Guiseppe v. Cozzani

193 So. 2d 549
CourtMississippi Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 16, 1967
Docket44050
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 193 So. 2d 549 (Guiseppe v. Cozzani) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Mississippi Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Guiseppe v. Cozzani, 193 So. 2d 549 (Mich. 1967).

Opinion

193 So.2d 549 (1966)

Giannini GUISEPPE et al.
v.
Anthony COZZANI et al.

No. 44050.

Supreme Court of Mississippi.

November 7, 1966.
Suggestion of Error Overruled January 16, 1967.

George Piazza, New Orleans, La., Oscar P. LaBarre, Vicksburg, for appellants.

Vollor & Thames, Vicksburg, for appellees.

ROBERTSON, Justice:

This is the third appearance of this case before this Court. On its first appearance, the trial court had sustained a general demurrer to the amended bill of complaint. This Court reversed the judgment of the trial court and remanded the cause for a trial on the merits. 238 Miss. 273, 118 So.2d 189 (1960). On its second appearance, the trial court had dismissed the amended bill of complaint because there had been a long delay in getting the case to trial and on the day set for trial, the complainants still had not succeeded in getting the evidence needed from Italy. This Court again reversed the judgment of the trial court and remanded this cause for a trial on the merits. 248 Miss. 588, 159 So.2d 278 (1964).

After a trial on the merits, the trial court dismissed the amended bill of complaint and found for the defendants. We reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand this cause for an adjudication of the fractional ownership of each complainant and defendant in the real property of Frank Toney, deceased; and for an accounting of the net proceeds of sales and rentals of the real property from February 8, 1933, to date.

*550 Frank Toney, also known as Toni Francesco Giov. Battista, came to this country from Italy some years before 1896. He settled in Warren County, Mississippi, and accumulated some real and personal property there. He went to Italy for a visit in the summer of 1896 and returned to Vicksburg, Mississippi, in October of 1896. He brought with him from Italy his niece, Mary Cozzani, her husband, Dominic Cozzani, their young daughter and a 5 year old son, O.A. Cozzani.

Frank Toney died on December 26, 1896, at his residence in Warren County, Mississippi, leaving a Last Will and Testament as follows:

"I, Frank Toney of the County of Warren & State of Mississippi being of sound mind good memory and understanding do make publish and declare this my last will and testament.
"I give to my nephew Dominic Gonzani and his wife Mary Gonzani the sum of One Hundred and twenty five ($125.00) Dollars each. This amount to be paid to them as soon after my death as this will can be proven and the amount can be conveniently raised from my estate.
"I will and desire that the balance of my estate both real and personal shall go to my wife Emma Toney for life; and at her death such of the same as has not been consumed shall go to my nephews and nieces share and share alike, and to my sister Lucretia she to take an equal share with them.
"I appoint my wife Emma Toney as my Executrix, without bond as such.
"Witness my signature this the 26th day of Dec. 1896.
"His Frank x Toney Mark "Witnesses: N. Piazza F. Piazza H.C. McCabe"

His widow, Emma Toney, filed his will for probate on January 14, 1897, and was appointed executrix in accordance with the provisions of the will.

Some time later, the widow married a person by the name of Ransome. As the life tenant, she took possession of Frank Toney's property. She died intestate on February 8, 1933, in Purvis, Mississippi. On April 8, 1933, O.A. Cozzani was appointed administrator of her estate by the Warren County Chancery Court after he had filed and sworn to a petition alleging, among other things:

"That, under the stipulations and conditions of said will above referred to, your petitioner's mother and father, to-wit: Dominic Cozzani, deceased, and Mary Cozzani, (the wife of Dominic Cozzani), of Warren County, Mississippi, being the Niece and Nephew of said Frank Toney, deceased, were to come into possession of all of the property of said Frank Toney, deceased, upon the death of the said Emma Toney Ransome, who, as stated above, died on the 8th day of February, A.D., 1933."
"* * *"
"Petitioner would further show unto the court that it appears that the said Emma Toney Ransome, during her life time, disposed of her life interest in said estate of Frank Toney, deceased, and that it is manifest that the intent of the last will and testament, herein referred to, in order that same may be carried out in keeping with the desires of the testator, vests in the mother of your petitioner aforesaid, and her heirs, sole ownership in the property of the la(s)te Frank Toney, deceased, it appearing that, upon the death of the said Emma Toney Ransome, they were to come into possesion of said property."
"* * *"
"Petitioner would further show unto the court that, in order for the said inheritors named in the last will and testament *551 of Frank Toney, deceased, herein referred to, to come into possession of any benefits that may be derived from said estate, he, your petitioner, should be appointed administrator of said estate, in order that the rights of said heirs may be properly protected; that he, as such administrator, be permitted to proceed in such legal manner as will enable the beneficiaries to come into possession of the property herein referred to." (Emphasis added.)

On September 11, 1934, O.A. Cozzani, administrator, signed and swore to a petition to close the estate of Emma Toney Ransome, alleging, in part, as follows:

"That, after due and diligent search and inquiry, petitioner has ascertained that said estate of Emma Toney Ransome, deceased, has no assets of any type, character or kind, and that, as a matter of fact, said estate consisted solely of real estate which had, through the last will and testament of Frank Toney, deceased been willed and bequeathed to Dominic Cozzani, (now deceased), and Mary Cozzani, (wife of Dominic Cozzani), the Niece and Nephew of the said Frank Toney, deceased; and to a sister, of said Frank Toney, deceased, said sister being designated in said will, above referred, as `Lucretia'; that, through and by said will hereinabove referred to, each of the above devisees were to share equally in said estate of the said Frank Toney, deceased; that the said sister, `Lucretia', died some time before the said will was probated, and that, in so far as your petitioner has been able to ascertain, after due and diligent search and inquiry, there are no living descendants of the said sister, `Lucretia', and that, therefore, no one, except those herein listed and enumerated, have any interest whatsoever in said estate.
"That the will of the said Frank Toney, deceased, or a copy thereof, has been filed as Exhibit A in this cause, and by reference hereto, is made a part of this petition, as though fully copied herein.
"Petitioner would further show unto the court that one of the devisees under the said last will and testament of the late Frank Toney, to-wit: Dominic Cozzani, is now deceased, and that he left surviving him, his widow, Mary Cozzani, (who is an inheritor under the last will and testament of the said Frank Toney, deceased), and the following children, to-wit: Esma Cozzani Garrett, Christina Cozzani Elliott, Tony Cozzani, and your petitioner, O.A. Cozzani, all of whom are adults.

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Bluebook (online)
193 So. 2d 549, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/guiseppe-v-cozzani-miss-1967.