Parrott v. Barrett
Parrott v. Barrett
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
This is an action for the partition of a tract of 889 acres of land in Eee county, formerly belonging to James Rembert, who died in 1858, devising the same to his daughter, Jane Barrett, for life, and at her 'death “to the heirs of her body, who may be living at the time of her death, share and share alike, to them and their heirs forever.” Jane Barrett, the life tenant, died in 1901. In 1874 she and her children, Charles, Elizabeth, George, Caleb, Samuel, Albertus and Martha, made among themselves a partition of said land, in accordance with a plat made by S. M. Boykin, surveyor, in 1870'. In the division tract No. 5, containing 168 1-2 acres, was assigned to Jane Barrett, life tenant; tracts Nos. 1 and 3, containing 106 1-2 acres, was set apart to Charles S. Barrett, and other tracts were allotted to the other children, and possession was taken by the respective parties. Charles Barrett died in 1880, before the death of thé life tenañt. In July, 1901, soon after the death of the life tenant, the plaintiffs, who are children of Charles Barrett, brought this action against the defendants, who are children of Jane Barrett, or their privies or successors in interest, for the partition of said original tract according to the said will of James Rembert.
On the former appeal in this case, 70' S. C., 205, 49 S. E., 563, this Court sustained the construction of said will made by Judge Gage, holding that the plaintiffs, as grandchildren of Jane Barrett, answered the description of heirs of her *258 body at the time of her death, and that each of said grandchildren, taking per capita and not per stirpes, was entitled to one-tenth of the land in question. The Court also held that the partition of 1874 was not binding on plaintiffs, as they were not parties thereto, but that suda partition was binding among all the parties to it. Plence, in the effort to do practical justice to all the parties, the Court sought not only to preserve the right of plaintiffs, but also to preserve, as far as consistent therewith, the status arising under the partition of 1874, and adopted as a scheme for partition the plan outlined in the following extract from the opinion of the Court: “In the settlement of this case the Court is disposed, as far as possible consistent with plaintiff’s rights, to preserve the possession of defendants or their privies of the parcels set apart to them in said partition, as they are bound, as among themselves, to abide by the isame. The Court, however, is not quite satisfied with the rule adopted by the Circuit Court, in holding that each acre is practically as good as another, and in making one acre the unit value, as the testimony is very meagre on the subject. We, therefore, think that each parcel, as set apart in the partition of 1874, should be valued by appraisers appointed for that purpose, and that plaintiffs should first be allotted tracts 1 and 3, now occupied, by them', then to the extent necessary to give them four-tenths of the value of the whole 889 acres they should be allotted from tract No. 5, containing 168 1-2 acres; then, if this be still insufficient, any deficiency remaining should be made up to them by an assessment for equality of partition upon each parcel assigned to defendants in the partition, in the proportion which the value of their respective parcels bears to said deficiencies, to be paid by defendants or their privies, within such reasonable time as the Circuit Court may fix, and in default of such payment plaintiffs to have leave to apply to the Circuit Court for the proper relief.
“After plaintiffs shall have thus received four-tenths of *259 the whole tract of 889 acres, the defendants shall be entitled to the parcels respectively assigned to them in said partition. If the whole tract, No. 5, be not required to give plaintiffs four-tenths of the 889 acres, the remainder should be partitioned according- to law among the defendant children of Jane Barrett.
“The judgment of this Court is that the decree of the Circuit Court is modified in the particulars named, and the cause is remanded for such further proceedings as may be necessary to carry out the views above mentioned.”
Thereafter a writ of partition was directed to five commissioners, appointed as required by the statute, containing instructions in accordance with the language of the Court above quoted. The commissioners made return, showing their valuation of eadh parcel of the land as partitioned in 1874 and allotted to the defendants or their privies; the several parcels which they then received. They allotted to plaintiffs parcels 1 and 3. This left a deficiency in value of $10,051.50, to supply which resort was had to' tract No. 5. This tract, containing 168 1-2 acres, was valued at $60 per acre, amounting to $10,110, which exceeded plaintiffs’ shares by only $58.50, less than the estimated value of a single acre. Plaintiffs sought to have their shares allotted in kind and to be allowed to pay the difference, $58.50, into Court and take the whole tract. The commissioners, however, reported that it would be impracticable to so divide No. 5 as to give plaintiffs and defendants their respective shares therein without manifest injustice to the rights of the parties, and so recommended the sale of tract No. 5, at public outcry, at a price not less than $60 per acre, and a division of the proceeds according to the rights o'f the parties. Tire plaintiffs attacked the return of the commissioners, and under an order of reference by Judge Watts much testimony was taken on both sides. Plaintiffs further submitted bids, with security for same, on all lands assigned to the defendants, at a materially higher valuation than that *260 fixed by the commissioners, and also- offered to subject the whole land to sale, including tracts Nos. 1 and 3, assigned to therm. Defendants also- sought to bring tract No>. 5 to sale by tendering a secured bid of an advance of ten dollars per acre.
