Hufford v. State ex rel. White

6 Ind. 365

• Court: Indiana Supreme Court
• Decided: June 8, 1855
• Status: Published

Opinion

Gookins, J.

This was an action of debt, on the bond of one West, as guardian of the relator and five other children of Thomas White, deceased, dated February 13,1833. Two breaches are assigned, alleging that West had received large sums of money, motes, &c., the property of his wards, which he- had converted to his own use, of which the relator was entitled to one-sixth part; that he had not accounted therefor to the relator, nor to the Probate Court, and had left the state and gone to parts unknown, so that a demand could not be made upon him; and that the relator had attained the age of twenty-one years.

The process was served only on Hufford, who answered in seven paragraphs, as follows: 1. That the cause of action did not accrue within three years before the commencement of the suit. 2. That West had not been called on to account. 3. That he had complied with all the orders of the Probate Court as guardian, &c. 4. That on the 13th of February, 1844, West rendered to the Probate Court a just and true account of his guardianship, in discharge of his trust. 5. A denial that West received and converted said assets to his own use. 6. That the relator had made no demand upon West for an account and settlement. 7. A set-off against the relator in favor of West.

The plaintiff filed demurrers to the first, second, third, fourth and sixth paragraphs, and a reply in denial of the seventh. The demurrers were sustained, and this is assigned for error. The appellant has not pointed out any objection to the decision upon these demurrers, and we do not see any. The cause was submitted to the Court for trial. Verdict and judgment for the relator. Motion for a new trial overruled

(1).

The record contains all the evidence.

At the May term, 1833, of the Hendricks Probate Court, West reported that he had received 30 dollars in money, and 122 dollars and 37i cents in notes, belonging to his wards. On the 9th of February, 1836, he reported that he had received 153 dollars of the estate of Thomas White, deceased, which he had loaned out at six per cent. On the 13th of August, 1837, he recovered a judgment, as guardian, against one Bray, for 54 dollars and 87 cents. On the 11th of March, 1841, he acknowledged satisfaction of said judgment by 49 dollars paid to himself, and 15 dollars paid his attorney. This was all the evidence given on the trial.

The objections taken to this judgment are,—1. That the evidence does not sustain the finding of the Court, because it does not appear that the relator was one of the heirs of Thomas White, deceased; 2. That it is not shown what portion of the money received by West the relator was entitled to; and 3. That no demand of West was shown.

None of these objections are well taken. The relator alleges that he is one of the six heirs of Thomas White, and that he is entitled to one-sixth part of the amount received by West. These allegations are not denied; hence they need not have been proved. An excuse is shown for not having made a demand of West, because he had left the state and gone to parts unknown. The question of the sufficiency of this excuse was raised by the demurrer, and was decided correctly. The excuse was sufficient. There was no denial of the fact of his having left the state; hence there was no occasion to prove it.

C. G. Nave, for the appellant.

Per Curiam.

The judgment is affirmed, with 5 per cent, damages and costs.

It has recently been held, in numerous cases tried under the E. S. 1843, that after a motion in arrest of judgment a motion for a new trial can not be entertained. Rogers v. Maxwell, 4 Ind. R. 243.—Sherry v. Ewell, id. 652.— Smith v. Porter, 5 id. 429.—Hord v. The Corporation of Noblesville, ante, p. 55.— Van Pelt v. Corwine, ante, p. 363.—McKinney v. Springer, post.

The R. S. 1852, however, contain the following provisions: “The application for a new trial must be made at the term the verdict or decision is rendered.” 2 R. S., p. 119, s. 354. “Where causes for a new trial are discovered after the term at which the verdict or decision was rendered, the application may be made by a complaint filed with the clerk, not later than the second term after the discovery, on which a summons shall issue, as on other complaints, requiring the adverse party to appear and answer it on or before the first day of the next term. The application shall stand for hearing at the term to which the summons is returned executed, and shall be summarily decided by the Court, upon the evidence produced by the parties. But no such application shall be made more than one year after the final judgment was rendered.” 2 R. S., p. 119, s. 356. As the motion for a new trial may now be entertained after final judgment, it would probably be held that a motion in arrest would not operate as a waiver of the former motion; for it is difficult to perceive how a motion in arrest would affirm the verdict any more than allowing judgment to be rendered without objection.