Hightower v. Hightower

127 S.E. 103, 159 Ga. 769, 1925 Ga. LEXIS 52
CourtSupreme Court of Georgia
DecidedFebruary 19, 1925
DocketNo. 4213
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 127 S.E. 103 (Hightower v. Hightower) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hightower v. Hightower, 127 S.E. 103, 159 Ga. 769, 1925 Ga. LEXIS 52 (Ga. 1925).

Opinion

Atkinson, J.

On October 4, 1920, ejectment was instituted on the demise of J. E. Hightower Jr. and W. B. Hightower against Mrs. Alice G. Hightower as tenant in possession, for the recovery of described land and'mesne profits. The petition contained two demises, one in the name of J. E. Hightower Jr., and the other in the name of W. B. Hightower, in each of which it was alleged that the eviction was on April 30, 1906. The defendant filed the usual plea of not guilty, and did not specially plead any claim of prescriptive title. On the trial it was admitted that plaintiffs and defendant claimed to have derived title through J. E. Hightower Sr., who died in 1898 while in possession of the land. There was evidence tending to show that J. E-. Hightower Jr. was born in 1894, and W. B. Hightower was born in 1897; that they claimed as heirs at law of J. E. Hightower Sr., and one of them claimed as a . purchaser from the widow of J. E. Hightower Sr.; that there were four other heirs of J. E. Hightower Sr., who were children by a former marriage; and that there had never been any administration upon his estate, nor were there any unpaid debts of the estate. On the other hand there was evidence tending to show, that the land was sold for taxes on April 6, 1897, and purchased by the defendant, who received a deed from the sheriff; that after such sale the defendant went into possession under the deed and so remained continuously up to the time of the commencement of the suit; that during the time of such possession the property was set apart to the widow and minor children of the deceased as a year’s support; that subsequently the widow sold the land to J. E. Hightower and made to him a deed which recited that the’property was sold for the support and education of the minor children; and that subsequently the defendant, without yielding possession, purchased the property from J. E. Hightower. At the conclusion of the evidence offered by both sides the judge directed a verdict for the defendant. The plaintiffs made a motion for new trial, based on the usual general grounds and certain grounds which related to rulings as to the admissibility of evidence. No complaint was made that the judge improperly directed a verdict for the specific reason that there were [771]*771issues whicli should have been submitted to the jury. The motion for new trial was overruled, and the plaintiffs excepted.

In the third ground of the motion for new trial it was alleged that the court erred in admitting, over objection of movants, the following evidence: “Tax execution of John Wilkes, T. C., against Jas. E. Hightower, for the sum of thirty-six and 36/100 dollars, being for taxes for the year 1896, with the following entries: bounded on the west by Oconee river, south by Zenobia Hightower, north and east by J. M. Reinhart land, 210 acres, more or less, 52 dist. G. M. The above entries in pencil, and the following entry just below the above in ink: Georgia, Laurens County. I have this day levied the within fi. fa. on 210 acres of land, more or less; levied on for the tax and costs for 1896'. Levied as property of Jas. E. Hightower in favor of John Wilkes, T. C. This March 8th, 1897. O. II. Pope, Const. Also the following entry on said ñ. fa.: Georgia, Laurens County. The property described in the within levy sold to Alice G. Hightower, she being the highest and best bidder, for forty dollars; after payment of cost of fi. fa. $1.00, levy 35 cents, advertising fee $3.96, corn’s on sale $2.00, leave a balance as a credit of $32.69 balance due on fi. fa. Paid by purchaser April 6th, 1887. W. J. Joiner, Sheriff.” The objections urged to the admission of this evidence were: “Because there is no description by which the land can be identified; because it does not describe the land on which the levy is made with any degree of accuracy; because on-the face of the fi. fa. and from the other evidence in the case it appears that the levy was excessive.” The entries on the fi. fa., written in pencil and ink, the latter signed by O. H. Pope, constable, purporting to make a levy of the fi. fa., are prima facie one paper, and, considered as one, show a levy that was not void on the ground that the land was not sufficiently described therein. A ground of a motion for new trial should be complete within itself; and where such ground complain? of the admission in evidence of a levy entered upon a fi. fa., on the ground that the levy is excessive, and there are no facts stated in such ground showing that it is excessive, the ground of the motion is without merit.

