{ "id": 1885766, "name": "TINER, Adm'r. v. CHRISTIAN, Adm'x", "name_abbreviation": "Tiner v. Christian", "decision_date": "1871-12", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "306", "last_page": "313", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "27 Ark. 306" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark.", "id": 8808, "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "8 Ohio, 358", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ohio", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "25 Ark., 52", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1864552 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/25/0052-01" ] }, { "cite": "9 Ark., 68", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "18 Ark., 422", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "8 Ark., 9", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8726799 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/8/0009-01" ] }, { "cite": "5 Ark., 608", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8727791 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/5/0608-01" ] }, { "cite": "16 Ark., 491", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8725524 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/16/0491-01" ] }, { "cite": "18 Ark., 422", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "5 Ark., 608", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8727791 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/5/0608-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 678, "char_count": 15662, "ocr_confidence": 0.366, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.220187990247439e-07, "percentile": 0.8670600100623627 }, "sha256": "8e488f455abaca397d265b4c0609d02460cfdf8bf90596e9a0b8299135d830b0", "simhash": "1:851f2c166090dc15", "word_count": 2693 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:05:16.282217+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "TINER, Adm\u2019r. v. CHRISTIAN, Adm\u2019x." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Bennett, J.\nMary K. Christian, as administratrix of \u2022Joseph D. Christian, deceased, surviving partner of Christian & Norris, filed in the Circuit Court of Ashley county, at its \u25a0September term, 1869, her petition against Benjamin Tiner, .as\u201cadministrator of A. J. Buffington. The facts, a^ stated in the said petition, were agreed to by the attorneys, which were substantially as follows:\n\u201cThat Tiner, as administrator of Buffington, under an order of the Court of Probate, of Ashley county, sold certain lands belonging to the estate of said Buffington, in Ashley \u2022county, for $700 00 which sale was reported for confirmal \u25a0tion. <.\nThat said Christian, as administratrix, as'aforesaid, prayed said Probate' Court to order said Tiner, administrator, to appropriate said $700 00, first, to the payment of the legitimate costs of administration, not including, as legitimate, any charges for attorney\u2019s fees, -and the balance to the payment, so far as it would go, of a demand due the petitioner,, as administratrix of said Joseph D. Christi\u00e1n, against the-estate of said A. J. Buffington, of the- fodrth class, amounting to the sum of fifty-two hundred ($5200) dollars. That in proof of said petition for said order, it was proven that the claim was due for a part of the purchase money for the interest of said A. J. Buffington in the lands sold by Tiner, as administrator, aforesaid; that said interest in said lands was sold by Joseph D. Christian to said Buffington, for the purpose of forming a partnership, etc.; that said interest in said lands was held by said Buffington, \u00e1s a partner, and for partnership purposes; that Edna C. Buffington, the wife of said A. J., was the administratrix of said A. J. Buffington prior to said Tiner; that she had paid, in full, all the debts and demands probated against said estate, of the fourth class, except the demand d\u00fae the petioner, on which\" she had paid nothing, etc. That the said Probate Court made the order in accordance with the prayer of said petition ; that, at a subse* quent day of said court, Tiner moved to set aside said order as to the exclusion of attorney\u2019s fees as legitimate costs, etc., that the coui\u2019t overruled the motion, to which Tiner excepted and prayed an appeal to the Circuit Court, which was granted ; that afterwards, said Tiner, on a. day of the same termqof said Probate Court, moved the court to set aside the order to appropriate the bal\u00e1nce of said $700 to said debt, due said Christian, as administratrix, and for cause shown. That by the last account current of said Edna C. Buffington, confirmed by the Court of Probate, the sum of about $600 was due her as commissions, as administratrix of said A. J. Buffington, and that said Edna C. Buffington was entitled to dower in said $700, as the widow of A. J.; that the Probate Court sustainedthe motion of said Tiner, and set aside its previous \u25a0order, to which Christian, administratrix, excepted and prayed an appeal to the Circuit Court, which was granted.