Wilson v. McMillan

Root, J. This is an appeal from an order setting aside the confirmation of a sale of real estate made in a probate proceeding. The record shows that the sale of the property involved was first advertised for June 16, 1906, but there being no bidders, the sale was postponed until June 23, 1906. At the sale the property was bid in by the appellant for [379] $1,000, he being the only bidder. On June 30, 1906, the executor made his return, setting forth among other things “that the sum of '$1,000 is much less than the value of said property, but the undersigned was unable to get any other bid for the same,” and recommending the confirmation of the sále. Thereupon some of the heirs of the deceased objected to the confirmation, and with their objections a written offer by one H. N. Martin was filed, wherein he agreed in case of a resale to bid at least ten per cent over and above the $1,000, and pay the expense of such resale. The matter was continued from time to time until October 24, 1906, when Martin requested permission to withdraw the objections and his offer to bid over $1,000 at a new sale. The request was granted, and the bid and objections were withdrawn. The appellant then, without notice to the respondent or his counsel, presented an order of confirmation to the judge of the court, who signed the same. The executor, immediately unon learning of this, moved to vacate said order, as it had been made without his knowledge and at a time when he was able to secure a larger sum for the property. This motion was granted, and it is from this order that the present appeal is prosecuted. It is contended by appellant that the order of confirmation could not be set aside by the trial court in the absence of a showing of fraud or irregularity in the obtaining thereof, and that none such appears in this instance. We think there was an irregularity, and one which would approximate constructive fraud upon the estate. The “upset” bid interposed by Martin would naturally lead the executor and heirs to believe that no confirmation of the sale was to be had. When this was withdrawn and an order of confirmation taken without any notice to the executor, and at a time when higher bids were available, we think the condition of affairs existed which justified the trial court in vacating the order of confirmation thus made. Ofttimes probate proceedings, or numerous .steps [380] therein, are largely ex parte, and considerable latitude is accorded by law to the court which has supervision of such matters, to the end that the best interests of the estate may be subserved. Finding no error in the action of the court in making the order appealed from, the same is affirmed. Hadley, C. J., Crow, and Dunbar, JJ., concur. Fullerton and Mount, JJ., took no part.