Case Name: Van Norman v. Barney
Court: Mississippi Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Mississippi
Decision Date: 1946-02-25
Citations: 199 Miss. 581
Docket Number: No. 36035; No. 36035
Parties: Van Norman v. Barney.
Judges: L. A. Smith, Sr., and Griffith, JJ., join in this opinion.
Reporter: Mississippi Reports
Volume: 199
Pages: 581–585

Head Matter:
Van Norman v. Barney.
(In Banc.
Feb. 25, 1946.
Suggestion of Error Overruled March 25, 1946.)
[24 So. (2d) 866.
No. 36035.]
(In Banc.
March 25, 1946.)
[25 So. (2d) 324.
No. 36035.]
F. D. Hewitt, of McOomb, for appellant.
Gordon & Gordon, of Liberty, for appellee.
Argued orally by F. D. Hewitt, for appellant, and by O'. T. Gordpn, for appellee.

Opinion:
Roberds, J.,
delivered the opinion of the court.
This appeal involves the correctness of the action of the chancellor in refusing to confirm in appellant a sale of lands of Hillery Barney, an alleged non compos mentis, made at the instance of a guardian of said lands.
The question arises under these circumstances: At a sale made April 28,1945, appellant was the highest bidder at $1,990, which he paid to the special commissioner making the sale. The chancellor declined to approve this sale because it became known to him that the land was not correctly described in the petition for the sale and in the advertisement. The petition was amended and the description corrected and another sale ordered.
The second sale took place May 5,1945, and J. I. Poole was the highest bidder at $2,560. The chancellor refused to approve this sale because the time elapsing between the date of the advertisement and the date of the sale was less than that required by the decree and the law. Another sale was ordered.
The third sale was had June 22, 1945, at which J. I. Poole was the highest bidder at $2,280. The chancellor confirmed that sale.
It appears that appellant bid at the second and third sales. He also filed in the cause a written protest against confirmation of the sale to Poole, insisting that the first sale be confirmed to him.
Both the petition and the advertisement, under which the first sale was had, omitted the township and range in which the lands were located. Therefore, the sale was clearly void and the chancellor was correct in not confirming- the title in appellant. As the chancellor observed the void description might have deterred others from bidding. In addition, the Court should not render a decree knowing it to be void and illegal. Appellant was not the high bidder at either of the other two sales; therefore, the only complaint which he is in position to assert is the refusal to approve the sale at which he was the highest bidder, and, as stated, the chancellor was correct in that.
It is not necessary for us to, and we do not, express any opinion as to the validity of the appointment of the guardian in this case, or thé legality of the sale under the procedure adopted herein.
Affirmed.
Roberds, J.,
delivered the opinion of the court on suggestion of error.
In the original opinion in this case we held that the only question about which appellant could complain was the refusal of the chancellor to confirm in him the sale at which he was the highest bidder, and that the chancellor was correct in refusing to confirm that sale. Appellant now, in a suggestion of error, again urge's us to say whether the original appointment of the guardian and the sale to Poole under the proceedings adopted in this cause were, or were not, legal and valid. Those questions are not presented by this- record. There are available and appropriate proceedings by which these questions can be raised by proper parties if it is desired to do so. Appellant is apprehensive of the welfare of the non compos mentis and says that our decision against appellant on the only issue presented leaves the purchase by Poole undisturbed and warrants the conclusion that this court has approved the legality of the sale to him.
In our original opinion we refused to yield to the demand that we decide the important, but collateral issue, of the validity of the appointment of the guardian and the legality of the sale to ¡P'oole and emphatically stated we could express no opinion thereon. This court has no power or duty to render advisory opinions.