Flint v. Steadman

Barrett, J. The defendant conveyed lands to the plaintiff by deed, March 19, 1855, in which he covenanted that “until the ensealing of such deed he was the sole owner of the premises.” This suit is brought for an alleged breach of said covenant. It appears that Joseph Bigelow had conveyed said premises in 1848, to Sarah Thayer, “in trust for the heirs of Henry G* Thayer, to be deeded to them when requested by said Henry G. and to said heirs, heirs and assigns forever.” Habendum “to said Sarah Thayer in trust for Henry G. Thayer’s heirs and their assigns, to their own use and behoof forever.” Covenanting “ with the said Sarah Thayer and the children of said Henry G. Thayer, their heirs and assigns.” Said Sarah, the grantor in said trust deed, in 1853 conveyed the premises to Henry G. Thayer by deed of warranty, and said Henry G. and his wife Sally conveyed the same premises to the defendant — by warranty deed — February 1855. The alleged breach of the defendant’s covenant consists in the right and interest of Henry G. Thayer’s children in said premises under and by virtue of said deed in trust of Joseph Bigelow to said Sarah. — 215 — It appears that said Sarah executed a deed in 1858 to the heirs of Henry G. Thayer and Sally Thayer — her then husband joining her in said deed — which was one of warranty. It also appears that said Henry G. was the son of said Sarah Thayer. It is claimed in defence that the trust part of the deed is void, for the reason that there were no cestuis que trust in existence— viz, heirs of Henry G. Thayer — and this is because Henry G. was then and is still living, and nemo haeres viventls. Under this point it is claimed that the deed shall be construed, as intending heirs, in distinction from children. It is now to be regarded as the true doctrine of the law, that in construing an instrument of this kind the sense in which the term heirs is to be taken, is to be governed by the intention, if manifest on the face of the instrument, or if ambiguous, by the aid of such light as extrinsic circumstances may afford. In case of inconsistent or doubtful expressions, the construction should be such as that the whole instrument may have effect in accomplishing the purposes and intentions of the parties, rather than that the whole or any part should be rendered nugatory. Again in passing upon a question of construction, all parts of the instrument are to be taken into account. Acting upon these familiar ideas, in the first place the clear intention is manifest to create a trust, for it is so explicitly expressed, — and that too in favor of somebody competent in law to be so the objects of such trust as to iLphold and effectuate it. The object of that trust is designated by the word heirs of said Henry G. Thayer. Ry the strict technical meaning of that word there could be no such while said Henry G. was living. Rut by the known popular sense in which that word is used there may be, and of that sense the court will take notice. It may in that sense mean any persons in existence who bylaw might take by inheritance from said Henry G. in case of his decease. It then is to be enquired whether the deed itself indicates what persons standing in that relation were intended by the word heirs. In looking into the covenanting part of the deed, it is found — 216 — that the grantor covenants with the grantee in trust, and with the children .of the said Henry G. their heirs and assigns. This would seem to render certain what and who was meant by the term heirs. And still further to show sufficiently, prima facie at least, that such persons were then in existence, as the objects and beneficiaries of the trust. So that standing upon the face of the deed alone a valid conveyance in trust seems to be established. This being so, it would seem that if the defendant would rid himself of the consequences of such a trust estate, the burden would rest on him of showing affirmatively the lack of persons in existence entitled to stand as cestuis que trust. Counsel for defendant made the point that in determining this question of construction they might call in aid the subsequent conduct of the parties — and this they did by referring to the deed of said Sarah and her husband to “the heirs of Henry G. and Sally Thayer.” This expression in that deed instead of favoring the idea of ■defendant’s counsel in respect to the sense in which the term heirs is used, clearly indicates that it was used to indicate the .children oí said Henry G. and Sally — for in order to be the heirs of both it is matter of almost legal necessity that they should be .their, children. But if resort be had to facts outside of the face of the deed, as it is legitimate to have, in order to aid in a construction of ambiguous' terms and equally to show the existence of the subject matter to which the deed may be applicable and which is necessary in order that the deed may .have effect, the ease fairly shows that in point of fact children of said Henry G. were in existence at the time said deed of trust was executed — and the implication is that they are still continuing to live until the contrary is shown. We are therefore compelled to hold that said property became charged with the trust for the behoof of the children of said H. G. Thayer, by the deed of said Bigelow to said-Sarah Thayer. It will follow hence, that unless said trust has been discharged — 217 — from said premises, or the defendant took- conveyance o'f them in such way as to hold them free of the charge of said trust, he must -be chargeable with the effect of such trust charge, upon his covenant of ownership. The points of defence made on each of these grounds in the argument are properly to be disposed of under a single view. The deed creating the trust in express terms was duly recorded, and thus constituted notice to all persons subsequently becoming interested in the premises of. the true character and state