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21 Ga. 150

Furlow v. Tillman

Supreme Court of Georgia

Decided January 15, 1857

Supreme Court of Georgia · decided 1857-01-15

In Equity, from Lee Superior Court. Decision by Judge Allen, at chambers, 23d October 1856. This was a bill filed by William J. Tillman administrator of the estate of Daniel Tillman deceased, against the creditors of said estate to marshal assets and for an injunction. The bill alleges that Daniel Tillman departed this life intestate in the year 1852, leaving a. considerable estate, consisting principally of notes, .'accounts, and judgments.

Decided 1857-01-15

¶1By the Court.

Benning, J.

¶2delivering the opinion.

¶3This Court has no doubt that such a bill as the present may be filed, after a judgment de bonis testatoris against the administrator or executor. In England, it would be a more serious question, whether it could be filed, before such a judgment. In England, among creditors of equal degree, the one that first gets judgment against the executor or administrator, has a preference over the others. And the Court, of Chanceiy, in order to favor the diligent creditor, does not grant a general injunction like that in the present case, until after there has been a judgment do. bonis testatoris. Toller on Exors. 455; Story’s Eq. § 90; 10 Ves. 39-40; 4 do. 638; the cases stated in Wms. on Exors. from 1629, to 1632, et seq.

¶4But still, we do not think, that the complainant shows a right to file this bill. There is no equity in this bill; at least none that is made apparent

¶5*153The intestate died in 1842. The administrator qualified, probably, in a short time afterwards: (he does not say when. The estate was much in debt, so much so, as to require a sale of the land. The administrator did not sell the land, until the 25th day of December 1854; and he gives no excuse whatever, for not having done so sooner. If he had sold sooner, as, taking things as they appear, he ought to have done, he would probably, have had no reason, to ask for the aid of a. Court of Equity.

¶6In the absence of all excuse for not selling the land sooner, we think that the administrator was not in a condition to ask for this injunction, or for any other relief in Equity.

¶7Consequently, we think, that the motion to dismiss the bill and injunction ought to have been sustained.

¶8Judgment reversed.

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