James Hampson's Adm'r v. Sumner

18 Ohio St. 444
CourtOhio Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 15, 1849
StatusPublished
Cited by26 cases

This text of 18 Ohio St. 444 (James Hampson's Adm'r v. Sumner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
James Hampson's Adm'r v. Sumner, 18 Ohio St. 444 (Ohio 1849).

Opinion

Hitchcock, C. J.

This case is one somewhat singular in its aspects. The bill was filed by the complainant against David Wilson and others, on the 26th day of February, 1845. In this bill Wilson is made defendant, in his character of administrator of the estate of William Sumner, deceased; and the other defendants are the widow of said Sumner, and others, to whom it is claimed that he had fraudulently conveyed, or caused to be conveyed, certain property in said bill specified.

The supplemental and amendatory bill was filed on the 30th of March of the same year, by which Hedges and Miller, executors of William Williamson, deceased, are made defendants. There does not seem to be any great necessity for connecting the parties defendant as is attempted to be done in one case; still, in some aspects of the case, it may, perhaps, be well [445]*445enough done. In considering the matters in controversy, however, it will be most convenient to look, first, to the case as made in the original bill, and then to the case made in the amended and supplemental bill. For most purposes, at any rate, the record shows two distinct and separate cases, and. causes of complaint.

The original bill sets forth, that in the year 1828, a bill in chancery was filed in the court of common pleas of Fairfield county, to settle up the partnership concern's of James Hampson and John Williamson, who had been doing business underlie name and style of Williamson & Hampson; and which partnership was dissolved by the death of Williamson, in 1820. Co this bill, Wm. Sumner was a party, but died during the pendency of the suit, and the defendant David Wilson, executor of said Sumner, was made party defendant. Said chancery proceeding was continued in the court of common pleas and supreme court, to which latter court it was taken by appeal,, until the November term of the same court, 1844, when a decree was rendered in favor of complainant, as administrator of James Hampson, against Wilson, executor of Sumner, for the-sum of $8,268.35 ; which decree is in full force.

It is further stated in the bill, that Sumner died in 1838, leaving a will, which was duly proved of the 17th day of October of the same year, and letters testamentary granted to the lefendant Wilson. By his will Sumner made his wife, Catharine Sumner, his sole devisee and legatee. That the matters and things to which said decree against Wilson relates, and-upon which the same is founded, accrued before the 1st of November, 1840.

The amount of the assets of the estate of Sumner, as returned by his executor, is next referred to; and it is there-stated that the said Sumner, for several years before his death, was seized in fee of the northwest quarter of section 16, township 15, range 19, in Fairfield county, containing 174 acres; also of in-lot No. 13, in square No. 14, in Lancaster, and of the undivided one-third part of certain 100 acre lots in Licking, [446]*446.county. That the said Sumner, on the 30th of May, 1838^ for the purpose of defrauding his creditors, conveyed his inter•est in the 100 acre lots to his sisters, Clarissa Sumner and Lucy Due.

Here it is proper to say, that so far as relates to the convey.ance of these 100 acre lots, there is now no controversy, it being admitted that there was nothing fraudulent in the trans.action.

It is further stated, that the said Sumner, for the like purpose of defrauding his creditors, on the 21st of May, 1838, without any consideration, conveyed the west half of the afore.said named quarter section to the defendant, David Wilson, in ■trust, for the sole and separate use and benefit of his wife, Catharine Sumner, and to her heirs, etc., subject to her disposition, either by will or otherwise.

It is further stated, that the said Catharine, as sole devisee and legatee of said Sumner, sold said lot No. 13, in Lancaster, •for one thousand dollars, which consideration was paid by the purchaser, David Sifferd; that the defendant Wilson, immedi■ately upon his appointment as executor, took possession of the said one-half quarter of section 16, and has ever since received the rents and profits, of the value of $250 annually; that ■Catharine Sumner is entitled to dower in the before named real ■estate.

