harriet N. Dillon, should die in my lifetime, or in the lifetime of my said mother, or after her death, without issue of her body living at the time of her death, I devise and bequeath all of my said estate to my said husband, Daniel Dillon, to have and to hold the same to him, his heirs, executors and administrators."
On 1 July, 1901, Harriet N. Dillon, who was unmarried, executed and delivered to Henry Weil and others a deed for the land described in this item with full covenants and warranties sufficient in form to convey the fee; and on 8 July, 1901, Daniel Dillon, also unmarried, conveyed to Harriet N. Dillon all his right, title and interest in the same land. Eliza Nixon died in 1885; Harriet N. Dillon is living, is about fifty years of age, and has never married; Daniel Dillon died in 1905, leaving Harriet as his only heir at law. The two questions are whether the deed to Henry Weil and others conveyed a fee and whether the plaintiffs can convey a like title to the defendant.
Under the will of Nina Dillon her daughter Harriet acquired a fee defeasible upon her dying without issue of her body living at her death; and the interest of Daniel Dillon was contingent upon this event.Bodenhamer v. Welch, 89 N.C. 78; Whitfield v. Garris, 134 N.C. 24;Smith v. Lumber Co., 155 N.C. 389. Nothing else appearing Harriet could not convey the fee; but she is the only heir of the contingent remainderman and is the grantee in a deed conveying his interest in the land. A contingent interest in land is generally descendible and devisable; it may also be released if the contingent remainderman is specified and known. Here the ulterior remainderman is particularly designated in the will.Christopher v. Wilson, 188 N.C. 757; Malloy v. Acheson, 179 N.C. 90;Hobgood v. Hobgood, 169 N.C. 485; Cheek v. Walker, 138 N.C. 446;Kornegay v. Miller, 137 N.C. 668.
It is true the deed from Harriet N. Dillon to Henry Weil and others antedates her deed from Daniel Dillon; but she conveyed with full *Page 287 
covenants and warranties and is estopped as against her grantees to set up any subsequently acquired title. Hallyburton v. Slagle, 132 N.C. 947;Bank v. Glenn, 68 N.C. 36; Hassell v. Walker, 50 N.C. 270; Moore v.Willis, 9 N.C. 555. It follows that both the questions proposed should be given an affirmative answer. The judgment is therefore
Affirmed.