Dengenhart v. Cracraft

36 Ohio St. (N.S.) 549
CourtOhio Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 15, 1881
StatusPublished

This text of 36 Ohio St. (N.S.) 549 (Dengenhart v. Cracraft) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dengenhart v. Cracraft, 36 Ohio St. (N.S.) 549 (Ohio 1881).

Opinion

Johnson, J.

1. As to the judicial proceedings: Mrs. Dudley was under eighteen years of age when these proceedings were had, and when the sale was made, but over eiglitee7i when the deed was executed. By the statute then in force, she would reach her majority at twenty-one, or October 9,1820. By the statute under which this deed was executed (1 Chase, 484), she, being a married woman, and, at the date of said deed, March, 1818, “not less than eighteen years of age,” had capacity, her husband joining, to make a valid conveyance, notwithstanding her minoritju

Mrs. Dudley was an infant feme covert at. the time these judicial proceedings, sale and conveyance were had.

For the purposes of this case we may assume that the court of common pleas, sitting as a court of chancery, had the power in a proper case, to convert the wife’s lands into money for her support. Under what circumstances this would be done, or what would constitute a proper case, we need not here determine, as it is manifest from the petition and the fragmentary proceedings disclosed, that this was a proceeding under the statute, and not an appeal to the chancery powers of the court, and was so treated by the court.

It cannot be claimed that any attempt was made to invoke the chancery powers of the court. The application for an order of sale was based uj>on the statute (2 Chase, 928).

The 36th section (2 Chase, 935), conferred upon the court [570]*570the power to appoint guardians, whenever it conceived it to be necessary, to all minors within the county, and on good cause shown to authorize guardians to sell all or part of the real estate of their wards, and also to authorize guardians heretofore chosen, or appointed to do the same. It was provided that minors living out of the State, should have the benefits of this provision if their guardians should give security approved by the court. It was further provided that in the sale of real property by guardians they should be governed by the same regulations 'as are required of administrators in such sales, under the same act, but no sale could be made unless the court was satisfied that such sale is necessary for the support or education, of such ward or wards, nor shall any sale in such case extend further than may be required for the purpose aforesaid.”

Sections 33, 3é and 35 regulated the sales by executors and administrators, and provided for conveyances. Section 35 provides that they “ shall by deed duly executed, convey to the person purchasing the property so sold, which deed shall vest the title in the purchaser as completely as though it had been conveyed by the deceased in his life time.” To apjfiy this provision to sales by guardians, mutatis muta/ndus, would render it essential to a transfer of title of the infant feme covert, that her guardiam, should convey to the purchaser. If, however, the order to sell was valid, the husband and wife, she being of lawful age, might execute the conveyance, as provided by the statute for the conveyance of a wife’s estate, thus ratifying the act of her guardian, her husband, or of the court.

If it be conceded that a court of chancery might, in a proper case, convert the wife’s land into money for her support, notwithstanding her husband’s liability to support her out of his own estate, and the rents and profits accruing to him in virtue of his marital right from her land, yet it seems clear, that in order to authorize such power, it should appear that these resources of the husband were inadequate, and that such conversion was a necessity. Where such a case is made, equity would in all essential matters follow the statute for the projection of minors.

Neither the statute, nor any principle of equity, of which we [571]*571are acquainted, would allow a liusband -to constitute himself a guardian of his infant wife’s lands, anj without security, and upon ex parte hearing permit him to convert them to his own use. The petition to sell this land was beyond controversy an appeal to the probate, not to the chancery powers of the court. It is filed by the guardians of the other three children, and by “ Ambrose Dudley, husband of Martha Catharine Dudley.”

It represents that some of the petitioners are already in advance for the support of'their wards, and to meet such advances, and for the future support of the heirs, an order tt> sell the lands is prayed for. The reasons given for a sale and the relief sought, could not apply to Ambrose Dudley, for, being husband, and bound to support his wife, the money expended by him for that purpose could not be regarded as advances. His marital rights gave him all her personalty, choses in action reduced to possession, and the rents and profits of her real estate, coupled with the legal obligation to maintain and support her at his own expense.

Neither a court of equity nor this statute conferred upon a court the power to absolve him from this obligation.

After a careful consideration of the terms of the statute, and the authorities and arguments, we have reached the conclusion that it did not confer upon the husband the right to constitute himself guardian for his wife for the purpose of selling her land, nor upon the court the power to grant an order of sale on his application as her husband.

It seems to be conceded that by the marriage the guardianship of William Irwin terminated in fact, if not in law. The exercise of any duties as guardian over either the person or property of his ward would after marriage be incompatible with the marital rights and obligations of the husband as the law then stood. '

William Irwin was appointed guardian August 3,1814. The act of 1816 took effect May 1, 1816. Mrs. Dudley was married November 13, 1816. This statute provided: 1st, for the appointment of guardians of minors; 2d, to authorize them to soil lands of their wards; and 3d, to authorize “ any guardian heretofore chosen or appointed ” to sell the land of his [572]*572ward. The guardian heretofore chosen or appointed was William Irwin. If we concede that his office had terminated by the marriage, except for purposes of settling his trust, the husband by virtue . of his marital rights was not such a guardian as the law contemplated, and was not authorized to sell his wife’s land. Whiteacre’s case, 4 Johns. Ch. 378; Bishop on Married Women, § 585 ; Ludlow’s Heirs v. Johnson, 3 Ohio, 561; Adams v. Jeffries, 12 Ohio, 253; Sheldon v. Newton, 3 Ohio St. 494; Perry's Lessee v. Brainard, 11 Ohio, 442; Lessee of Goforth v. Longworth, 4 Ohio, 130; Newcomb’s Lessee v. Smith, 5 Ohio, 447; Miami Exp. Co. v. Halley, 7 Ohio, pt. 1, 11.

The petition for the sale of the land being presented by one not authorized to present it, without any showing that would authorize a court of chancery to intervene, invested the court with no power or jurisdiction to grant the order. Freeman on Yoid Judicial Sales, §§10,11, and cases cited.

II. As to the validity of the deed, and its effect as a conveyance of the wife’s estate.

With its effect, as a conveyance, or contract to convey, the Tmsbcmd’s interest, in these lands, we are at present not concerned.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
36 Ohio St. (N.S.) 549, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dengenhart-v-cracraft-ohio-1881.