Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

181 N.C. 476

106 S.E 29

Ellis v. . Barnes

Supreme Court of North Carolina

Decided March 2, 1921

Supreme Court of North Carolina · decided 1921-03-02

Appeal by defendant from Cranmer, J., at November Term, 1920, of WlLSON. Tbis'is a proceeding to sell one hundred acres of land for partition, the petitioners claiming that they are tenants in common with the defendants as the heirs of Martha Barnes.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently October 1950

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1921-03-02

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

Pee Cueiam:.

¶1 We have carefully examined the record and are of opinion there were circumstances in evidence fit to be considered by the jury on the issues of undue influence.

¶2*477 Tbe evidence of the petitioners tended to prove that Martha Barnes was old and feeble; that before the execution of the deeds she had two strokes of paralysis, and that her mind was much impaired; that she had eleven children, and that the deeds purported to pass seven-tenths of her property to a son-in-law and one child, and that there was no reason for discriminating between the children; that the deeds and lease were without consideration; that the first deed was to the son-in-law, and she was then living with him; that before the execution of this deed the son-in-law had two doctors to examine her for the purpose of seeing if she had sufficient mind to make a deed; that he employed an attorney to prepare the deed, and paid his fee; that he went to .Elm City to get witnesses for the execution of the deed., because, as he said, “he wanted a good element”; that he had four witnesses to the deed “to show that she was in good fix”; that he said .nothing to any one about the execution of the deed prior to its execution, and that he then told John R. Barnes, a son, and soon thereafter the other deed was executed under similar circumstances.

¶3 These circumstances, considered separately, would not be sufficient to justify setting aside the deeds, but when considered together ought to have been submitted to the jury.

¶4 No error.

/181/nc/476 · .json · Public domain