Court Opinion

ID: 8806475
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-26 14:49:20.070762+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:04:07.296021
License: Public Domain

Mr. Presiding Justice Adams delivered the opinion of the court. This is an appeal from an interlocutory order appointing a receiver. The appellees, claiming to be the heirs, together with Percy W. Love, of James M. Love, who departed this life December 24,1886, leaving a will, filed a bill for the partition of certain premises described in the bill, making Percy W. Love, Thomas B. Lynd, Edward M. Lynd and others, defendants. The defendants named also claim under the will of James M. Love, deceased, which will is set out in full in the bill. The question which claim is valid, that of the complainants or that of the defendants, depends on the construction to be given to the will. Counsel for appellants, assuming that the question as to how the will should be construed is before us on this appeal, have directed their argument mainly to the contention that the defendants above named are the parties entitled, under the will; and appellees’ counsel, while contending that no question involving a construction of the will is before us on this appeal, has, presumably from abundant caution, argued that it should be construed in favor of his clients. The question as to how the will should be construed is before the lower court for determination by that court on the final hearing. The question is not properly before us and cannot come before us otherwise than by appeal or writ of error, after a final decree in the cause shall have been rendered by the lower court. It is not intended or contemplated by the statute authorizing appeals from interlocutory orders appointing receivers, that on such appeals questions relating to the merits of the causes in which the interlocutory orders are entered shall be considered and passed on by the reviewing court. The statute provides: “The force and effect of such order or decree, and the proceedings in the court below shall not be stayed during the pendency of such appeal.” Hurd’s Stat. 1905, p. 234. This being the law, the lower court, notwithstanding the appeal from the interlocutory order, might proceed to a hearing of the cause and decide the question of law at issue between the parties, viz.: as to how the will should be construed. Manifestly, the same question cannot be pending for decision in this court and in. the Superior Court, in the same case and at the same time. Elgin Lumber Co. v. Langman, 23 Ill. App. 250; Smith v. Chytraus, 152 Ill. 654; Elliott on Civil Procedure, sec. 541. The sole question before us on this appeal is, whether the lower court erred in appointing a receiver. In Railton v. The People, 83 Ill. App. 396, we said: “Counsel confuse the interlocutory control of the property, by appointment of a receiver pendente lite, with a final order determinative of the rights of the litigants. It is true that the interests of appellant could not be finally disposed of in the suit until she had been given her right to be heard in defense. But here is no final adjudication. The court merely sought, by its interlocutory order, to preserve the estate until a final determination might be had.” In High on Injunctions, 3rd ed., p. 9, it is said: “Indeed, upon an interlocutory application for a receiver, a court of equity usually confines itself strictly to the point which it is called upon to decide, and will not go into the merits of the case at large, since the court is bound to express its opinion only to the extent necessary to show the grounds upon which it disposes of the application”. The same author says: ‘‘ A receiver is an indifferent person between the parties to a cause, appointed by the court to receive and preserve the property or fund in litigation pendente lite, when it does not seem reasonable to the court that either party should hold it”. The receiver in this case was appointed on motion of appellees. Counsel for appellants contend that the motion was granted on insufficient evidence, and urge that the amended bill is not verified, and that an affidavit read in support of the motion is not sufficient. The original bill is sworn to, and was before the court when the motion was made; but the affidavit purporting to be in verification of the bill is the same held by this court to be insufficient in Deimel v. Brown, 35 Ill. App. 303, and in a number of cases following that case. The amended bill is not sworn to. The following affidavit was read in support of the motion: “James R. Wadsworth, being duly sworn, on his oath says that he is the agent for the complainants in the above entitled cause in this behalf; that the premises named in the amended bill of complaint, heretofore filed in the above entitled cause, are improved in part by buildings erected thereon and occupied by various tenants, who have been made defendants in this cause, and whose appearance has been entered herein, excepting as to some of said premises which are at the present time vacant. “Affiant further says, that upon inquiry made by him of said tenants, he has been informed that the monthly rentals amount to the sum of from eighty-five to ninety dollars per month, and that the rents of such as are at the date hereof occupied, amounting to at least fifty-five dollars per month, are being paid to one Jay W. Cummings and John M. G-artside, for the use of the defendants, Thomas B. Lynd and Edwina M. Lynd, as this affiant is informed and believes. “Affiant further says that the buildings upon said premises are all at the present time in a state of bad repair, and are in need of repairs to prevent waste and decay, and that one of said buildings, located at 1308 Seventy-first street, as he is informed, was vacated in October last because of the bad state of repairs thereon. “Affiant further says, that the general taxes levied for the year 1906 upon all of the premises described in this cause, have been left unpaid, and said premises have been sold for non-payment of taxes; and further says not. “(Signed) Jambs E. Wadsworth. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 16th day of January, 1908. (Signed) Walter G. Wissing, (Notarial Seal.) Notary Public.” It is impliedly conceded by the arguments for both parties in this appeal, that the rights of the principal parties depend upon the construction to be given to the will, and this must have been apparent to the courl from the will itself, which is set forth at large in the bill. It is therefpre to the interest of both parties that the property in question shall be preserved till such time as the court shall construe the will. The property having been sold for taxes, the purchaser may acquire title t'o it. At least, the sale is a cloud on the title, which cannot be removed without payment of the taxes, and to pay the taxes it may be necessary to use the rents, and therefore to preserve them. It was largely a matter resting in the discretion of the court, to determine whether or not a receiver should be appointed, and we cannot say that the court, in determining that question as it did, abused its discretion. The order appointing a receiver will be affirmed. Affirmed.