77 Ind. App. 606 | Ind. Ct. App. | 1922
One Mary T. Head died intestate at Indianapolis, Marion county, Indiana, in April, 1919, the owner of the real estate in question in this suit, and her estate was fully settled. In May, 1919, the appellant above named, claiming to be the first cousin and only heir at law of said Mary Head, filed a complaint in the Marion Superior Court, Room 2, to quiet his title to said real estate, making: “Security Trust Co., ........ Head, husband of Mary Head, deceased,— The Unknown heirs of Mary Head, deceased, — The legatees and devisees of Mary Head, deceased,” parties defendant hereto.
On October 1, 1919, the attorney-general began this suit, naming the appellant herein and Fletcher Savings and Trust Company, as parties defendant. The complaint was in two paragraphs, the first simply alleging that the State of Indiana was the owner in fee simple of the property in question, describing it, a,nd that the defendants were claiming some interest therein, which claim was without right, etc. In the second paragraph it was alleged that Mary T. Head died intestate, the
The appellant herein appeared as a defendant and filed his separate answer to each paragraph, pleading former adjudication, his answer being based upon the proceedings in the suit brought by himself in Marion Superior Court, Room 2, as above mentioned. The Fletcher Savings and Trust Company filed its answer, claiming to have a mortgage lien upon said property to secure a note for the sum of $250 and interest thereon. The issues being closed by replies on behalf of the state, the cause was submitted to the court for trial, which resulted in a finding that the appellant, George Scott, had no interest whatever in the said real estate — and that the Fletcher Savings and Trust Company had a mortgage lien upon said property, to secure a certain note in the sum of $250 and interest thereon. There was a decree accordingly, followed by a motion for a new trial by the appellant, which was overruled, and he now prosecutes this appeal.
The errors assigned: (1) Challenge the jurisdiction of the Marion Superior Court to hear and determine this cause; (2) the right of the attorney-general to bring and prosecute this cause; (3) the action of the court in overruling the motion for a new trial.
When Mary T. Head died intestate, leaving no person capable of inheriting said land so owned by her, the title to said lands vested at once, by escheat, in the State of Indiana, and it had the right to enter upon and take possession of said property by and through its officers and agents. Reid v. State ex rel. (1881), 74 Ind. 252.
The trial court excluded the record and judgment of the suit brought by appellant, and in this there was no error. It was incompetent as showing former adjudication. Kitts v. Willson (1895), 140 Ind. 604, 39 N. E. 313.
We find no error in this record. Judgment affirmed.