Vail v. Halton

14 Ind. 344

• Court: Indiana Supreme Court
• Decided: June 6, 1860
• Status: Published

Opinion

Worden, J.—

Action by the appellants against the appellees, to recover possession of certain real estate. Answer in denial. Trial by the Court. Finding and judgment for the defendants, a new trial being denied.

On the trial, it was admitted that in April, 1840, John Allen died seized in fee simple of the premises in controversy, and that the plaintiffs are his heirs at law. The defendants introduced the record of the Probate Court of Fayette county, by which it appears' that the administra.tor of Allen procured an order of that .Court for the sale of the land, for the payment of the debts of the estate of the deceased; and that, in pursuance of the order, he sold the same to one George Frybarger, which sale was afterwards confirmed, and a conveyance ordered to be made to the purchaser, which was done. These proceedings were closed up at the February term of the Court, 1844. It was admitted that the defendants were in possession of the property, claiming title under Frybarger; that Frybarger took possession soon after the sale, and that he, and- those claiming under him, have been in the possession ever since.

The appellants insist that the proceedings of the Probate Court, owing to irregularities and defects therein, are a nullity, and that no title passed thereby to Frybarger. On the other hand, the appellees claim that, though the proceedings be invalid for the purpose of vesting in the purchaser a title to the premises, yet that they gave a color of title which is protected by the statute of limitation, in reference to suits for the recovery of lands sold by executors and administrators. This point is settled in favor of the appellees, by the case of Vancleave v. Milliken, 13 Ind. R. 105.

The statute of limitations, or any other legal or equitable defense, can be given in evidence under the general denial, without pleading it specially, in actions for the recovery of real estate. Acts of 1855, p. 57.

By the statute of limitations, persons being under disabilities when the cause of action accrues, have two years within which to bring the action, after the disability is removed.

If, in, this case, the plaintiffs were under any disability wheu the cause of action accrued, and if the suit was brought within two years after the disability was removed, the proof devolved upon them to show it. The action was not brought until 1856, twelve years after the sale of the land, and the action is prima facie barred. If the plaintiffs were infants at the time the cause of action accrued, they should have shown at what time they became of age, and the suit was brought within two years thereafter. There being no proof on this subject, we must affirm the judgment.

J. A. Fay and N. Trusler, 'for the appellants. J. S. Reid, for the appellees.

Per Gwriam.

The judgment is affirmed with costs.