Bostian v. Milens

• Citation: 193 S.W.2d 797
• Decision Date: 11 February 1946
• Docket Number: No. 20696.,20696.
• Parties: WILLIAM B. BOSTIAN, AS TRUSTEE IN BANKRUPTCY OF BESSIE EICHENBERG, v. M.G. MILENS, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF HARRY G. MILENS, DECEASED, M.G. MILENS, CHARLES E. MILENS AND REBECCA WESTERMAN.
• Court: Court of Appeal of Missouri (US)

193 S.W.2d 797

WILLIAM B. BOSTIAN, AS TRUSTEE IN BANKRUPTCY OF BESSIE EICHENBERG, v. M.G. MILENS, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF HARRY G. MILENS, DECEASED, M.G. MILENS, CHARLES E. MILENS AND REBECCA WESTERMAN.

No. 20696.

Kansas City Court of Appeals. Missouri.

February 11, 1946.

Appeal from Jackson County Circuit Court. — Hon. John R. James, Judge.

APPEAL OF M.G. MILENS, ADMR., DISMISSED, JUDGMENT AFFIRMED AS TO THE OTHER APPELLANTS.

Myer M. Rich, Julius C. Shapiro and Walter A. Raymond for appellants.

(1) (a) The petition fails to state a cause of action entitling plaintiff to any relief under the statutes and laws of Missouri Weitzman v. Weitzman (Mo.), 156 S.W. (2d) 906, l.c. 908; Burnham v. Boyd, 167 Mo. 185, 66 S.W. 1088, 1089 (1); Odom v. Langston, 351 Mo. 609, 173 S.W. (2d) 826, 843 (18); Jones v. Peterson, 335 Mo. 242, 72 S.W. (2d) 76, l.c. 84; Messersmith v. Messersmith, 264 Mo. 610, 175 S.W. 914, 915; Old v. Heibel (Mo. Sup.), 178 S.W. (2d) 351, 354 (2); Anth v. Lehman, 144 S.W. (2d) 190, 194 (4); Wass v. Hammontree (Mo.), 77 S.W. (2d) 1006, l.c. 1010; Garrett v. Damron (Mo.), 110 S.W. (2d) 1112, l.c. 1117; Seifner v. Weller (Mo.), 171 S.W. (2d) 617, 622; Wallace v. Crank, 324 Mo. 1114, 26 S.W. (2d) 601, 602 (4); Schoonover v. Osborne, 193 Iowa 474, 187 N.W. 20, 27 A.L.R. 465, l.c. 469, 470, 472; Gottstein v. Hedges (Iowa), 228 N.W. 92, 67 A.L.R. 1218, l.c. 1221; 18 C.J. 867, Sec. 117; 26 C.J.S. 1093, Sec. 64; Brown v. Routzahn (Mo. App.), 63 F. (2d) 914, 916; Tipton v. McClary (Mo. App.), 54 S.W. (2d) 490, 494; Douglass v. Hammel, 313 Mo. 514, 285 S.W. 433, 435; Sec. 3507, R.S. Mo. 1939; McQuiddy Printing Co. v. Hirsig, 23 Tenn. App. 434, 134 S.W. (2d) 197, l.c. 199, 202; Coomes v. Finegan, 233 Iowa 448, 7 N.W. (2d) 729, l.c. 729, 733, 732; McGarry v. Mathis, 226 Iowa 37, 282 N.W. 786, 790; D'Oench v. Gillioz, 346 Mo. 179, 139 S.W. (2d) 921, l.c. 923; (b) The petition fails to state a cause of action entitling plaintiff to any relief under the bankruptcy act. 1. The renunciation was not a "transfer" within the meaning of the act. Title 11, U.S.C.A., Secs. 1, 96, 107, 110; Crenshaw v. McKinley (Mo. App.), 116 F. (2d) 877, l.c. 879; Carter v. Butler, 264 Mo. 306, 174 S.W. 399, l.c. 405; Black's Law Dictionary, Pilkington v. Wheat, 330 Mo. 367, 51 S.W. (2d) 42, 44; State ex rel. McKittrick v. Wilson, 350 Mo. 486, 166 S.W. (2d) 499, l.c. 501; Coomes v. Finegan, 233 Iowa 448, 7 N.W. (2d) 729, l.c. 730; Brown v. Routzahn, 63 F. (2d) 914, l.c. 916; Dueringer v. Klocke, 149 N.Y.S. 332, l.c. 335. 2. A share in this estate did not "vest" in Bessie Eichenberg by inheritance within six months after bankruptcy. Cook v. McCoy (Mo. App.), 118 S.W. (2d) 1043; Tipton v. McClary, 54 S.W. (2d) 490, l.c. 494; State ex rel. McKittrick v. Blair, 333 Mo. 1, 63 S.W. (2d) 64, l.c. 65, (2) Garnishment of administrator forbidden by statute. Sec. 1562, R.S. Mo. 1939; Mayne v. St. Louis Union Trust Co., 64 S.W. (2d) 843, l.c. 846; Cook v. McCoy (Mo. App.), 118 S.W. (2d) 1043, 1046; Eaton v. Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Co., 240 U.S. 427, 429, 36 S. Ct. 391, 392, 60 L. Ed. 723; Geist v. City of St. Louis, 156 Mo. 643, 650, 57 S.W. 766, 767; State ex rel. Busby v. Cowan, 232 Mo. App. 391, 107 S.W. (2d) 805, 806. (3) The interest of Bessie Eichenberg. Odom v. Langston, 351 Mo. 609, 173 S.W. (2d) 826, l.c. 835; 27 C.J. 437, Sec. 58; Austin v. Collins, 317 Mo. 435, 297 S.W. 36, l.c. 38; Ann. 133, A.L.R. 1428; Seifner v. Weller (Mo. Sup.), 171 S.W. (2d) 617, 622; Campbell v. St. Louis Union Trust Company, 346 Mo. 200, 139 S.W. (2d) 935, l.c. 937; Stoepler v. Silberberg, 220 Mo. 258, 119 S.W. 418, 422. (4) The right of Bessie Eichenberg to renounce. Ohio Nat. Bank of Columbus v. Miller (Ohio App.), 57 N.E. (2d) 717, 718; Austin v. Collins (Mo.), 297 S.W. l.c. 38; Odom v. Langston, 351 Mo. 609, 173 S.W. (2d) 826, 835. (5) The claim of a binding acceptance by Bessie Eichenberg. Seifner v. Weller (Mo.), 171 S.W. (2d) 617, l.c. 623; Schweer v. Schweer (Mo. App.), 86 S.W. (2d) 969, l.c. 973; In re Flynn's Estate (Mo. App.), 67 S.W. (2d) 771, l.c. 775; Hanssen v. Karbe (Mo. App.), 115 S.W. (2d) 109, 119, 120; Sutorius v. Mayor, 350 Mo. 1235, 170 S.W. (2d) 387, 396; Stoepler v. Silberg, 220 Mo. 258, 119 S.W. 418, l.c. 422; Seifner v. Weller (Mo.), 171 S.W. (2d) 617, 624 (16); Sanders v. Jones, 347 Mo. 255, 147 S.W. (2d) 424, 427 (5). (6) The provision of the Bankruptcy Act prohibiting transfers without consideration within a year prior to bankruptcy is inapplicable. Owens v. Owens, 347 Mo. 80, 146 S.W. (2d) 569, 577. (7) The federal court judgment does not conclude the non-appealing defendants, M.G. Milens, Rebecca Westerman and Bessie Eichenberg. Assessor v. Osbornes, 76 U.S. 567, l.c. 575; In re Barnett, 124 F. (2d) 1005, l.c. 1009; Maryland Casualty Company v. City of South Norfolk, 54 F. (2d) 1032, l.c. 1039, 5 C.J.S. 1423, Sec. 1920; 3 Am. Jur., p. 695; Odom v. Langston, 351 Mo. 609, 173 S.W. (2d) 826, 835-837 (28-31).

