Barton v. Barton

The defendant in error, Anna Barton, filed her bill in the city court of Charleston against her husband, John J. Barton, and his infant children, praying for a construction of the will of Patrick Barton and a determination whether she had power to sell and convey, in fee simple, lands in which the testator devised to her an estate for life, which should determine if she should cease to be the wife of John J. Barton. A guardian ad litem was appointed for the infant defendants and he filed an answer for them. John J. Barton, who was executor of the will, was defaulted, and upon a hearing the…