In re HEIRSHIP OF ATKINS

In re HEIRSHIP OF ATKINS
1934 OK 353
33 P.2d 799
168 Okla. 645
Case Number: 23835
Decided: 06/12/1934
Supreme Court of Oklahoma

In re HEIRSHIP OF ATKINS. WADSWORTH et al.
v.
RUST, Adm'r, et al.

Syllabus

¶0 1. Bastards--Children of Void Marriage Inherit From Father.
Where a man and woman attempt to marry 'and go through all the formal requirements of law, living together as husband and wife, and have issue, said issue will inherit from their father even though the attempted marriage was void under our law. Atkins et al. v. Rust, 151 Okla. 294, 3 P.2d 682.
2. Same--Statutory Provision.
Under the latter part of section 11303, C. O. S. 1921, which provides "* * * The issue of all marriages mill in law, or dissolved by divorce, are legitimate," Children born of an absolute void marriage inherit from their father. Atkins v. Rust. 151 Okla. 294, 3 P.2d 682.

Application to File Second Petition for Rehearing Denied September 11, 1934.

Appeal from District Court, Wagoner County; E. A. Summers. Judge.

In the matter of heirship of Billie Atkins, deceased; W. H. Rust, administrator. From judgment in favor of Ed Atkins and others, minors, by guardians, Mitchell Wadsworth and others appeal. Affirmed.

Woodward & Westhafer, Chas. B. Rogers, and W. L. Ransom, for plaintiffs in error.
Newton & Pinson and E. L. Kirby, for defendants in error.

BUSBY, J.

¶1 This is the second time the parties to this controversy have presented to this court the question: Can the children born as a result of a void marriage or purported marriage between a negro woman and a white (Indian) man be treated in law as the legitimate offspring of the white (Indian) man?

¶2 This question was answered in the affirmative by the first decision of this court. In re Atkins' Estate. also styled Atkins' et al. v. Rust et al., 151 Okla. 294, 3 P.2d 682. In that case the question was presented in an appeal which determined who could be administrator of the estate of Billie Atkins. In this case the question is presented on appeal from a judgment determining that the issue of the void marriage should participate in the distribution of the estate. The essential facts are stated in the former decision. and will not be restated herein. The question of law is the same. Individually, the writer of this opinion is not in accord with the decision in the former case, but recognizes the same as the established law of this state. The established law in connection with a matter which may affect the title to real estate should not be changed by judicial decision.

¶3 The decision of this court in Re Atkins' Estate. supra, will be followed in the case at bar, the syllabus adopted by the court in that case will be adopted herein, and the judgment of the trial court, which is in accord therewith, is hereby affirmed.