Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

53 Ind. 110

Mitchell v. Dickson

Indiana Supreme Court

Decided May 15, 1876

Indiana Supreme Court · decided 1876-05-15

<p>PARTIES.—Decedents' Estates.—Administration.—The widow of a deceased payee of a promissory note, the other heirs having assigned said note by indorsement to her, there being no debts of the decedent to be paid, and the estate having been settled without administration, may maintain an action in her own name on said note.</p>

Cited by 3 later decisions — most recently April 1892

3 state decisions

Relies on Bearss v. Montgomery · Walpole's Administrator v. Bishop · Martin v. Reed

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1876-05-15

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

Downey, C. J.

¶1The appellees executed a promissory note to Alonzo Wilcox, who afterwards died, leaving surviving him the appellant, his widow, and three married daughters. The daughters and their husbands assigned the note, by indorsement, to the appellant. There were no debts of the deceased to be paid, and the estate was settled without administration.

¶2The only question in the case is, whether the appellant could, under the circumstances, maintain an action on the note. The circuit court held that she could not. Counsel for appellees cite Walpole’s Adm’r v. Bishop, 31 Ind. 156, and insist that the action could only be sustained by an administrator of the payee of the note.

¶3Counsel for appellant cite and rely upon Martin v. Reed, 30 Ind. 218.

¶4The question turns upon the fact whether there are or are not debts to be paid. As there were no debts to be paid in this case, we hold that the appellant could recover. See, also, Bearss v. Montgomery, 46 Ind. 544.

¶5The judgment is reversed, with costs, and the cause is remanded.

/53/ind/110 · .json · Public domain