1. This appeal arises out of a suit for recovery of possession of 15 items of properties on the ground that the plaintiff has become entitled thereto under a gift deed (Ex. A) executed in his favour by one Seetha Bai Ammal on the 4th September, 1914. Seetha Bai Ammal was the widow of one Jagannadha Rao and the mother-in-law of the first defendant. As the first defendant is also called Seetha Bai Ammal, we will refer to the first defendant when necessary as the daughter-in-law.

2. Jagannadha Rao died some time in 1903, leaving him surviving his widow Seetha Bai Ammal and an adopted son Subba Rao, who died in May, 1914. The evidence shows that during the last days of Subba Rao or soon after his death the relations between the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law became strained and the plaintiff who is the grandson of a brother of the mother-in-law and who had been living in Subba Raos family for some years managed to persuade the old lady to execute a gift in his favour of properties in respect of which the title stood in her name. The old lady died a few months after the date of the gift and, for several years thereafter, the plaintiff on the one hand and the first defendan