Bowden v. Bowden

141 S.E.2d 621 (1965)

264 N.C. 296

William H. BOWDEN, Petitioner, v. William C. BOWDEN et al., Additional Defendants.

No. 366.

Supreme Court of North Carolina.

April 28, 1965.

*624 Sasser & Duke; Goldsboro, Whitley & Nowell, Mount Olive, for plaintiff, appellant.

John S. Peacock and James N. Smith, Goldsboro, for defendant appellees.

MOORE, Justice.

Plaintiff's assignments of error are based on exceptions to the charge. The crucial question is whether the trial judge erred in instructing the jury peremptorily to answer the issues in favor of the original defendants if they found the facts "to be as all of the evidence tends to show," without *625 instructing them that if they failed to so find they should answer the issues in favor of plaintiff and the additional defendants.

All of the evidence pertinent and material to the issues raised by the pleadings, except documentary evidence, was stipulated by the parties. The admissibility, content and authenticity of the documentary evidence (the will of Daisy Bowden, the deed of Martin and wife and the two recordings thereof) are not in controversy; they are alleged on the one hand and in effect admitted on the other; their legal effect and the inferences to be drawn from their form and provisions are the matters in controversy.

The original deed, offered in evidence by the original defendants, is unquestionably the identical deed filed for record on 7 November 1917. The entry of the Register of Deeds, of registration in book 128, page 391, on 7 November 1917, appears on the back of the deed; and the genuineness of the entry is not questioned. The interlineations presently appearing on the original deed were made prior to the filing for registration on 7 November 1917. The 1917 recording shows "Henry Bowden and wife" in the naming clausetherefore, the interlineation "and wife" had been added before that recording. The 1917 recording shows "Henry Bowden his wife" in the consideration recital and "Henry Bowden" in the granting clause; the original deed shows "Henry Bowden" in the consideration recital, and "Henry Bowden his wife" in the granting clause. The original deed does not show that any erasure was made following the name "Henry Bowden" in the consideration recital. It is clear therefore that the interlineation "wife" was not shifted from the consideration recital to the granting clause after the 1917 recording. It is patent that the interlineation "wife" was in the granting clause at the time of filing for recordation on 7 November 1917, and by mistake in recording (the recording was made in longhand on a printed form sheet) the copier placed the words "his wife" on the blank line in the consideration recital, when they should have been put in the granting clause.

The original deed (made on a printed form) was prepared on a typewriter as a conveyance from B. E. Martin and wife, Maggie Martin, to Henry Bowden. The words "and wife" in the naming clause, and the word "wife" in the granting clause, were interlined in pen after the deed was typewritten and before it was recorded. The deed was executed and acknowledged on 31 October 1917; it was filed for registration a week later, on 7 November 1917. The alteration of the deed by the interlineation of "and wife" and "wife" is apparent upon the face of the instrument. "An alteration is deemed to be apparent on the face of the instrument in cases of interlineation, erasure, difference of handwriting, changes of figures or words, or other irregularities on the face of the paper." 4 Am.Jur.2d, Alteration of Instruments, s. 80, p. 74. "* * * transfer of title cannot be effected by the device of adding or substituting the name of another person for that of the grantee who was designated in the deed." 16 Am.Jur., Deeds, s. 357, p. 644; Perry v. Hackney, 142 N.C. 368, 55 S.E. 289. But the alteration of a deed by adding the name of another grantee does not ordinarily divest the title and estate conveyed to the original grantee by the deed in its original form. 4 Am.Jur.2d, Alteration of Instruments, s. 47, p. 45; 16 Am.Jur., Deeds, s. 354, p. 643. See also McLindon v. Winfree, 14 N.C. 262.

An erasure or interlineation is not in law an alteration if made before the deed is executed. Wicker v. Jones, 159 N. C. 102, 74 S.E. 801, 40 L.R.A.,N.S., 69. A deed altered after its execution and delivery is good if the alteration is made with the knowledge and consent of the grantor. Krechel v. Mercer, 262 N.C. 243, 136 S.E.2d 608; Campbell v. McArthur, 9 N.C. 33. Before registration a deed may be changed in any way that may be agreed upon between the parties thereto, so far as it affects *626 them. Respass v. Jones, 102 N.C. 5, 8 S.E. 770. See 67 A.L.R. 367.