\nThe court house at Hamburg, Ashley county, having been' burned, sometime previous, all the original papers in the .above cause were destroyed.\u201d\nThe above was agreed, by all the parties, should be taken .as the substance of the proceedings and-evidence in the cause, upon which papers it was submitted to the Circuit Court, \u2022and on motion the cause reinstated. Hpon the hearing, the court found in favor of Christian, and ordered Tiner to pay over to her the $700, after deducting the legitimate costs of administration, without deciding, directly as to whether attorney\u2019s fees for services rendered the estate were legitimate costs or not. Tiner excepted and appealed to this court.\nFrom the above agreed statement of the pleading and facts, the following points were raised for the consideration of the Circuit Court:\nFirst. Are attorney\u2019s fees legitimate costs of administra-, tion, and should the Circuit Court have considered this question, in reviewing the proceedings of the Probate Court, when presented in the record?\nSecond. Have Probate Courts jurisdiction in matters relating to a vendor\u2019s lien, or to the settlement of partnership debts or property, so as to determine the right of a widow to dower in the property said to b\u00e9 encumbered by the lien, or- . said to be partnership property ?\nThird. Was Edna C. Buffingtonj the widow o\u00ed A. J. Buffington, entitled to dower in the $700, the proceeds of the ;sale of certain lands owned by said Buffington, and of which he died seized ?\nFourth. Was the administratrix of the estate of A. J. Buffington entitled to commissions on the administration of said estate, if she had misapplied the effects of the same ?\nAs to whether attorney\u2019s fees are legitimate costs of administration, Sections 194-5-6, Chap. 4, Gould\u2019s Digest, say: \u201cWhere it shall become necessary, in the opinion of the Probate Court, for any executor or administrator to employ am attorney to prosecute any suit brought by or against such-, executor or administrator, the attorney so employed shall re- - eeive as a compensation for his services eight per centum, etc.\u201d\n\u201c The same compensation may be allowed for defending-suits when, in the opinion of the court, the employment of an-attorney may be indispensably necessary to do justice to the-estate.\u201d\n\u201cSuch attorney's fees shall be paid as expenses of administration; but no attorney\u2019s fees shall be allowed any executor- or administrator unless for the prosecuting or defending a suit under, the direction of the court.\u201d\nThus it will be seen, attorneys may be employed to prosecute or defend suits brought by or against executors and administrators, but no allowance of fees shall be made, unless-for the prosecuting and defending suits under the direction of the court. The record, in the case before us, does not disclose what amount of attorney\u2019s fees were asked to be-allowed, or for what the services were rendered, or that they-were ordered or sanctioned by the Probate Court. But, on the contrary, the record shows that the prayer of the petitioner in the Probate Court was, \u201c that Tiner appropriate said $7^00',.. first, to the payment of the legitimate costs of the administration, not including as legitimate costs any charge for attorney\u2019s-fees,\u201d etc., and that said court entered up an order in accordance with the prayer of the petition.\nWhile the record is somewhat vague, yet the conclusion is;, inevitable that the attorney\u2019s fees were not made in obedience-to any sanction of the Probate Court, and no administrator - would have been justified in charging the estate with them.. It is true the Circuit Court should have decided explicitly' upon this point, as well as all others involved in the case yet, not having done so \u2014 unless we go upon the general presumption that such was the case, and that presumption is-very strong outside of the opinion of the judge filed in the ease, which is no part of the record \u2014 when the decision, if made at all, would have been adverse to the appellant, and not prejudicing any of his rights, cannot be considered as good ground for reversal.