Huss v. Morris

1. The mistake of a scrivener in preparing a writing may be shown by parol evidence, and the instrument reformed accordingly. 2. Such reformation is an exercise of the equity powers of all our courts. 3. Equity relieves against mistake as well as against fraud. 4. In a voluntary conveyance our courts will not distinguish between children and grandchildren in the exercise of their equitable powers in correcting a plain mistake in a conveyance intended for their benefit. 5. This would be especially so when the correction is made to render valid and effectual what would otherwise be void-for informality. 6. Mistakes may be so apparent on the face of an instrument that courts will construe it as it ought to have been drawn. 7. The liberality of courts has been particularly exercised as to the statement of the consideration both in correcting what is wrong and inserting what has been omitted. 8. “Grandchildren” substituted, by parol evidence, for “heirs of my son,” in a deed in this case.

Error to the Court of Common Pleas of Crreene county: No. 114, to October and November Term 1869. This was an action of ejectment, commenced March 16th 1866, by Eleanor A. Iiuss and others, children of Andrew Lantz, Jr., deceased, against Elijah Morris and others, for the undivided fifth part of a tract of 430 acres of land. Both parties claimed title under Andrew Lantz, Sr., deceased. On the trial, February 18th 1869, before Gilmore, P. J., it was proved for the plaintiffs that they were grandchildren of Andrew Lantz, Sr., and were all born in his lifetime. The plaintiffs gave in evidence a deed dated June 26th 1853 “between Andrew Lantz, Sr., of, &e., of the first part and the heirs of his son Andrew Lantz, Jr., of, &c., of the other part.” The deed witnessed “ that the said party of the first part for the natural love and affection he hath for said heirs as well as for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar,” &c., granted to “the said party of the second part and to their heirs and assigns for ever,” all the following described tracts of land,” &c. This deed covers the land in question in this suit. They gave in evidence another deed of the same date “ between Andrew Lantz, Sr., of, &c., of the first part and the heirs of Andrew Lantz, Jr., of, &c., of the other part.” It witnessed, “ that the said party of the first part for the natural love and affection he hath for his grandchildren as well as for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar,” &e., granted, “to the said party of the second part and to their heirs and assigns for ever, all the following described tracts,” &c. Both deeds were acknowledged before the same justice, January 2d 1854, and recorded April 11th 1859. The plaintiffs called Joseph L. McConnell, who testified:— “ I drew the deeds which have been read; I wrote the deeds at the instance of Andrew Lantz, Sr.; I think he gave me the same instructions for the filling up of both deeds; I cannot tell how I came to leave out the words ‘ for the love and affection he hath for his grandchildren;’ I cannot tell why I left it out; I am satisfied I received the same instructions from the old man ; cannot say why I left it out, or that it was an accident or a mistake that I left it out. We first talked of leaving it in trust to somebody for them (the children of Andrew Lantz, Jr.), he named them over or counted them over; he then said he did not know, how many might be born, he wanted the children all equal; he called them his grandchildren, Andrew’s children and his heirs, more often Andrew’s children, and when he thought more might be born, he called them Andrew’s heirs; as near as I can recollect, he told me how to fill up the deeds, and I cannot distinguish, but I know he mentioned heirs, grandchildren and Andrew’s children; he told me to fill up the deeds in that way; he said he was satisfied there would he more born; said he wanted to make the deeds legal; I am satisfied the instructions for both deeds were the same, hut I don’t know how it happened I made them different; he said he wanted to make the deeds legal. I think I drew the deed last given in evidence, first.” On cross-examination he said: — “ The word heirs was put in to avoid the difficulty about the after-born children; he directed it to be put in that way, for this reason; I read over the deeds; I am not certain that he signed them till he went to acknowledge them; he had the deeds in his own possession till after they were acknowledged.” Andrew Lantz,. Sr., by his will, dated September 5th 1857, devised- all his lands not already conveyed away, to his five children, share and share alike. The youngest child of Andrew Lantz, Jr., was born after the date and acknowledgment of the deed. Andrew Lantz, Sr., died in 1859. Andrew Lantz, Jr., died in 1862. The plaintiff’s points were:— 1. From the deeds in evidence and the testimony of McConnell, the jury may find that Andrew Lantz, Sr., instructed McConnell to describe the grantees in the deed for the land in dispute exactly as in the other deed, and that the words “ natural love and affection he hath for his grandchildren,” were left out of the deed conveying the land in dispute by the accident or mistake of the said McConnell, when he drew the deed, and if they should so find the facts, then the deed is a sufficient conveyance in law and equity, to the plaintiffs, and they are entitled to recover, as the defendants admit the title to have been in the grantor. 