Harold Waxman, Hugh B. Downey and Maurice J. O'Sullivan for Bessie Eichenberg, appellant.

(1) The judgment is void and exceeds the jurisdiction of the trial court. Title 8, U.S.C.A., Sec. 800; 2 Mo. R. St. Ann., Sec. 645, p. 87; Hawkinson v. Johnston (C.C.A. 8, Mo., 1941), 122 F. (2d) 724, 728, 137 A.L.R. 694, 86 L. Ed. 555; Curtin v. Zerbst Pharmacal Co., 72 S.W. (2d) 151, Sub. 2, 154, 229 Mo. App. 82; Bostian v. Milens, 139 F. (2d) 282 (C.C.A. 8). (a) The origin of "Indefeasible Inheritance and Allegiance." II Chitty's Blackstone, Ch. IV, p. 54; 11 Encyl. Americana (1941) "The Feudal System," pp. 159, 160; 13 Encyl. Americana 261 "The English Land Law, Sources and General Characteristics"; II Chitty's Blackstone, Ch. IV, Ch. 1, p. 11; Ch. XIV, p. 199; Ch. V, p. 60; Magna Charta, 28 Mo. St. Ann. 1; 18 C.J. 805, Sec. 3, N. 75; 18 C.J. 966, Sec. 335, N. 21; 18 C.J. 867, Sec. 117; 26 C.J.S. 998, Sec. 2, and notes 27 to 31. (b) United States History of Indefeasible Inheritance and Allegiance. 27 Enc. Am. 314, General History of the United States, p. 370, Causes of the War of 1812; p. 372, The War of 1812; 13 Enc. Am. 348, 349, 352, 353, Great Britain — Diplomatic Relations with the United States; 13 Enc. Am. 261, The English Land Law, sources and general characteristics; Title 8, U.S.C.A., Sec. 800, Act of 27 July, 1868. (c) Permanent history. Ruth 4:6; Ruth 1:16, 17; St. Luke 14:27, 33; Deut. 30:19; Ecl. 15:14; Ecl. 15:18. (2) The judgment erred in denying that this appellant had the lawful right to renounce, disclaim and refuse to accept any interest as an heir of her brother who died intestate. Respondent had no power to "nullify" her renunciation. State ex rel. McClintock v. Guinotte, 204 S.W. 806, Sub. 1-5, 275 Mo. 298; Shepherd v. Murphy, 61 S.W. (2d) 746, Sub. 1, 332 Mo. 1176; McIntyre v. Hardesty, 149 S.W. (2d) 334, 347 Mo. 805; In re Hall's Estate, 160 Kan. 25, 159 Pac. (2d) 408; 2 Mo. R.S. Ann. 75-84, Ch. 3, Secs. 620-642, "Escheats"; 155 A.L.R. 1413 Ann. (3) The doctrines urged to sustain the judgment are defiant pagan sacrileges challenges the supremacy of divine power. Deut. 30:19; Ecl. 15:14, 18; Isaiah 14-12; Apoc. or Rev. 12:7, 9; Coombes v. Finnegan, 233 Iowa 448, 7 N.W. (2d) 727; McQuiddy Printing Co. v. Hersig, 23 Tenn. App. 434, 134 S.W. (2d) 197.

