Case Name: Succession of William Bobb-Ernest Merilh v. W. L. Hodgson, on Injunction herein and on Opposition to Application for Dative Executor
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1875-04
Citations: 27 La. 344
Docket Number: No. 5569
Parties: Succession of William Bobb-Ernest Merilh v. W. L. Hodgson, on Injunction herein and on Opposition to Application for Dative Executor.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Annual Reports
Volume: 27
Pages: 344–348

Head Matter:
No. 5569.
Succession of William Bobb-Ernest Merilh v. W. L. Hodgson, on Injunction herein and on Opposition to Application for Dative Executor.
The motion to dismiss is overruled. The questions at issue in this ease are not of ordinary but of probate jurisdiction, and article 88 of the constitution provides that in all probate matters, when the amount in dispute shall exceed five hundred dollars exclusive of interest, the appeal shall be directly from the parish to the Supreme Court.
In the exercise of its probate jurisdiction the parish court can sell succession property, as was attempted in this case, because it is a power essentially necessary in the settlement of successions, and as an incident to the right to sell, the parish court has jurisdiction to enforce the remedies provided by law against a bidder who refuses to comply with his bid.
A sale a la folie enchere is a lawful sale which the parish court may make in the exercise of its probate jurisdiction; and an injunction of a sale of this character is as much probate in nature as an injunction of the first sale, or the first offerings.
Service of the order to give security was made in this case upon the attorney at law of the testamentary executor, said executor being at the time absent from the State. This is sufficient.
When the testamentary executor of the deceased fails to give security, or from any other cause can not discharge the duties of his office, the judge must appoint the public administrator of the parish. The act of 1870, establishing the office of public administrator,, repeals former laws on the subject.
APPEAL from the Parish Court, parish of Jefferson. Hyman, J.
O. H. Schmidt and N. Oommandeur, for plaintiff in injunction and defendant in opposition, appellants. 12. Shackleford, for defendant in injunction and opponents, appellees.

Opinion:
On Motion to Dismiss.
Wyly, J.
In the succession of William Bobb, the parish judge ordered the sale of two hundred and twenty shares of stock of the Louisiana Ice Company belonging to said succession. Ernest Merilh became tile purchaser at the sale, and failing to pay over the price, $3905, was ordered by the court in a proceeding by rule to comply with his bid. Failing to do so, the defendant, an auctioneer, charged with the duty of selling the property, proceeded to sell the stock a la folie enehere, when the plaintiff sued out an injunction to restrain the sale, on the grounds stated in the petition. The court dissolved the injunction, and plaintiff appeals.
The defendant moves to dismiss this appeal, because the questions at; issue are of ordinary and not probate jurisdiction; that an appeal will lie to the district court, but not to the Supreme Court in a case like this.
Article 87 of the constitution provides among other things that: " All successions shall be opened and settled in the parish courts."
Article 88 provides that " In all probate matters, when the amount in dispute shall exceed five hundred dollars, exclusive of interest, the appeal shall be directly from the parish to the Supreme Court."
In the exercise of its probate jurisdiction the parish court can sell succession property, as was attempted in the case at bar, because this is a power essentially necessary in the settlement of successions. As an incident to the right to sell, the parish court has jurisdiction to enforce the remedies provided by law against a bidder who refuses to comply with his bid.
A sale a la folie ench&re is a lawful sale which the parish court may make in the exercise of its probate jurisdiction ; and an injunction of a sale of this character is as much probate in nature as an injunction of the first sale, or the first offerings.
In either case the proceeding has a probate character, because the power exercised is essential to the settlement of the succession.
The motion is therefore denied.