Francisco v. Hendricks

Breese, J. The petition filed in this ■ cause, was for the partition of certain lands, subject to certain rights of dower therein. The prayer of the petition is for partition, and “ that the life estate of the different parties entitled thereto, be set off to them in the premises, and that in case a partition cannot be made without prejudice to the respective owners, a a sale of said lands be ordered,” etc. There is no prayer that the dower of the widow be assigned her, although there is an allegation in the petition that she is endowable of all the lands. • A default was taken, and the matter of the bill referred to the master in chancery, to take proofs and report. This report found the facts stated in the petition to be true, and that appellant, Jane Francisco, was the widow of the deceased owner of the land. The court thereupon decreed that a partition should be had, and that the whole of the lands described in the petition was subject to the dower of the appellant Jane, and appointed three commissioners to make partition of the lands. The commissioners reported that the lands were so circumstanced, that a division could not be made without manifest prejudice to the proprietors; whereupon the court ordered the lands to be sold by a commissioner at public vendue, one-half to be paid down, and the balance in one year at six per cent, interest. The commissioner made the sale and reported the result to the court, whereupon, at the March term, 185T, the court entered a decree confirming the sale, and did further “ order and decree, that it being shown to the satisfaction of the court that the age of said Jane Francisco is sixty years, and of Louisa thirty-four years, the sum of $800 be paid by the said Orla 0. Richardson to the said Jane Francisco, in full satisfaction of all her interest, legal and equitable, in and to said lands.” The decree then provides for paying the other parties, and concludes thus: “And that said payments be held and regarded as full satisfaction to the parties respectively, of all their rights and interests, both legal and equitable, as well those in hand and possession and existence, as those inchoate and in expectancy ; and that all of said parties, so to receive said sums of money, are and shall ever hereafter be barred and estopped from setting up any claim to said lands by, through or under any right or title owned or had by them at the date of this decree. And the court doth further order, that the title papers of said lands shall be delivered by the said Jane Francisco, which were in her possession, to the said Seth Gates, and that she deliver up possession of the said lands described in the amended petition in this case, which are occupied by her, to the said purchaser.” This decree is erroneous, for several reasons. The bill does not seek to have the dower of the appellant assigned to her, or extinguished by the payment of a sum of money in gross. . That is not the scope of the bill. Where the court derived its authority to decree to her a specific sum of money in lieu of dower, we cannot understand. The statute on this subject does not so provide. In this case, the courthad nothing to do with the question of dower—it was not before the court for adjudication. The order of sale should have protected the rights of the widow to her dower, by directing the land to be sold subject thereto. Nor can we understand how or why the court happened to fix upon the sum of eight hundred dollars, as the value of the dower. There was no evidence or proof on that point. That the widow should be forced to take any fanciful sum a judge might direct, in lieu of her dower, would he a species of injustice having no warrant in law or equity. As we understand our statute, and the rights of a widow under it, she cannot he deprived of her dower except by her own act. If she applies to have it set off to her by metes and bounds, and the commissioners shall report that it cannot be done without prejudice to the estate, a jury must be empanneled to inquire of its yearly value and assess the same, and the court upon this finding, must render judgment that there be paid to her the sum so found, on a certain day in each and every year, during her natural life. (Scates’ Comp. 151.) This decree is in the face of the statute, and must he reversed. Decree reversed.