Nelson E. Johnson, and C.E. Thomson for respondent.

(1) Jurisdiction. United States ex rel. v. Lufcy, 329 Mo. 1224, 1231, 49 S.W. (2d) 811; Beekman Lbr. Co. v. Acme Harvester Co., 215 Mo. 221, 114 S.W. 1087, 1090, affirmed 222 U.S. 300, 56 L. Ed. 208; Board of Trade v. Johnson, 264 U.S. 1, 10, 68 L. Ed. 533; Sec. 12, Article VI, Constitution of Missouri, 1875. (a) The interest of Bessie Eichenberg, the bankrupt, in the estate of Harry C. Milens, her deceased brother, became vested in William B. Bostian, Trustee, by operation of law. Sec. 306 R.S. Mo. 1939; Love v. White, 348 Mo. 640, 643, 154 S.W. (2d) 759, 760; Richardson v. Cole, 160 Mo. 372, 376, 61 S.W. 182, 183; Byers v. Weeks, 105 Mo. App. 72, 77-78, 79 S.W. 485, 486; In re Mills Estate, 349 Mo. 611, 612, 162 S.W. (2d) 807, 813; Brewster v. Gage, Collector, 280 U.S. 327, 334, 74 L. Ed. 457, 461; Sec. 70 (a) Bankruptcy Act (11 U.S.C.A., Sec. 110a); Vantage Mining Co. v. Baker, 170 Mo. App. 457, 155 S.W. 466; 16 Am. Jur., p. 919, Sec. 138; 26 C.J.S. 1118, Sec. 76; Reardon v. Whalen, 306 Mass. 579, 29 N.E. (2d) 23, 34; U.S.F. & G. Co. v. Mathews, 207 Cal. 556, 279 Pac. 655; Succession of Garcia v. Hernandez, 270 Fed. 455; Millard v. Beaumont, 194 Mo. App. 69, 79, 185 S.W. 547, 550; Pollack v. Meyer Bros. Drug Co., (Mo. App.), 233 Fed. 861, 869; Watkins v. Bigelow, 93 Minn. 361, 101 N.W. 497; In re Mosier, 112 Fed. 138; Kleinschmidt v. Schroeter (Mo. App.), 94 Fed. (2d) 707; Ex parte Newhall (18 Fed. Cas., p. 74), Fed. Cas. 10, 159; In re Henry May, 5 A.B.R. 1, 2; Horton v. Moore (Mo. App.), 110 Fed. (2d) 189, 191; Board of Trade v. Johnson, 264 U.S. 1, 68 L. Ed. 533; In re Marsters (Mo. App.), 101 Fed. (2d) 365; Gamble v. Daniel, 39 Fed. (2d) 447. (b) The attempted renunciations by the bankrupt of her interest in her brother's estate, are void and of no effect, because an heir who takes under the statute of descents and distribution cannot renounce. Coomes v. Finegan, 233 Ia. 448, 7 N.W. (2d) 729, 732; Dueringer v. Klocke, 149 N.Y.S. 332, 335, 86 Misc. 404; Watson v. Watson, 13 Conn. 83; McQuiddy Printing Co. v. Hirsig, 23 Tenn. App. 434, 134 S.W. (2d) 197, 202; 3 Washburn on Real Property (6 Ed.), Sec. 1829; Page on Wills (Lifetime Ed.), Vol. 4, p. 138, Sec. 1401. (c) The attempted renunciation by the bankrupt of her interest in her brother's estate, is void and of no effect because prior thereto she accepted her interest in the estate and exercised dominion there over. Seifner v. Weller (Mo.), 171 S.W. (2d) 617, 622, 623; Sanders v. Jones, 347 Mo. 255, 262, 147 S.W. (2d) 424, 427; Hartman v. Chicago B. & Q.R. Co., 192 Mo. App. 271, 277, 182 S.W. 148, 151; Rhodus v. Geatley, 347 Mo. 397, 406,...