Shaw v. Devecmon
Shaw v. Devecmon
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court.
This is an appeal from the Circuit Court for Allegany County, sitting in equity. The proceedings appear to have been somewhat irregular, but as no question has been made on this ground, we find it unnecessary to consider it.
It is admitted that there is but one point in controversy, and therefore we shall proceed to examine it without making a detailed statement of the other matters appearing in the record. It is shown in the evidence that in August, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, Thomas Devecmon, at a public sale for taxes, purchased a tract of land called “Harker Place,” and another tract called “Sugar Hill,” both lying in Allegany County, and other tracts of land in said county. And, that, he having died before receiving a deed for the same, the collector, after his death, conveyed the land to his widow and children; the children then being infants under the age of twenty-one years. And that John S. Combs, who was the uncle of the infant Devecmons, took possession of the tracts called “ Harker Place ” and “ Sugar Hill,” and managed them for the benefit of the widow and children, accounting to them for the rents and profits. In the year eighteen hundred and sixty-eight, Benjamin E. Green, who alleged that he was the owner of these tracts at the time of the tax sale, brought an action of ejectment to recover them, and obtained a judgment by default against the casual ejector, but he made no attempt to take possession of the land. In July 1884 these tracts were sold under a decree in equity against Green, and were purchased by Combs who took the deed in his own name. He charged the price of the property, which was eight hundred and sixteen dollars, to the Devecmons on his books. There is no doubt that it was his intention that they should have the benefit of the purchase ; and it is perfectly evident that all his dealings with them were marked with strict integrity and by a benevolent desire to promote their pecuniary interests. The circumstances were such that it was a matter of prudence to extinguish Green’s title, if it could be
The decree must be affirmed, but a majority of the Court think that the appellants ought to be allowed to apply for a decree remanding the case for further proof in regard to the purchase of the property by Combs and its binding effect upon the Devecmons, if they should elect to do so within thirty days from this date; and it is so ordered.
■Decree .affirmed with leave to the appellants to mové to remand the case for further testimony, if they elect 'to do so within thirty days.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- ALEXANDER SHAW and CHRISTIAN DEVRIES, Executors of J. S. COMBS v. ALTHEA M. DEVECMON
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Duty of Person Taking Possession of an Infant’s Land. A person who takes possession of the land ot infants, managing the same for their benefit, is not entitled to an allowance for money expended by him in the purchase of an outstanding claim against the estate, not shown to be necessary, without the consent of the beneficiaries, then of age. Certain land sold at a tax sale was conveyed to the widow and infant children of the purchaser, who died after the sale. An uncle of the children took possession of the land for the grantees, receiving the rents and profits, and a claim to the land having been set up by the former owner, the uncle bought the title of such owner, and had the same conveyed to himself. Upon his books, the children were credited with the rents, etc., and charged with the sum paid for the said title. The children were of age at the time of this purchase, but their consent to the same was not obtained. After the death of the uncle a bill was filed against his executors and devisees, asking among other, things for an account of the rents, etc. Held, that no charge should be made against said children for the sum so expended in the extinguishment of the outstanding title.