Cartledge v. Billalba

154 S.W.2d 219, 1941 Tex. App. LEXIS 784
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJune 19, 1941
DocketNo. 4079
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 154 S.W.2d 219 (Cartledge v. Billalba) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cartledge v. Billalba, 154 S.W.2d 219, 1941 Tex. App. LEXIS 784 (Tex. Ct. App. 1941).

Opinion

PRICE, Chief Justice.

This is an appeal from a judgment of the District Court of Brewster County by R. L. Cartledge from an order restating his [222]*222final account as administrator of the estate of Federico Billalba, deceased. The proceedings originated in the County Court of Brewster County, the initial proceeding being a bill of review filed on July 20, 1939, by Severa Billalba, surviving wife of Federico, joined by several children of the deceased Billalba by a former marriage, seeking to set aside the approval of the report of appellant as temporary administrator of the estate of Billalba, the order of approval being dated the 11th day of August, 1933; seeking to set aside an order approving what is termed the “Second Account” of the administrator dated May 16, 1939. In the prayer of the bill many other forms of relief were sought, such as requiring a full accounting and determination of the administrator’s liability to the estate.

On April 29, 1939, appellant, as administrator, filed in the County Court what was denominated as his “Second Report.” The order of approval of this second report was assailed.

On September 25, 1939, appellant filed in the County Court what was denominated as his “Amended Final Account.”

On March 25, 1940, appellees filed contest to the final account of the administrator.

On September 25, 1939, appellant filed answer to the bill of review and the objections to his final account.

This seems to be the record as shown by the transcript. However, on March 25, 1940, appellees filed supplemental petition to the appellant’s answer.

There is no real question on the pleadings in this case, and same are sufficient to raise the issues to be discussed.

On the 5th day of April, 1940 the County Court entered an order approving the final amended account of appellant as tendered, and overruling the contest denying appellees (here) relief on their bill ot review. The order further sets forth the rights of appellees (here) in the property, and orders appellant to distribute the estate among them in accordance therewith.

Appellees here perfected an appeal from this order to the District Court of Brewster County.

On August 16, 1940, appellant (here) filed in the District Court a plea to the jurisdiction, which was upon the same day overruled by the court. On the same day appellant Cartledge filed what he denominated as “supplemental pleadings,” replying to the pleadings filed by appellees. It was largely a reply to contestants’ (ap-pellees here) contest of his final account. Also appellant filed on the same day a separate pleading replying to appellees’ bill of review.

On August 21, 1940, appellees filed in the District Court a trial amendment to their contest of the final account of the administrator.

On August 24, 1940, appellant filed a trial amendment.

The trial was to the court with a jury, the submission on special issues. On the verdict returned the court entered judgment restating the final account and decreeing that the administrator was liable to account for the sum of $4,488.03 in money, and decreeing that the administrator had on hand certain livestock which was the property of the estate and certain other livestock in which the estate had an undivided one-half interest. An immediate settlement of the estate was ordered. All relief was denied on the bill of review except as evidenced by other portions of the judgment. The judgment was ordered certified to the County Court for observance.

A statement from the pleadings and some of the issues submitted to the jury will be hereafter made as deemed necessary in the disposition of the appeal.

A general outline of the facts as presented by the evidence will perhaps aid in a better understanding of the issues.

Federico Billalba, a resident of Brewster County, died intestate on the 7th day of January, 1933. He left surviving him ap-pellees who are, respectively, his wife and children by a former marriage. On March 20, 1933 appellant filed application in the County Court to be appointed temporary administrator. His application recited that the principal part of the estate consisted of livestock scattered on a ranch in the Chisos Mountains, and that same were under mortgage. March 27, 1933, appellant was, in accordance with his application, appointed temporary administrator. Bond was fixed at $1,000, and authority was given to take possession of all property of the estate and to carry on, gather and brand all livestock, and to sell any of same as might be advisable, and to apply the proceeds to the expenses of administration and whatever debts might be filed against the estate. The order further provided that the ap[223]*223pointment was to be in effect until same was made permanent, unless contested, and the same would be permanent if the court was of the opinion that such permanent administration was necessary. Appellant promptly qualified as temporary administrator. No citation ever issued on the order relative to making the administration permanent. On August 5, 1933, appellant filed in the County Court a report as temporary administrator showing there had come into his hands as such 207 head of branded mixed cattle, 462 goats, 14 mules, 20 mares and fillies, and 8 saddle horses; that he had sold, specifying, certain of the livestock and certain of the other property for the total sum of $1,538.04. The livestock on hand was likewise enumerated in the report. Expenses in the sum of $334.12 were set forth, and commissions were charged on the amount collected and the amount paid out. After deducting expenses and commissions, a balance of $1,-110.32 was shown to be on hand. The report sets forth that no claims had been paid, but that there were claims to be allowed, Chisos Mining Company, $2,172.07; La Harmonía Company $553. — ; that there might be other just claims to be allowed. The report further sets out that no charge would be made by the administrator for commissions nor for car hire, but he expected to make a reasonable charge for attorney’s fees on his final report. Approval of the report was prayed for, and it was further recited in substance that if the court deemed it necessary to continue the administration by making him permanent administrator, he would serve. The report was verified.

On the 11th day of August, 1933, the court entered an order approving the report and ordering appellant to deliver the property to the permanent administrator. On the same day the court entered an order appointing him permanent administrator. Appellant did not file a bond as permanent administrator nor take the oath as such. He failed to file an inventory and appraisement of the estate, and has never filed same. He did not make any report on the condition of the estate until the 29th day of April, 1939. Prior to the filing of the report he had been cited by the court to show cause why a report should not be made. This report is denominated as his “Second Report.” This report showed receipts in the sum of $4,782.31, expenses in the sum of $1,127.82, credit balance with the Chisos Mining Company in the sum of $3,654.49. Evidently in the receipts is a balance from the temporary administration, and likewise included in the expenses are the expenses allowed in the temporary administration.

On September 25, 1939, appellant filed what he denominated as his “Amended Final Account.” This is the account in question here, and is the one restated by the judgment appealed from.

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Bluebook (online)
154 S.W.2d 219, 1941 Tex. App. LEXIS 784, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cartledge-v-billalba-texapp-1941.