McCoy v. Nichols
McCoy v. Nichols
Opinion of the Court
stated the case, and delivered the opinion of the court.
Three questions are presented for the consideration of this court. 1st. Whether the present suit is barred by the statute of limitations. 2d. Whether the decree can be revived against the heir. 3. Whether under the circumstances in this case the proceeds of the land can be applied to its payment.
The ninth section of the act of limitations in this state, Rev. C. p. 185, provides that judgments in any court of record in this state, may be revived by scire facias, or an action of debt may be brought thereon within twenty years next after the date of such judgment, and not after. Execution having been once sued out upon the decree in this cause, it might again issue at any time, as the law presumes it to be continued on the roll. It might, therefore, be in the power of the plaintiff, perhaps, to sue out an alias writ of fi. fa. on this decree, without resorting to any process to revive it. But he could have execution only against the parties to it. This rule cannot then benefit the complainant, because the heir against whom execution is sought, is not a party to the decree, nor is she in any way a privy to the same. It is not evidence by which she can be bound, and she is consequently unaffected by any proceedings which have been had under it. It is thus a decree sought to be revived against a third person, and is completely within the operation of the statute. Its being a decree in chancery, and not the judgment of a court of common law can make no difference. A decree is the judgment of the chancellor, and as such a judgment of a court of record, and is within
We also think that the third ground of objection to this cause is conclusive against the relief here sought. The ground laid for the interposition of the court of chancery, is the alienation of the land by the heir. The court of probate has power to grant a license to the executor or administrator to sell the lands, where the personal property is not sufficient. But that court, we apprehend, would not listen to an application of that sort under the proof in this cause, if the land was yet in the possession of Mrs. Nichols. And for the same reason the chancellor must refuse to apply the moneys arising from the sale to the payment of the decree. Neither the probate court, nor the court of chancery could entertain a suit founded on the original consideration of the decree against Carney’s administrator. It is long since barred by lapse of time. The decree is no evidence against the heir, and after the lapse of twenty-two years since its rendition, the court of chancery would not permit the administrator to make any acknowledgment, or take any step to prejudice the heir. Neither will a purchaser under the heir be disturbed at the will of the executor after an unreasonable lapse of time. Moores v. White, 6 J. Ch. Rep. 381. Ricord v. Williams, 7 Wheat. 60.
Besides these considerations, the record of the settlement in the probate court of Claiborne county, is a complete answer to the relief here sought. This settlement was made as early as 1804, and the balance then in the hands of the administrator was amply sufficient to have satisfied this claim.
Let the decree be affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- McCoy, Administrator, &c. v. Nichols
- Status
- Published