Case ID: ohio_6/html/0230-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Judge Wood", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

*Davis Lessee v. Livingston.
    Grant of administration is not the commencement of a suit, within tile provisions of a statutory saving clause of actions and suits pending.
    This case was adjourned here for decision, from the county of JButler. It was decided upon a single point, and only so much of the case is reported as is necessary to understand that point.
    It was an action of ejectment, brought by heirs at law, to recover lands of which their ancestors died seised. At the trial, the material facts were agreed. The ownership of the ancestor, the possession at the time of his death, and the heirship of the plaintiff’s lessors, were admitted. The character of the defendant’s title was also admitted. On March 11, 1803, the territory constituting the county of Butler comprised part of the county of Hamilton. On that day, letters of administration were granted on the decedent’s estate, in Hamilton county.- On March 24, 1803, the legislature established the county of Butler, within the boundaries of which the lands in dispute lay. On May 9, 1804, the court of common pleas of the county of Hamilton, at the request of the administrators, made an order for the sale of the decedent’s real estate, for the payment of his debts. In August, 1804, a sale was effected and a conveyance made. The defendant claimed under this sale.
    
      At the trial, the defendant offered this grant of administration, order of sale, with proof of the sale and the conveyance, in evidence. The plaintiff’s counsel objected to receiving them; but they were admitted, and consequently a verdict rendered for the defendant. A motion was made fora new trial by the plaintiff, on the ground of error in admitting this evidence. The determination of this motion was reserved for decision here.
    Dunlevy, for the motion.
    J. Woods, against it.
   Judge Wood

delivered the opinion of the court:

It is claimed by the defendant’s counsel, that the granting of administration on the 10th of March, thirteen days before the counties were divided, was the commencement of a “ suit or -'¿cause,” [226 which was pending at the time of said division; and that the subsequent order and sale of the lands in Butler, by the direction of the court of common pleas of Hamilton, comes within the saving clause of the statute.

In the case of Ludlow’s Heirs v. Wade, 5 Ohio, 504, this identical question was presented on an order of the orphans’ court, issued for the sale of the lands of an intestate, and this court decided that such an order issued, was not a suit or prosecution pending within the saving clause of the statute of 1805.

In the case of the Heirs of Ludlow v. McBride, 3 Ohio, 259, this court have also determined, that under the law of 1795, for settling estates in the orphans’ court, that court could not direct the sale of lands by administrators, unless they lay in the same county where the court sat.

In reviewing these cases, they appear to us to settle the questions presented, as far as they can be settled by this court. We are fully of the opinion that the grant of administration is not a suit or cause, within the saving clause of the act referred to, and that the court of common pleas in Hamilton could not legally direct the sale oí lands in Butler, by administrators, in 1804; that such order, and all the subsequent proceedings had upon it, are illegal and void; that the deed from the administrators could convey no title when, founded on such order, and that the court erred in receiving evidence of such proceedings, and such deed to go to the jury, to prove title in the defendant.

A new trial must be granted, with costs, to abide the event.