Garrison v. Hecker
Garrison v. Hecker
Opinion of the Court
John J. Garrison’s will, admitted to probate in 1876, devised the real estate in question to his son John William Garrison for life, remainder in fee to his
“Section 1. Whenever any person shall be seised or possessed of any lands, tenements, or hereditaments devised to such person for life with or without power of appointment by will, or of any lands, tenements, or hereditaments devised to such person in trust without power of sale, the circuit court in chancery for the county where such property is situated may, on the petition of such person, order that such land, tenements, and hereditaments be sold under the direction of the court, whenever, by a proper showing by witnesses produced before the court,it shall satisfactorily appear that the rights of the interested parties will otherwise be jeopardized.
“Sec. 2. Every conveyance made by the person so seised pursuant to such order of said court shall be as good and effectual in law, and shall convey the same title, as if the same were made by such person being seised of the title in fee to such lands, tenements, and hereditaments.”
The minor children of John W. Garrison were served with notice of the petition for the sale, and appeared and answered through guardian ad litem, and the statutory publication was made. The widow filed a consent to the proposed order. The minors, aged, respectively, 17 and 13 years, submitted their rights and interests to the protection of the court. No one appeared upon the hearing in opposition to the application. There was testimony showing prima facie that the buildings upon the property (which is in Detroit) are old and badly out of repair,
On July 3, 1901, John W. Garrison filed a report of sale, showing that he had made an agreement to sell to Frank J. Hecker, subject to confirmation by the court, the fee of the property, free and clear from all liens, levies, and incumbrances, for $138,000, and that there were tiien outstanding city tax leases on the property on which there was due $11,838.93, which should be paid in order that the sale might be consummated. The report and sale were confirmed, and Garrison ordered to give to Hecker a deed in fee on his compliance with the agreement of sale, and that the taxes be paid by the Detroit Trust Company from the proceeds. Other provisions of this order are unimportant. The date of this order does not appear in the record, except that it was in July, 1901.
On the 10th of July, 1901, Garrison filed another petition, reciting the facts hereinbefore stated, and alleging the order of confirmation to have been made on July 3, 1901, and that on July 3, 1901, a deed was tendered to Hecker in accordance with the order of confirmation, and
The question raised is whether the court had any jurisdiction whatever in the original proceedings. The statute cited is one designed to provide for a partition, substantially. It provides for a sale and the proper disposition of the proceeds. The power of the legislature to pass laws for the judicial sale of property for the benefit of those having different interests therein is upheld by many cases. It is an everyday practice to sell the interests of minors and incompetent persons for their benefit, and no good reason is suggested for denying to courts of chancery the power to make such sales, though it involve a partition, or fits equivalent. The power under this statute extends to a partition of different estates in property. Phillips v. Johnson, 14 B. Mon. 172. See 17 Am. & Eng. Enc. Law, 690, note 4. In the present case the children of John W. Garrison are before the court. At present they
The decree of the circuit court is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- GARRISON v. HECKER
- Status
- Published