In the fourth ground of the motion for new trial complaint is made that the court erred in admitting, over movants’ objection, the following evidence: “Deed from W. J. Joiner, sheriff of [772]*772Laurens County, to Mrs. A. G. Hightower, based on tax fi. fa. for $36.6.0, above mentioned, said deed dated May 5, 1897, and recorded in deed book 6, pages 373 and 374, and purporting to convey 310 acres of land, more or less, in the 53nd district G. M. of Laurens County, bounded on the west by the Oconee river; south by lands of Zenobia Hightower, north and east by lands of J. M. Reinhart, Consideration, $40.00.” The grounds of objection urged to the admissibility of the evidence were: “Because the fi. fa. under which the levy was made and on which said deed is based contains no sufficient description of the land, the levy does not show an adequate and legal description; because it appears that the deed is based on an excessive levy and is void, the evidence showing that the value of the land levied on was so greatly in excess of the fi. fa., and that same could be subdivided, that the levy is excessive.” In the light of the ruling made in the preceding note, the court did not ■ err, in so far as the exception was sufficient to present any question for decision, in admitting the evidence over the objections that were urged against its admission.

The ninth ground of the motion for new trial complains of the refusal of the court to rule out testimony delivered by the widow on cross-examination; viz.: “I guess that is the 310 acres described in the suit. I think that is all the land J. E. Hightower had at the time of his death. This was all the 310 acres he owned that I know anything about.” The motion to rule out the evidence was upon the ground that there was no sufficient description! in the year’s support proceeding to admit evidence for the purpose of more fully describing the property. The description given in the year’s support proceeding mentioned in the next succeeding paragraph, and as will appear from the ruling there made, was sufficient when aided by the testimony above quoted. In the circumstances the court did not err in refusing to rule out the evidence.

T.he fifth ground of the motion for new trial complains of the admission, over movants’ objection, of the following evidence: “Year’s support proceedings and certified copy of same, dated January 30, 1906, showing return of appraisers, and judgment of the court of ordinary purporting to set apart to the widow and minor children of J. E. Hightower, deceased, the following: ‘310. acres of land on the east side of the Oconee river in the 53 district G. M., Laurens Gounty, Georgia.’ The order of the ordinary making [773]

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Mylius v. Mylius
84 S.E.2d 679 (Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1954)
Farlow v. Brown
68 S.E.2d 903 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1952)
Ford v. Ford
47 S.E.2d 865 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1948)
Wall v. Griffith
17 S.E.2d 57 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1941)
Beetles v. Steadham
197 S.E. 270 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1938)
Roberts v. Roberts
190 S.E. 442 (Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1937)
Gilmore v. Continental Insurance
179 S.E. 150 (Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1935)
Hall v. Eufaula Brick Co.
178 S.E. 403 (Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1935)
Miller v. Edwards
177 S.E. 758 (Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1934)
Manning v. Gettys
172 S.E. 571 (Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1934)
Hamilton National Bank v. Robertson
171 S.E. 293 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1933)
Davidson v. Citizens Bank & Trust Co.
166 S.E. 775 (Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1932)
Morris v. First National Bank
164 S.E. 200 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1932)
Coleman v. Statesboro Buick Co.
153 S.E. 93 (Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1930)
Atlantic Bitulithic Co. v. Maxwell
150 S.E. 110 (Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1929)
Thompson v. Vanderbilt
142 S.E. 665 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1928)
Mobley v. Ellis
141 S.E. 321 (Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1928)
Maxwell v. Citizens Bank
139 S.E. 864 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1927)
Bush v. Clemons
130 S.E. 914 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1925)
Gilliard v. Johnston & Miller
129 S.E. 434 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1925)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
127 S.E. 103, 159 Ga. 769, 1925 Ga. LEXIS 52, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hightower-v-hightower-ga-1925.