The prayer of the bill is, that the deed to Wilson be declared fraudulent and void; that the dower interest of the defendant ■Catharine, in the half of said quarter of section 16, and of the fund produced by the sale of lot No. 13, be assigned to her; that the said land be sold; and the proceeds applied to the payment of the debts due from Sumner’s estate; that the said Wilson be decreed to account for all moneys which have come ■to his hands, and to make final settlement of the estate; that the said Catharine be decreed to account for the said one thousand dollars, the consideration of said lot No. 13, together with such other sums as have come to her hands, in the shape •of rents, as devisee of the said William Sumner: hence, that [447]*447-all the funds belonging to, or arising out of the estate of William Sumner, be applied to the payment and satisfaction of his debts.

This bill was answered by David Wilson and Clarissa Sumner, and the deposition of one witness has been taken. The controversy in the case, is as to the half quarter section of land conveyed by Sumner to Wilson, in trust for Mrs. Sumner, and the avails of lot No. 13, in Lancaster. She claims in her answer, that the half quarter was purchased with money received ■from time to time, by her late husband, from her father’s estate; and, further, that lot No. 13, in Lancaster, was not more than sufficient to compensate her for money thus by him received. If, in this particular, the answer was responsive to the bill, it might be necessary for the complainant to contradict.it by testimony. But it is not responsive, nor are its allegations in any particular supported by evidence. Upon this point there is not ■one particle of testimony. The fact is apparent, that at the time Sumner conveyed the half quarter to Wilson, he was involved, much beyond his ability to pay. This is manifest from the whole case. That conveyance was without'consideration. The property cannot, in this way, be withdrawn from the creditors. The avails of this land must be appropriated to the payment of the debts of Sumner.

In respect to lot No. 13, in Lancaster, the title was in Sumner at the time of his death. He devised it to his wife. She must take it, subject to the incumbrance of his debts. The most that she can claim is, that, inasmuch as she has sold the property, that sale shall be considered as passing the title, and she held to account for the consideration received, deducting therefrom as much as she would be entitled to receive by way of dower.

We have had much difficulty, however, upon the question, whether this was a proper case for the interference of a court cf chancery. The case made, is not such as would justify us in taking the settlement of the estate of Sumner from the probate court. Possibly, the object which the complainants have in [448]*448view, might all have been attained in the probate court. That court have power to compel an administrator to perform his duty. If he does not, he is liable upon his bond. Besides, if an administrator, or an executor, misconducts, he may be removed, and another may be appointed in his place.

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

Related

Barker v. Century Ins. Group, 06ap-377 (6-5-2007)
2007 Ohio 2729 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2007)
Baer v. Woodruff
676 N.E.2d 1195 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1996)
Metropolitan Life Insurance v. Triskett Illinois, Inc.
646 N.E.2d 528 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1994)
Frank B. Thomas Trust v. Imperial 400 National
2 Ohio App. Unrep. 475 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1990)
City of Cincinnati v. Cincinnati Reds
483 N.E.2d 1181 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1984)
Hughes v. Oberholtzer
162 Ohio St. (N.S.) 330 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1954)
Nussbaum v. Wooster Baptist Temple
120 N.E.2d 467 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1953)
Haber v. Bond Stores, Inc.
178 F.2d 836 (Sixth Circuit, 1949)
City of Winner v. Kelley
65 F.2d 955 (Eighth Circuit, 1933)
Town of Capitol Heights v. Steiner
101 So. 451 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1924)
O'Brien v. State
95 S.E. 938 (Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1918)
Morris v. City of Sheridan
167 P. 593 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1917)
Wheeling & L. E. R. Co. v. Carpenter
218 F. 273 (Sixth Circuit, 1914)
Sayler v. Sellers
2 Ohio App. 439 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1914)
In re Estate of Ward
21 Ohio C.C. 753 (Lucas Circuit Court, 1900)
German-American Savings Bank v. City of Spokane
38 L.R.A. 259 (Washington Supreme Court, 1897)
Keszler v. City of Cincinnati
3 Ohio C.C. 223 (Ohio Circuit Courts, 1888)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
18 Ohio St. 444, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/james-hampsons-admr-v-sumner-ohio-1849.