Succession of Durand

24 La. Ann. 352 | La. | 1872

Howe, J.

This case presents the merits of a number of oppositions filed by persons claiming to be creditors, to the tableau of debts presented by the administratrix, Mrs. Eliza Bowman, widow of Nelsbn Durand. We will examine them seriatim.

First — The claim of the widow for the homestead was properly rejected, and is not urged in this court.

Second — The judgment of Segastille Armand seems to have been rejected through error. It was rendered in 1866, and duly recorded.

■ The deceased never contested its validity, and the parties opposing it now have neither furnished any evidence that it is fraudulent, nor any agreement to that end, before this court.

Third — The judgments of Mrs. Marius Gauthier and of Mrs. Jean B. Isabelle should have been stricken from the tableau. They were obtained by attachment in the Sixth District Court of New Orleans, in the year 1865, on the allegation that Nelson Durand, the defendant, had permanently left the State. He was at that time, and for'some years had been, and was until his death domiciled in and a resident of the parish of Avoyelles. The property attached had been alienated by him by a sale made and duly recorded in 1847, and forms no part of the inventory of the succession. Moreover, he never made appear-, anee, nor was he personally cited. And even if the attachments were valid, and.the-property seized the property of defendant therein, the judgments would extend only to the property seized, and would neither be personal claims against Nelson Durand nor judicial mortgages against the succession property inventoried herein. 2 An. 563; 4 An. 585; 6 An. 550; 9 An. 524.

Fourth — The claim of Mrs. Durand as holder of the notes made by Nelson Durand in favor of Johanna Spiegelhalder, the mother of Mrs. Durand, and secured by special mortgage July 20, 1863, and recorded July 25, 1863, was opposed as fraudulent and simulated, and on the ground that the provisions of the laws of the United States in reference to stamp duties had not been oomplied with.

The allegation that the mortgage was fraudulent, if it means that the mortgage had areal existence, but was intended to give an illegal preference, is met by the plea of prescription of one year, which should prevail.

The allegation of simulation, which could only be made on the theory that the mortgage had no real existence, is not established. The mortgage was made and recorded as above stated, in July, 1863. It is shown that Mrs. Spiegelhalder had money and property, and was in the habit of making advances to Nelson Durand in his mercantile business. It was natural that she should thus assist her daughter’s husband, and that he should protect her by a mortgage. The burden of proving simulation was on the opponents, and we do not think they have proved it.

There is no force in the point made in regard to stamp duties. The notes and mortgage, and the certificate of the actual registry of the mortgage in Avoyelles, in July, 1863, were either not denied, or were-received in evidence without objection. The registry was long prior-to any of the opponents’judgments. No stamps had been affixed at. the time the mortgage was passed, for none were probably to be had in Avoyelles at that date. But in August, 1871, under the provisions of the act of Congress of July 14, 1870, the necessary stamps were-placed on the notes by the Collector of Infernal Revenue of the Second. District of Louisiana, at the request of the holder. The claims of the' United States were fully satisfied, and we do not think the opponents-have any legal reason to complain of the regularity of the registry of the mortgage, or can say that it does not outrank their subsequent judgments.

Our attention is called to the fact that by the act of Congress of 1866, of which this act of 1870 was an amendment,, it is provided that the recording of an instrument under the permission therein allowed' to be given is not to affect any right acquired in good faith prior tersuch recording. We do not perceive that this proviso affects this particular case in any manner, for this is not a case where any recording, or registry was made after the stamps had been affixed by the Collector: of Internal Revenue.

We conclude, then, that the Judge below did not err in refusing tó» strike these judgments from the tableau.

Fifth — We think the judge erred in allowing the claim of L. V~ Gremillion, public administrator, for fees or commissions.

The widow was confirmed as natural tutrix, and as such was administering the estate, having had an inventory made. A creditor took, proceedings by injunction and to cause himself to be appointed administrator. This matter was afterwards settled by the widow being, appointed administratrix, and giving bond. During all this time the estate was being administered by the widow, and we do not think that-there was such a “ contestation for the administration of the estate”’ as justified the appointment of the public administrator to “administer it ” and entail further expense upon it, during these proceedings, under the second section of the act No. 87, of 1870, p. 120. That section, we presume, refers to a case where, pending a contest by claimants for the administration, there is no one in charge of the property. Any other construction would open a wide field for collusion» and spoliation.

It is therefore ordered that the judgment, so far as it rejects theVidow’s claim for homestead and dismisses the opposition to the mortgage notes and mortgage in favor of J. Spiegelhalder, be affirmed j. and that in other respects it be reversed; that the judgments in favor of Mrs. Marius Gauthier and Mrs. Jean B. Isabelle be stricken from, the tableau ; that tbe claim of L. Y. Gremillion be also stricken therefrom ■, that in other respects, as modified by that portion of the decree of the lower court which is herein affirmed by this decree, the said tableau be homologated and approved, and the debts therein recognized, paid according to the rank therein assigned, and in due course of administration ; and that the opponents who have appealed pay costs of appeal.

Rehearing refused.