Gilbert v. Odum , 69 Tex. 670 ( 1888 )

Maltbie, Presiding Judge.

The plaintiff in error, W. F. Gilbert brought this suit in the district court of Jefferson county, against Morgan Odum and L. P. Ogden, alleging that he was the owner of an undivided one-half interest in certain lots in the town of Sabine Pass, and that defendants owned the other half, and prayed for partition of the same. Defendants denied plaintiff’s claim, and averred that they were the exclusive owners of the lots, and prayed that they might be quieted in their title and possession. Both parties claimed from T. R. • Jackson and wife, as a common source, who on the fifth day of February, 1875, made a deed to the land, to Elias T. Smith with a covenant of general warranty. Plaintiff claimed title to one-half of the land through deeds derived from sales under judgment and executions against Louis King, and averred that Elias T. Smith purchased the land with the money of King and wife, and held it in trust for them; that King caused the conveyance to be made to Smith to prevent the property from being subjected to his, King’s, debts. Defendants claimed through deeds made by the heirs of Elias T. Smith, who had died about the year 1877. Administration had been opened in the county court of Jefferson county on the estate of Elias, by his brother oRiles H, Smith, who made an attempt to sell the land, but failed to carry it into execution, and all of the heirs of Elias, including E. EL, in his individual capacity, united in conveying the land, as before stated. During the progress of the trial, plaintiff offered in evidence an exhibit under oath, filed in the county court by Riles H. Smith, administrator of the estate of Elias T. Smith in the matter of his estate, but which was not acted upon by the court, reciting that since filing the inventory of Elias’s estate, that he had become satisfied, from information derived from the other heirs of the estate, that one-half the property set out and claimed therein, is the property of Louis King, as claimed by him, which was excluded by the court, and the ruling is now insisted on as erroneous.

It is not apparent upon what grounds counsel supposed the court erred in rejecting the evidence offered, the assignment being general and there being no suggestions why the ruling is deemed erroneous. ¡ It is presumed, however, that the exhibit was offered as an admission of Riles H. Smith, administrator and heir of the estate of Elias T. Smith. The fact that it was made in the course of the administration of the estate, would not authorize its admission, but- it must also be competent evidence and pertinent to the issue. ¡ It does not appear that Hiles H. Smith had personal knowledge as to the ownership of the land, but it is declared in the exhibit that he had become satisfied from information derived from others, that one-half of the land belonged to Louis King. We are of opinion, that notwithstanding the form of the declaration, and the fact that it was made in the course of judicial proceedings, that it was hearsay and inadmissible. ) The protest of Louis King and Homer King, filed in the county court to the sale of the property, claiming that a one-half interest in it belonged to them, was a self serving declaration in the nature of hearsay, and clearly inadmissible.

It is insisted that there was error in refusing to admit the testimony of F. C. McReynolds, offered both before and after the deposition of Louis King had been read by defendants, to the effect that, about the time of the purchase of said property, and also while Louis King was in possession of the premises, he informed the witness that he furnished the money and that the property was purchased for him. This assignment is predicated on plaintiff’s third bill of exceptions, from which it appears that he proposed to prove the admissions and declarations of Louis King to McReynolds; but it does not appear what the declarations and admissions were, that the witness would testify to, and therefore it is impossible for us to know whether material or not, if otherwise unobjectionable. But, if the bill of exceptions was sufficient, it is not perceived for what purpose the declarations of Louis King, while in possession of the premises or at any other time, were offered in evidence except as tending to prove title in himself; for which purpose they were not admissible. (Mooring & Lyon v. McBride, 62 Texas, 312.) Hor would the fact that Louis King had testified in the case, at the instance of defendants, make his declarations, which were otherwise incompetent, admissible in evidence. There was error in permitting the witness King, in answer to a question, to state that he did not and never did own any interest in the property in controversy, for the reason that title or the want of title in real estate is a conclusion that the law draws from a given state of facts. There was error, however, in permitting the witness, N. H, Smith, in answer to a question propounded by defendants, to state that Elias T. Smith, in his life time, had told witness that he, Elias, had purchased and paid for the lots in question for a home in town. This declaration is in the interest of Elias T. Smith, hearsay, and inadmissible; and, as a material issue in the case is, whether the lots were purchased with the money of Elias T. Smith or Louis King, it necessitates a reversal -of the judgment.

We have examined the other assignments and find no material error; but, on account of the error referred to, we are of the opinion that the judgment should be reversed and the cause remanded.

Reversed and remanded.

Opinion adopted February 7, 1888.