116 Va. 710 | Va. | 1914
delivered the opinion of the court.
This appeal brings before us again the question so often considered by this court, of the propriety of the circuit court’s action in setting aside a sale made by its commissioners solely because an advance bid of ten per cent, had been made.
There is no question that the sale made was in all respects regular and in compliance with the decree under
This court has so often held that it was error to set aside a judicial sale solely because an advance bid of ten per cent, had been made, that it would be superfluous reiteration to discuss the rule and give the reasons therefor again. Some of the more recent decisions, which lay down the rule and give the reasons for it, are Moore v. Triplett, 96 Va. 603, 32 S. E. 50, 70 Am. St. Rep. 882; Watkins v. Jones, 107 Va. 6, 57 S. E. 608; Howell v. Morien, 109 Va. 200, 63 S. E. 1073; and Hardy v. Coley, 114 Va. 570, 77 S. E. 458. These cases are decisive of the case before us.
The appellees state in their petition that in their opinion the land is worth more than it brought at public sale. The only reason given for this opinion was that they were willing to pay ten per cent. more. The record shows that the appellees knew of the time and place of the sale, and had the fullest opportunity to be present in person or to be represented at the sale by an agent. Hardy v. Coley, supra.
There is no merit in the suggestion that the rights of infants are involved. This is a sale of land for partition among heirs, some of whom happen to be infants with little more than one-sixth interest in the whole. The settled principles governing judicial sales in cases like this are applicable alike to infants and adults, and have never been disturbed by this court because infants were interested in the subject matter of the sale.
The decree complained of must be reversed, and the cause remanded with instructions to the circuit court to enter a decree confirming the sale made to the appellant, A. F. Litton, by the commissioners of sale.
Reversed.