Fleming v. Johnson

26 Ark. 421
CourtSupreme Court of Arkansas
DecidedJune 15, 1871
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 26 Ark. 421 (Fleming v. Johnson) 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
Fleming v. Johnson, 26 Ark. 421 (Ark. 1871).

Opinion

BenNETt, J.

This was an action of ejectment brought in the name of William Warren Fleming, as a person of unsound mind, by his guardian, Nancy J. Fleming, against Raphel M. Johnson, Charles Robinson, Taring Jasenburger, William Harris and James H. Harris, for lot No. 1, block No. 8, in Fort Smith, Arkansas. This action was commenced in Sebastian and removed, by change of venue', to Scott circuit court, where it was tried on the general issue. Verdict and judgment for defendants. Motion for a new trial overruled. Exceptions and appeal by the plaintiff.

When the title of the plaintiff in ejectment is controverted under the general issue, he must prove, 1st. That he had the legal estate in the premises at the time of the commencement of the suit. 2d. That he also had the right of entry; and 3d. That the defendant, or those claiming under him, were in possession of the premises at the time when the suit was commenced. See 2 Greenleaf, sec. 304; Daniel et al. v. Lefevre, 19 Ark. 202.

At the trial, appellants produced and proved a transcript from the records of the probate court of Sebastian county, Fort Smith District, showing that, on the 8th day of January, 1859, Nancy J. Fleming, the mother of the plaintiff, was appointed his guardian — her petition representing him to be a person of unsound mind, and incapable of conducting his own affairs. Also a deed from John Rogers, the original proprietor of the city of Fort Smith, and wife, to John Pearson, bearing date 27th April, 1843, for the lot in controversy. Also ■a deed, of the same date, from John Pearson and wife, to the plaintiff. The plaintiff also proved that the defendants were in possession of the premises at the time of the institution of the suit, and closed.

The defendants then offered in evidence a certified transcript of the record of orders of the probate court of Sebastian, showing that, on the 15th day of January 1856, William W. Fleming, on his own petition, was appointed the guardian of his son, William Warren Fleming, a minor, under the age of 14 years.

The defendants also offered in evidence a certified transcript of the records of same court, wherein William W. Fleming,, as guardian of William Warren Fleming, presents his petition for the sale of real estate, belonging to said* minor, William Warren Fleming, described as follows, on the plat and plan of the city of Fort Smith: lot Ho. 1, in block Ho. 8, measuring seventy feet front on Garrison Avenue, by one hundred feet on Ozark street. ' Also the defendants offered the order of said probate court on the petition, which, among other things, is in words as follows : “It is therefore ordered by the court here that the said William W. Fleming be, and he is hereby authorized and directed to sell the áforesaid lot Ho. 1, in block Ho. 8, in the city of Fort Smith, and execute to the purchaser or purchasers thereof, a deed or deeds of conveyance, to him or them, of all the,'right, title, or interest of the said Wil-iam Warren Fleming; and the said guardian of the said William Warren Fleming, is hereby authorized and directed to sell said lot at private sale: provided, he shall not sell the same at less than two thousand dollars, not less than two-thirds to be paid down, and the residue in one, two and three years, bearing interest from date.”

The defendants then offered in.evidence an order of the same court, made April 22,1856, which order states that “W. W. Fleming files his report, in the matter of William Warren Fleming, a minor, whereby it appears that he.has, according to the order of a previous court, that is to say, at the January term, 1856, of this court, sold to R. M. Johnson, lot Ho. 1, in block 8, in the city of Fort Smith, at private sale, for the sum of two thousand dollars, and has received the sum of eight hundred and fifty dollars, and has taken notes with good security for the payment of the residue, in one, two and three years, with interest from date, and prays that the report may be confirmed. Whereupon, it appearing that the previous order of the court has been complied with, and that said sale is in accordance with law and said order, it is considered that said sale be, and the same is hereby confirmed and that said report be approved” Also an order, entered up at the October term of the probate court, wherein it appears that the account current of "William Fleming, as guardian of William Warren Fleming, was approved and confirmed.

In addition to the usual certificate of authentication of the transcript of the record of the probate [court, embracing the above orders, the clerk of the court further certifies that he had made diligent search, in his office, for the original letters of gaurdianship, bond of guardian, petition for the sale of the real estate, and the account current in the matter of the guardianship of William Warren Fleming, and that all the original papers and records thereof, were destroyed or lost, as he believed, during the war, and they were not to be found in his office.

The bill of exceptions states that the plaintiff objected to the introduction of the transcript of the above orders, on the following grounds:

First. Because the order of sale, authorized the sale of the premises therein specified, at private sale, and not at a public vendue, as prescribed by law.

Second. Because it did not appear upon the face of the order' of sale, that it was authorized by any statute, in force in this State or otherwise; or that the court making it, had jurisdiction of the subject matter.

Whereupon defendants, to show that the court acquired jurisdiction, called a witness, by whom they proved, against plaintiff’s objection, the loss of the petitions of said William Warren Fleming, for the appointment of a guardian for said William Warren Fleming and for the order for the sale of said premises — and also, the loss of the account current, mentioned in the record, and that the petition set forth the facts, recited in the order; and thereupon, the court permitted the paper, purporting to be a transcript of the order, and account etc., etc., to he read in evidence to the jury, to which the plaintiff excepted, etc. The defendants then produced, and offered to read in evidence, a deed hearing date, the 31st of January, 1866, executed by William W. Eleming, as guardian of William Warren Fleming, to defendant, Raphel M. Johnson, for the said premises, duly acknowledged and recorded, etc., etc. To»the reading of which to the jury, the plaintiff objected, on the following grounds:

. First. Because it did not appear that the grantor therein, had authority to sell or convey the said premises.

Second. Because the recitals therein show that the premises were sold at private sale, and not at public vendue; and

Third. Because there is nothing to show that the premises were appraised before they were sold, or sold for two-thirds of their appraised value; and further, because it is not shown that the order of the sale- therein recited, was authorized by law. But the objections were overruled, and the deed permitted to be read to the jury; to whieh the plaintiff excepted.

The deed recites the order of sale above copied, and shows, on its face, a sale in compliance with the order in all respects. After introducing the deed, the defendants closed.

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Bluebook (online)
26 Ark. 421, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/fleming-v-johnson-ark-1871.