King v. Nunn
King v. Nunn
Opinion of the Court
This is an ejectment for the undivided one-half of a village lot and building in the village of Marysville. The plaintiff gave evidence showing a prima facie right to recover, which consisted of proof that the property was the property of his mother in her lifetime, and that she, by her will, devised it, in equal parts, to himself and his half-sister, Nettie I. Tudhope. Defendants claimed under a sale made by the administrator of Mrs. King, and gave in evidence the proceedings in probate court, as follows: First, a petition to the probate court of St. Clair county for the probate of Mrs. King’s will and for the appointment of an administrator, which petition was made by Nettie I. Tudhope October 3, 1887, and recited that she was of the age of 19 years, and that plaintiff was of the age of 14 years, and that these two were the sole heirs at law of deceased. No claim was made in the petition that there were any debts provable against the estate. An order admitting the will to probate, and appointing. George H. Treadgold administrator, was made on November 7, 1887. No letters of administration appear to have issued until the 22d day of April, 1889, when the letters were issued to Mr. Treadgold, and an order was made appointing appraisers of the estate, which appraisal was returned May 20, 1889.. On the 3d day of February, 1890, a petition for license to sell the real estate in question was filed, and on the 3d day of March, 1890, it was granted. Sale was made to Nettie I. Tudhope for the sum of $575. This sale was subsequently confirmed by the court, and defendants derived title by conveyances from her. William E. Leonard advanced to Mrs. Tudhope a sum of money on the security of the property, and received back a mortgage; being advised by
The circuit judge directed a verdict for the defendants. The plaintiff brings error, and' relies- upon three grounds for reversal:
1. That the letters of administration were without force, because of the lapse of time between the order of appointment and the issue of letters.
2. That, on the face of the record, the claim or debt proven was wholly void, and the circumstances and surroundings made it apparent that the action of the administrator and claimant was collusive, and with intent to perpetrate a legal fraud upon the plaintiff.
3. That the court erred in refusing to submit to the jury the question of whether Nettie I. Tudhope was a purchaser in good faith.
None of these contentions can be allowed. How. Stat. § 6076, provides that an administrator’s sale shall not be void, provided it shall appear — First, that license was
The judgment will be affirmed, and the case remanded for further proceedings.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Henry B. King, by His Next Friend v. Josiah R. Nunn and Joseph Williams
- Status
- Published