Klatt v. Wolff
Decision Date | 07 September 1943 |
Docket Number | 38493 |
Citation | 173 S.W.2d 933 |
Parties | KLATT et al. v. WOLFF et ux |
Court | Missouri Supreme Court |
James L. Anding, of Pacific and Randolph H. Schaper, of Washington for appellants.
John B Busch, of Washington, for respondents.
OPINIONVAN OSDOL, Commissioner.
This case involves the title to real estate. It is a suit to set aside a warranty deed to Lot 7 in Walkenhorst's Addition to the town (now city) of Washington, Franklin County Missouri, the petition alleging the deed to be void for want of delivery. The chancellor found for defendants and dismissed the petition. Plaintiffs have appealed.
The merits of the case involved but one question the delivery of the deed.
The grantor, Martha Frey, an elderly widow and a resident of Washington, Missouri, died intestate March 11, 1942. She had lived at the home of defendants since the fall of 1941. On January 14th proceeding her death the deed was prepared conveying the property to the defendants. The deed recited a consideration of $ 1, was acknowledged January 29, 1942, and recorded March 21, 1942. An 'Agreement Giving Possession To Real Estate and Premises Before Conveyance of Title' (hereinafter referred to as the 'agreement') was also executed; this instrument was not signed until February 27, 1942, although it was in process of preparation when the deed was signed and acknowledged.
The agreement is as follows:
'Agreement made this 14th day of January, 1942, by Martha Frey, a widow, hereinafter called the vendor, and Charles Wolff and Bertha Wolff, his wife, hereinafter called the purchaser, all of Washington, Franklin County, Missouri.
'Whereas by warranty deed executed between said parties bearing date, the 14th day of January, 1942, the said vendor agree to sell, and the said purchaser agree to purchase, a parcel of land together with all improvements thereon described as follows to-wit:
'Lot No. 7 in Walkenhorst's addition to the town (now city) of Washington, Missouri.
'In Witness Whereof, the parties hereto have signed in duplicate copies their signatures this 27th day of February, 1942.'
It was the testimony of Fred Jaeger, nephew of the deceased husband of Martha Frey, that Martha Frey had told witness in the early part of March 1942 that she had the deed in her possession and intended to hold it until her death; that, the night Martha Frey died, he talked with the defendant, Bertha Wolff, who stated that Martha Frey had told her of the location of the key to a trunk, and that the defendant, Bertha Wolff, further said, ; and that later the defendant, Bertha Wolff, told him that 'she had been in the trunk and found all of Martha Frey's papers.'
It was the testimony of Mrs. Fred Schwentker (daughter of plaintiff, Ida Klatt, and niece of Martha Frey) that Martha Frey had, a short time prior to her death, told her that she, Martha Frey, had put all of her papers, including the deed, in her trunk; that she was not going to stay at the home of defendants but was going to the 'old folks' home.'
One F.C. Heidmann, notary public, real estate agent and justice of the peace, prepared the deed and agreement. It was his testimony that Martha Frey had asked him to prepare the deed in September, 1941, telling him: The witness further testified that, though the deed had been signed sometime before, it was acknowledged by the grantor at the office of witness on January 29th, at which time the defendants were present; and that, after the deed had been acknowledged, witness handed it to Martha Frey, who
According to the witness, no mention was made of the agreement on the day the deed was acknowledged.
The witness, Heidmann, further testified:
On cross-examination the witness, Heidmann, testified in part:
'Q. Well, she said that, didn't she she said she was going to deliver this deed to them after her death? A. No, sir; I don't know that she said that.
'Q. Well do you remember when your deposition was taken in this case? A. Yes, sir.
'Q. I will ask you if this question was asked you, and you made this answer: did you make that answer? A. Yes, sir.
On March 21, 1942, the defendant, Charles A. Wolff, was granted letters of administration in the matter of the estate of Martha Frey; but upon the objection of certain of the heirs at law of Martha Frey, Heidmann called the defendant, Charles A. Wolff, by telephone and advised him to 'turn everything he had back to the public administrator;' on the same day a letter was prepared by Heidmann, signed and forwarded by defendant, Charles A. Wolff, to the probate judge of Franklin County. The letter is as follows:
The further administration of the estate was undertaken by the public administrator. The quit claim deed mentioned in the letter to the judge of probate was prepared but never executed.
It was the testimony of defendant, Bertha Wolff, that she did not authorize the letter. She also denied that she had procured the deed from the grantor's trunk. The defendant, Charles A. Wolff, testified that he followed the advice of Heidmann in sending the letter, and that he, defendant, subsequently changed his mind about 'deeding the property over.' Vernita Wolff, daughter of defendants, testified that upon the return of her parents and Martha Frey from the office of Heidmann on January 29th Martha Frey said, 'That is all finished now, I don't have to worry about that anymore.' Other testimony was introduced tending to show that Martha Frey resided with defendants, making no complaint of the treatment she received in their home.
In the consideration of this cause, a suit in equity, it is our duty to review the evidence, determine its weight and sufficiency and make our...
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