Court Opinion

ID: 5551764
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-11 00:33:19.824957+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:35:09.680131
License: Public Domain

By the Court.

Warner, J.
delivering the opinion.
[1.] This bill is filed by the legatees of Maulden Amos, deceased, against James Amos, his executor, for the purpose of compelling him to account for, and pay to them, their share of a certain sum of money which' they allege went into the hands of the defendant.
The defendant admits in his answer, that he received from his testator in his life time, about the sum of twenty-two-hundred dollars, but expressly alleges, that the testator, several years before his death, gave him the said sum of twenty-two hundred dollars, in consideration that he, the defendant, would take care of him, and provide for him in a manner suitable to his age and consequent feebleness, and see him properly disposed of after death.
The defendant also alleges, that in pursuance of the obligation imposed on him by the gift of the money aforesaid, as well as filial regard for his aged father, he supported, maintained, clothed and washed for him, for eight years, paid his medical bills, and gratified him in every wish and desire, within the bounds of reason. The defendant, in his answer, claims title to the money in question, by virtue of a contract made with his testator in his life time. About eight years before his death, he alleges, the testator gave him the money, in consideration that he would maintain and support him during life, and see him properly disposed of after death, all of which; the defendant alleges he has done and performed. On the trial of this cause, there was much evidence introduced as to the mental capacity of the testator, and also, as to the care and attention bestowed upon him by *103the defendant and his family, during the period which he remained at the defendant’s house. The Court below instructed the Jury as to the law regulating voluntary parol gifts of personal chattels, to which the counsel for complainant excepted, and now assigns the same for error here. The argument for the plaintiff in error is, that the defendant, in his answer, sets up a title to the money in controversy, under a contract made with his testator in his life time; that the Jury were instructed by the Court, to consider the case according to the law regulating voluntary parol gifts of property; thereby giving to the Jury a rule of law for their guide, which did not apply to the case made by the pleadings then before it. We have not been able to discover from any portion of the defendant’s answer, that he claims to retain the money by virtue of a voluntary parol gift from his testator ; but on the contrary, he claims to retain it under the contract, or agreement, made between himself and his testator, for valuable services to be rendered by him, which he alleges he has performed. Whether the defendant is entitled to retain the money, under the contract or agreement, as set up by him, is one question. Whether he is entitled to retain it, under a voluntary parol gift from the testator, is another, and totally distinct question. Had the Court properly instructed the Jury as to the law applicable to the contract or agreement, set up in the answer of the defendant, we should not have disturbed this verdict. Although the evidence in the record, is not as full and satisfactory to that point, as might be desirable, yet, there was some evidence in relation to the contract; and if it had been satisfactory to the Jury, we should not have interfered with their verdict. Assuming the contract or agreement, between the defendant and the testator, to have been proved, the performance thereof, by the defendant on his part, is clearly established. The services which he alleges he was to render to the testator, in consideration for the money, appear to have been faithfully performed. The parties, however, were entitled to have their cause tried according to the law applicable to the. issue made by the pleadings. The issue made by the pleadings was, did the defendant and the testator make the contract or agreement, as alleged ? Did the *104defendant perform his part of the contract or agreement, which he alleges ivas the consideration for the money ? The law applicable to contracts or agreements, was the law of this case, and should have controlled it. Inasmuch, therefore, as the Court instructed the Jury as to the law applicable to voluntary parol gifts, and not as to the law7 applicable to contracts or agreements, we think it was error, and a new trial must be granted. It is impossible for us to say what effect the charge of the Court in regard to parol gifts, may have had on the minds of the Jury, in making up their verdict.
If the Judge at the trial misdirect the Jury on matters of law, material to the issue, whatever may be the nature of the case, the verdict will be set aside, and a new7 trial granted. Graham on New Trials, 262. Calcraft vs. Gibbs, 2 Term Rep. 20. Boyden vs. Moore, 5 Mass. Rep. 372. Let the judgment of the Court below be reversed, and a new trial granted.