Tennant v. Headlee

Woods, Judge : The appellant, by his counsel, has assigned 22 grounds of error in the decrees complained of; but, from the view we have taken, it is only necessary to consider the sixth cause assigned, for, if that is sustained, it must be conclusive of this controversy. The sixth cause of error assigned, which in effect includes all the others, is in these words: “ The court erred in said final decree because said report and decree were not warranted by the evidence in the cause.” As already shown, we must- bear in mind that, from the — 591 — defendant’s exceptions to the commissioner’s report, all the depositions taken by him, and all the exhibits which were presented to and filed by him with said depositions, as well as the pleadings in the cause, and exhibits filed therewith, which were before him as evidence in making his report, are now before us, as they also were before the Circuit Court upon the hearing of the cause; and from this evidence and these proofs we are to determine whether the final decree is warranted by the evidence in the cause, and if not, whether any decree can be rendered in favor of the plaintiff upon the demand set out in his bill. Many witnesses have been examined on both sides touching the items of debit and credit entered against and in favor of the defendant as set forth in the commissioner’s report; but touching the genuineness and validity of the article of agreement alleged by the defendant to have been executed by himself and said James M. Headlee, dated October 2,-1884; and touching the mental capacity of James M. Headlee to enter into such a contract. The depositions of these witnesses cover more than 325 pages of the printed manuscript in this cause, and in regard to these questions much of it is exceedingly unsatisfactory and conflicting; and remembering the well-established rule in such cases, where the findings of the commissioner have been approved by the trial • court, this Court will sustain the decree unless the findings of the commissioner are clearly wrong. Boyd v. Gunnison, 14 W. Va. 1; Graham v. Graham, 21 W. Va. 698; Handy v. Scott, 26 W. Va. 710. The report of the commissioner, as well as the final decree ignore the pretensions of the defendant that he was entitled to retain as his own the unexpended residue of the trust-fund after the payment of the trust-debts, and the necessary charges incurred in the execution of the trust; and without expressing any opinion in regard to his conclusions, or the grounds upon which they rest, yet we are not at liberty in such a case as this to set his findings aside, even though upon full examination of the evidence we come to a dilferent conclusion. In Doonan v. Glynn, 28 W. Va. 715, this Court decided ‘‘ that where the decree sought to be reversed is based upon — 592 — depositions, which are so conflicting and of such a doubtful and unsatisfactory character that different minds and different judges might reasonably disagree as to the facts proven by them, the appellate court will decline to reverse the decree, though the testimony may be such that it might have pronounced a different decree if it had acted upon the case in the first instance.” See, also, Pritchard v. Evans, supra, p. 137—(5 S. E. Rep. 461); Smith v. Yoke, 27 W. Va. 639. It appears from the commissioner’s report, that after the defendant had been allowed credit for all disbursements on account of the preservation and management of the trust property, there remained in his hands, of the $2,725.47 with which he was charged, the sum of $2,282.64, applicable to the payment of the debts secured by the trust-deed. Of this balance the commissioner reports, that the defendant paid to the Second National Bank its debt of $100.00, and to John Howard $138.13, in discharge of his debt of $125.00, both of which debts are secured by said trust-deed; leaving $2,044.51 to be applied ratably to the satisfaction of the debts secured to the Wheeling and Baltimore creditors. The trust-deed secured to Kraft Bros. & Rosenburg, $240.24; to Robert Simpson, $201.16; to Greer & Laing, $166.18; to Speyer Bros., $162.55; to' Harper & Bro., $76.28; to Laughlin Bros. & Co., $51.53; to M. Gutman & Co., $89.00; to G. W. Johnson, $21.60; and to Wheat & Naylor, $17.75, —amounting, in the aggregate, to the sum of $1,026.29. These are denominated and referred to in the commissioner’s report as the “ Wheeling creditors.” It also secures to Daniel Miller & Co., $310.98; to Chas. Duval & Co , $90.30 ; to Carroll, Adams & Co., $77.05; to H. & E. Hartman & Co., $510.55; and to Johnson, Sutton & Co., $118.86,— amounting, in the aggregate, to $1,107.74. These are denominated and referred to in the commissioner’s report as the “ Baltimore creditors.” The unexpended balance of the trust-fund in the hands of the defendant, when applied to the satisfaction of the amounts secured to the Wheeling and Baltimore creditors, $89.51, is chargeable upon the real estate mentioned in said trust-deed. The report of the commissioner shows that the defendant, — 593 — as such trustee, on the 5th of December, 1884, paid to said Wheeling creditors, on their several debts, the sum of $256.57; and on the 30th of December, 1884, he paid said Baltimore creditors, on their several debts,- the sum of $830.80; and on the 16th of January, 1885, he paid said Wheeling creditors, on their several- debts, the further sum of $513.15; and refers to the vouchers for these payments furnished by the defendant, designated by him as “ Receipt 2, 3, and 1.” No other payments were made to the Wheeling or Baltimore creditors' upon their several trust-debts. These sums so paid amounted to $1,600.53, which was precisely seventy five per cent, upon