Leflore v. Flowers
Leflore v. Flowers
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
Johnnie May Floivers and Shelly Flowers, infants of three and two years of age, respectively, filed their bill by next friend, Marcellus Smith, their uncle, in the chancery court of Leake county, alleging that they are the children of Osie Flowers, formerly Osie Smith, born in lawful wedlock, the only children of said Osie Flowers, who departed this life intestate on the 10th day of June, 1914; that on February 6, 1897, Eufus Smith, the father of Osie Flowers, made a certain deed, in which it is alleged that he conveyed to Sophia Coleman, Louvinia Coleman, Ann Smith, Osie Smith, later Osie Flowers, Mary Smith, Archie Smith, Turner Smith, and. Marcellus Smith, for and during their natural lives, and at their respective deaths, their respective interest to go to their children born in lawful wedlock, the land described as the east half and northwest quarter of northwest quarter of section 29, township 10, range 6.
“In consideration of natural love and affection and being out of debt I hereby give, grant and convey to Mrs. Sophia Coleman, Mrs. ‘Lavena’ Coleman, Archie Smith, Marcellus Smith, Anna Smith, Osie Smith, and Mary Smith & Turner Smith during their natural life and at their natural death to their children born in lawful wedlock an equal and undivided interest, share and share alike, in and to .the following real estate,” (describing the real estate as in the bill)'.
It will be seen from the recitals of the deed, which control as against the allegations of the bill, that there was a conveyance to the named children of Rufus Smith of a life estate in the said lands, and at their natural death to their children born in lawful wedlock an equal and undivided interest in said estate. It was further alleged in the bill that Mary Smith died in infancy unmarried and without issue, and that her interest in said land descended to her brothers and sisters of the whole blood. By reference to the terms of the deed above set out it will be seen she only had a life estate in said land. It is further alleged that on March 9, 1900, said parties named in said deed filed their bill in the chancery court for partition of said land among themselves; that a partition was granted, and that Osie Flowers was allotted the east half of the east half of northeast quarter; and that Marcellus Smith was allotted the west half of the west half of northeast quarter, and west half of northwest quarter of south east quarter less five (5) acres on the south end; and that Turner Smith wras allotted the east half of the west half of northeast quarter and east half of northwest quarter of southeast quarter less five (5) acres on south end. It is further alleged that Annie
On suggestion of error we have reviewed the case; and, while the pleadings are not clear, we have reached the conclusion that the demurrer should have been sustained. It will be noted that the partition suit filed by the life of tenants in 1900 awarded the land in controvers ey to Turner Smith and Marcellus Smith, and different lands from that in the bill to Osie Flowers; that later Turner Smith and Marcellus Smith conveyed the lands in controversy to Osie Flowers. The bill does not allege that Turner Smith or Marcellus Smith are dead, but it appears from the fact that Marcellus Smith files the bill in this case for the minors that he is still
We think on the remand of the case that appellees may amend their bill, and in the amended bill should allege how many of the heirs of Rufus Smith are living, also the date of the death of Rufus Smith, and should show the lands that were conveyed by each of the parties named in the fifth paragraph of the bill, and the substance of the terms of these deeds should be alleged or the deeds should be made exhibits to the bill.
Therefore the suggestion of error will be sustained, the judgment of the chancery court reversed, and the demurrer sustained here, with leave to amend the bill within thirty days after the mandate reaches the court below.
Sustained.
Reference
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Quieting Title. Plaintiff’s title. Where a grantor by deed conveyed land to his children, share and share alike for life, and at their death the land to go to their children, and partition by suit was had and thereafter M. and T., children of the grantor, made an exchange with plaintiff’s mother, also a child of the grantor, of lands alloted to them respectively in the partition suit, and plaintiff’s mother, before her death, executed a deed of trust on the lands so received in exchange, which was foreclosed and brought in by defendant. In such case plaintiffs, prior to the death of M. and T., could not sue to cancel defendant’s deeds as a cloud upon their title, since the deed of exchange by M. and T. to plaintiff’s mother conveyed their life estate to plaintiff’s mother for their lives and not hers and they not being dead their life estate has not expired but inures to the benefit of defendant..