Hughes v. Robinson
Hughes v. Robinson
Opinion of the Court
The appellants Mrs. Annie Hughes and Mrs. Mollie Pye are the children of J. W. Moore and his first wife, both of whom are dead. Appellants filed this suit against the children of their father by second and third marriages, seeking to recover the two tracts of land described in their petition. They allege that tract No. 1, as it appears in their description, was purchased with the separate means of their mother. The following are the facts established upon the trial:
J. W. Moore and the mother of the appellants were married in Georgia, and in 1866 removed to this state. In September, 1867, Moore purchased from J. J. Flynn 132 acres of land, which is referred to by the appellants as “tract No. 1.” The deed from Flynn to Moore recited a consideration of $306 paid. Moore’s first wife died the year following this purchase, and within a few months thereafter he married his second wife. During the second marriage Moore sold off 12½ acres of the land, his deed reciting a consideration of $720 paid. He later bought another tract of 17 ½ acres, which is referred to by the appellants as “tract No. 2.” In 1875 the second wife died, leaving several children. Two years later Moore was married to his third wife, by whom he had three children. Both Moore and his last wife died some time before the institution of this suit.
The case of Guest v. Guest, 208 S. W. 547, involved facts very similar to the controlling features of this ease, and we think the rule there announced should be applied in the division of this property. Under the findings made by the court the appellants are entitled to have what remained of the 132 acres of land divided, upon the basis that it was the community property of their father and mother, subject, however, to whatever burden equity would impose in favor of the second and third community estates for reimbursement for funds used in the discharge of the purchase-money debt. It may be that the amount realized by Moore from the sale of the 12½ acres would be sufficient to meet that demand. In that event no accounting should be required of appellants in the partition of the land. They would be entitled to all of their mother’s community interest, and to share equally with the children of the second and third marriages in the remainder.
We are of the opinion that justice would be better subserved by reversing and remanding this case for trial according to the rules announced in Guest v. Guest and the cases there cited; and it is so ordered.
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Reference
- Full Case Name
- HUGHES Et Al. v. ROBINSON Et Al.
- Cited By
- 9 cases
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- Published