Lynam v. Vorwerk

COOPER, P. J.

This is an appeal from the judgment in favor of plaintiff for $1,646.20, with interest, and from the order denying defendant’s motion for a new trial.

The plaintiff is the administratrix of the estate of Gottlieb Damkroeger, deceased, and the defendant is the executor of the will of Karolina Damkroeger, deceased. The facts of the case are undisputed, and raise a question of law as to the title to the money for which judgment was given.

On September 29, 1899, Gottlieb and Karolina Damkroeger were and for several years prior thereto had been husband and wife, and had money on deposit with the German Savings and Loan Society in their joint names. In connection with the said deposit account there appears the following:

“7850. San Francisco, September 29, 1899.

“The German Savings and Loan Society, pay all or any sum or sums that are now or may hereafter be deposited with you by us, and entered in pass-book numbered 124,097, to whichever of us, the undersigned, shall demand and receipt for the same and produce said boob.

“KAROLINA DAMKROEGER.

“GOTTLIEB DAMKROEGER.”

It was admitted that the writing contained the correct signatures of both husband and wife.

[509]

There was no evidence other than as herein stated as to the source from which the money came, or as to its being the common, joint or separate property of either husband or wife.

Gottlieb, the husband, died in April, 1903, leaving Karolina surviving him. After her husband’s death Karolina withdrew the deposit. She qualified as administratrix of the estate of her deceased husband, but never accounted for the moneys so withdrawn by her as any part of the assets of his estate.

In January, 1907, she died, and this action was afterward brought against the executor of her last will and testament.

The plaintiff relied upon the provisions of section 164 of the Civil Code, which declares that all property acquired after marriage by either husband or wife, except that acquired by gift, bequest, devise or descent (Civil Code, section 163), is community property. The section expressly provides that all property acquired by either husband or wife after marriage is community property. The property (money) was in the possession of the husband and wife long after their marriage, and was by them jointly deposited in the bank. Does the fact that the husband and wife are in possession of money after their marriage raise a presumption that it was acquired after such marriage? In our opinion it does. The relation of husband and wife as to their property is somewhat in the nature of a partnership, where there is usually partnership property and the separate property of the co-partners. If the copartners should jointly go to a bank and deposit money in their joint names, it seems, in the absence of other evidence, that the most reasonable inference would be that the money was the joint money of such copartners, and that being in their possession as such copartners, it would be presumed to have been acquired by the copartnership. In fact, usually and in most cases where money or property is in the possession of the husband or wife or both after marriage, it has been acquired after marriage. This is a matter of common knowledge. Of course, such possession raises only a presumption, which may be overcome by evidence as to the facts; but in the absence of such evidence the presumption is sufficient. It has been held that the possession of money by either or both husband and wife after marriage, in the absence of other evidence, raises a presumption that it is