Court Opinion

ID: 9831041
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 20:44:50.411247+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:43:29.925853
License: Public Domain

ON MOTION FOR REHEARING.
The case of Carlton v. Cameron, 54 Texas, 72, cited by appellee, is not authority for the proposition that under a plea of not guilty a defendant can assert independent equitable rights. Ho such question was considered in that case. Heither is that case authority for the proposition that a deed that passes the title to land at delivery, no right being reserved except that of use by the grantor during life, is testamentary in its character. In the instrument construed in the case of Carlton v. Cameron, the title to the estate was specially reserved in the maker of the instrument until after his death. In this case the title passed at once from Emily Thorogood to appellant. The reservation of the use of the property during the life of the grantor did not affect the title, it passed at *498once, and could not have been revoked by the grantor, except through the courts in case of fraud or mistake.
The finding of the trial judge that the deed was to take effect after the death of Emily Thorogood is not supported by the statement of facts. The language of the deed and the other evidence shows that it took effect at once. Emily Thorogood showed by her acts "that she did not consider it testamentary in its character. She instituted suit to cancel the deed, claiming that it had been obtained by fraud. In the petition asking for a cancellation of the instrument it was alleged: “That A. Matthews and Laura Matthews, father and mother of Laura Elizabeth Matthews, contriving and intending to defraud plaintiff of her property, did fraudulently take advantage of her old age and debility, and by means of false representations and promises to support her during the remainder of her life, and by improper and undue influence, aided by old age as aforesaid, did prevail upon her to execute and acknowledge and deliver to their daughter a deed to her home.” When appellant introduced the deed made by Emily Thorogood in evidence, she had presented a prima facie case that could be met alone by proof of fraud in obtaining the deed. There was no pleading upon which appellee could obtain the equitable relief of cancellation of the deed on the ground of fraud. If the instrument could have been attacked and nullified, on the ground of fraud, under a plea of not guilty, there was no evidence of fraud presented in the case. The motion for rehearing is overruled.

Overruled.

Writ of error refused.