Court Opinion

ID: 7164508
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 16:19:37.01875+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:15:29.529253
License: Public Domain

On the Merits.
(Feb. 15, 1904.)
LAND, J.
The opinion and decree of the court a qua is as follows, viz.:
“The Civil Code is clear in its provisions that the father cannot, for any cause whatever, be excused from the obligation of accepting the tutorship of his children. Article 301. This is an enactment in the interest of public order. Acts done in contravention of it are stricken with nullity. Civ. Code, arts. 11, 12; James v. Meyer, 41 La. Ann. 1100, 7 South. 618.
“Therefore my order appointing H. A. W. *939Howcott legal tutor of tlie minors, Editli Howcott, Gladys Howcott, and Wm. H. Howcott, Jr., because it ivas represented to the court that their father, Wm. H. Howcott, was unwilling to accept their tutorship, and refused to comply with the laws of Louisiana for the qualification of tutors by nature, is an absolute nullity, and the letters of tutorship issued under said judgment are absolutely null.
“Both are hereby revoked, set aside, and annulled; and it is assumed that the father, being now fully advised of his duties in the premises, will at once proceed to qualify for and undertake the trust imposed upon him by law. Until he does so, however, necessity exists for the appointment of a special tutor to represent the minors in the pending partition proceedings.
“It is therefore ordered by the court, ex proprio motu, that the rule herein be made absolute, and that Gus. J. Ricau, Esq., be, and is hereby, appointed special tutor to represent said minors, Edith Howcott, Gladys Howcott, and Wm. H. Howcott, Jr., in the partition proceedings herein, and until their father, Wm. I-I. Howcott, shall have qualified as their natural tutor as directed by law.”
II. A. W. Howcott and W. H. Howcott appealed. We have heretofore dismissed their appeal in so far as it was suspensive, but maintained their appeal as devolutive.
For the reasons assigned in the opinion of our learned Brother presiding in the court below, it is ordered, adjudged, and decreed that the judgment appealed from be affirmed; costs of appeal to be paid by appellants.