Martin v. Tyree

Smith, J. In a suit between the heirs-at-law of James Murray, deceased, for partition of the real estate descended to them from him, it was, in the year 1869, amongst other things, decreed that three of these heirs should pay to Para-lee Murray, another heir, $644.54, for owelty of partition; and the said sum of money was charged as lien on the parcels of land allotted to them by the decree. Paralee was at that time-an infant, but subsequently became of age and was married to James C. Tyree. In June, 1878, she and her husband exhibited this bill against the proper parties to •enforce payment of the sum awarded to her. After the issues had been made up and depositions had been taken, but before submission of the cause, the female plaintiff died and the suit was revived in the name of her heirs and proceeded to a final decree in the Woodruff circuit court, from which an appeal has been prosecuted to this court. All the proceedings had after the suggestion of Mrs. Tyree’s death were erroneous for the want of a proper party plaintiff. The sum awarded to her to equalize the partition between her and her co-heirs was a mere money demand, charged indeed upon lands, but not partaking of the nature of realty. Upon her death it went to her personal representative and not to her heirs or distributees. The-administrator, and not the heir, is the proper party to sue for a debt due the deceased. Lemons heirs v. Rector, 15 Ark., 436; Pryor v. Reyburn, 16 Id., 671; Anthony v. Peay, 18 Id., 24; Worsham v. Field, Ib., 447; Atkins, v. Guise, 21 Id., 164; Pope’s heirs v. Boyd, 22 Id., 535; Jacks v. Adair, 31 Id., 625; Wheelan v. Edwards,, Ib., 723. The reason is, if the debtor should pay to the -heirs, he might be compelled by action to pay the same debt over again to the administrator. Our law prefers creditors to-heirs. If the dioses in action belonging to an estate could be collected by heirs, legatees or distributees, their is no security that they would be applied to the purpose, to which the law primarily destines them — the payment of the debts of the deceased. In the absence of proper parties before the court, we forbear any comments upon the merits of the controversy. Reversed and remanded for further proceedings.