Driver v. Driver

63 S.W.2d 274, 187 Ark. 875, 1933 Ark. LEXIS 163
CourtSupreme Court of Arkansas
DecidedSeptember 25, 1933
Docket4-3075
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 63 S.W.2d 274 (Driver v. Driver) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Driver v. Driver, 63 S.W.2d 274, 187 Ark. 875, 1933 Ark. LEXIS 163 (Ark. 1933).

Opinion

Mehaffy, J.

The appellant, Janice V. Driver, was the former wife of the appellee, William Walter Driver. She was granted a divorce from him in April, 1929, in Missouri, where she resided at that time.

She thereafter brought suit against him in the chancery court of Mississippi County, Arkansas, for support and maintenance of their child, and the court found that Janice Y. Driver had expended $2,138 for the maintenance and support of the child, and that William Walter Driver had expended $35 for the same purpose.

A decree was rendered in favor of Janice Y. Driver against William Walter Driver for the sum of $1,069, but the court dismissed without prejudice her complaint for future maintenance. An attachment had been issued, and this was dissolved without prejudice. Thereafter an execution was issued on the decree and levied on all the interest of Driver in and to certain property described in the decree.

This action was brought by William Walter Driver and C. C. Bowen, trustee, against the sheriff and Janice V. Driver to enjoin the sale under execution.

The contention of the appellees in this case is that the title to the property is vested in Bowen as trustee, and that Driver has no interest in it subject to execution.

It was alleged by appellees in their complaint that Abner Driver, father of appellee Driver, made a will before his death bequeathing to the said appellee Driver the land in controversy; that the will created a spendthrift trust with the said C. C. Bowen as trustee holding-title to and absolute control and possession of all the property bequeathed by Abner Driver to the appellee Driver; that the court held in the decree in favor of*appellant for $1,069; that this property was not the property of William Walter Driver and not subject to be sold for the payment of his debts; that, notwithstanding this holding of the court, appellant caused execution to be issued and served by the sheriff of Mississippi County, and that the lands were advertised as the property of appellee Driver. It was alleged that Driver had no title and no interest subject to sale for the payment of said judgment or any part thereof.

A temporary restraining order was issued. Appellants filed demurrer to the complaint, and thereafter the appellees filed an amendment to their complaint alleging that the court held in the former suit that the title to the property attached was not in a position that it can be reached by the process of that court, and hence on that ground the attachment was dissolved. Sale was made under the execution. Appellants filed answer to the amended complaint.

The court rendered a decree finding that the title to the land was in C. C. Bowen as trustee and not subject to sale under execution for the debts of said Driver; that the sale was void and constituted a cloud on appellee’s title; that the sale should be vacated and a permanent injunction issued.

The eighth paragraph of the will of Abner Driver is as follows:

“I give and devise to my son, William Walter Driver, and to his heirs the following real estate: East one-half of the southeast quarter of section 23, township 15 north, range 10 east, containing 80 acres, northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 23, township 15 north, range 10 east, containing .40 acres and that part of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 23, township 15 north, range 10 east, lying south of the county road containing 25 acres more or less and known as the Allen, L. M. Richardson and M. N. G-owan and Tom Ray tracts. All debts owed to me by the tenants on the lands set apart to William Walter Driver at the time of my decease shall go to the said William Walter Driver.”

Thereafter Abner Driver made. Codicil No. 2 to his last will and testament, which reads as follows: “I appoint, designate and name C. C. Bowen as trustee for my son, Cooper Driver, to take, have, hold, manage, care for and keep all and singular the property herein willed to Cooper Driver, or that may descend to or be inherited by him from my estate; to keep the same for and during the natural life of said Cooper Driver free from his control, supervision or management.

“And I hereby constitute, designate and appoint C. C. Bowen as trustee for my son, William Walter Driver and my daughter, Ruth Driver Florida, respectively ; to take, receive, manage and control all and singular the property herein devised to each of them, and all other property received and inherited by them from my estate; to keep and control the said property until my said children arrive respectively at the age of 35 years, at which time my said trustee is to give to each of said children, respectively, one-half of his or her property so had, held or received by him and not otherwise disposed of, for his or her necessities during said time by my said trustee. It being my intention to put the said property in trust, free from the control of my said three children, free from any debts, contracts or obligations they may have made or may hereafter make. And it is my intention and desire that the residue and remaining one-half of said estate so willed to my two children, William Walter Driver and Ruth Driver Florida, respectively, shall be and remain in trust for and during the period of their natural lives.
“It is my desire that, in case of the death, resignation, incapacity or refusal of the said C. C. Bowen to act as trustee for my said children or any of them, that the chancery judge of this chancery district shall appoint some discreet, suitable person to act in the room and stead of said C. C. Bowen, and it is my desire that the said C. C. Bowen shall serve in the capacity of such trustee without bond, but that any successor to said C. C. Bowen shall be required by the judge so appointing him to give bond in sufficient sum to protect the property so passing into his hands.
“And I will and desire that my said trustee, C. C. Bowen, or any successor he may have as herein provided for shall have full power to manage, control, collect rents, pay taxes and sell and convey by sufficient deeds any and all property conveyed by this will to any of my said children, at any time he deems for their advantage and to reinvest the proceeds therefrom from time to time in such property or securities as he deems to their advantage and to their best interest, protection and security.
“And my said trustee, C. C. Bowen, and his successor or successors in this trust is directed to pay to each of my said three, children any part or all of the income from the respective property belonging to each for his or her support during the time of this trust, and, if at any time in his judgment it becomes necessary to use part of the property beyond the income that he may sell and dispose of such part as he deems best and pay and deliver the proceeds or a suitable part thereof to any such child or children.

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Bluebook (online)
63 S.W.2d 274, 187 Ark. 875, 1933 Ark. LEXIS 163, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/driver-v-driver-ark-1933.