Peveler v. Peveler

54 Tex. 53 | Tex. | 1880

Gould, Associate Justice.

Thompson alone appeals, and our inquiries need not extend to the rulings on the pleadings of his co-defendant, L. J. Peveler, who has not appealed. This disposes of the first assignment of error complaining that the court erred in striking out defendant Peveler’s pleas, including Ms plea to the jurisdiction. Thompson filed a general exception to the petition, followed by a special exception, on the ground that he was sued elsewhere than in the county of Ms residence, and a special unsworn plea alleging the same fact as to him and Ms co-defendants. The record shows no action on his exceptions or plea, but does show that at the same term that they were filed, the cause was continued on the application of the defendants. On the trial, the court refused to submit to the jury the issue as to jurisdiction. It may be that the court treated the plea as filed out of due order of pleading, or it may be that it regarded it as waived by the continuance of the case without invoking action thereon. Rule No. M of District Court. The exception and pleas were dilatory, and we do not thiriTr that the appellant has shown that they were presented in such a way as to enable Mm to complain of the action of the court in disregarding them. In disposing of the question thus, it is not intended to pass upon the question of venue in smts on admimstration bonds.

We are of opinion that the bond appearing in the record must be treated as the exhibit referred to in the amended petition, and that, although the petition was defective because of its failure to allege the tenor and effect of the bond, it was sufficient to allow of the admission of the exMbit in evidence. The question of 'the sufficiency of the petition is only brought before us by defendant Thompson m this way.

In regard to the bond, the court below, on inspecting it, held that the burden of showing that it had been improperly altered was on defendants. The original instrument has been sent up with the transcript, and having examined it, we agree with the court below in its conclusion. It is to be noted that the bond, after its approval, was in official custody, not m the custody of the beneficiaries. In our opinion, the unauthorized alteration of its amount whilst in official custody would not affect its validity as a bond for the amount for which it was actually given. But it was made on the day the inventory and appraisement were filed, showing what the amount should be, and is in the amount required by law, and the jury, with all the evidence before them, having found against the defendants on the issue of its alteration, and their verdict not having been set aside by the district court, would not be disturbed by this court.

The remaining question grows out of the fact developed on the trial, that there was pending an administration de bonis non in the name of W. J. Peveler, and that there were debts against the estate to a considerable amount, duly established and still unpaid. The defendants asked the court to charge the jury, that, if they believed these facts established, to find for the defendants, and the refusal of this charge is one of the errors urged.

The alleged breach of the bond constituted an injury to the estate, and under our statute the administrator de bonis non may prosecute the suit. Acts of 15th Leg., ch. 84, secs. -24, 41. So long as there are unpaid debts, the recovery for an injury to the estate should be assets in the hands of the administrator, and the recovery should therefore be in his name. To maintain a suit on the bond the heirs must show an injury to them as heirs. The appropriation by the administrator of property of the estate, or Ins failure to settle his accounts and turn over a balance in his hands, would constitute a breach of the bond to the injury of the heirs only in case the property or the balance would be in whole or in part coming to them. If there are creditors whose claims might absorb the estate, the injury is, prima facie at least, to the estate and the creditors, and not to the heirs.

Counsel for appellee refer to the statute just cited, which authorizes suits from time to time on administration bonds until the whole amount thereof shall be recovered, and proceeds: “Such suit maybe brought and prosecuted by any administrator of the estate not admin-' istered, in his own name as administrator, whenever the estate he represents has been injured by the breach of the bond of the executor, or any previous administrator of the estate; or any other person or persons injured by a breach of any such bond may bring suit thereon in their own name, and any number of such persons may join in such suit.” Acts of 15th Leg., sec. 41, supra. This section of the act of 1816 is literally copied from the probate law of 1848. Whilst it authorizes parties injured by the breach of the bond to sue in their own names, and to join in such suit, it does not attempt to give a right of action to any but those injured by the breach. The statute regulates the mode of procedure, so as to facilitate the remedy, but it does not undertake to create any new right of action.

To show their right to sue, the plaintiffs alleged that there was “no administration on said estate, the administration of the defendant, L. J. Peveler, having been closed by his removal.” If, however, the evidence showed a pending administration and unsettled claims, then, prima facie at least, it showed that the heirs had no right to sue. The defendants were not driven to plead the nonjoinder of the administrator in abatement. The case was not one of defect of parties who ought to have been co-plaintiffs. But it was one in which the evidence negatived the right of action claimed by plaintiffs.

If the W. J. Peveler who sues as one of the heirs is the same W. J. Peveler who was appointed administrator de bonis non, it is not perceived that this would support his recovery as heir, jointly with other heirs.

Because the court erred in refusing the charge stated, the judgment will be reversed and the cause remanded.

Reversed ahd remauded,

[Opinion delivered November 19, 1880.]