85 Mo. App. 424 | Mo. Ct. App. | 1900
— This is a proceeding in equity wherein plaintiffs seek to enforce an agreement with their brother, the ' defendant William Bosley, for the transfer of the latter’s interest in the estate of his father. The court below denied the relief prayed and plaintiffs have appealed to this court.
The elder Bosley, father of these litigants, died in 1897, leaving six children, a pretended widow by a second marriage and a small estate which he sought to dispose of by will. The defendant Newman was appointed and qualified as executor. As to the terms of the will, it is only necessary to say that it gave to the so-called widow a large portion of the small estate (in addition to dower and the years support); to plaintiffs were given a mere nominal sum of $5 each; and the residue
With the view of contesting the rights of the pretended widow and getting something out of the estate the plaintiffs Edward and Sylvester sought to get transfers or quitclaims from the other children. They accomplished this at least so far as to get defendant William Bosley to sign a writing purporting to transfer his interest in the estate or rather whatever he might gain by defeating the claims of the so-called widow. This assignment was in the nature of a quitclaim deed signed and sealed by said William Bosley and stated a mere nominal consideration of one dollar.
The executor of the estate contested by suit the claim of the widow under the will and succeeded in reducing it so as to add about $300 to the interest of William Bosley as residuary legatee. On a final settlement by the executor the plaintiffs demanded this share set off to said William, but as-he and the executor refused to recognize their claim this suit was brought with the result before stated.
The judgment of the circuit court is for the right party and will be affirmed.