Hines v. Hines
Hines v. Hines
Opinion of the Court
This appeal brings up for review the action of the probate court of Jefferson county in appointing an administratrix of the estate of Sam or Elias Hines, deceased. The asset of the estate mentioned in the petitions is a claim for damages resulting from the'death of the decedent.
On the same date two women filed their respective petitions for appointment as administratrix of the estate. Each averred that she was the widow of the decedent. One, Emma Hines (appellant), gave the decedent, referred to in her petition, the name of Sam Hines; and the other, Annie (appellee), gave the decedent, referred to in her petition, the name of Elias nines. On December 31, 1918, the probate court, after hearing at Bessemer, in Jefferson county, decided the issues in favor of Emma Hines, declared .Emma to be the widow of Sam Hines, deceased, and ordered letters of administration issued to Emma, suspending the issuance of letters until 30 days for appeal by Annie should expire. On January 4, 1919, Annie filed her petition for rehearing of the contest so decided on December 31, 1918; the court’s order reciting that “the parties appearing consented that the court should hear the petition in Birmingham,” and setting the hearing for January 16, 1919, at Birmingham. On January 16, 1919, the court, “by agreement of counsel,” passed the matter to January 27, 1919, “that being the regular court day at Bessemer,” in Jefferson county. In the record, over date of January 4, 1919, the attorney for Emma Hines appears to have executed a writing containing this:
“ * * * And consent that the same [i. e., the motion for rehearing] be set for hearing before the judge of probate, 17th January, at Birmingham at any time after the 4th day of .January, 1919.”
The subsequent “agreement of counsel,” recited in the court’s record under date of January 16, 1919, appears to have annulled the written agreement just above mentioned; the *634 proceeding being then passed to January 27, 1919, at Bessemer. The hearing of the motion for rehearing seems to have taken place at Bessemer on the 27th day of January, 1919, counsel being present. As recited in the order of date January 27, 1919, the court received submission of the matter of the motion for rehearing and the affidavits supporting and opposed thereto, and took the cause under “advisement,” and on January 29, 1919, awarded the rehearing or new trial at Birmingham. Appellant insists the probate court was without jurisdiction to make, the order granting the new trial at Birmingham; that the court could only perform that judicial function at Bessemer, whereat, under the act approved September 16, 1915 (Gen., Acts, pp. 549-553; Board of Revenue, etc., v. Huey, 195 Ala. 83, 70 South. 744) particularly section 9 thereof, the probate court must be held at stated times (special or ad-, journed terms thereat being authorized) for the disposition of matters arising within a territorial area surrounding the city of Bessemer. Neither objections to the action taken by the court at Birmingham in this proceeding nor anything else suggestive of the impropriety of taking action at Birmingham, instead of at Bessemer, appears to have been brought to the attention of the probate court.
The issues, almost purely of fact, presented by the two petitions, were these: (a) whether Sam or Elias Hines, then lately deceased, was one person; (b) whether Emma or Annie was his lawful wife at the time of his death. Both of these issues were vigorously contested by these parties. On the first hearing the court decided both issues in favor of Emma Hines, who claimed to be the widow of Sam Hines, deceased. Many affidavits were presented for and against the respective contentions of these women. The court granted the new trial moved for, and effectually revoked its former decree ur order of December 31, 1918. On the evidence submitted on the hearing of the motion for new trial it cannot be affirmed that the movant was concluded by an absence of proper diligence in the premises. After a careful consideration of the evidence submitted on that hearing, this court is not convinced that error was committed in granting the new trial.
The order or decree appealed from is not affected with prejudicial error. It is affirmed.
Affirmed.
Reference
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- HINES v. HINES Et Al.
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