White v. Blankenbeckler
White v. Blankenbeckler
Opinion of the Court
— It appears from the evidence adduced on the trial that Elisha Wallin, who was the husband of Mrs. N. A. Wallin, died intestate, in February, 1893, possessed of a small stock of merchandise of the value of about two hundred and fifty dollars, one milch cow (since dead), worth forty dollar’s, a yoke of oxen, sold for sixty-five dollars, one hundred and fifty dollars in open accounts, one hundred and seventy-five dollars of solvent notes, one hundred and eighty dollars in cash, the usual amount of household goods kept by families in his circumstances, and a lot of provisions. At the time of his death, he was postmaster and kept the post-office in his store. His widow succeeded him as postmaster, took charge of the store and all the goods, wares and merchandise and all of his other personal assets. She collected the outstanding accounts and notes and continued to run the store in her own name and on her own account until her death, which occurred on the twenty-ninth day of May, 1904. Defendant is the administrator of her estate and as such took possession of the goods and merchandise found in the store and all of her other assets, the appraised value of which is $794.53. After the death of Mrs. N. A. Wallin, plaintiff was appointed administrator of the estate of Elisha Wallin, and as such demanded of the defendant all the personal
The answer was a general denial and tbe following affirmative defense:
“For second and further defense tbe defendant says that be is tbe duly qualified administrator of tbe estate of N. A. Wallin, deceased, and as such administrator be did, in tbe ordinary course of administration, take possession of all tbe personal estate and property of said decedent that was known to him, and that be now bolds the same as such administrator. He expressly denies that tbe plaintiff has ever bad any interest in said property, or any part thereof, or was ever possessed of tbe same. On tbe contrary be alleges that at tbe time of her death tbe defendant’s decedent was tbe absolute owner and in actual possession of all of said property.
“For a third and further defense tbe defendant says that tbe said N. A. Wallin, deceased, was at tbe time of her death and for more than ten years prior thereto in tbe actual and continued possession of all tbe property that has come into the defendant’s possession as her administrator, under a claim of ownership adverse to tbe plaintiff and to all other persons.
. “He therefore pleads and relies upon section 4272 and 4273, of tbe Revised Statutes of 1889, and tbe defendant alleges that if tbe plaintiff ever had any claim to said property bis right of action for recovery of same is barred by each one and both of said statutes.”
The issues were submitted to the court sitting as a jury who, at the close of plaintiff’s evidence, gave a declaration of law to the effect that the plaintiff could not recover, and rendered judgment for the defendant.
1. Defendant has contented himself with filing a motion to dismiss the appeal, on the ground that the abstracts filed by plaintiff are insufficient and fail to' comply with the rules of the court. The case is here on a full transcript. The abstracts filed by plaintiff contain a recital of the proceedings in the trial court, resulting in the appeal, the pleadings and a summary of the evidence of each witness introduced. We think it substantially complies with the rule of the court, in cases where a full transcript is filed, and deny the motion to dismiss the appeal.
2. We are not informed by anything that appears in the record on what particular ground or for what reason the court gave the declaration of law to-the effect that plaintiff could not recover. Plaintiff states in his brief that the trial court was of the opinion that the action was barred by the Statute of Limitations. If the court took this view, it was in error, for the statute is not put in operation by one taking possession of property left by a deceased party and claiming it as his own. It does not begin to run until an executor or adminis
3. The evidence fails to show that the personal property, or any of it, owned and possessed by Elisha Wallin at the time of his death, was on hands and in the possession of his widow at the time of her death; .to the contrary, the evidence tends to show that none of it was on hand at the time of the death of his wido w, therefore, none of it came into the possession of the defendant as her administrator. According to the evidence, Mrs. N. A. Wallin toot charge of all her deceased husband’s property and continued to use and dispose of it as she pleased during her lifetime. If there was a conversion, it is she who was the guilty party, as none of Elisha Wallin’s property could be identified as coming into the hands of her administrator. It is not clear on what theory of law the defendant, as administrator, can be deemed a party to a wrongful conversion of personal property by his intestate. It seems to us that plaintiff’s remedy is the ordinary one provided by law for the allowance of demands against a decedent’s estate in the probate court.
4. Plaintiff insists that by the agreement testified to have been made by and between Mrs. N. A. Wallin and the “Wallin boys,” that she should have the management and use of her deceased husband’s estate during her lifetime, and at her death what remained should go to them, she, as to this property, became a trustee and held it as such for the benefit of the heirs at law of Elisha Wallin. It appears that there were four “Wallin boys,” two brothers and two nephews of Elisha Wallin. Only two of them were parties to the agreement with Mrs. N. A. Wallin. It is not shown that the “Wallin boys” are the heirs at law of Elisha Wallin, nor does it
The judgment is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- WHITE, Administrator v. BLANKENBECKLER, Administrator
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published