{
  "id": 2633716,
  "name": "William A. Muller v. Mathias Benner, Guardian, etc.",
  "name_abbreviation": "Muller v. Benner",
  "decision_date": "1873-09",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "108",
  "last_page": "111",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "69 Ill. 108"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "Ill.",
    "id": 8772,
    "name": "Illinois Supreme Court"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 29,
    "name_long": "Illinois",
    "name": "Ill."
  },
  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "17 Wend. 75",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Wend.",
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        2020942
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      "case_paths": [
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    {
      "cite": "53 Penn. St. 500",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Pa.",
      "case_ids": [
        1004714
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/pa/53/0500-01"
      ]
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:22:57.309600+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "William A. Muller v. Mathias Benner, Guardian, etc."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Mr. Justice Scott\ndelivered the opinion of the Court:\nThis was an action of ejectment, brought by the guardian, in his own name, to recover the possession of the lands of his wards. It is averred in the declaration, the fee of the lands is in the wards, and that appellee, as guardian, is entitled ty possession. A trial was had upon the plea of not guilty. The court found the defendant guilty, the fee of the land in the wards, as alleged, the guardian entitled to possession, and rendered judgment accordingly.\nThe single question presented is, whether a guardian, under our laws, can maintain ejectment in his own name to recover possession of his wards* lands.\nA guardian in socage has the custody of the lands of the infant, and for that reason may lease it, avow in his own name, and bring trespass or ejectment in his own name. Hughes\u2019 Minors\u2019 Appeal, 53 Penn. St. 500; 2 Kent, 228; Holmes v. Seely, 17 Wend. 75.\nBut we do not think a guardian, under the provisions of our statute, can exercise any such powers. It is apprehended, where a general guardian has been appointed under our laws, with a defined statutory control over the estate of the wards, there can be no such relation as guardian in socage.\nUnder the provisions of our statute, it is indispensable the plaintiff in ejectment must have some estate in his own right in the lands. It is provided \u2018\u2018no person shall recover in ejectment, unless he has, at the time of commencing the action, a valid, subsisting interest in the premises claimed, and a right to recover the same, or to recover the possession thereof, or of some share, interest or portion thereof to be proved and established at the trial.\u201d Rev. Stat. 1845, p, 205, sec. 3.\nHo power is conferred by our laws upon a guardian over the real estate of his Avards, except to lease the same \u201c upon such terms and for such length of time as the county court shall approve.\u201d He is not given any such interest in the lands as a guardian in socage had at common law, and by no express words is he given, nor by any fair intendment can it be held he is entitled to the possession.\nIn Knite v. Palmer, 2 Wilson, 130, it Avas ruled a guardian or committee of a lunatic could not make a lease or bring ejectment in his own name. The case of Brooks v. Brooks, 3 Iredell, 389, holds that a guardian of a lunatic, although by statute he Avas given \u201cthe same powers to all intents an'\u00ed\u00dcpurposes of guardians of orphans,\u201d can not maintain ejectment in his own name for the lands of his Avard. The reason for the rule adopted in the latter case is found in the common laAV Avhich makes it necessary that the demise in ejectment must be made bv the person Avho has the estate, and could enter to make the lease. It Avas, hoAvever, held in Brooks v. Brooks, that in North Carolina, a guardian of infants might maintain ejectment in his own name, but it AAras on the distinct ground the statute required the guardian to take into possession the estate of his Avard, and enacts \u201cthat he may bring such actions in relation thereto as, by laAV, a guardian in common socage might do.\u201d\nOur statute has not made it the duty of a guardian to take possession of the real estate of his Avard, nor has it given the right to bring actions in relation thereto as a guardian in socage might do at common laAV.\nHe has authority to demand and sue, in his own name, as guardian, for all personal property and demands due the Avard, but no poAArer is given to bring suits in relation to real estate. What authority has he to try the title to his Avards\u2019 lands in his OAvn name? There is no provision of laAV such a trial Avould be conclusive of the rights of the infants. Indeed, such a laAV would be of doubtful policy.\nFictitious suits might be brought, and collusively tried, that would be conclusive of the rights of parties not before the court. The guardian may appear, prosecute and defend for his Avards in all legal suits and proceedings, but it must be in their names.\nIn the absence of any statutory authority conferring the right, we do not think appellee can maintain this action. It should have be.en brought in the names of the wards, who are alleged to be the owners in fee of the lands, by their guardian.\nFor the reasons indicated, the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.\nJudgment reversed.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Mr. Justice Scott"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Mr. Thomas Shirley, for the appellant.",
      "Messrs. Runyan, Avery, Loomis & Comstock, for the appellee."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "William A. Muller v. Mathias Benner, Guardian, etc.\n1. Guardian\u2014right to sue in his own name. A guardian has authority to demand and sue, in his own name, for all personal property and demands due his ward, hut no power is given him to bring suits in relation to the real estate of his ward. He can not maintain ejectment in his own name for his ward\u2019s lands.\n2. Same\u2014power over lands of ward. The only power a guardian has over his ward\u2019s\" lands is, to lease the samAupon such terms and for such length of time as the county court shall approve. He is not entitled, nor is it made his duty, to take possession of the real estate of his ward.\nAppeal from the Superior Court of Cook county; the Hon. Joseph E. Gary, Judge, presiding. *\nThis was an action of ejectment, brought by Mathias Benner, as guardian of Matthew and Nicholas Schent, against William A. Muller. The court below found for the plaintiff, and the defendant appealed.\nMr. Thomas Shirley, for the appellant.\nMessrs. Runyan, Avery, Loomis & Comstock, for the appellee."
  },
  "file_name": "0108-01",
  "first_page_order": 108,
  "last_page_order": 111
}