Howard v. Howard

48 S.W.2d 489
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedDecember 5, 1931
DocketNo 12568
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 48 S.W.2d 489 (Howard v. Howard) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Howard v. Howard, 48 S.W.2d 489 (Tex. Ct. App. 1931).

Opinions

BUCK, J.

In this case, Miss Roxye Howard, Mrs. Carrie Howard La Force and husband, Mrs. Edith Howard Jackson and husband, and Joe W. Howard, sued their father, John G. Howard, for a division of their mother’s (Mrs. Vina Howard, deceased since October 16, 1909) interest in the community estate of their father and mother. Plaintiffs alleged that at the time of their mother’s death there was considerable real and personal property belonging to the community estate of their father and mother, consisting of money, cattle, horses, mules, hogs, grain, and other foodstuff, and cotton; that, after the death of Mrs. Vina Howard, plaintiffs and their father continued in possession of the community estate, and by their united efforts, together with money received from the sale of certain property, and rents from the land, acquired approximately 1,934 acres of land. That the proceeds from the use of said community estate was invested by John G. Howard in other real property, all of which, by reason of the purchase as aforesaid, became property owned jointly by the defendant John G. Howard and the plaintiffs. That, at the time of the death of Mrs. Howard, the homestead of said family was on a tract of land consisting of approximately 160 acres, which the said John G. Howard inherited from the estate of his mother, Mrs. S. B. Howard, and, after the death of Mrs. Vina Howard, said family continued to reside on said premises and resided thereon at the time of the suit, except the married daughters, who with their husbands lived elsewhere. However, one of the daughters lives on other property which is a portion of said estate. That, all the while subsequent to the death of their mother, plaintiffs have contributed their efforts and endeavors in the upkeep and management of said property, and to increase the value thereof, and said1 estate gradually increased year by year until about four years [490]*490prior to the suit, at which time said estate consisted of approximately 2,470½. acres of land, several hundred head of cattle, money in bank, promissory notes, and vendor’s lien notes, bank stock, stock in other corporations, paid-up values in life insurance policies, and various other properties, which plaintiffs alleged was at said time approximately of the value of $100,000.

Plaintiffs further alleged that they were the joint owners with John G. Howard of the 1,934 acres of land purchased subsequent to the death of Mrs. Yina Howard, and that their father became solicitous of the plaintiffs, and induced them, by representing that it was to their advantage for them to do so, to execute some kind of an instrument delegating and authorizing the said John G. Howard to exercise control over said property, and to execute any drilling contract or oil and gas lease thereon that he might deem expedient, stating that at that time a well was being drilled on said property, and that numerous leases would have to be executed, and, by the execution of this power of attorney, expenses could be saved to both him and to the children. That plaintiffs relied solely upon the statements made to them, that such instrument was merely a power of attorney, and did not know until on or about April 1, 1930, that such instrument was other than a power of attorney, when they learned that such instrument was a quitclaim deed with special warranty clause attached. Plantiffs alleged further that they were the joint owners with their father of the fee-simple title of the following land and premises situated in the state of Texas, county of Montague, to wit:

165 acres, Block 89, Kaufman County School Land, Abst. 407 ; 243 acres, Block 92, Kaufman County School Land, Abst. 407; 80 acres, Block 102, Kaufman County School Land, Abst. 407; 243 acres, Block 90, Kaufman County School Land, Abst. 407; 160 acres) Block 91, Kaufman County School Land, Abst. 407 ; 93 acres, Block 100, Kaufman County School Land, Abst. 407; 162 acres, Block 108, Kaufrhan County School Land, Abst. 407; 80 acres, Block 85, Kaufman County School Land, Abst. 407; 41 acres, Block 84, Kaufman County School Land, Abst. 407; 119½ acres, Block 97, Kaufman County School Land, Abst. 407; 33 acres, Block 108, Kaufman County School Land, Abst. 407; 131½ acres, Block 84, Kaufman County School Land, Abst. 407; 60 ⅝ acres, Block 84, Kaufman County School Land, Abst. 407 ; 93 acres, Block 85, Kaufman County School Land, ‘ Abst. 407; 132½ acres, Block 72, Kaufman County School Land, Abst. 407; 187 acres, out of the E. Escobar Sur. Abst. 216; 160 acres, out of the W. I. Mayfield Survey, Abst. 453; 320 acres, out of, the W. G-. Coffee Survey, Abst. 144.

Plaintiffs represented that they were not in possession of any more accurate description of said real property, but alleged that ■ defendant John 6. Howard was in possession of deeds, abstracts, and other title papers, and knew the true and correct description of field notes of said land, and asked that he furnish a correct and accurate description of all the property owned as alleged by him, except the 160-acre tract of land which he inherited from his mother, Mrs. S. B. Howard.

They further alleged that, some four years prior to the suit, their father became addicted to the use of intoxicants and other narcotics, and that he ceased to be the good manager which he had been theretofore, and that he did not contribute anything further to the care and management of their community estate. They alleged further that their father recently, after an association of several years, brought to the homestead a Mrs. Lucy Clary, who he claimed to be his wife, and that he informed the plaintiffs that said Lucy Clary was to have a child’s part of all of said estate; that in truth and in fact he was then the owner of the entire properties and had demanded that plaintiffs surrender possession of said properties and had threatened violence unto them if they should resist his demands; that the said Lucy Clary is a woman of designing temperament, and is only tolerating the companionship or presence.of said John G. Howard with the view of obtaining an interest in his . estate.

Wherefore plaintiffs prayed the court that the defendant be cited as the law directs, and that upon final proof they have said properties hereinabove mentioned and described partitioned, and that, pending final trial, a receiver be appointed to .take charge of the property. •

The trial court, upon the presentation of this petition, ordered a writ of injunction to be issued to the said John G. Howard, commanding and directing that the said John G. Howard be restrained from selling, giving away, or mortgaging, either directly or indirectly, any of said property, either real or personal.

The defendant filed his first original answer, in which he pleaded a general demurrer, and further alleged that the plaintiffs had in their petition alleged that he was an habitual drunkard, which allegations were prejudicial to the interests of the defendant, and were not necessary allegations for a receivership. He directed his pleadings and exceptions to various other allegations of the petition, not necessary here to mention. He further pleaded that he had married Mrs. Vina Simpson on November 6, 1892. That Mrs. Yina Howard had no separate estate, either personal or real, at the time of her [491]*491-death, but did own her one-half community interest with the defendant in property acquired during their marriage relation. That his wife left no will, and there was no administration had upon her estate, and that all of the plaintiffs, his children, were of full age and competent to execute deeds of conveyance.

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Bluebook (online)
48 S.W.2d 489, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/howard-v-howard-texapp-1931.