Ratcliff v. Everman
Ratcliff v. Everman
Opinion of the Court
The appellee brought this action against the appellants upon a note payable to him as administrator of J. F. Everman. The defendants demurred for Avant of facts
1. Overruling the demurrer to the complaint.
2. Overruling the motion for a new trial.
3. Finding for the plaintiff and rendering judgment on, the finding.
The third specification of error was not sufficiently specific. Saunders v. Heaton, 12 Ind. 20; Schofield v. Jennings, 68 Ind. 232; Ray v. Detchon, 79 Ind. 56. Upon a note payable to A. as administrator, he may sue in his individual capacity, or if the money sought to be recovered would be assets, he may snS in his representative capacity. Savage v. Meriam, 1 Blackf. 176 ; Capp v. Gilman, 2 Blackf. 45; Sheets v. Pabody, 6 Blackf. 120 (38 Am. Dec. 132); Speelman v. Culbertson, 15 Ind. 441; Shepherd, v. Evans, 9 Ind. 260; Byles Bills, 43; 1 Williams Ex’rs, 629. There was no error in overruling the demurrer to the complaint.
The reasons for a new trial were: 1. The finding was not sustained by sufficient evidence. 2. The finding was contrary to law. 3. Error in admitting evidence of the rental value of the mill.
The answers were: 1. Failure of consideration. 2. That the note was given for mill property; that the payee represented to Seth Eatcliff, the principal in the note, that he was the administrator of J. F. Everman, and as such was authorized to sell the property; that, relying on such representation, said Eatcliff bought the property and gave said note in part payment therefor; that there was no other consideration for the note; that the payee was not such adminis
The plaintiff replied in denial. It appeared in evidence, that on February 6th, 1877, John F. Everman died, and that on July 6th, 1877, the appellee was appointed his administrator ; that the note in suit was dated December 25th, 1877; that John F. Everman and Joseph W. Gwin were partners in a saw mill and planing machine, standing on leased ground; that Gwin, as surviving partner, in settling up the partnership business, sold to Seth Ratcliff the interest in said property which had belonged to his deceased partner; that the note was part of the price given and was made payable to the appellee as administrator, the full amount thereof being due to the estate of said deceased from said partnership, after all the debts of the partnership were paid.
A surviving partner may make a bona fide transfer of any of the assets of the firm for the purpose of closing up its business. See the act of March 5th, 1859, 1 R. S. 1876, p. 641; the act of March 5th, 1877, Acts 1877, p. 136; Adams v. Marsteller, 70 Ind. 381.
It further appeared in evidence, that the appellee made his final settlement as administrator on December 3d, 1879, approved by the proper court, charging himself with f l^OSj-8^ as received from said surviving partner, and showing that he had paid all the debts of the deceased, and, in so doing, had expended of his own money $728T3^ besides the assets of the estate.
This suit was commenced in December, 1880. The evi
The admission of the evidence objected to, the effect of which Avas largely to reduce the amount of the finding, can not be complained of by the appellant.
The finding Avas not contrary to laAV; there was evidence tending to sustain it; the motion for a neAV trial Avas properly overruled. The judgment ought to be affirmed. Davis v. Nicholson, 81 Ind. 183.
It is therefore ordered, on the foregoing opinion, that the judgment of the court below be, and it is hereby, in all things affirmed, at the costs of the appellants.
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