{
  "id": 2751142,
  "name": "Sarah J. Cornwell et al. v. Jacob Cornwell",
  "name_abbreviation": "Cornwell v. Cornwell",
  "decision_date": "1878-01",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "414",
  "last_page": "416",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "91 Ill. 414"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "Ill.",
    "id": 8772,
    "name": "Illinois Supreme Court"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 29,
    "name_long": "Illinois",
    "name": "Ill."
  },
  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "45 Ill. 283",
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    {
      "cite": "81 Ill. 296",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ill.",
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        2672457
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      "cite": "4 Gilm. 601",
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    {
      "cite": "46 Ill. 300",
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    {
      "cite": "35 Ill. 391",
      "category": "reporters:state",
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    {
      "cite": "67 Ill. 584",
      "category": "reporters:state",
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    {
      "cite": "65 Ill. 126",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ill.",
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    {
      "cite": "67 Ill. 584",
      "category": "reporters:state",
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  "analysis": {
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:20:29.785103+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "Sarah J. Cornwell et al. v. Jacob Cornwell."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Mr. Justice Scott\ndelivered the opinion of the Court:\nThe bill in this case was to foreclose a mortgage, made by Abram Cornwell, since deceased, his wife joining with him in the execution, on premises described as follows: \u201c A certain tract or parcel of land containing about seventy acres, being a part of the E. \\ S. E. -]\u2022 sec. 17, T. 21 N., B. 2 W., or however else the same may be bound\u00e9d or described,\u201d to complainant to secure the promissory note of Abram Cornwell, bearing date January 20, 1866, payable one year after date, to the order of complainant, with interest at the rate of ten per cent per annum.\nAlthough the bill asks that the mortgage may be \u201c reformed and corrected \u201d so as to show a more accurate and definite description of the premises embraced in the mortgage, it is conceded it can not be reformed as against the wife of the mortgagor. We do not understand it was the purpose, in introducing testimony, to have the mortgage reformed, but it was simply to aid in locating the laud by the description contained in the mortgage; and that is allowable, under the decision in Colcord v. Alexander, 67 Ill. 584. That is not, in fact, reforming the mortgage as to the wife of the mortgagor or any one else.\nIt Avas attempted to prove that the mortgagor owned the whole of the east half south-east quarter described, and that, prior to the execution of the mortgage, he had conveyed a part of the tract, Avhich, deducted, Avould leave \u201cabout 70 acres.\u201d But the testimony offered to prove that fact we think Avas not the best evidence accessible for that purpose. The only evidence on that question was the oral testimony of Hahn and the abstract of title made by him. The Avitness, as we understand the record, was- permitted to state what the record showed. That was not allowable under any rule of evidence Avith Avhich Ave are familiar. The deeds, or the record of the same if the originals could not be obtained, Avere the better evidence and ought to have been produced. The description g\u00cdAren by the witness Hahn, of the tract which it is said the mortgagor had previously conveyed, does not bound any tract of land. The deed itself, or the record, would show what land was, in fact, conveyed.\nOn account of the admission of improper evidence over the objection of defendants, the decree will be reversed and the cause remanded.\nDecree reversed.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Mr. Justice Scott"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Messrs. Parks & Allen, for the appellants:",
      "Messrs. Hoblitt & Stokes, for the appellee:"
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "Sarah J. Cornwell et al. v. Jacob Cornwell.\n1. Parol . evidence\u2014to locate land from description. Parol testimony is admissible to aid in locating land by the description contained in a deed or mortgage, and that is not, in fact, reforming the deed.\n2. Same\u2014to show what land grantor owned. The parol testimony of a witness as to what the records show in relation to the land owned by a party at the time of the execution of a mortgage, is not admissible. The deeds, or the record of the same, where the originals can not be obtained, are the best evidence.\n3. Description\u2014aiding uncertainty therein. Where land in a mortgage is described as, \u201c a certain tract or parcel of land, containing about seventy acres, being a part of the E. \u00bf S. E. J sec. 17, T. 21 N., R. 2 W., or however else the same may be bounded or described,\u201d the same may be identified and located by proof that the mortgagor, before the execution of the mortgage, owned the east half south-east quarter section 17, containing 80 acres, and had conveyed a part thereof, which, deducted, would leave \u201c about seventy acres.\u201d\nAppeal from the Circuit Court of Logan county; the Hon. Lyman Lacey, Judge, presiding.\nMessrs. Parks & Allen, for the appellants:\nThe deed of a married woman can not be reformed without her consent. Trustees, etc. v. Davidson, 65 Ill. 126; Hutchinson v. Huggins, 59 id. 34; Moulton v. Hurd, 20 id. 143.\nWhen no particular part of a tract is conveyed, and the evidence only shows how much the grantor owned, while the description is for less than he owned, the description is void for uncertainty. Colcord v. Alexander, 67 Ill. 584.\nWhen a certain number of acres in a tract are conveyed without designating in what part of the tract they are situated, the deed is void for uncertainty. Shackleford v. Bailey, 35 Ill. 391.\nWhen the description is ambiguous on its face, that is, where a patent ambiguity exists, no evidence is admissible to explain it, and the deed is void. Purinton v. Northern Illinois Railroad Co. 46 Ill. 300; Marshall v. Gridley, 46 id. 252; Shirley v. Spruce, 4 Gilm. 601; 1 Greenl. Ev. p. 345, sec. 300; 2 Starkie\u2019s Ev. part 1, p. 755; Gresley\u2019s Eq. Ev. 198.\nMessrs. Hoblitt & Stokes, for the appellee:\nThe number of acres being given and the tract of land embracing them being given, the deed is valid under the authority of Smith v. Crawford, 81 Ill. 296, and the authorities there cited.\nAs to the ambiguity of the mortgage, counsel also cited 1 Greenl. Ev. see. 298; Clark v. Powers, 45 Ill. 283."
  },
  "file_name": "0414-01",
  "first_page_order": 414,
  "last_page_order": 416
}