Gocio v. Gocio

177 S.W.2d 742, 206 Ark. 579, 1944 Ark. LEXIS 509
CourtSupreme Court of Arkansas
DecidedJanuary 10, 1944
DocketNos. 4-7127, 4-7128 (consolidated)
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 177 S.W.2d 742 (Gocio v. Gocio) 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
Gocio v. Gocio, 177 S.W.2d 742, 206 Ark. 579, 1944 Ark. LEXIS 509 (Ark. 1944).

Opinions

Griffin Smith, Chief Justice.

B. L. Gocio, twice married, moved from Reydell Plantation in Jefferson County and became a citizen of Bentonville in 1924, where for more than thirteen years he operated the Massey Hotel. He died January 18, 1938, survived by,a widow and seven children. 1 Joseph and Charles Gocio, brothers, by the half blood, were named executors of their father’s will. The testator’s widow elected to take under statutory rights and her renunciation was made a matter of record.

Dr. E. P. Notrebe was a nephew of B. L. Gocio. He died January 3,1928.

Two appeals are presented. In Cause No. 9771, Benton Chancery Court, (our No. 7127) .Maggie Gocio, widow of B. L. Gocio, and Amelia Harclister, daughter and beneficiary under B. L. Gocio’s will, sued Joseph and Charles Gocio individually, and as executors of the estate of B. L. Gocio. Prom certain adverse holdings in the decree Joseph Gocio has appealed. In Probate Court proceeding’s bearing no docket number, but reaching this Court as Cause No. 7128, Joseph Gocio.has appealed from certain orders and a final judgment. 2 .

In March, 1942, it was sought by prohibition to have this Court halt proceedings in the Benton Probate and in the Benton Chancery Courts, oh the ground that they were without jurisdiction, or were acting in excess of jurisdiction. Gocio v. Seamster, Judge, No. 6655, 203 Ark. 937, 160 S. W. 2d 194, and No. 6656, 203 Ark. 944, 160 S. W. 2d 197. Writs were denied.

In Cause No. 6655 the opinion says, in respect of Joseph Gocio: “It appears to us that petitioner is exceeding his authority in assuming complete control in' said estate to the exclusion of his co-executor. Both are equally responsible for the proper administration thereof and the Court should require joint action in its management. . .

In Cause No. 6656 this statement appears: “Petitioner has refused, [in the Probate Court] to account for certain assets presumptively belonging to his testator, but title to which is claimed by him. . . .”

Appellees, in their brief, assert that B. L. Gocio was a man of considerable wealth, part of his property consisting of apartments in Colorado at Denver, having a value of $125,000. The testator, it is agreed, owned eleven-twelfths of this property, the remaining interest of eight and a third percent having been owned by appellant. B. L. Gocio is alleged to have held $76,000 in notes secured by Chicago realty, 3 and in addition owned the Massey Hotel at Bentonville, a sixth interest in the Notrebe estate, and had other assets. Appellant was executor of Notrebe’s will, which disposed of property valued for estate and inheritance tax purposes at more than $172,000'. Although, according to appellees, the Gocio estate had been in process of administration for more than five years, the widow had received bnt $500, ‘‘. . . except what has been paid to her as rents from the Denver apartments,” and but small sums had been paid to Amelia Hardister and 'Charlie Gocio.

Appellant and Charles Gocio qualified as executors March 8, 1938. Charles contends that the only assets coming into his hands were two notes executed by Joe Gocio to his father, one for $3,067.50, the other for $1,000; also a cancelled check indicating that B. L. had loaned Joe $5,000. Appellant claimed the items had been paid, but when sued he pleaded limitation. On this issue the Court found in appellant’s favor, and there was no direct or cross appeal.

The material issues, says appellant, are ownership of Note No. 38 and a one-third interest in Note No. 37, secured by the Chicago trust deed; also what amount should be charged to appellant as surviving partner of the firm of Gocio & Gocio, owners of the Denver apartments; and, finally, the right of an Arkansas Court to question an accounting consummated in a Colorado Probate Court, from which no appeal was taken.

Prior to March 12, 1924, B. L. Gocio and Dr. Notrebe owned apartments in Chicago. On that date they sold to Bose and Henry Bluhm. Thirty-six notes for $1,500 each, consecutively numbered, and two for $38,000 each, were made payable to the makers and by them indorsed prior to delivery to the grantors. Appellant says Dr. Notrebe took half of the notes as his share, “even numbers” going to Gocio. Appellees concede that under the evidence this is possible. The transaction would have placed Note No. 37 with Dr. Notrebe and Note No. 38 with his uncle. At various times default occurred in payment of principal and interest; but, when the controversy we are called upon to review occurred, all of the $1,500 notes had been paid, with interest, leaving Notes Nos. 37 and 38 outstanding. Number 37 was entitled to certain credits. The notes matured March 12,1934.

Testimony of Burton T. Gobble, Assistance Attorney General and Inheritance Tax Collector for Colorado, was to the effect that on May 3, 1928, Joseph Gocio, as executor of the estate of E. G. Notrebe, filed a verified statement showing that certain transfers of property occurred before death. They were (a) “To Benjamin L. Gocio, an uncle who stood in the relation of parent to deceased, from infancy, the following: Note of Rose and Henry J. Bluhm, dated March 12, 1924, due March 12, 1934, interest six percent, payable quarterly, face $38,000, accrued December 12, 1927, to Jan. 3, 1928 (22 days) $139.26; total, $38,139.26. (b) To Joseph Gocio, cousin, the following: Twelve notes of Rose and Henry J. Bluhm, each dated March 12, 1924, one due every six months beginning March 12, 1928, interest six percent, payable quarterly, each for the sum of $1,500. Total, $18,000. Accrued interest December 12, 1927, to Jan. 3, 1928, (22 days) $66; total, $18,066.”

E. P. Buttram, Benton County Clerk, testified to the inventory filed by appellant as executor of his father’s estate. It was dated May 15, 1939, and listed as realty the Massey Hotel, valued at $25,000.

Under “personal property” the executor charged himself with $7,509.75 cash in a Denver Bank, and “Note No. 37 in the principal sum of $38,000, . . . estimated value $28,560.” An item of $2,636.40 was listed as being due from the Notrebe estate. When exceptions were filed to appellant’s First Annual Settlement, he moved to quash, alleging: “Your executor is the owner in his individual capacity of all outstanding obligations against [the] Chicago property except Note No. 37; and any claim by the exceptors to ownership of any-obligation against such Chicago property [other than as conceded] would constitute a disputed title to such obligations, which this court would have no jurisdiction to try.”

Charles Gocio testified that appellant, in the fall of 1938, told him the estate had $76,000 of the Chicago notes, “. . . but Joe said he didn’t think they were' worth very much. ’ ’

Appellant claims liis father, in August, 1925, gave him Note No. 38. The explanation goes back to old transactions. Prior to April 11, 1916, Joseph Gocio and Dr. Notrebe owned Reydell Plantation. B. L. Gocio and Dr. Notrebe were partners in Colorado under the first name of Notrebe and Gocio. They were associated with Ben Chaney in an incorporated ranch at Ridgeway known as Van Hagan Land & Live Stock Co.

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Related

Amant v. Callahan
20 S.W.3d 896 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 2000)
Gocio v. Lindsey
185 S.W.2d 265 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1945)

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Bluebook (online)
177 S.W.2d 742, 206 Ark. 579, 1944 Ark. LEXIS 509, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gocio-v-gocio-ark-1944.