Court Opinion

ID: 6537463
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 22:12:54.921828+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:55:42.277417
License: Public Domain

By the Court, Lacy, J. It is perfectly apparent, that the proceedings in the case, by the Court below, have been exceedingly irregular, and wholly unauthorized. A paper, purporting to be the last will and testament of Noah P. Billings, was produced before the County Court, for probaté. It was there rejected; and letters of administration were then sued out, • by Narcissa Billings, on the estate of her dceased husband. Upon this state of case, William Billings, who claimed to be appointed executor by the paper purporting to be the last will and testament of Noah P. Billings, filed his petition, and removed the cause to the Circuit Court. The Court below refused to admit her to be made a party to the proceeding, or to continue the case. An issue was then made up as to the validity of the will, ex parte, as it is termed in the record. A jury was thereupon impannelled, to pass upon it, who pronounced the paper, produced upon the trial, to be the last will and testament of Noah P. Billings, deceased; and the Court gave judgment acccordingly, and directed its opinion to be certified to the Probate Court, for further proceedings to be therein had, agreeably to the decision of the Circuit Court. A motion was then made for a new trial, which was overruled. The reason assigned was, that Narcissa Billings being no party to the suit, of course she had no right to be heard. The bill of exceptions filed, has placed these facts upon the record, and the case is now brought here, by appeal, to correct the judgment 'of the Circuit Court. We are at a loss to conceive upon what rule of practice, or principle of justice, the Court below proceeded to make up an issue, and try the validity of a will, without proper parties, or without even affording an opportunity to those who were interested in the matter, to come in and defend. It is á principle of natural justice, as well as of municipal law, that no one, having an interest in any judicial proceeding, can be bound by it, unless he appears, or an opportunity is afforded him of coming in and defending the action. The proceeding, in this instance, is not only carried on without the proper parties, or without notice to the appellant, but in violation of her rights, and in opposition to her petition; and that, too, in a case where, at least for the time being, she was the properly constituted administratrix of her deceased husband, and, as such, had a direct and immediate interest against the paper, purporting to be his last will and testament, being established. To deny her the privilege of contesting its validity, or being heard in opposition to it, is to deprive her of an important legal right, without notice, and against her consent. Tins cannot be done. The effect of such a proceeding does not stop hero, but it indirect)/ annuls the acts of a Court of competent jurisdiction, without properly investigating and considering the grounds of its decision. Such a proceeding, on the part of the Circuit Court, has no color of law or shadow of justice to support it; and its judgment must, therefore, bo reversed, with costs, and this case be remanded to the said Circuit Court, with instructions that Narcissa Billings, if she desires it, be made a pari.y to the suit, and leave given to the appellee, within a reasonable lime, to amend his petition, and make all others, (if any there he), who are. legally interested in the matter, parties to the proceeding; and that the cause then progress, and be heard and determined according to law.