Case ID: ark_76/html/0391-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Hxuu, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Kraft v. Moore.
    Opinion delivered July 29, 1905.
    1. Res judicata — when plea unavailing. — Where the issues in a former and h pending suit were not the same, and different relief was sought in the two suits, a plea of res judicata is unavailing. (Page 393.)
    
      2. Appeal — question not raised below. — Objections that a cross complaint was filed by one of defendants as administrator when he was sued individually, and that it is not responsive to the complaint, cannot be raised on appeal for the first time. (Page 394.)
    3.. Same. — Objection to the right of an ancillary administrator to sue a resident of the State of the domiciliary administration who happens tc be within the State of the ancillary 'administration cannot be raised on appeal for the first time.' (Page 394.)
    Appeal from Phillips Chancery Court.
    Edward D. Robertson, Chancellor.
    Affirmed.
    
      N. W. Norton, for appellants.
    An administrator is liable personally for transactions subse quent to the- death of his intestate, and a suit 'against him personally is proper. 19 Ark. 671. The suit having been brought against John P. Moore as an individual, he had no right, in his fiduciary capacity, to file a cross-bill. The cross-complaint was not proper because not responsive to the case made in the complaint. 30 Ark. 249; 31 Ark. 345. The administration of John P. Moore is ancillary, and his powers are limited to assets in this State, for the protection of domestic creditors. 46 Ark. 453; 31 Ark. 539; 34 Ark. 177; 42 Ark. 164; 16 Ark.'257; 30 Ark. ¿31.
    
      
      M. L,. Stephenson, for appellees.
    This court will not disturb the findings of a chancellor unless there is a clear preponderance of evidence against them. 44 Ark. 216. A court of equity will not interfere with proceedings in the probate court for the settlement of estates to correct errors or irregularities, unless they are sufficiently gross to raise the presumption of fraud. 50 Ark. 217; 33 Ark. 575; 36 Ark. 383; 39 Ark. 256; 40 Ark. 393. Costs in equity are subject to the discretion of the court. 36 Ark. 383. Where a husband receives the capital fund of his wife’s property, there is no presumption that she intended to give it to him. 98 111. 178; 135 Ind. 482.
   Hxuu, C. J.

Joseph H. Jackson died, leaving a widow, Sallie B. Jackson, nee Moore, and three minor children, Jami-son A. Jackson, Martha Jackson and Lida Jackson. He left $8,000 in insurance to his wife. Mrs. Jackson was possessed of real estate, consisting of farm and other property in Phillips County. Mrs. Jackson, some years after her first husband’s death, married Fred W. Kraft, and, after living some time in Helena, they moved to East St. Louis, Illinois, and there made their home until the death of Mrs. Kraft. Mrs. Kraft left one child, Overton A. Kraft, as the issue of her second marriage. Her husband, F. W. Kraft, took out letters of administration on her estate at the place of her domicil, East St. Louis, 111., and John P. Moore, her father, took out letters on her estate in Phillips County, Arkansas, about one year prior to the letters of Kraft in Illinois. Several claims were probated in Phillips County, among others one of John P. Moore and another of Frierson Moore, Mrs. Kraft’s brother.

On the petition of the administrator, the Phillips Probate Court ordered some réal estate sold to pay debts; it was bought by Frierson Moore, and his purchase of it confirmed. Thereafter Kraft in his own right and as next friend to his child, Overton A. Kraft, brought suit in Phillips Chancery Court to assign him his estate of curtesy in the lands sold, to set aside the sales, and attacking the debts of Moore and son. Since this appeal was taken, Overton A. Kraft has died, and his estate has passed to his half brother and half sisters, who are not parties here. Counsel agree that the issues in the original suit, as to these sales and debts, died with Overton A. Kraft, and left only a question of costs for determination. -There are decisions to the effect that an appellate court will npt proceed to determine a question formerly in the case in order to determine the present question of costs. In this case the costs are all in one suit, and the determination of the issues of the cross complaint will settle all the costs, as the costs in the suit and cross suit are inseparable, except possibly trivial amounts.

