Dorman v. Gannon

Hardin, P. J.: Plaintiff produced' in evidence a deed executed by Stephen and Adaline Dorman to John L. Dorman, dated September 7, 1867, which conveyed some eighty-seven acres of land for the consideration of $2,800; Plaintiff then called eight witnesses, whose testimony reveals very clearly-the fact that Stephen Dorman received the $2,800 of money which belonged to his wife; and it tended strongly to support-the findings of -fact made by the trial judge, to the effect" that Adaline Dorman deposited the moneys in the' hands of her husband, Stephen Dorman, to be kept by him for her as a •deposit until she-should demand the same, and that he kept the moneys'“ from-that' time until the. time of his death for her, and held the sainé as a deposit for her during all of that time to be paid ■to her upon her demand.” The only evidence given by the defendant bearing upon the question of fact consisted of a statement made .by one Cress to the’ effect that in 1868 he called at Dorman’s house and wanted to sell a note. <£ She. (Adaline) said that her husband had her mqney, and was doing .With it as he saw fit; would probably buy the note.” The declarations and statements made by Stephen Dorman occurred during — 461 — a period of several years, and commenced shortly after he received the money, and were made •at-intervals. One of the statements made by Stephen Dorman was to one Chrisler “ on Monday or Tuesday, as. he died on the following Friday. The conversation was at his house.” The witness said : “ Then he went on and told me about the $2,800 of his wife’s money; he had taken it to keep for her; that is, the same as though she wasn’t capable of taking care of it herself; that was the substance of it; he said by God she wasn’t capable of taking c»re of it herself, and he was taking caro of it for her. I had another conversation about two years before the one spoken of ; at the saw mill; Eckles, one of the men present; he said ho had twenty-eight hundred dollars of his wife’s money, and he was taking care of it for her; that she was not capable of taking care of it herself.” After applying to the evidence the scrutiny rule laid down in Matter of Van Slooten v. Wheeler (140 N. Y. 624), to the effect that “ public policy requires that claims against the estates of the dead should be established by very satisfactory evidence, and the courts should see to it that such estates are fairly protected against unfounded and rapacious raids,” it is difficult to resist the conclusion that the evidence given on behalf of the plaintiff tends strongly to support the essential findings of fact made by the trial court. In the case from which we have just quoted comment was made upon the testimony of one Maurer, and it was said : “ The evidence of this witness was somewhat confused, and his statement about the check was drawn out by plaintiff’s counsel only after the .form of his questions had drawn his mind to what he wanted..' * ■ * * This was a casual conversation about a matter in which he had no interest. Such evidence of distant conversations has always been regarded as the most unsatisfactory and unreliable evidence.” The comments made as to that witness cannot reasonably be applied to all of the numerous declarations found in the appeal book before us. Accepting, the findings of fact made by the trial court, as evincing a reasonable interpretation of the evidence offered'by the plaintiff, the case seems to fall within the line of authorities that support the right of recovery notwithstanding the Statute of Limitations. In Payne v. Gardiner (29 N. Y. 146-169) a deposit was' clearly ■defined and a quotation was made with approval from Pothier, viz. — 462 — When a man deposits money in the hands of another to be kept "for his use, the possession of the custodian ought to be deemed the ¡possession of the owner until an application and refusal, or other ■denial of the right, for until then there is nothing adverse, and I conceive that upon principle no action should be allowed in these ■cases without a previous demand; consequently, that no limitation .'should be computed further back than such demand.” The learned judge who delivered .the opinion in the case from, 'which we have quoted said: “ A distinction exists between a mere loan and a deposit. They are governed by different rules, and, in 'the absence of any legislative prohibition or of any rule of public ■policy, parties should be permitted to take upon themselves the obligations of either form of contract which they deem proper, and the •law should give effect to their intentions when ascertained.” That case was cited with approval by Raparlo, J., in Boughton v. Flint (74 N. Y. 481). In that case it was insisted that the Statute of Limitations applied to an item of $800, and that learned .judge said : “ More than six years had elapsed from the time of the receipt of the money by the testator to the time of his death, but there was no evidence that the money had ever been demanded of him, ■or that he had refused to pay it over, or laid any claim to it hostile to that of his wife. We think .that the transaction amounted to a uimple deposit, upon which the statute would not begin to run until •a demand and refusal to pay, or some equivalent act. The money 'was not loaned to the testator at his request, but Avás being kept by him for his Avife at her request, and' he Avas not in default in not "paying it over until she should demand it, as he Avas requested to -keep it until then. (Payne