2. If the jury believe the evidence of Joseph L. McConnell, that he wrote them (the deeds) at the instance of Andrew Lantz,, Sr., under the following instructions, viz.: “ He (Andrew Lantz, Sr.), gave me the same instructions for filling up both deeds. I drew the small deed first, and both deeds at the same time”— “ named over Andrew’s children, his grandchildren” — the deeds being between the same parties, written at the same time, relating to the same subject-matter, and from grandfather to grandchildren, are to be treated as one conveyance, and as if the word “grandchildren” were in the deed for the land in dispute, and the plaintiffs are entitled to recover. 3. If the court should charge against the plaintiffs on the foregoing points, then they are respectfully requested to charge as follows: that as both plaintiffs and defendant claim title under Andrew Lantz, Sr., and the plaintiffs having shown that they are the children and heirs of Andrew Lantz, Jr., they are entitled to recover under the deeds given in evidence. The court charged:— “This is an ejectment for the same land, same parties and title which we find reported and decided in 10 Wright 200. We see plainly that the authority of that case is questioned and doubted, but it does not follow from this that it is or ever will be overruled, and as it is decisive in the very case trying, we must adhere to it. “ The plaintiff endeavored to show that the scrivener departed from the instructions of the grantor in drawing the deed, that this was an accidental omission and mistake, and that in equity he has a right to show this by parol evidence, and have the deed read or reformed to correspond with these omitted instructions. We recognise their right to do so, and have permitted them to make the attempt, and we have also allowed them to read another deed from the same grantor to those who are alleged to be the same grantees, and which was executed on the same day, and written immediately before the deed upon which plaintiff’s title rests; and this for the purpose of explaining the instructions and corroborating the witness. The late Chief Justice in 11 Casey 215, said, 4 we have got far away from the rule that is laid down in Starkie on Evidence, part 4, 1009, that parol evidence is inadmissible for the purpose of altering the legal operation of an instrument;’ so that under the relaxed rules of evidence on this subject, we have no difficulty in allowing the introduction of the evidence; but seeing that these rigid rules of evidence have been changed in some measure (for in allowing the evidence we are exercising the functions of a chancellor), we consider it our duty, when exercising these equitable powers, to hold the matter well in hand, and not commit the case to a jury, unless the offer is well made out. We ought to leave nothing of substance to mere inference, conjecture or supposition, and whenever the evidence amounts to nothing more, to withdraw the decision from the jury. We shall do so here, and decide that it is not sufficiently proven by Mr. McConnell, the scrivener (and the only witness on the subject-matter of accidental omission and mistake), that there was such omission and mistake in drawing the deed, as is alleged. Here the grantor knew his grandchildren, could name and number them, but the difficulty in his mind was that he supposed his son Andrew might have more children, and he concluded, as he wished them all to be equal, that this was the proper mode of designating them. The witness says, 41 am satisfied that the instructions for both deeds were the same] but I don’t know how it happened that I made them different; he said he wanted to make the deeds legal. I think I drew the deed last given in evidence, first.’ Then on his cross-examination he says : 4 The word “ heirs” was put in to avoid the difficulty about the after-born children; he directed it to be put in that way, for this reason. I read over the deeds to him.’ After such .evidence, it is the duty of the court to say that the offer is not proved, and that there is no such evidence as would allow the correction of this deed. As to the intent of the grantor, there can be but one opinion. By the enforcement of this technical rule it is clearly frustrated. “ This is our answer to the 1st and 2d points. “ As to the 3d point we say, if we comprehend its import, that this action is not brought by the plaintiffs as tenants in common or coparceners for undivided parts, against co-tenants and coparceners, and therefore if not entitled to recover the whole they cannot recover undivided parts of the whole. This point we think is rather an afterthought, as we have no recollection that the children of Andrew Lantz, Sr, were named. Plaintiffs except.” The verdict was for the defendants. The plaintiffs took a writ of error and assigned the answers to their points for error.