Bowen v. True
Bowen v. True
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
This is an appeal from an order of the Circuit Court (Judge Memtaiinger presiding) confirming the appraisement of commissioners appointed 'by the Court to value the lands devised by John A. Bowen to plaintiff for the use and benefit of himlself and children, the will providing that thie stone be first valued ’by three disinterested mien who are good judges, and that plaintiff pay to 'his sister, Sarah A. Bowen, one of the defendants, one-half of the valuation in full settlement of her share of s'aid1 plantation for the use and benefit of herself and children.
*395 The rights of the parties were settled in the former appeal, 74 S. C., 486, and the facts are fully stated therein.
Judge Gage, in his decree, held that the action was practically an action for partition, and he ordered tire appointment of three appraisers and directed them to go upon the premises, examine the same, appraise the value thereof and file their report with the clerk of the Court. In pursuance of 'this order, plaintiff named Joseph Simpson as one of the board of appraisers, the defendants named J. J. Bell and the clerk of the Court designated W. T. Jeffers as the third member. Two1 members of said board of appraisers, Joseph Simpson and W. T. Jeffers, made a majority return valuing the real estate of John A. Bowen at $4.00’ per acre. The other appraiser, J. J. Bell, filed a minority return in which he valued the land at $8.00' per acre. 'The majority return was confirmed iby the Circuit Court (Judge Memmiinger) and defendants appeal.
It is next contended that the return of the appraisers should have been set aside as uncertain and indefinite beoause no survey of the 'land had been ordered or made. On this point we concur with Judge Memtoinger, whoi held that “the testimony as to the possibility or probability of there being more than seven hundred acres in the tract is very meagre — mere uncertain hearsay; while on the other hand, there is positive evidence of the tax books fixing it at seven hundred acres, the deed describing it at that number of acres and the witnesses and appraisers referring to it and treating it confidently as such. Read in connection with the testimony, therefore, the appraisement fixes the value of the plantation' at $2',800.”
From the foregoing conclusions it must follow that there was no error in directing that Sarah A. True receive $1,400, with interest, in full satisfaction of her share of the estate, for by the terms of the will she was to receive ome-halltf of the land, as valued by the appraisers.
The exceptions are overruled and the judgment of the Circuit Court is affirmed.
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