Hilda Pratt v Anita John & Ors (SC CIV APP 1 of 1976) [1977] SLSC 10 (15 July 1977)

aw SPUD NS 2. - $B TN_2u3 surRee co ~ HATS SUPREME COURT oF sTERRA LEONE SUP, OP. CLV. 2p, 4021/76 AILDA RATE : OA BHATT - APPELLANT an ANITA JOUN & ORS. - RESPONDENTS : Borthan Macaulay Q.C, with him De. W. S. Narous Jonos, | MJ, Chinvon end Berthan Macaulay Je. for the Appeltent ee Hodson Harding: for the Respondents. { gunciuners | pivessy wuKe_9.8,0. py Rilda Pratt and Anite 0, John are sisters by the same “ gotuor Mabel Tjorss Hicols, The former te 8 legitimate H asugnter and the latter an tiiegitinate daughter of their E aotaer. | Mabel Ijomna Hicols died testate in Freetown on . | ana Suptembor 1970. Probate of her Will dated 25¢h August, 1970 Lan geastea by the,Jhigh Court en Tet January, 1971 te Andte O- SS Jona ane William B.G. Faux (the pxecutors wawod 4 the Will). Bienen tjorma Nicole (nereatter referred’ te as "he toatatrix") Feel acuved by Anise shie kntte

0. John and wttda Fraze Doth & protvcsased wy @ natural daughter Holun Marke whe died intestate See eereewa on 25th August, 1969, The oniy specific devise in Fhe usaa uf the tostatrix is da the folleving terme: E wr give und devine my Reuse and end situate at © cag strect, the Mase, the Hropersy of my late natural @ cecstate, to ay natural daughter Anita Ossh Jehu for the ES pininaa Orabiod Jena and Beverly olujara John fur the tera a naga Lives ae tenants in commen and after their au of thede "aw tenants ia commen absoluvely." t goathe te thgiy omitdren ® ii gs u\ 72)

a ‘ page 2eeee {{ q Accordins te this 4 Pe acetrelethicd devine the testatrix claimed that s Helen Marke at the Maz cane aces ce nage MATKE At the Maze devenved pen hee A respoct ef which probate was granted If te the executors of the t j vet eotatrix. Accordiag te the evidence, i womutine after the deat . peasants the death of Holen Marke, Hilda Pratt moved { 2 Adutadatrater Genera: i i rater General ts administers the estate ef Helen i javke, ‘The Gate ea which the Administrater Guneral vas \ moved vas aut given in 2 in evidence ner was it disclesed whether j@ it was bofore or after the death of the testatrix. But in i ny vpindon that dues net affect the positisn, What 4s significant, is that en 17th March, 1972 the Administrater- i Gonsral wrote tv Dr. W.S. Marcus Jones, Seliciter for Hilda j Peatt in the following tenner t i BSTATE OF HELEN MARKE(DBOEASED) BASED) | T have te refer ts previous correspondence on : the atove subject-autter and to inform you that i duita Juba hae produced & Dood of Cenveyance datod : ZStn Yebruary, 1972 executed by the Government of Siorra Leone (Minister of Lands and Mines) convey the frechold of property Ne.8 King Street, The Maze, yiiverforee Village te her. This Deed du regiatored ce No.19h/72 et Page 77 Volume 251 of, the Bovks of conveyances in my Registry. - Tt would therefore new appear that thie 4 prepecty cannot form part of tho estate of the above named deceased. veurd you Let me have full yarticulare ef the cay aizagediy: Daleneing to the dsoenondieg thee T can investigate its vbereabouta, Yours faithfully, (Sea) 27 Williame __ (Sua) [intotrater Gonoral . = Section 10 of the Administration ef peuvuadbty acting under Sectien 10 6f cee iy, the Adminivtrator General published a Marasas tos Oo mn April, 1972 4 oot of the avotte on 13th April, a respect of the Civation in the Gazette om 3 evvate of Helen Marker

qo: 3 Page Beeeeee i Ss it woure oy i sear thet the Aunt nistrater General prepesed te peoceod with the adainisteati, Piney aoeies ETP cone on of the estate ef Helen Marke 48 cencorned the preyerty at the Maze : @id net fora yart of that ; aa at estate, The Atminiatrater General's etter avons te have y © Frompted Hilda Pract (hereafter called H “cae Appellant") ce tare 6 : : “ke Court actien, On 7th July, 1972 she trek out an Orisinating i vee inating Sonuens asking fer the detensination of the fiievine questions: | 1, shother en a true construction ef Section 9 : dad 10 of the Auminiatration ef Eatates sot } Cap.45 of the Laws ef Sierra Leone, 1960, i ‘tie dvoliing heuse and promises standing on } Dolencing te Helen B. Marke, deceased, i Yatestats, new develve upon the Administrater- ‘ Guneral, the third defendant herein. i