of the title and interest conveyed and created thereby. This is so familiar- a doctrine of the law, and so often asserted and applied in’ the cases reported, as to render needless any discussion or reference to authority. This being so, it must be held that the defendant took his conveyance of said premises, charged with notice of the title and interest of the children of Henry G-. Thayer therein, and hence took and held his own title in subjection to that'title and interest of said children. Hill on Trustees 282; Ib. 509 ; 2 Story Eq. § 977 ; Pownal v. Myers et al., 16 Vt. 408. If therefore he would stand relieved of the effecljof- the title and interest created by said trust deed, it rests on him to show that in point of fact it has been discharged in some recognized by the law. t' The mere fact of a conveyance by the trustee'by'deed of warranty has no tendency to do that, for such fact predicates no inference that it was' done with the assent of the eestms que trust. Indeed being charged with a knowledge of the existence of the trust, whether it has been discharged or not is matter m pais as to him, and he is bound at his peril to ascertain how the fact is, and to show such discharge before he can claim immunity in that respect. The same principle would be applicable if we were to assent to the proposition, that if the certv/is que trust were not sui jwis, the trustee might therefore convey the premises to the grantee •without their assent, and he might hold them acquit of the trust, For it would still be incumbent on him to show in such case the — 218 — fact that they were not sui juris, as well as in the other to show the assent of the cestms que trust. Neither of which facts is shown in this case. But in what is thus said, though we regard it conclusive upon the points made in the argument in these respects, we do not wish to leave any ground for supposing that we assent to the doctrine, that a trustee holding a legal trust estate, created in express terms, and for the behoof of certain definite persons and purposes, can by a common deed of warranty, convey the title to a third person, and by reason of the cestuis que trust not being sui juris relieve the property of the trust charge, and leave the beneficiary to rely on the personal responsibility of the trustee. Indeed what is said in the books and cases bearing on this proposition, and seeming to give continuance to the idea, has sprung from cases in the courts of equity, and involving questions of the fidelity of • parties in conveyances made by ■‘hem, and of the rights of grantees in such conveyances as affected by the manner in which the interests’ of such cestuis que trust have been secured by such conveyances. 2 Story Eq. 518. No case at law can be found, we think, in which it lias been held that the rights and interests of cestuis que trust legally created and manifested in real estate, can be affected by a conveyance of such estate by the trustee, without their assent, any more in the cases of minors cestms, than of persons of full age. The result of these views is that we hold that there was a breach of the covenant declared on. The remaining point of exception, is the rule and measure of damages adopted by the county court. In Sedgwick on Damages p. 176, it is said “The general rule on the covenant of seizin undoubtedly is, that the vendor recovers his consideration money and the interest; on the ground that this is his actual loss. But when it is apparent that his loss has been really less, he is limited to the amount of injury sustained.” 4 Kent’s Com. 475, says “ The buyer on the covenant of seizin recovers back the consideration money and interest, and no more. The interest is to countervail the claim for mesne profits, to — 219 — •which the grantee is liable, and is and ought to be commensurate in point of time with the legal claim to mesne profits.” Baylies, J., in Richardson v. Dorr, 5 Vt. 9, says : “ The general rule by which to estimate the damages for the breach of this covenant is the consideration paid for the land, and interest, but to this rule there are exceptions.” This has always been in this State regarded as the general rule — and indeed it.is not questioned by the defendant’s counsel. But they claim that the present case furnishes occasion for modifying its application. The county court did modify it in favor of the defendant by disallowing interest to the plaintiff on the.amount of the purchase money paid. There is ground to doubt the propriety of this modification, if the plaintiff should be regarded as liable to account to the cestuis quo trust for the mesne profits, during his occupancy. All-' iW'hazard of liability in that respect is assumed by the plaintiff, by the covenant in the deed he gave to the defendant, pursuant to the condition imposed by the court upon which the rendering of the judgment in his favor was -made dependent. Obviously the county court regarded that the manner in which the premises had been held and treated would relieve him from accountability ; and so his use of them offset the interest on his purchase money. We see no occasion in anything developed in the case for making any further modification of the rule. When the defendant was reinvested with the same title that he had conveyed to the plaintiff by his deed .in which the false warranty was contained, and indemnified against liability for mesne profits to the persons holding the. title that operated the breach of his covenant, during the time the premises were in the use of the plaintiff, it would seem that he had no just ground of complaint. It seems to us indeed that the condition imposed upon the plaintiff’s right to judgment for his purchase money stands upon the extreme verge of the law on this subject, and would give occasion rather to him than to the defendants of questioning the strict legal propriety of the decision made by the county court. The judgment is affirmed.