Judge Memminger affirmed the report of the commissioners, except as to their recommendation for the sale of tract No. 5. As to this matter, he held that the difference in valuation was so trifling that it would be unjust to sell the land when plaintiffs had indicated a willingness to pay the difference to the defendants and take the land in kind. He accordingly decreed that plaintiffs pay the said difference and take tract No-. 5.
Responding to plaintiffs’ exceptions', we hold:
After careful review of the testimony, we are content to leave undisturbed the conclusion of the Circuit Court sustaining the valuations made by the commissioners. The commissioners were selected by the parties, — were men of experience, intelligence and character, — 'viewed the premises and were unanimous in their conclusion. There is nothing to show that their action was influenced by any unfair or improper motive. Quite a number of witnesses differed from the commissioners in their opinion -as to the valuations, but quite a number agreed with the commissioners. As declared in Aldrich v. Aldrich, supra, “It is a matter of common knowledge that men of experience may honestly differ as. to the value of land. So long, therefore, as the valuation of the commissioners can be accounted for on this ground it should be sustained, and it is not sufficient to overthrow a valuation by commissioners merely to show that, in the opinion' of other honest and experienced men, t'he true value is higher or lower than that made by the commissioners under oath.”
4. In this connection we may consider the defendants’ exceptions to the refusal of Judge Memminger to bring tract No. 5 to sale, because of their secured bid to make that tract bring at least $70 per acre, or $10 per acre more than the valuation of the commissioners.
The contention of the defendants is that while Moore v. Williamson has no application with respect to the question of bringing to sale the tracts assigned to defendants, it has application with respect to tract No. 5.
*263 The writ in' partition, issued under t'he order of Judge Klugh, directed the commissioners, after allotting tracts 1 and 3 to plaintiffs, to allot to plaintiffs from tract No. 5; and further directed that if the whole of tract No'. 5 be not required to give plaintiffs their four-tenths of the whole, “then you shall allot unto plaintiffs so much of tract No. 5 as may be necessary to give unto plaintiffs their said four-tenths of the whole 889 acres., and you will then allot and divide the remainder of said lot No. 5 amongst the defendants, etc.; or ini case you find that such remainder, if any, cannot be fairly and fully divided amongst the last named six defendants without injury to the whole or one or more of them, you can recommend a sale of such remainder; the proceeds shall be equally divided amongst them.” No exception has been taken to the directions contained in the writ. It thus appears that plaintiffs were to receive the remainder of their share in kind and that no sale of any portion of tract No. 5 was contemplated, except as to such portion thereof as should remain after allottment to plaintiffs. It would seem to be inequitable in this partition to permit defendants to bring tract No. 5 to 'sale and deny to plaintiffs the privilege of bringing to sale the tracts allotted to defendants. Defendants are unwilling to accept plaintiffs’ proposition to bring all of the tracts to sale.
5. Plaintiffs’ remaining 'exceptions do not call for any extended notice.
*264
*265 With respect to the substitution, of the devisees of the defendant, Elizabeth J. James, who died after the commencement of the action, the appellants are under a misapprehension, as it appears by reference to. folio 445 of the record that such an order was made.
The exceptions, both of plaintiffs and defendants, are overruled and the judgment of the Circuit Court is affirmed.
Concurring Opinion
concurring. I concur on the ground that the judgment of the Supreme Court in the former appeal required actual partition of the land, according to the scheme therein laid down. But for this I think the parties would have the right to bring the several tracts of land to a sale, by giving adequate assurance to the Court that they would bid more at the sale than the assessed value, under the rule laid down in Moore v. Williamson, 10 Rich. Eq., 323.
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- 1. Partition. — The opinion, of the Court on the former appeal in this case formulated a scheme of partition, and was not a mere suggestion. 2. Ibid. — Return of commissioners in partition sustained, because there is not found anything in the evidence going to show they were influenced by any unfair or improper motive. 3. Ibid. — The doctrine announced in Moore v. Williamson, 10 Rich. Eq., 323, that a party in interest dissatisfied with the rate at which land is recommended to be assigned to another cotenant, may shake the proposed assignment and bring the land to sale by securing a higher bid, does not apply to the facts of this case. 4. Ibid. — Recommendation of commissioners that a tract of land be sold in order to obtain a small balance over equality to be paid to other tenants, may be modified so as to vest the whole tract in those entitled to larger share, and permitting them to pay the small balance to other tenants. 5. Ibid. — Inspection of Lands. — CmcuiT Judse is not required to inspect lands in order to assist himself in arriving at a proper conclusion on hearing exceptions to commissioners’ return. Could he set up an opinion formed on such view against that of commissioners? 6. Okdeb op substitution ordered, hut not actually drawn up and signed, may be formally made on circuit after case remanded.