Donovan v. Ladner

COLLARD, Associate Justice. This action was brought by Thomas Donovan and his sister, Lola Donovan Agüero, joined by her husband, Emile Agüero, claiming as heirs of their deceased father, to recover one-fourth undivided interest in lot 38), block 2, range 3, in Eagle Pass, Texas, against A. J. Ladner and Louis Ladner (and others who are the tenants of defendants, disclaiming title in themselves), and also for partition. The Ladners pleaded not guilty, limitation of three and ten years, and set up claim for valuable improvements. They also, by supplemental answer, set up, that the lot a part of which is sued for, together with lots 38, 36), and 36, was the community property of William Donovan, now deceased, and his wife, Gertrudes Donovan, the parents of plaintiffs; that shortly after the death of her husband, she, Gertrudes, alienated the lot 38), worth much less than the other half of the community of herself and husband; and that “if plaintiffs had any right therein by reason of inheritance from their father., they are estopped from asserting it, because subsequently thereto, at their own suit, partition of the estate of William Donovan and Gertrudes Donovan and children was had in the County Court of Maverick County, Texas, and that a proportionate share in the residue of the estate of William Donovan was, in compensation of their interest in this lot, allotted to these plaintiffs,” etc. The cause was submitted to the court, who rendered judgment that plaintiffs take nothing by their suit, and that defendants A. J. Ladner and Louis Ladner recover of plaintiffs and the sureties on their cost bond all costs of suit; from which judgment plaintiffs have appealed. The court filed conclusions of fact and law as follows: “1. That William Donovan died in 1876, and left surviving him Gertrudes, his wife, and four children, all yet living, all four being the issue of his marriage with Gertrudes, and that plaintiffs are two of such children. “ 2. That on the death of William Donovan, there remained as community property of himself and Gertrudes four lots in the town of Eagle Pass, in Maverick County, Texas, being lots 36, 36), 38, and 38), in block *205 2, range 3, all of the lots being of the same size, 75 by 150 feet, all adjoining and under one enclosure, the dwellings being on lot 36; lot 38) being of less value than either of the other lots. “3. In 1878 Gertrudes, surviving wife of William Donovan, joined by two of the children, sold lot 38) to Zaugg, but plaintiffs did not join in the deed. “ 4. That afterwards, in 188-, Gertrudes, the mother of plaintiffs, who were yet minors, took out letters of guardianship on their estates in the County Court of Maverick County, Texas, and returned an inventory of their property, in which their interest in their deceased father’s estate was given as one-third of lots 36, 36), and 38, and that their interest in said lots was subsequently sold by order of said court, the sale approved, deed made to purchaser, and the money paid to plaintiffs’ guardian. “ 5. That one-third of lots 36, 36), and 38 was the same in quantity as one-fourth of the four lots, and greater in value than one-fourth of the four lots. “ 6. That under the sale by the Probate Court, plaintiffs received in quantity one-fourth of their father’s estate and in value more than one-fourth. “Conclusions of Law.— 1. That on the death of William Donovan, his surviving wife became entitled to one-half of their community property and their four children the other half, plaintiffs’ interest being one-fourth of the whole. “2. That while Mrs. Donovan could not legally convey the one-fourth sold by her to Zaugg, yet having done so, and plaintiffs having received the one-fourth in land (and more than one-fourth in value) to which they were entitled out of their father’s estate, can not recover the part sold by their mother. “ 3. That defendants are entitled to judgment for costs, etc. “As a further finding, at request of counsel for plaintiffs, I find that the allegations of defendants’ answer are sufficient to authorize proof of sale of plaintiffs’ interest by their guardian, as stated in the fourth conclusion above.” Appellees have assigned no errors, and have made no objections to the findings of the court upon the facts. On the trial defendants read in evidence the deed to Frederick Zaugg, of date May 25, 1878, to the lot in controversy. Over objections of plaintiffs, the court permitted defendants to prove, that on October 3, 1883, Gertrudes Donovan qualified as guardian of plaintiffs (then minors) in Maverick County, and on the 6th of October, 1883, filed inventory of their estates, which included one-third undivided interest in lots 36, 36), and 38, mentioned in the court’s findings; that *206 on same day of filing the inventory, she applied for an order of sale of the minors’ interest in the three lots, which was granted by the court at November Term, 1883, and report of sale of the lots to J. A. Bonnett for $500 approved by the court, February Term, 1884, all for the purpose of showing a partition of the property of the estate of William Donovan, and to show that plaintiffs were estopped. The objections of plaintiffs to the evidence were, that defendants had specially set up that there had been a partition of the estate of William Donovan in the County Court of Maverick County at the suit of plaintiffs, in which property had been allotted to them in compensention for their interest in the lot in suit, whereby they were estopped, and that the evidence was not admissible under the plea; and besides, defendants had shown no privity in the matter. Exceptions were reserved to the ruling and it is now assigned as error. The ruling was incorrect. Having alleged estoppel by partition in court, defendants were bound by the allegations, and could not avail themselves of facts other than and different from those alleged under the plea of not guilty. Shields v. Hunt, 45 Texas, 427, 428; Railway v. Whitaker, 68 Texas, 632; 51 Texas, 172, 340-343; 53 Texas, 262; 47 Texas, 220. It is insisted by appellants, that the court erred in rendering judgment, for defendants upon the ground that plaintiffs had received their full share of the estate of their deceased father, because defendants had not. connected themselves with the outstanding equity. This assignment is well taken. Defendants set up that the lot in controversy, together with lots 38, 36-|-, and 36, constituted the community property of William Donovan and his wife at the time of his death, and the court found that such was the fact, and that plaintiffs inherited one-fourth of the same upon the death of their father. It may be true that-plaintiffs have received as much in value of the estate as they are entitled to, as found by the court, and upon settlement with their mother and their coheirs it would be adjudged that their interest in the estate has been satisfied; still they are the legal owners of their inherited interest in the lot sued for, and should recover the same against persons who do not own or represent the equitable interest of the other heirs. Defendants, so far as the evidence and the findings of the court show, are mere trespassers, and have no right to call plaintiffs to account for any part of their father’s estate received by them. Defendants would be entitled to nothing on such settlement if it should be proven that plaintiffs have in fact received even more of the estate than their equitable share. The rule is, that an outstanding equity with which defendant, a mere trespasser, is not connected, can not be set up to defeat the legal title in plaintiff. Shields v. Hunt, 45 Texas, 427, 428; Johnson v. Timmons, 50 Texas, 538; Fitch v. Boyer, 51 Texas, 348. *207 We do not intend to be understood as holding that under the evidence there would be any equity against plaintiffs upon settlement with the heirs. For the errors noticed above, the judgment of the court below is reversed and the cause remanded. Reversed and remanded. Delivered April 19, 1893.