Moreau v. Moreau

Crosby, J. This is a suit in equity whereby the plaintiff seeks to recover certain sums of money from her husband. The case is before us on an appeal from a final decree sustaining a demurrer to the amended bill. The third and fourth paragraphs allege in substance that in the year 1899 the plaintiff opened an account and deposited funds in the Holyoke Savings Bank, and afterwards deposited other funds therein; that the money so deposited was her property; that the account was in the name of Rose Moreau with the further notation “ Pay to Samuel Moreau ”; that the notation or direction was placed on the account for the purpose of enabling the defendant to withdraw the same in the event that he survived the plaintiff; that the bank book remained in her possession and under her sole control until obtained by the defendant in the manner hereinafter described. The bill further alleges in substance that on or about November 9, 1909, the plaintiff opened a savings account with her own funds in the Industrial Trust Company, located at Warren, Rhode Island, and that afterwards she made other deposits therein; that all such deposits were earned by her, having been saved from household allowances or accumulated by the taking of roomers or boarders; that this account was in the name of “ Rose Moreau or Sam Moreau and payable to either or the survivor of either”; that the deposit was so made for the convenience of the plaintiff’s husband in the event he survived her, and that for her protection the bank book was retained by her until taken by the defendant. The bill further alleges in substance that on or about January 29, 1917, the defendant opened an account in the Springfield Institution for Savings in the name of “ Samuel Moreau, subject to withdrawal in whole or in part by either or the survivor of either,” Samuel or Rose Moreau; that the funds therein were all deposited by the defendant but that he informed the plaintiff he would not withdraw the same without her consent, and gave her the bank book, which was retained by her until taken by him as hereinafter described. — 113 — It is alleged that the bank books representing these deposits were at all times in the possession of the plaintiff and were secreted by her in her house until, during her absence, the defendant, “ by fraud, and with the fraudulent intention of withdrawing said funds, and depriving her of her rights therein, secured possession of said bank books, during February and March of 1921, and withdrew said funds, bringing all of said funds to Springfield; that having obtained possession of said books and said funds, and as part of his plan in securing said funds, he abandoned her on the 12th of April, 1921, and has not since contributed to her support . . . and that such funds are now in the possession or under the control of the defendant.” It is settled in this Commonwealth that “ There is jurisdiction in equity over suits between husband and wife to secure her separate property, to prevent fraud, to relieve from coercion, to enforce trusts and establish other conflicting rights concerning property.” Gahm v. Gahm, 243 Mass. 374, 376, and cases cited. The allegations of fact in the bill, which are to be taken as true for the purposes of the demurrer, show that two of the deposits were the separate property of the plaintiff; that she retained possession of the bank books representing these deposits until they were fraudulently obtained by the defendant, and that they are in his possession or control and can be traced. These allegations, if proved, are ample to warrant a decree for equitable relief. It cannot be inferred, in view of the recitals of the bill, that the plaintiff ever intended that the two deposits made by her should pass into her husband’s control or become his property. It follows that he could not lawfully withdraw them and convert them to his own use. Woodard v. Woodard, 216 Mass. 1. Carpenter v. Carpenter, 227 Mass. 288. Daniels v. Daniels, 240 Mass. 380. The demurrer being to the entire bill, we need not consider whether it could have been sustained had it related only to the allegations respecting the deposit made by the defendant in his own name in the Springfield Institution for Savings. The contention of the defendant that the case is governed by the decision in Marble v. Treasurer and Receiver General, — 114 — 245 Mass. 504, is without merit. That case presented the question whether any part of certain savings bank deposits made by husband and wife, and subject to withdrawal by either, was liable, after his death, to a succession tax under G. L. c. 65, § 1. The questions there decided have no bearing upon the rights of the plaintiff in the case at bar. The decree should be reversed and a decree entered overruling the demurrer. Ordered accordingly.