v. Gardiner, 29 N. Y. 146.) ” Payne v. Gardiner (supra) was again approved in Smiley v. Fry (100 N. Y. 265). In that case $4,000 had been received, returnable on demand,” and the court held that it was in the nature of a certificate of deposit, and that “ no cause of action arose thereon until a demand was made for the sum deposited.” -And in the- course of the opinion delivered approving Payne v. Gardiner (supra) an -approval Avas also • given to Howell v. Adams (68 N. Y. 314) and Boughton v. Flint (74 id. 476). In Matter of Grandin (61 Hun, 219) it appeared that certain Turids were held by a trustee, and it was said that “ until he — 463 — repudiated the'trust, or in some way claimed title to the fund in defiance of it, there was no beginning of the running of the Statute ■of Limitations.” A somewhat similar question was involved in the case of Matter of Camp (126 N. Y. 377), and it was held that the Statute of Limitations was not a bar to proceedings requiring the party to act. In Matter of Wiltsie (12 N. Y. St. Repr. 144) certain moneys were not loaned to Wiltsie, but deposited with him, and it was said: “ He ivas the custodian of her funds, her depositary and ‘ was to. make over to her mortgages-when she demanded it done.’ ” And it was said the statute would not commence to run against her until he had refused to perform his part of the agreement. The appellant calls our attention to Mills v. Mills (115 N. Y. 80). In that case it was held that where one receives money for the use of another “Under such circumstances that it is the duty of the former to pay it over, an action for money had and received may be brought to recover it without a demand, and the Statute of Limitations begins to run from the day of the receipt of the money.” And .in reference to the party who had received the moneys it was held that: “ It was his duty at once to pay them over, and upon his failure to do so, he was liable without demand; that, therefore, the six years’ Statute of Limitations applied (Code of Civil Pro. § 382), and the action w-as barred.” We are of the opinion that the case does not come up to the. Contention of the appellant. According to the evidence upon which the trial court has acted, there was no duty resting upon the testator to pay over the money. without a demand made by his wife, if the money was received under the circumstances disclosed by the numerous declarations made by the testator. . In Sheldon v. Sheldon (133 N. Y. 1) the question -now presented to us was under consideration, and in the opinion delivered it was said: “ The only question that is open for consideration in this court is whether this important part of the finding is based upon evidence;” and the court after an extensive review of the evidence given in that case said that it did not prove the important fact “ with respeCt-tbthis specific $768,” which was the consideration for a deed executed by the husband and wife, and the money paid — 464 — to the husband. In that case there was evidence that a settlement had taken place, between the parties, and there was also some evidence to: the effect that, the .plaintiff .had received a payment by way, of a mortgage; and upon an extensive review of the evidence.it was held not to be sufficient to support the findings that were challenged. The appellant calls attention to Wood v. Young (141 N. Y. 211). In that .case the plaintiff demanded the sum of $500, and the Statute of Limitations was interposed as a defense. The plaintiff had insured her -husband’s life for $5,000, payable to her upon his death, and he died in 1876* and proofs of death were filed, and the plaintiff executed a power of attorney authorizing the defendant’s testator to receive from the company the moneys due her upon the policy, and they were actually paid to him, and “for more than ten years prior to the presentation of her claim, the plaintiff supposed and believed that her brother (the defendant’s testator) had collected and received the money.” . The learned judge says: “ The law imposed upon- him the obliga-' t-ion to pay it over to the plaintiff as soon as received, or at least within a reasonable time. There was nothing in the circumstances under which the money came to the hands of the testator from which the right or duty can be implied to hold it until actually called for by the owner. • The obligation of the party who has. received the money in such cases to j>ay it over, and his liability in an action to recover the same, without any demand before suit, has been firmly settled by a long line of cases that cannot be dis-tinguished from, this by any sound distinction.” (See cases cited in the opinion.) The appellant also calls our attention to Matter of Neilley (95 N. Y. 383). ' In the course of the' opinion it was said: “ Here was no actual deposit.' The origin of the transaction was an admitted' indebtedness' from. Alexander Waldron to- Sarah Byron-, which was actually due in 1828.” The Case differs quite; essentially from the one -at bar. Evidently the trial judge saw nothing hi the appearance or demeanor or statements of the witnesses authorizing- him to discredit their statements, and. an inspection of the record has not produced an impression that'.they falsified. On the contrary, the impression seems to be warranted, that the finding of fact- is. in — 465 — accordance with the truth of the case, as presented by the evidence in behalf of the plaintiff. Judgment affirmed, with costs. All concurred. Judgment affirmed, with costs.