Court Opinion

ID: 6952251
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 01:33:25.488386+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:08:07.320903
License: Public Domain

Mr. Chief Justice Walker delivered the opinion of the Court: This was a proceeding under the statute to obtain partition, or the sale of a lot of ground in the city of Cairo. The petition was filed by Johanna Sullivan against James, Daniel, John and Mathew Sullivan, and Mary Leary, and Thomas Leary, her husband. The petition charges, that Johanna is the mother of Jeremiah Sullivan, who died in May, 1861, seized of the premises, and left surviving him neither wife, child nor father, but left petitioner, and the defendants, except Thomas. Leary, who had intermarried with his sister Mary, his heirs at law. That his brothers and his sister were severally entitled to one-seventh part, and petitioner two-seventh parts, his father being deceased at the time of his death, of the premises in controversy. It contains a prayer for partition, if it can be had without manifest prejudice to the interests of the parties, and if a partition cannot be made, that the property be sold under the provisions of the statute. It appears, that plaintiff in error was a non-resident when the petition was filed; that a summons was issued, but not served on him; but publication was made against him. The first insertion, however, was only fifty-nine days before the first day of the term of the court to which the summons was returnable. The court appointed a guardian ad TÁtem for minor defendants, but they are not named in the order, the guardian’s answer, or in any portion of the record. A motion was entered by defendants to quash the summons, and plaintiff entered a cross motion for leave to amend. Leave to amend was granted, and the motion to quash was overruled. On the 24th day of October, 1865, it appears that certain persons took an oath as commissioners to make partition, and on the same day made and signed their report, that the property was not susceptible of partition, without manifest prejudice to the parties in interest. On the 27tli day of October, 1865, the bill was taken as confessed, and the same persons who had already made and signed their report were appointed commissioners to make partition; and the order which appoints them recites that their report was approved, and orders the sale of the property. This writ of error is prosecuted to reverse that decree. It is insisted, that the court erred in rendering a decree before all of the defendants were in court. Plaintiff in error was not before the court, either by service or by a sufficient publication, as sixty days had not intervened between the first insertion of the publication, and the first day of the term. But the record shows that defendants entered a motion to quash the summons. Plaintiff in error was one of the defendants, and there is nothing in the record to exclude him as one of the defendants who entered the motion, and he thereby appeared to the proceeding. The language imports that he did, and it will -bear no other construction, and he must be held to be included in those who made the motion. It is next insisted, that there was error in appointing a guardian ad litem for minor defendants, without naming them. This record fails to disclose the fact that any of the defendants were minors, and, in the absence of the fact appearing in some manner, we cannot perceive that the order had any effect whatever upon the rights of any person. It effected nothing, and operated as a mere nullity, concluding or binding no person. And, having prejudiced no person, it cannot be assigned for error. If, however, the record had, in any manner, shown, that any portion of the defendants were minors, then the order appointing a guardian ad litem might be reviewed. It should appear, not only that there were minor defendants, but that there was error as to them, before such an order will be reviewed. It is likewise insisted, that it was error to approve and render a decree on a report of commissioners not under seal. The ninth section of the chapter entitled “ Partition,” requires a report, which makes partition, to be under seal. But the eleventh. section, which provides for a report, in case the premises are so situated that a division cannot be had without manifest prejudice, does not require it to be sealed. The statute not requiring such a report to be under seal, it is not essential to its validity. The petition seems to have been taken as confessed on a default. Where the defendants are adults, and permit the bill to be taken as confessed, they thereby admit the truth of the allegations of the bill, and the pr'actice fully warrants the rendition of a decree granting relief, without proof, if the bill contains equity. If the court had reason to believe, or, from any cause, was apprehensive, that injustice was likely to result from granting the relief without proof, then it should be required. But this is a matter of sound discretion in the chancellor, and its omission or requirement cannot be assigned for error, unless the record discloses that the action has resulted in wrong to the defendants. When there are non-resident defendants, only served by publication, the court should be more inclined to require proof than in cases where there has been actual service. - We now come to the consideration of the only remaining question. It is insisted that the court was not warranted in rendering a decree for the sale of the premises. The only-ground we perceive for this objection is, that the oath of the commissioners, and their report, bear date three days previous to the decree by which they were appointed. They then took the oath, made the examination of the premises, and made out, signed and dated their report, before they had any authority to act. It is their appointment by the decree of court, which is the basis of their authority. After their appointment, and they have taken the oath required by the statute, then, and not till then, are they clothed with legal authority to act as commissioners. Whether such acts, approved by the court, can be questioned collaterally is not now before the court; but we are clear, that such action cannot be sustained in a direct proceeding for its reversal. They had no power to constitute themselves commissioners, nor should a court approve and adopt such acts. The statute requires their appointment before they can act, and its commands must be obeyed. For this error, the decree of the court below must be reversed, and the cause remanded. Decree reversed.