Wood v. Ostram

29 Ind. 177
CourtIndiana Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 15, 1867
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 29 Ind. 177 (Wood v. Ostram) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wood v. Ostram, 29 Ind. 177 (Ind. 1867).

Opinion

Frazer, C. J.

This cause was instituted in 1846, under the old practice. It was a bill in chancery. In October, 1860, the death of both complainants was suggested, and leave given to file a supplemental complaint by their personal representatives. This was, without objection, immediately filed, not in the names only of the ■ executors and administrators of the deceased, but also • in the names of legatees, devisees and successors in interest of the original plaintiffs, who had, by descent or devise, become the owners of whatever estate the original plaintiffs had in the subject matter involved in the controversy. One of the defendants, John W. Hitchcock, had been originally summoned, but he had never appeared. No notice of the supplemental complaint was given to him, or to any of the defendants, by summons or otherwise. Another defendant was an infant, who had been originally summoned, and appeared by guardian ad litem. It is claimed that, as to these defendants, there was error in proceeding with the cause, because they were not summoned or notified of the supplemental complaint. And it is claimed that such was the chancery practice, and that the code has made no change in that respect.

Where an amended or supplemental bill was filed, we do not understand that the chancery practice required that defendants, who had made default to the original bill, should be subpoenaed to answer the supplemental bill. It was only those who were not in default, and who had answered the original bill, that were entitled to notice of an amended' or supplemental bill. Smith’s Oh. 309 et seq. But where the complainant had died and a bill of revivor had been filed, a subpoena was necessary to all the defendants, because the death abated the suit. But under the [180]*180code, it does not abate, and therefore no new summons is necessary, and would be a needless formality. 2 GL & Ii., §§ 21, 786, pp. 51, 332. By the latter section, it is enacted that a new party, introduced as the representative or successor of a former party, must be summoned, unless he appears voluntarily. Expressia unius cst. cxdusio alterius.'

The original bill was against John W. Hitchcock and Marcus Hitchcock, by Thomas H. Hubbard and Mary E. Ostram, executrix of John IT. Ostram, deceased, and alleged that in 1835, between said John W. and Ostram, deceased, it was agreed that Ostram should furnish money to John W. for the purpose of buying lots in Terre Haute and lands near by, in their joint names and for their joint benefit ;.John W. to repay half the money so advanced and secure it by mortgage on his half of the real estate so purchased, and to charge nothing for his time and expenses in purchasing; that in 1835, Ostram accordingly advanced $2,200; that in March, 1836, Hubbard was, by agreement, admitted to. share in the venture, from the beginning, by paying $1,071 67, after which he and Ostram were to furnish the money, Hitchcock to purchase as before, and repay one-third of the money; that they subsequently advanced $3,115 50; that Hitchcock fraudulently took the titles in his own name; that amongst the purchases were two lots in Evansville, for $2,200, instead of cei'tain lands near Terre ITaute, as agreed; that in 1836, Hubbard and Ostram demanded deeds for two-thirds of the lands, and a mortgage to secure one-third of the money advanced; that Hitchcock failed to comply with the demand, and is wholly insolvent; that he has made a voluntary conveyance of the real estate, and of all his own property, real and personal, to his father, Marcus, in' secret trust for his own use; Marcus having full notice, and having taken the conveyance to enable John W: to defraud the complainants; that Marcus had sold one of the lots purchased on joint account to an innocent purchaser, and received the purchase money; that he still holds lots 63 and [181]*181■ 250, in Terre Haute, and some of the lands purchased by John W. under the contract.

The complainants alleged that they were ignorant as to what other lands, besides the lots in Terre Haute mentioned, had been purchased on joint account. They prayed a full discovery touching the matters,-andvfor general relief. John W. was defaulted, and Marcus answered under oath, in 1847. Pending exceptions to his answer, he died, and a bill of revivor and supplement was filed, making his heirs at law defendants, and process ordered. The heirs of Marcus, except John W., answered. After the code took effect, the cause was put at issue by a reply. But in 1855, the death of one of the heirs of Marcus was suggested, and his heir at law, Hilen G., an infant, was made a defendant, and duly brought in by publication of notice, and a guardian ad litem was appointed and answered for her.

In 1860, the death of both plaintiffs was suggested,- and the proceedings followed which are stated in the commencement of this opinion. It is claimed that the new plaintiffs, who then came in, are not named in the supplemental complaint then filed by them. There is, however, nothing in this. Some of them are expressly named as plaintiffs, and all the rest are námed in the will, a copy of' which was annexed to the pleading, and reference made thereto for their names, it" being • alleged that the suit is prosecuted by them. The objection is entirely one of form, and is not good under our practice, even upon demurrer, much less on error. In the complaint filed by them, they merely show their right, and allege that since the original ■ bill was filed they have discovered certain facts which then existed but were not known. The evidence is before us. The jury found that the plaintiff's were entitled to recover two-thirds of certain specified tracts or lots of real estate; that the plaintiff's recover of John W. Hitchcock $18,016 66; that the conveyances by him to his father were fraudulent, as against the plaintiff's, and that the lands thereby conveyed, .except those recovered, ought to be subjected to execution. [182]*182There was judgment accordingly. Every question was saved by a motion for a new trial.

Quite a-number of questions are presented, in addition to the one already disposed of, all of which wo will consider in their order.

It is contended that under the prayer for discovery, for the cancellation of the conveyances to Marcus Hitchcock, and for general relief, no judgment or decree for money could properly be rendered agaiust John W. Hitchcock, who made default, because the code provides that where there is no answer, the relief granted cannot exceed that which is demanded in the complaint. Section 380. If this position is tenable, the judgment against the other defendants, it is urged, is erroneous, because, to subject the lands in their hands to the satisfaction of a money judgment, itself erroneous, would be error as to them.

Under the chancery practice prevailing when the original bill was filed, the prayer was broad enough to warrant the relief which was granted.

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Bluebook (online)
29 Ind. 177, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wood-v-ostram-ind-1867.