Lehman v. Broyles

• Decision Date: 20 November 1922
• Docket Number: 271
• Parties: LEHMAN v. BROYLES
• Court: Arkansas Supreme Court

245 S.W. 24

155 Ark. 593

LEHMAN v. BROYLES

No. 271

Supreme Court of Arkansas

November 20, 1922

Appeal from Washington Circuit Court; W. A. Dickson, Judge affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.

John Mayes, for appellant.

The appellee has utterly failed to show a delivery to her symbolical or otherwise, of the money in controversy, or the delivery and possession of the pass book.

It is well-established law that gifts, either causa mortis or inter vivos, must show an actual delivery by the donor to the donee of the property intended to be given, as well as the circumstances under which either must be consummated. 44 Ark. 45; 107 U.S. 602; 114 Mass. 30; 43 Ark 307; 1 Ark. 83; 6 Ark. 538.

There were no instructions or directions given by Mr. Lehman to the bank, at any time, for the bank to deliver this money to appellee.

One can make a lawful gift inter vivos of his property, provided the gift is complete, i. e., that the donor parts with all control of it, and reserves no right to recall it, and intends it to be a final disposition of the property. 147 Ala. 311; 3 L. R. A. (N. S.) 774; 40 So. 104; 10 Ann. Cas. 1051; 68 Ark. 255; 58 S.W. 42; 113 Cal. 490; 45 P. 867; 176 P. 56; 52 Ind. 393; 137 Iowa 742; 115 N.W. 590; 28 A. 9; 144 P. 1094. Delivery to an agent or trustee for the use of the donee is sufficient to vest title in the donee. 138 Iowa 344; 116 N.W. 119; 151 Iowa 362; 130 N.W. 125.

Where property intended to be given to a third person for delivery to the donee, although the right of revocation existed, but was not exercised prior to the death of the donor, the title vested in the donee. 173 Iowa 165; 155 N.W. 283; 51 Vt. 227; 31 Am. Rep. 682; 179 Ill. 137; 53 N.E. 584.

There was no delivery or surrender of dominion of the property by the appellant. 138 Mass. 581; 192 Mass. 564; 116 Am. St. Rep. 270; 78 Neb. 648; 141 Mo. 642; 43 S.W. 617; 42 Mo.App. 49; 125 Mo.App. 165; 101 S.W. 1108.

Walker & Walker, for appellee.

Where the judgment of a court sitting as a jury is based upon substantial testimony, its judgment will not be disturbed on appeal. 38 Ark. 139; 45 Ark. 41; 50 Ark. 305; 53 Ark. 161; 56 Ark. 621; 68 Ark. 83.

Findings of fact by a court sitting as a jury are as conclusive as the verdict of a jury, and will not disturbed if there be evidence to support them. 90 Ark. 512; 91 Ark. 108; 92 Ark. 41; 90 Ark. 494; 90 Ark. 375; 100 Ark. 166; 86 Ark. 504; 80 Ark. 47; 82 Ark. 188; 84 Ark. 623; 97 Ark. 374; 80 Ark. 249; 96 Ark. 606; 114 Ark. 170; 171 S.W. 924; 111 Ark. 190.

OPINION

WOOD, J.

The appellee instituted this action in the circuit court of Washington County against the Arkansas National Bank of Fayetteville, Arkansas (hereafter called bank), to recover the sum of $ 3,366 with interest thereon at four per cent. from the 30th day of June, 1918. She alleged that the money was deposited with the bank to her credit by William Lehman, who had legally adopted the appellee as his daughter. The appellants filed an intervention alleging that they were the sole surviving heirs of William Lehman; that the money on deposit in the bank was the property of William Lehman, and at his death they became entitled to same as his only heirs. They denied that the appellee was the legally adopted daughter of William Lehman, and denied that she was entitled to the money in controversy. On the 29th of October, 1921, the bank paid to the clerk of the court the sum of $ 3,366, and by consent of all parties was discharged from further liability.

