Opinion
March 5, 1952.
Present — Taylor, P.J., McCurn, Vaughan, Piper and Wheeler, JJ.
Interlocutory judgment insofar as appealed from modified on the law and facts in accordance with the memorandum and as modified affirmed, without costs of this appeal to either party. Appeal from order directing reference dismissed as not appealable. Certain findings of fact disapproved and reversed and new findings made. Memorandum: Inasmuch as the parties elected to depart from the issues as made by the pleadings and to try other issues relating to the merits of the controversy, including the counterclaim, we feel that the Referee should have granted plaintiff's motion to amend the pleadings to conform to the proof ( Viennese Melody v. Majestic Refrigerator Corp., 279 App. Div. 243), and should also have dismissed the counterclaim. In our opinion, the evidence establishes that the down payment made upon the purchase price of the premises in suit consisted solely of funds derived by the defendant from the surrender of insurance policies carried by her upon the lives of her stepchildren and that these moneys were entrusted by her to the plaintiff for the purpose of making said down payment. We have examined the numerous errors assigned by defendant's counsel, and find they are without merit except as above indicated. All concur. (Appeal from part of an interlocutory judgment for plaintiff in a partition action; also appeal from order of Monroe Special Term, WARNER, J., referring the case to the Official Referee.)