Case ID: sw_132/html/0874-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "LEVY, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

DAVIE v. GREEN.
    (Court of Civil Appeals of Texas.
    Dec. 8, 1910.)
    1. Judgment (§ 526) — Construction.
    A judgment, when ambiguous as to the party against whom it is rendered, or as to his particular capacity, must be construed in the light of the entire record of the case.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Judgment, Cent. Dig. § 969; Dec. Dig. $ 526.]
    2. Homestead (§§ 141, 153) — Insolvent Estate-Rights oe Surviving Wife.
    A homestead, constituting community property, passes to the wife absolutely on the death of the husband, thohgh 'his estate is insolvent; and the homestead is not subject to the husband’s debts not assumed by the wife after his death, and did not become subject to the husband’s debts on the subsequent death of the wife.
    [Ed. Note. — Por other cases, see Homestead, Cent. Dig. §§ 261-270, 306; Dee. Dig. §§ 141, 153.]
    Appeal from Franklin County Court; G. E. Cowan, Judge.
    Action by J. B. Green against A. E. Davie, executor of Emily Bigelow, deceased. Prom a judgment for plaintiff, defendant appeals.
    Reversed and rendered.
    R. T. Wilkinson, for appellant. S. M. Long, for appellee.
    
      
       For other oases see same topic and section NUMBER in Dec. Dig. & Am. Dig. Key No. Series & Rep’r Indexes
    
   LEVY, J.

Monroe Bigelow and his wife, Emily, owned and occupied a small tract of land as their home. It was community property. They had no children. Monroe Bige-low died intestate, and his wife continued to reside on the premises as her home to her death, which occurred some time afterwards. There was no other property at the death of Monroe Bigelow, except a few exempt articles. Before his death Bigelow was indebted to appellee, and executed to him a note, which was unpaid at the time of his death. The wife never assumed to pay this note after the death of her husband. Just before her death the wife executed a will devising the land to appellant and constituting him an independent executor. The will was probated. This suit was brought against appellant as executor of the estate of Emily Bigelow, deceased.

Every judgment, when ambiguous as to the party or his particular capacity against whom it is rendered, must be read and construed in the light of the entire record in the case. Dunlap v. Southerlin, 63 Tex. 38; Sass v. Hirschfeld, 23 Tex. Civ. App. 396, 56 S. W. 941; 23 Cyc. 1106. There are recitals in the judgment, we think, that make it ambiguous. Looking to the pleading and evidence, it appears that a judgment was only sought against appellant as executor, and not individually. When construed and interpreted in the light of the pleadings, the judgment, it must be said, in legal effect, is one against the appellant as executor of the estate; therefore the motion to dismiss is overruled.

The court erred in not giving a peremptory instruction to the jury to return a verdict for appellant, and the assignment in this respect is sustained. Monroe Bigelow’s estate was insolvent at his death, and his wife was not personally liable for his debt. It does not appear that she ever assumed to pay it after his death. The homestead passed absolutely to her, and it was not liable for the husband’s debt. After Emily Bigelow’s death, it did not 'become subject to the debts of the deceased husband. The principle is fully discussed in Dorman v. Grace, 122 S. W. 401.

The judgment is reversed and here rendered for appellant, with all costs.