The appellee testified that she was the adopted daughter of William Lehman, deceased. Her father, William Lehman, delivered to her a bank deposit book and made her a present of some money in the bank, which book she introduced in evidence. When the book was delivered to her it showed a deposit of $ 600. When her father delivered the book to her he told her that was her money. William Lehman, her adopted father, had no child of his own. At the time he delivered the book to witness his wife was dead. From time to time after he first delivered the book to witness he called upon witness for the book and made other deposits, and told witness they were hers. Witness was the owner of the money in controversy, and had made demand on the bank for same, and instituted this action because the bank refused to pay the money over to her. Witness further testified that she had not checked against the deposit during the life-time of her father; that he said, "I am making a deposit for you. You don't really need this money now. It might be that later you will need it." The bank book had been in her possession at all times since it was first delivered to her by her father, except at such times as her father called for it when he desired to make additional deposits. Her father was 68 or 70 years old at the time of his death. At one time during his life she loaned him $ 500, and he gave her his note for it. Numbers and numbers of times before that her father had given her money, and she had always had a bank account with the bank, and also had an account with the First National Bank. The $ 500 she loaned her father was in the First National Bank. She checked it out and delivered the money to him. The reason she did not have her father pay the $ 500 when he was depositing the money to her credit was that she did not need it. He always looked out for witness' welfare--anything she needed. She didn't ask her father for interest on the note. She left the $ 500 note and mortgage in her father's box for safekeeping at his suggestion. She knew nothing about her father making a deposit for her to avoid any judgment that might be obtained by the woman he had married in Texas. Her father had given her the money; that was all she knew. Her father had considerable money in the bank in his own name, which came into the hands of Mr. Wilson, his administrator. Her father had in his box, which she opened, vendor's lien notes amounting to thousands of dollars on property in Texas. She turned over the box to the administrator. Her father was stricken with paralysis at the home of Mrs. Collins.

T. L. Hart testified that he was cashier of the bank. The book exhibited and introduced is a savings pass book issued by the bank to Mrs. Ethel Broyles. The book gives a correct record of the amount of money deposited by William Lehman and the withdrawals from same which were charged to the account of Mrs. Ethel Broyles. William Lehman was dead. The withdrawals from the fund were by checks drawn by William Lehman. He made the last withdrawal in May before his death, amounting to $ 100. Witness had no instructions to honor appellee's drafts against the account--had instructions not to honor checks drawn by her. Witness further stated that, while Lehman did not tell him definitely when he made the deposit, witness drew the presumption that he had some fears that some woman may be molesting his estate or his funds, and he said that he wanted that in such a shape that his daughter, Mrs. Broyles, would have no trouble after his death, but at the same time he reserved the right to control the fund as he saw fit. Witness was asked whether or not he had any authority from Mrs. Broyles to check against that account, and answered, "Well, we had no instructions from Mrs. Broyles either way." Mrs. Broyles brought the bank book in after her father's death and had witness to bring it down to date with the amount of accrued interest at that time. Witness further testified that he did not know where Lehman kept his pass book. He would bring the book with him when he made a deposit. He could not say that he had the book with him every time, but several times he did. Witness could not recall the exact words of Lehman in regard to the money but he said, "I want this money so no one can molest it." Thus in a scattering way he led witness to believe he was apprehensive that somebody would try to get it. Witness did not remember whether Lehman had other money on deposit at that time, but thinks that is all he had. Witness had been unable to find any checks against the deposit except one. Witness exhibited this check, which was as follows:

"Muskogee, Okla. 5-3-21.

"Pay to the order of S. S. Gill, Trustee, $ 100.00, one hundred no/100 dollars.

"Endorsed by payee, this check becomes a receipt in full for account as per statement below.

"Arkansas National Bank, Fayetteville, Arkansas.

"Chg. Ethel Broyles.

"W. M. LEHMAN."

The words "Charge Ethel Broyles" on the draft were put there by witness. Witness didn't know about that particular check or draft, but it was witness' understanding when Lehman made the deposit that he would control it and withdraw from it as he saw fit. He wanted it there so when he died it would be in such a shape that "she wouldn't have any trouble in getting it. That was about the sum and substance of it."

The appellee was recalled and testified that when her father was making deposits he would say to her, "This is for you," and a few times he said, "I am going to check on this, will that be all right?" She replied, "Perfectly all right. Any time you need any money don't save anything for me that you might need yourself --use it."

There was testimony on behalf of the appellee to the effect that the relations between William Lehman and the appellee before and up to the time of Lehman's death were pleasant. William Lehman died at Fayetteville. At that time the appellee was living in Joplin, Missouri.

We deem it unnecessary to set out the testimony that was introduced on behalf of the appellants, the interveners, and also the testimony that was introduced on behalf...