Williamson v. Williamson

Where a party seeks to divest another of the legal title to real estate, on the ground of a parol gift, upon conditions, which he alleges have been complied with by him, the burden of proof is upon him to sustain the allegations of his petition, when they are denied by the respondent. Equity, as well as the law, contemplates that all contracts relating to real estate, shall be evidenced by some writing, signed by the party to be charged; and when it is sought to bring a case within any of the exceptions allowed to avoid the operation of the statute of frauds, the court should never be left to act upon conjecture, or upon proof loose and indeterminate in its character. Where a party seeks to take a cause out of the operation of the statute of frauds, upon the ground of a part performance, it is indispensable that the parol contract, agreement or gift, should be established by dear, unequivocal and definite testimony ;• and the acts claimed to have been done under the contract, should be equally clear and definite, and referable exclusively to the contract -or gift.

Appeal from the Wappelb District Court. In Cbaneery. The son, Robert, claims of Henry, tbe father, a deed for a certain parcel of real estate, which, he alleges was given to him by his said father. The bill sets up a parol gift, upon condition that complainant would settle upon said land; avers that he did, under said agreement, enter upon and make, improvements thereon; that he was in possession some two or three years; and that respondent refused to make the deed, but compelled complainant to quit said possession. The answer denies all the substantial averments of the bill. To sustain the complainant’s action, several depositions were taken, the substance of which is as follows: John C. Baker testified, that he knew nothing of any contract between the parties; that he had heard respondent say, that he had- given complainant the land, and that complainant lived on the land some two years, and made some improvements upon it. On cross-examination, this witness stated, that in the conversation referred to above, the respondent did not deny giving tbe complainant tbe land, but said he bad been badly treated by bim and bis wife, and bad concluded not to make him a title.. Samuel Haxton testified, that, in 1851, be beard tbe respondent say, he. bad. bought .the land on purpose for complainant; that be should have-it, if be would-go on it, and live on it; that be did not want the land for himself at. all, and that be bad land ¿bough’ without .it; ..that., complainant moved a house on to the land the. nextfall, .and moved into it.about.tbe first of January; that be hauled out rails, and built a- fence around a lot for bis cattle; that1 be lived upon tbe land about three years and three months; ’ and that there were no improvements on tbe land, at the time respondent spoke of having bought tbe land for tbe complainant. When cross-examined, tbe- witness' stated that respondent .said, in tbe conversation referred to, that be bought, the land for tbe complainant, and intended to give it to him, if be would live on it; and that complainant moved off tbe land in April, 1855, and sold tbe cabin and part of tbe rails. David Whitcomb testified, that be was assessor of Richland township in 1853; that when respondent gave in bis tax list, be stated, in reply to a question asked by tbe witness, that tbe list embraced all bis land, except one forty, which belonged to tbe complainant, who was present, and. could give it in. Upon cross-examination, be stated that he could not be certain whether respondent said, that tbe complainant. owned tbe land, or lived on tbe land, or whether be said that .complainant had possession of tbe land, and ought to pay tbe taxes. John A. Bevans- testified, that be bad beard tbe. respondent repeatedly say, that be.bad given the complainant forty acres of land; that complainant bad been a good; boy to bim; that it was bis intention to give bim a start in tbe world; and that he intended to make bim a deed, for tbe land — this was about three years ago; that about two years ago, be beard tbe respondent say, that be was not going to carry out bis agreement with complainant about the land,; that be said, that his reason for not doing it, was,.that he. understood the complainant was going to sell the land, and put some one on it to pester him with their stock, and that he had heard respondent say, that as soon as the deed came on, he should have it. John D. Devin testified, that, as the agent of Edwin Manning, he entered the land for the respondent, on time; that before the expiration of the credit, the respondent notified him, that within a short time he would pay off his note; that at the request of the respondent, he wrote to Mr. Manning, and had a deed forwarded in the name of the complainant; that the respondent called, and took up his note; that he then.said, that he did not wish the deed in the name of the complainant, but wanted one made directly to himself ; that another deed was accordingly sent for, and delivered to him some time afterwards;. and that the deed was made in December, 1852. On the hearing, the bill was dismissed, and complainant appeals.