When it is apparent that there are interlineations in a deed which materially alter the effect thereof as originally drawn, the question arises whether the burden is on the party claiming under the deed, as altered, to prove that the interlineations were made at the time of or before the execution of the deed, or on the party attacking the altered deed to prove that they were made after execution. On this question the authorities are in irreconcilable conflict. 4 Am.Jur.2d, Alteration of Instruments, ss. 80-83, pp. 74-78. But the holding in this jurisdiction is that the burden is upon the party attacking the deed to prove by the greater weight of the evidence that the interlineations or other alterations were made after execution of the deed. Wicker v. Jones, supra; Collins v. Vandiford, 196 N.C. 237, 145 S.E. 235. In Wicker it is said:

"* * * it would seem to be wise and just to adopt a rule which will tend to preserve and sustain titles acquired by such deeds (showing interlineations and erasures), although under it an injustice may occasionally result, and in our opinion it is safer, and in accord with the better public policy, to hold, as we do, that the party claiming under a deed is entitled to introduce it in evidence upon proof of its execution, and that the burden is upon the party who assails it, on account of erasures or interlineations appearing on its face, to satisfy the jury by the greater weight of the evidence that the erasures or interlineations were made after the execution of the deed."

Where it has been established that alterations were made after execution and delivery of a deed, the burden is upon those claiming under the altered deed to prove that the alterations were made with the knowledge and consent of the grantor. Krechel v. Mercer, supra.

The interlineations in the subject deed are such as to arouse suspicion of wrongdoing. They are apparently in different handwritings. They were made by a person or persons seemingly unfamiliar with the proper preparation of deeds, for the wife is not included in the habendum and warranty clauses. But these circumstances have no tendency to show that the interlineations were made after the execution of the deed. Furthermore, there is no evidence in the record from which it may be reasonably inferred that the interlineations were made after execution of the deed. The plaintiff has failed to carry the burden which the law casts upon him.

The granting clause fixes the title in Henry Bowden and wife. As a general rule where two clauses in a deed are repugnant, the first in order will be given effect and the later rejected. Bryant v. Shields, 220 N.C. 628, 18 S.E.2d 157. The granting clause is the very essence of the contract, and in the event of repugnancy between the granting clause and the habendum clause and other recitals, the granting clause will prevail. And where the granting clause in a deed is to a person named "and wife," the deed conveys an estate by the entireties notwithstanding the fact that the name of the wife nowhere appears in the deed. Byrd v. Patterson, 229 N.C. 156, 48 S.E.2d 45.

Plaintiff contends that the content of the 1917 record of the deed puts him in a favored position by reason of certain presumptions and evidentiary values which flow therefrom, to wit: (1) it is presumed that a public official (Register of Deeds) in the performance of official duty has acted correctly, in good faith and in accordance with law (Huntley v. Potter, 255 N.C. 619, 122 S.E.2d 681), and (2) the record of a deed, in the public registry, is prima facie evidence of the correctness of its terms (Sellers v. Sellers, 98 N.C. 13, 3 S.E. 917). Plaintiff insists that these principles are sufficient to take the case to the jury and to require the judge to correctly instruct *627 the jury as to applicable law, place the burden on the original defendants to overcome the presumption and the prima facie showing, and leave the issues to the jury without limiting them by peremptory instructions.

Plaintiff mistakes the effect and importance of registration under the facts in this case. The registration of deeds is primarily for the protection of purchasers for value and creditors; an unregistered deed is good as between the parties and the fact that it is not registered does not affect the equities between the parties. Patterson v. Bryant, 216 N.C. 550, 5 S.E.2d 849; Glass v. Lynchburg Shoe Co., 212 N.C. 70, 192 S.E. 899; Hargrove v. Adcock, 111 N. C. 166, 16 S.E. 16. The parties to the present action are not purchasers for value or creditors. Plaintiff and the additional defendants claim title as heirs at law of Henry Bowden; the original defendants claim as devisees of Daisy Bowden. The ultimate inquiry is not what the records show, but what the terms of the original deed are. Moreover, a deed may be registered at any time after probate, and the Register of Deeds may, and has the duty to, correct an error in the record by supplying an omission, striking an erroneous entry or by re-registration of the deed. Sellers v. Sellers, supra. Registration relates back to the date of execution of the deed. Furthermore, an original deed is admissible to correct mistakes in the record. Brown v. Hutchinson, 155 N.C. 205, 71 S.E. 302. Once an error in registration is corrected, the presumption arising on, and the evidentiary advantages of, the first record are, at least, neutralized by the corrected record as between the parties to the deed and as between those claiming under the parties to the deed by gift, inheritance or devise.

Where the material facts in a case are not controverted, the rights of the parties upon such facts are questions of law, and the court may enter judgment thereon in accordance with the rights of the parties without intervention of a jury. Peoples v. United States Fire Insurance Co., 248 N.C. 303, 103 S.E.2d 381. And where the material evidence bearing upon an issue is not controverted and all of it points in one direction with but one inference to be drawn from it, a peremptory instruction to answer the issue accordingly, if the evidence is found to be true, is proper. Failure of the judge to state the converse is not error where prejudice is not made to appear. Rhodes v. Raxter, 242 N.C. 206, 87 S.E.2d 265. Such failure is not prejudicial where the facts are stipulated by the parties or in effect admitted by the party against whom the instruction is given, though the instruction is favorable to the party having the burden of proof.

No error.