\nAs to the\u2019 question of vendor\u2019s lien, claimed by Christian,\u25a0 the court very properly refused to consider it. A vendor\u2019s lien is only an imperfect one, recognizable and cnforcible only in a court of equity. Adams on Equity, sec. 126. The same may be said as to the land sold being partnership property, and held for partnership purposes.\nThe record does not show that there wore any former debts \u25a0outstanding against the firm of Christian & Buffington, or any other firm of which Buffiirigton had been a partner. The creditors of a firm have a proper tribunal wherein to adjudicate their claims; it cannot be done before the Probate Court. There was nothing to prevent the widow asserting her right to dower by reason of partnership debts. 'Was Edna C. Buffington, the widow of A. I. Buffington, entitled to dower in the $700, the proceeds of sale of certain lands owned by said Buffington, and of which he died seized? We think not.\nIn the case of Hill's admr's. vs. Mitchell et al., 5 Ark., 608, the court say: \u201cThe widow lias dower for life of one-third of the real estate owned by her husband at any time during coverture, whether unsold at his death, or sold or alienated by him without her consent in legal form; and also for life, of one-third of all slaves possessed by him at his death absolutely. * * * * Her dower in each is carved out of the specific estate of which he was possessed; and if she has been deprived of it, she can follow it wherever it may be .found, and subject it to her lieu, unless by her own laches she has abandoned or waived her right. But she has no dower in the choses in action of the husband, though she has in his money or cash in hand.\u201d Again, in the case of James vs. Marmis et al., 18 Ark., 422, the court say, in the language of the statute: \u201c That the widow is entitled to dower in all personal property (except dioses in action) of which the husband dies seized and possessed, regardless of the solvency of the estate .or demand of creditors.\u201d A different rule as to \u201cdioses in action,\u201d however,'prevails at present, by direct legislative enactment: Act February 21,1859. Had the money been in the hands of the administrator as a part of the effects of the estate of Buffington, at'the time of his death, there could have been no doubt of her right to dower. But it having been created by the sale of land belonging to the estate, after the death of Buffington, the widow must look to the specific estate from which it was derived, viz: the land sold, for her dower right. The appellants, say, \u201cif the administrator had sold personal property without alloting to the widow dower therein, she would have been entitled to' one-third of the proceeds of the sale,\u201d and then ask the question, \u201cwhy should not the same rule apply in case of lands?\u201d and then say, \u201cthere is no reason why it should not.\u201d \"We think there is a very great reason why it should not.\nOur statutes, and the ruling of this court, have said the widow shall, be endowed absolutely of one-third of all personal estate owned by her husband at his death, and shall only be entitled to dower, during life, of one-third of his real estate. In one case she holds absolutely, in the other,- only a life interest. If the doctrine of the appellants were true, a widow would, only be obliged to have the administrator to convert the' real estate into cash, by order of the court, and assign her one-third of it, and she become the absolute owner of it, thereby .defeating the object-of the law and defrauding heirs, etc.\nTo the right of the administratrix to commissions, even if she had misapplied the effects of the estate, we have no doubt. Yet it was the duty- of the Probate Court to have reviewed her account current, and rectified all errors of misapplication, etc., and if she had paid one creditor to the exclusion of another, the-court should have made a pro rata distributton according to law. The administratrix was only entitled to credit berself with such sums of money as were lawfully expended in settling such estate, and her commissions as allowed by law. See Sections 120, 122, Chaffer IV, Gould's Digest.\nThe record and agreed statement of facts, as presented, are so vague and indefinite as to make it very hard to arrive at the exact points upon which either the Probate or Circuit Court ruled, but the final judgment being that the $700, being the money arising from the sale of lands of the estate, should be paid to Christian, \u201cafter deducting the legitimate costs of administration,\u201d was not in accordance with law; it should have been that \u201cit should have been applied to the payment of the debts of the estate.