McDonald v. Valdosta Investment Co.

82 S.E. 539, 142 Ga. 147, 1914 Ga. LEXIS 630
Supreme Court of Georgia·Decided July 22, 1914·Published·Cited by 1 cases

Opinion

Hill, J.

This case turns mainly upon the construction of the will of Henry E. Moore, which was dated June 18, 1861, and was probated in solemn form on December 26, 1862. The items of the will necessary for a proper determination of this case are as follows: “Item I. I do hereby constitute and appoint my mother (Mrs. Mary Moore) my executrix. She is hereby vested with full power to pay all my liabilities which have accrued to me since coming to this county, to collect all debts due me and receipt for the same, and to buy and sell property at any time she may deem fit, and to take control of all my affairs the same as her own, without any application or returns to be made to the regular courts of law regulating such cases; to pursue such course with my affairs as if I were personally present and performed the same. Item II. I desire my mother to be appointed guardian of my children (Alice M., Henry E., and Georgia A. Moore), and that she be vested with full power over their persons and property that is now guaranteed or vested in myself, and to manage and control their persons and their property as she deems best for their interests, with as full power as item 1st.”

The present case is an action of ejectment brought by the plaintiff, George C.- McDonald, against the Yaldosta Investment Company, to recover one twelfth undivided interest in the land sued for. Plaintiff claims title as an heir at law of his mother, Georgia A. (Moore) McDonald. The evidence for the plaintiff tended to show that Georgia Moore was the daughter of Henry E. Moore, the testator, and that she was born January 19, 1860, and died April 4, 1884, and there had been no administration on her estate. She [149] married E. M. McDonald, who died June 30, 1910. The plaintiff was born March 30, 1884, and was the only child of Georgia (Moore) McDonald and E. M. McDonald. Plaintiff brought his suit in March, 1912, a few days before he was twenty-eight years old. Letters of guardianship issued by the court of ordinary of Lowndes county to Mary Moore, appointing her guardian of Alice M., Henry E. and Georgia A. Moore, minor children of Henry E. Moore, dated June 1st, 1863, were admitted in evidence. The letters of guardianship contained the following clause: “I do commit the guardianship of said orphans to you, the said Mary Moore, you assenting thereto by the acceptance of these letters. That you inquire into and take charge of their estate, real and personal, and all other things to do by law you ought to do for said wards.” Also, a deed from E. A. Peeples to Mary Moore, conveying the land in question, in trust for Alice, Henry, and Georgia, minor children of H. E. Moore, deceased, dated January 24, 1868, and containing the following clause: "I, Eichard A. Peeples, . . do hereby bargain, sell, and convey unto Mary Moore, in trust for Alice, Henry, and Georgia, minor children of Henry E. Moore, deceased, under the same limitations, restrictions, and powers as are allowed, directed, and contained in the last will and testament of the said Henry E. Moore, deceased,” etc. Also, the petition of Mary Moore, trustee for Henry, Alice, and Georgia, minor children of H. E. Moore, deceased, to the judge of the superior court of Lowndes county, for an order allowing the sale of certain property, including that in question, dated December 13, 1869, together with the order granted at chambers on December 20, 1869, allowing the sale. Also, a deed from Mary Moore, trustee for Henry, Alice, and Georgia Moore, to John C. Wisenbaker, dated December 21, 1869, reciting a consideration of $1,000. Also, a deed dated December 21, 1877, from Alice M. Sims (née Moore), H. E. Moore, and Georgia A. Moore, children of H. E. Moore, deceased, to C. N. Mayson as trustee of Susan Augusta McBride. (It is recited in the bill of exceptions that this deed was in fact signed only by Alice M. Sims and H. E. Moore.) Also, a deed from J. C. Wisenbaker to E. A. Anderson et al., and a deed from Anderson et al. to C. N. Mayson as trustee for Susan Augusta McBride, conveying a tract of land of which the land in controversy is a part. Also, a chain of conveyances from C. N. Mayson, as trustee of Susan A. McBride, into the defendant, the [150] Valdosta Investment Company. At the conclusion of the evidence the court granted a nonsuit and dismissed the petition.

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McDonald v. Valdosta Investment Co., 82 S.E. 539, 142 Ga. 147, 1914 Ga. LEXIS 630 (Ga. 1914).

82 S.E. 539 (McDonald v. Valdosta Investment Co.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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