Succession of Pickett v. Pickett

The opinion of the Court was delivered by McEnery, J. Nathan Pickett died in 1853, and William Pickett qualified as administrator of his- succession, and as tutor of the minor children. J. B. Gilmer was the surety on both bonds. W. M. Pickett, tbe administrator and tutor, died on tbe 8th day of July, 1866, and on the 9th day of July the attorney for the succession, ignorant of his death, filed a final account of the administration of Nathan Pickett’s succession. Oppositions to this account were filed by the heirs of Nathan Pickett, but there was no judgment rendered homologating the account, or any action taken in the case. E. S. Dortch, who was appointed and qualified as administrator of the succession of W. M. Pickett, filed a rule to show cause why the account filed by W. M. Pickett as administrator of the succession of Nathan Pickett, deceased, on July 9th, 1866, should not be homologated. The heirs of Nathan Pickett were cited, and the heirs of J. B. Gilmer, the surety on tlie bonds of W. M. Pickett as administrator and tutor. The heirs of Gilmer filed five exceptions to the motion to revive, one of which was only passed upon by tbe judge a quo, from which this appeal was taken by Dortch, administrator, et als. The exception considered by the lower court alleges that the filing [884] of the account, the homologation of •which is sought by the plaintiffs in the motion to revive, is an absolute nullity, as the administrator Pickett was dead when the account was filed. There have been several suits since the filing of the account in which it is alleged that W. M. Pickett died in August, 1866. But the fact of his death having occurred on the 8th day of July, 1866, seems to be well established, but it was not definitely ascertained and alleged until 1882, when exceptions were filed in the rule taken by the then administrator to revive and homologate the account filed July 9, 1866. The exception now under consideration, although filed in 1882, was .not tried, because of other exceptions filed and tried prior thereto, from which appeals were taken. It is alleged by the administrator and heirs of Nathan Pickett, that the heirs of Gilmer are estopped from opposing the motion to revive as the date of W. M. Pickett’s death had been alleged by them in judicial records to have occurred on the — day of August, 1866, in the suit of the heirs of G. B. Gilmer to homologate said account and to be discharged as surety, and the suit of S. W. Vance, tutor of his daughter, S. E. Vance, one of the Gilmer heirs, to revive said account and to homologate the same. We are of the opinion that the facts disclosed in this case do not justify the plea of estoppel. The suits and judicial proceedings referred to and the admissions therein in relation to the day of the death of W. M. Pickett were made in error, under the belief that the account had been filed during the lifetime of W. M. Pickett, administrator of Nathan Pickett. The attorney for the succession of Nathan Pickett filed the account believing the administrator was alive. When he applied for the administration of the succession of the deceased administrator, he perpetuated this error in alleging that W. M. Pickett died in. -August, 1866, after the date of the filing of the account. Finding this admission is a succession proceeding of which theirs were to form a part, and to which they were responsive, it was but natural that they should look among said records for facts relating to all matters connected with the succession. The heirs of Gilmer did not originate the fact as stated, but adopted it, from other judicial records to which they had a right to look for information. It was the recital of an alleged fact by them which they found in an administrator’s account, alleging the existence of the administrator, whose account by public advertisement and notice they were invited to scrutinize and were thus led to believe that the accountant was alive when the account was filed and opposition by the heirs made thereto. Parties are held to the allegation which they make in judicial pro [885] ceedings and they are not permitted to deny what they have solemnly declared to be a fact. But to this rigid rule there are exceptions and the present case comes within them. What object could be accomplished by the revival of the account and opposition and the suit of S. W. Vance et als. vs. James A. Pickett? It is evident that the administrator of W. M. Pickett can not administer as such administrator the succession of Nathan Pickett. Only an administrator appointed for that purpose can administer that succession. If the deceased administrator of Nathan Pickett’s succession owes that succession any money or property, or is responsible for maladministration, the administrator of said succession, or the heirs, must bring suit against the succession of the deceased administrator. After the death of W. M. Pickett the succession of Nathan Pickett was without an administrator. No one could act for that succession, and the account filed when W. M. Pickett was dead is an absolute nullity. It never had any existence, and can be given none by any judicial proceeding. No judicial proceedings can be carried on in the name .of a deceased person. No valid judgment can be rendered for or against him. If the account filed July 9th, 1866, were received, there would follow of necessity a judgment against W. M. Pickett, as the administrator of Nathan Pickett. It would be an absolute nullity. 29 Ann. 650; 34 Ann. 520. We conclude that the account filed July 9th, 1866, in the succession of Nathan Pickett and the opposition filed thereto, and the suit of the Gilmer heirs to revive and homologate said account are absolute nullities, as W. M. Pickett, the administrator, was dead when said account was filed. Judgment affirmed.