\u201d And if all claims had been paid that had been allowed in the various classes, as provided in the statute, except those in the fourth class, those demands should be paid in proportion to their amounts, which apportionments should have been made by the Probate Court, if there had not been enough assets to have paid all.\nThe judgment of. the court below is reversed, and the cause remanded with instructions to proceed with the case in accordance with law, and not inconsistent with this opinion..", "type": "majority", "author": "Bennett, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "W. D. Moore and English, Gantt \u00a7 English, for Appellant.*", "\u25a0 Watkins Pose, for Appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "TINER, Adm\u2019r. v. CHRISTIAN, Adm\u2019x.\nAdministration \u2014 When attorney's fees allowed. \u2014 To entitle an administrator to charge his intestate's estate with attorney\u2019s fees, the fees should accrue in . obedience to the order or sanction of the Prohate Court.\nJudgments \u2014 What grounds of reversal. \u2014 When the Circuit Court, on appeal, fails to pass upon a point wliich should have been decided, yet, when the decision, if.made, would have boon adverse to the appellant and not prejudicial to his rights, such failure cannot he considered as a good ground for reversal.\nProbate Courts \u2014 Have no cognizance of vendors lien and partnership. \u2014 \u25a0 Probate Codrts have no jurisdiction to enforce a vendor\u2019s lien or adjudicate and settle partnership claims.\nDower \u2014 Not allowed in proceeds of lands sold, etc. \u2014 The widow is not entitled to dower in the proceeds of the sale of lands, whereof her husband died shined, made by the administrator, under order of the Probate Court, but slio must look to the specific estate.\nAdministration \u2014 Misapplication of effects, etc. \u2014 The misapplication by an administrator of the effects of an estate, in distribution, will be rectified by the court, and such misapplication will not have the effect to deprive him of the commissions allowed, by law, for such sums of money as were lawfully expended in the settling of such estate.\nAPPEAL PROM ASIILEY CIRCUIT COURT.\nHon. Henry B. Morse, Circuit Judge.\nW. D. Moore and English, Gantt \u00a7 English, for Appellant.*\nFirst. The court below erred in not allowing attorney\u2019s fees as legitimate costs of administration ; See Secs. 194-5-6, Chap. 4, Gould\u2019s Dig. That the court should have considered the question of attorney\u2019s fees; See Sec. 201, Chap. 4, Gould\u2019s Dig. As to*the matter of bill of exceptions : See Dempsy vs. Fenno, 16 Ark., 491.\nSecond. That the widow was entitled to dower in the lands, under Sec. 1, Chap. 60, Gould\u2019s Dig., and she could \u201c follow-it wherever it might he found, and subject it to her lien.\u201d FLUI ad\u2019r., vs. Mitchell, 5 Ark., 608. The mere conversion did not bar or destroy her right, 'previously vested, which was a charge upon the\u2019lands. Menifee vs. Menifee, 8 Ark., 9; Bob vs. Powers, 19. Ark., 440. She is entitled to dower in the personalty, regardless of the solvency of th\u00e9 estate; James vs. Marcus, 18 Ark., 422 ; and if personally/ sold, to one-third \u25baof the proceeds, ubi supra. Why should not same rule apply where lands are sold ? Pose\u2019s Big., p. 291-2. As to the question of vendor\u2019s lien, the court properly refused to consider it. Adams on Bq. p. 126.\nThird. As to the right of' the administratrix to commissions, \u00abetc., See Secs. 122-3, and Chap. 4, Gould\u2019s Big.,- and even if \u2022the effects of the estate had been misapplied, tlie creditors had \u25a0their Remedy; See Secs. 146-7-8, Ghap. 4 and 127, Gould\u2019s Big.\n\u25a0 Watkins Pose, for Appellee.\nThe memorandum filed showing the rulings of the judge, not being embraced in a bill of exceptions, is no part of the .record. Saioyers v. Bathrop, 9 Ark., 68; Berry vs. Singer, 10 1 d. 489 , Byrd vs. Brown, 5 Id., 710; Gox vs. Garvin, 6 Id. 431..\nThe widow has no dower in lands not paid for. Thorn vs. Ingram 25 Ark., 52. The sale by the administrator could not .affect the widow\u2019s dower in the lands in specie, and she could have no claim on the money. Neither has a widow any dow\u2022er in partnership property; certainly not before .the partnership debts are paid. Sumner vs. Hampton 8 Ohio, 358." }, "file_name": "0306-01", "first_page_order": 322, "last_page_order": 329 }