Kern v. Zink

Mr. Chief Justice Lawrence delivered the opinion of the Court: This was a bill for partition, brought by a part of the children of Peter Kern, deceased, against their co-heirs. A writ of error has been prosecuted in the name of Peter and Emma Kern, two of the heirs who were made defendants, and of Robert J. Allison, who was made a defendant as lessee of part of the premises. A paper, purporting to be a release of errors, and to be executed by said Peter and Emma, has been filed with the papers in the case, but as the release has not been pleaded we can not notice it. We find, however, no substantial error in the record. The parties were properly before the court. The decree finds the facts as stated in the bill, and no objection is taken to the report of the commissioners making partition. We presume the writ of error is really prosecuted in behalf of Allison. The only ground of reversal urged by his counsel is, that a writ of possession was awarded against him in favor of Caroline Russer, one of the defendants, and it is said this is giving her affirmative relief without a cross bill. It is not claimed the lease to Allison was valid.' The complainants, in their bill, ask it to be set aside as a cloud on the common title of the heirs. The decree sets it aside, finds he has no interest in the lands, and directs that the heirs have a writ of possession. The land was then partitioned, and two of the parties, to whom the land held by Allison was allotted, took out writs of possession. There was no error iii this. The validity of the lease was brought before the court by the bill, in behalf of all the heirs, and when the court decided it to be Void, it was proper to carry that decree into full effect by giving the possession to whichever of the heirs the land might be assigned. The decree of the court below must be affirmed. Decree affirmed.