After meeting the issues in the original suit, John P. Moore,' in his capacity as administrator, sued Kraft in a cross-complaint, alleging that he had obtained $6,000 of his wife’s money under promise of investment in her» name, and converted' it to his own use, and bought property with it, taking title to himself. He prayed judgment for this as such administrator, or in the alternative that Mrs. Kraft’s children by her first marriage be made parties, and judgment rendered in their favor for three-fourths of it. Kraft denied the allegations, and pleaded res judicata. The chancellor found in favor of Moore on both the suit and cross suit, except as to Kraft’s curtesy, interest which was decreed to him, and there was no cross appeal on that issue, and gave judgment against Kraft for $4,800 with interest. The latter is the only matter before the court.

1. Moore, as-next friend of the Jackson children, had sued Kraft in Illinois, making substantially the same allegations as herein made in regard to money obtained by Kraft from his wife under promise of re-investment for her, and sought to impress a trust on certain real estate in Illinois alleged to have been purchased with this money thus obtained, title to which was taken in himself. The Supreme Court of Illinois decided the case against the Jackson children, on the ground that they failed to trace the money received from Mrs. Kraft as the whole or a definite part of the consideration of the properties-sought to be impressed with' the trust. In that case the court found Kraft received large sums from his wife, and that undoubtedly he was to use it or invest it for the benefit of his wife, and to account for it to her in some manner'; and that it was not a gift from her to him, as he contended. For lack of tracing it into the property the Jacksons failed, and no relief was sought in that action other than the subjection of certain real estate to a trust in their favor. There was not an identity of issues in that suit and this suit which will render the defense of res judicata availing here. 2 Black, Judgments, § 160.

2. Objection is here made to the cross-complaint being filed by Moore as administrator when he and his son were sued individually, and further that it is not responsive to the complaint. These questions were not raised below. The cross complaint charged Kraft with appropriating money belonging to Mrs. Kraft to his own use, and sought its recovery. Kraft denied the allegation as a first defense, and as a second defense pleaded that the matters alleged had been adjudicated in the Illinois suit heretofore referred to. He cannot raise such issues now after having accepted the issues tendered and unsuccessfully defended against such cross suit, the only issues then interposed.

3. The next question, and it is one not free of difficulty, is the right of the ancillary administrator to sue a resident of the State of the domiciliary administration who happens to be in the jurisdiction of the ancillary administrator. On this point the following authorities may be consulted with profit. Greene v. Byrne, 46 Ark. 453; Shegogg v. Perkins, 34 Ark. 117; Turner v. Risor, 54 Ark. 33; Lewis v. Rutherford, 71 Ark. 218; Minor’s Conflict of Taws, §■ 113; 1 Woerner on Administration, § 158; Equitable Life Assurance Society v. Vogel, 76 Ala. 441, s. c. 52 Am. Rep. 344; Merrill v. Ins. Co. 103 Mass. 245, s. c. 4 Am. Rep. 548.

This question, however, like the preceding one, was not raised, by the pleadings. It seems, from the chancellor’s opinion in the record, that it was raised in argument, but the record shows the cross complaint • and the answer thereto on the merits. This is a matter‘to be raised in limine. The chancery court is one of general jurisdiction'in equitable causes of action, where it- has jurisdiction of the persons. The objection now raised, if tenable, went to the jurisdiction over the situs of the debt-represented -by the debtor- before the court, and could be waived ’by him like any other personal right to the proper place -to' be sued: Where not waived, -and an appearance to the merits is entered,' there was nothing for the court to do but proceed ’to adjudicate -the issues thus presented.

4. The evidence sustains the chancellor’s finding that Kraft had taken money of Mrs. Kraft intrusted to' him as trustee for herself and her children by her former marriage for investment for them, and appropriated it to his own use. Finding no error, the decree is affirmed.

Battle, J., absent.