Ramsey v. Ramsey

• Decision Date: 08 March 1944
• Docket Number: 91.
• Citation: 29 S.E.2d 340,224 N.C. 110
• Parties: RAMSEY et al. v. RAMSEY et al.
• Court: North Carolina Supreme Court

29 S.E.2d 340

224 N.C. 110

RAMSEY et al. v. RAMSEY et al.

No. 91.

Supreme Court of North Carolina

March 8, 1944

Civil action in ejectment to recover two tracts of land in Madison County containing 25 acres and 15 acres respectively.

Andrew Ramsey and his wife, Lillie Ramsey, had born unto them three children, towit, Fred S. Ramsey, Boyd Ramsey and Sophia Ramsey Rice. Boyd Ramsey died leaving three minor children Jack Ramsey, Elizabeth Ramsey and Boyd Ramsey; Sophia Rice and Cleophus Rice having qualified as their general guardians.

Prior to the institution of this action, Sophia Rice and her husband, Cleophus Rice, executed a deed, dated June 14, 1941 conveying all their right, title and interest in and to both of the aforesaid tracts of land to Fred S. Ramsey. Hence the plaintiffs herein are Fred S. Ramsey and the minor children of Boyd Ramsey, deceased.

On March 27, 1899, James Soloman and wife, Rillia Solomon executed a deed in fee simple to Andrew Ramsey for the 25-acre tract of land referred to herein, which instrument was recorded in the office of the register of deeds for Madison County, September 12, 1899.

On November 18, 1901, James Gosnell executed a deed, in which the names of Andrew Ramsey and Lillie Ramsey appear as grantees, for the 15-acre tract of land referred to herein. This instrument was registered in the office of the register of deeds for Madison County, on the last day of February, 1913.

Plaintiffs allege that at the time of the execution and delivery of the foregoing deed the only name appearing therein as grantee was that of Andrew Ramsey, now deceased.

After obtaining title to the 25-acre tract of land from James Soloman and wife, Andrew Ramsey built a home on said land and moved with his family into said home, and occupied the premises until his death in 1905.

The evidence further discloses that Mrs. Lillie Ramsey, widow of Andrew Ramsey, continued to live on the premises until about 1910; and that she thereafter rented the land to one Mark Chandler for several years. She moved to Tennessee and married John Ramsey, returning to the home place with her said husband sometime prior to 1913, where she resided continuously until her death May 16, 1941. She was in continuous possession of both tracts of land from the death of Andrew Ramsey, in 1905, until her own death in 1941.

There were born of the second marriage, Earl Ramsey, Ruth Ramsey Bullman and Arnold Ramsey, who, together with their father, John Ramsey, and the wives and husband of said children respectively, are defendants.

The defendants allege that in the execution of the deed to Andrew Ramsey by Rillia Soloman and James Soloman, by mutual mistake and inadvertence, the name of Lillie Ramsey was omitted and only the name of Andrew Ramsey was inserted in the deed. It is also alleged that this 25-acre tract of land was inherited by Lillie Ramsey from her mother, Mary Norton, and that the above deed from her sister Rillia Soloman and her husband, was in exchange of property between the two sisters, and further allege that Andrew Ramsey was a trustee and held the title to said land for the use and benefit of his wife, Lillie Ramsey.

The defendants introduced the last will and testament of Mrs. Lillie Ramsey, executed on the 15th day of May, 1941, which was duly probated in the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court of Madison County, on the 20th day of May, 1941, and no caveat has been filed thereto.

In the aforesaid will of Lillie Ramsey, deceased, she devised to her children, Sophia Rice and Fred Ramsey, and to her grandchildren, heirs at law of her son Boyd Ramsey, the 15-acre tract of land. She devised to her children of the second marriage the 25-acre tract of land.

Plaintiffs allege that they are the owners of and entitled to the possession of both tracts of land referred to herein, and that the defendants are in the unlawful possession of the 25-acre tract and are claiming some interest in the 15-acre tract.

The defendants deny both allegations and admit that the plaintiffs are the owners of the 15-acre tract of land, but allege they hold the title under and by virtue of the aforesaid will of Mrs. Lillie Ramsey.

From a directed verdict in favor of defendants, and the judgment thereon, adjudging the defendants to be the owners of the 25-acre tract of said land, the plaintiffs appeal and assign error.

Geo. M. Pritchard, of Asheville, and Geo. L. Greene, of Marshall, for plaintiffs.

Carl R. Stuart and Guy V. Roberts, both of Marshall, for defendants.

DENNY Justice.

The first exception relates to the refusal of his honor to admit in evidence the original deed for the 15-acre tract of land described in the complaint, for the purpose of attacking it.

The plaintiffs contend that this 15-acre tract of land was conveyed originally to Andrew Ramsey as sole grantee, that the name of his wife Lillie Ramsey, was inserted afterwards, thereby giving Lillie Ramsey, according to the record, title to the property, since Andrew Ramsey, her husband, predeceased her. Lillie Ramsey devised this tract of land to her two surviving children by her first husband, Andrew Ramsey, and to her grandchildren, heirs at law of another child by her first husband, who had predeceased her. Lillie Ramsey's will has been duly probated and no caveat filed thereto. However, plaintiffs insist they are entitled to hold this land directly from Andrew Ramsey, and not under and by virtue of the deed, which purports to create an estate by the entirety and the devise from Lillie Ramsey. The defendants in their answer aver the plaintiffs are the owners of the 15-acre tract of land, they testified to that effect, and stated in open court in the trial below that they claim no interest in said 15-acre tract of land. They assert, however, the plaintiffs hold title to the 15-acre tract of land under and by virtue of the will of Lillie Ramsey and not otherwise.

Ordinarily any person claiming title to real estate, whether in or out of possession, may maintain an action to remove a cloud from title against one who claims an interest in the property adverse to the claimant, and is required to allege only that the defendant claims an interest in the land in controversy. Plotkin v. Merchants' Bank & T. Co., 188 N.C. 711, 125 S.E. 541; Carolina-Tennessee Power Co. v. Hiawassee Power Co., 175 N.C. 668, 96 S.E. 99; Satterwhite v. Gallagher, 173 N.C. 525, 92 S.E. 369; Rumbo v. Gay Mfg. Co., ...