2. If the cnever ts 1 absue de in the affirmutive, 9. vaethor the same property vitheut mere, can form : part of the Botate ef Mabel Tjorms Nicels, j deceased. 5

5. Further, whether it vas competent for the saa H yubel Tjeraa Wieels deceased, te devive the same i proverty by htez WiLL te Anita Oseh Joba, the Be , vivet do JinZiR tus 1Afs, vith remainder over te : her chiJorca ss tonants~in-colimex. f 4 uw the cote of thie application are to be i eiisie red! Ia 7 a” dsp vor az nosessary and proper consequential 4 re ovine ana Orders a9 in the eixcuascances may | H be just. * qe tae eofondurty te the Originating Susans vere Antta 0, John ' ae cnn a6. ana (oe Executers ant Trustees of the Vill sue Wiliaws O° fouls) and the Administrater General (represent | * Nabei Ijerwe Hicwls) 9 ae ee), rt Aa Ampercant tu state thot the Oristnating 1 beige ae vm tho astute of Nabel Tjsrna Nicole, 4 Sunmyoa vas tavien ot ds Sune? yee iw puppertad by on affidavit svern by the i THe Senne nosing certain satariel facts ond exhibiting the F Seeakana Semiaravrix, the Probate and the Letter of the i Mae oF i ie cenrraa gated 17th Marek, 1972- i Auninstvases conrre |

e | Paste Jon (horoatter called "the veupendent#) swore to and filed i Pla asesaavst im opsenition in nich she deposed inter alia, that oo was the fso simple ewaer of the property at the Mage by virtue Tied the couveysneo referred te in the letter ef the Administrater- Ej omercd and eshititing ner Coavoyance. The appellant svere te and : Slaaca an atisevie in vepty, inter alia eahibiting « lease ef the | Gi wversty at the Nase fram the Gevernor ef Sierra Leono to Helen j The dotivn vax tried by Laweocceciiame AgsJ. Both the | sppolicut and the respondent gave eral evidence, netices of | intontiva ce creas sxanine having been previeusly served by their H recuective Selictters wn the othar side. Ina considered Judgment, ( Vijme Learned Jucge anewered the first quostien on the Sunmene in ut GB te affivastive, the secend and third questions in the negative, a ie mode she feizaving consequential preneuncenants directions } E: plet Nv.8, the Maze Wilberforce te Mrs. Anita ; rid the 28h day vf Yebruazy, 1972 de null ang veid 4 4 2, i hereby order that the records kept by the i ia Surveys and Lands Department be corrected and | i. acensed ta show that che piece er parcel of i Land kacwm as Plet 8, the Naze, Sigaall HALL i in Wiuterferee Rural Area dn the-Yestern Ares HH * sf the Republic of Sterre Leone, Leased by the i tf Goverment of Sierra Losne te Miss Helen Bertha m y insu’ deceaned <fizns day ee Sanuacy, 196148 i 3h Hew held by dmylicntien as a lease from year te 1 3) yerr as from the first day of January, 196h, i i es ontit the foo eisiyle in the sada plet of land id thsi have beon senvoyed te the Adnintatrater ! BY and Registrar Genoral for the benefit of the 2 aevato of Nios Halen Bertha Harke, deceased, q _ 8s hereinafter ergored. i

3. I further order chat Hes. Auta Oseh Joma do 3 SerfeLt to tho Coversment of Sierra Leone and 3 or and on acceunt of the ostate of the late i Nive Molen Hertha Merke all aeneye duly paid : by les (tho former) te the said Gevernment in i rocpact of and dm conncetion with the purported ! puvehasy cf tide property. i

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