88 Mo. 64 | Mo. | 1885
Suit for the admeasurement of dower. Under the ruling of this court in Littleton v. Patterson, 32 Mo. 357, the statute of limitations was held not to run against a widow entitled to be endowed of lands until that her dower be assigned. Speaking on this subject, Dryden, J., in delivering the opinion of the court in that case, said: “The right limited is a present, existing right of action or of entry, and none the less so, because the one in whom the right is vested is under some disability to sue. But the wife’s right to dower is not of this sort * * she is not laboring under the disability contemplated by the saving clause of the statute to enforce an existing right of action, as would be the case if during coverture she was disseized of an estate that had descended to her, but she is without such right as is actionable. By the death of her husband, her right of action becomes complete. This right, however, is merely a chose in action, and not a right of entry or a right of action for possession which depends for its existence on the assignment of dower; and having no right of action or of entry until dower is assigned, her rights are not within the bar of the statute.” And it is said elsewhere, that “Except where specially so provided, a widow’s right of dower is not barred by the statutes of limitations of the several states.” Wood on Limit, of Act., 584.
This cause was not tried. below on the theory here laid down; but upon the theory that the staleness of the demand barred any recovery of dower. This in substance is recited in the j udgment which went in favor of the defendant, and a declaration of law given on his behalf, states that: “On account of the lapse of thirty-eight years since the death of plaintiff’s former hus
In conclusion, it -may be proper to say that there •are many circumstances in this transcript, both resting in parol, and of record, which might well be considered by the court or jury trying this cause on its return, as tending very strongly to show that dower was admeasured and assigned the widow Patrick; and if this was the case, then, of course, the statute would begin to run from the period of its assignment, and the widow was barred before this suit was begun. If assigned before the disability of her second marriage, then by the period of ten years. If after incurring that disability, then by the period of twenty-four years. Valle v. Obenhause, supra; Poe v. Domic, 54 Mo. 119. And on the re-trial •of this cause, the facts that the land on which dower
For the reasons aforesaid, the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.