Schulenburg v. Evans

Sherwood, Judge, delivered the opinion of the court. A claim was presented for allowance in the “Common Pleas Court,” of Cass county, against the estate of Torry, deceased; but judgment going in favor of the administrator of said estate, a writ of error was sued out, whereby the cause was taken to the Cass Circuit Court, where, upon motion of defendant, after assignment of and joinder in error, the writ of error was dismissed on the. ground that such writs did not lie “ in matters pertaining to probate business ;” and the correctness of this ruling is the only point for otir consideration which the record presents. And an examination of § 23 of the law organizing the Common Pleas Court, will speedily relieve the case of .any fancied difficulty. That section provides, that: “ The Circuit Court of Cass county shall have a superintending control over the said Court of Common Pleas, and appellate jurisdiction from its final judgments and decisions, by appeal or writ of error, which shall- be allowed and presented in the [43] manner and with the effect prescribed by law in cases of apjieal or writ of error from the Circuit to the District Court.” This section, it will at once be perceived, is broad enough to embrace all eases, over which the Common Pleas Court has jurisdiction, whether involving probate or other matters. The law makes no distinction and gives no preference to. one class of suitors over any other, but grants the same facilities for an appeal or writ of error, to the claimant against an estate, as it does to him who files his petition and brings his suit; and the law must therefore be our guide. All courts of mere statutory origin are hut creatures of the legislative will. This subject has heretofore very frequently received consideration at our hands, and the power of the legislature to deal with these courts in any manner not inconsistent with the organic law of the State, always maintained. (See Harper vs. Jacobs, 51 Mo., 296; Ross vs. Murphy, 55 Mo., 372; Smith vs. Guerant, Id.. 584.) In consequence of these views, the judgment must he reversed and the cause remanded. Judge Vories absent; the other judges concur.