41 Iowa 451 | Iowa | 1875
I.
It appears from the evidence in the case that the administrator had received no assets of the estate, all of which, prior to his appointment, had gone into the hands of the widow and heirs and had been used by tfiem ia the purchase and improvement of the land which plaintiff seeks to subject to the payment of his claim. The widow and heirs became liable each as an administrator de son tort, in an action by a creditor to the extent of the value of the property of decedent that came into their hands. Code, § 2484. Elder v. Littler, 15 Iowa, 65. The assets of the estate appropriated by them were a fund for the payment of plaintiff^ claim; equity would pursue this fund and subject property purchased with it to the
III. The defendant’s counsel insist that no further relief could have been granted upon the petition of plaintiff than an order, authorized under Code, § 2379, that the assets of the estate taken by defendants be delivered to the administrator. But such an order is provided for in a proceeding expressly intended to recover assets by the administrator. If made it could not have been enforced in this case, for the reason that the assets had been converted into real estate and were not, therefore, in the possession of defendants.
IY. Counsel in the last place urge that if plaintiff can recover in this action, he is not entitled to a sum as large as is awarded to him by the decree.' A portion of the proceeds of the property appropriated by the defendants, it is claimed, was exempt from the debts of deceased, and the family were entitled to another portion for their support. Deducting from the value of the assets appropriated by defendants, as fixed by themselves, the value of the property which counsel claim was exempt, there remains a sum about equal to the judgment recovered by plaintiff. The difference is too inconsiderable to authorize us to disturb the decree.
We think defendants can claim nothing for their support in addition to what the record shows they did receive. They used the real and personal property of the estate and appropriated an amount of money to their support. It does not appear that they were entitled to more.
The foregoing consideration disposes of all the questions presented in the case. We find no well-grounded objection to the decree. It is, therefore,
Affirmed.