Hensley v. Pena

¶1 Antonio Pena, appellee, brought this action in-trespass to try title, and further alleged that the land sued for was patented to her husband, then deceased, and that it was their homestead and still is; that she learned that defendants were claiming title to it by virtue of a deed purporting to have been executed by her; that at the time the deed purports to have been executed she was an aged, uneducated, and illiterate Mexican woman, unable to read and write; that she had no recollection of signing the deed; that it was never her intention to convey the lands or any interest therein, and that she did not do so in fact; that it was without consideration; that it was not delivered .to her, nor did she acquiesce in its delivery to said S. J. Hensley; that, if she be mistaken as to the above, then the deed was never intended by either of the parties to become absolute, but that it was intended to convey the lands in trust for her several children, to avoid trouble with and among them; that there was no necessity for the trust, and no duties to he performed by the grantee named, and none has been performed by'her; that by reason of said facts the deed is void and cloud upon her title; and prayed for title, that the deed be canceled, and for possession and for general and special relief. Defendants answered by general and special demurrers, general denial, and not guilty. Submitted to jury by special issues, and upon.their verdict judgment was rendered for plaintiff canceling the deed.

¶2 The first assignment is that the plaintiff’s petition is subject to general demurrer.

¶3 [1, 2] The first proposition is that by pleading her title specially she abandoned her plea in trespass to try title. The second is that she, having asked for cancellation of the deed, was compelled to plead her title specially, and evidence of such plea is not admissible tinder the general plea; and, third, that plaintiff is bound by the allegations in her petition, and the proof must conform to the allegations.

¶4 The first is a correct proposition of law, but we fail to see how it indicates that the petition is subject to general demurrer. As shown by the excerpts copied from the petition, plaintiff set up the facts and asked cancellation of the deed and removal of the cloud. As to the second, she alleged that the lands in controversy were patented to her husband, deceased, and that she still retained her half interest as a homestead living on it, and as to the third it is a correct proposition of law, but has no application to the petition. It might apply if the proof did not conform to the allegations.

¶5 [3] The second assignment urges that the court erred in submitting the question:

“Do you find from the evidence that Mrs. Antonio Pena, in the presence of J. Humphreys, a notary public, signed the deed introduced in evidence, from Mrs. Antonio Pena to Mrs. S. J. Hensley.”

¶6 The proposition is that, in order to avoid a notary’s certificate, regular on its face, you must allege and prove facts entitling such party to such affirmative relief. She alleged that she did not sign the deed, and testified that she did not sell or deed the land to Dr. and Mrs. Hensley.

¶7 [4] The third assignment is that the court erred in submitting the question as to whether she delivered the deed in question.

¶8 [5] The first proposition is that, where a deed has been properly executed, found in the possession of the vendee, and recorded it is prima facie evidence of its delivery, and the second proposition is that delivery to the husband of vendee is a sufficient delivery. The answer is that prima facie proof may be rebutted as has been affirmatively done in this case. Since the pleading, evidence, and verdict of the jury were to the effect that tie deed was not executed by her, delivery would give- it no vitality or legal effect.

¶9 Binding no error in the record, the cause is affirmed.