the aggregate amount of their several trust-debts. The remaining twenty five percent. of their debts, viz., $533.57, still remains unpaid, and the same is a trust-lien on the unexpended balance of $443.99, remaining in the hands of the defendant as such trustee, and upon the real estate conveyed by said deed of trust still remaining unsold. It therefore becomes a matter of the first importance in this controversy to determine what right,.if any, the plaintiff has to demand that this sum of $443.99 shall be paid to him as part of the estate of his intestate, James M. Headlee. If it should appear that these Wheeling -and Baltimore' debts have not been in fact paid in full, or have been assigned to third parties, though for the consideration of seventy five per cent, of their face value, such assignment would pass to the assignee the right to receive payment thereof from the defendant as trustee, and he, and not the administrator of .the estate of James M. Headlee, would alone be entitled to demand and receive the same. It will not be controverted that if the trustee had procured the consent of the creditors to abate any portion of their several demands, and had they accepted in satisfaction of their demands less than the full value thereof, such abatement would have inured to the benefit of the debtor’s estate; but in every case, whether the abatement inures to the benefit of the debtor’s estate, or to the benefit of any person other than the trustee, he can only receive credit for the moneys actually paid out by him in the purchase or satisfaction of the trust-debt. — 594 — The defendant, in his answer avers, that “as such trustee he executed in good faith all the duties devolving upon him, and, before the year after said trust was given, he fully paid off his said son’s indebtedness, as to the Wheeling and Baltimore creditors, in said trust named, by compromise of their respective claims at seventy five cents on the dollar, and only charged his son’s estate with the sum so paid, and the other creditors therein named were paid in full.” All the testimony in this voluminous record was taken by the commissioner upon the execution of the order of reference. The first and the principal witness introduced and examined by the plaintiff was George C. Sturgiss, who proved that he had been a practicing lawyer since 1863; that-he prepared the said deed of trust; that he was then and afterwards the counsel of all the Baltimore and most of the Wheeling creditors; that he was counsel for the defendant trustee, representing the interest of the creditors and the wife, subsequently the widow and children, of James M. Headlee, who died a month or two after the execution of the deed of trust; that.some propositions were submitted to the Baltimore and Wheeling creditors by the trustee looking to the early payment of their claims, in consideration of the abatement of their amounts. “These negotiations were carried on through me, acting as counsel for the creditors, and for the trustee, and resulted in an arrangement that was deemed by myself and the creditors mutually and highly beneficial to the creditors, and the widow and heirs of James M. Headlee, who in the mean time had departed this life. Stephen M. Headlee paid off these Wheeling and Baltimore creditors with seventy five cents on the dollar of their claims about the last of December or early in January following, and they delivered to him, through our firm, (Berkshire & Sturgiss,) receipts in full for their claims, in consideration of the payment aforesaid, with an assignment or transfer of the same, so far as the remaining twenty five per cent, was concerned, for the benefit of the widow and heirs of James M. Headlee. I think the receipts which I delivered to Stephen H. Headlee contained a full statement of the amount of the claims, and the amount paid by him on them, and they were drawn with his assent and — 595 — approval, so as to give the benefit of the discount or abatement to the widow and heirs in case any of the other Wheeling and Baltimore- creditors should refuse to enter into a like agreement in case the estate should fail to pay out in full.” The defendant was also examined as a witness on his own behalf, who, upon cross-examination by the plaintiff’s counsel, in answer to the question : “State whether or not, when ’you paid the creditors named and secured in the deed of trust, you took and received vouchers and receipts for said amounts so paid by you,” answered: “I did; or Sturgiss and I did together.” In answer to the question on cross examination : “Who has said vouchers and receipts at this time ?” he stated : “I have them in my possession.” And being further asked on cross-examination “What objection, if any, have you to filing them with your deposition ?” answered: “I have no objection and want them filed;” and he thereupon filed with the commissioner three receipts, marked, respectively, “Receipt No. 1,” “Receipt No. 2,” and “Receipt No. 3.” These several receipts are in the words and figures following: PAPER MARKED “RECEIPT No. 1.” “The undersigned creditors of J ames M. Headlee, deceased, late of Blacksville, W. Ya., to whom said Headlee was indebted as follows, viz.: Kraft Bros, and Rosenburg. $240 24 Robert Simpson.'.. 201 16 Greer & Laing. 166 18 Speyer Bros. 162 55 Harper Bros. 76 28 Laughlin Bros. & Co. 51 53 M. Gutman & Co.”,. 89 00 G. W. Johnson. 21 60 Wheat & Naylor. 17 75 “Aggregating the sum of. $1,026 29 —“And on which twenty five per cent, has heretofore and since the death of said J ames M. Headlee been paid out of his estate by Stephen H. Headlee, trustee in a deed of trust executed by him in his lifetime upon all his estate to secure the debts due to all of his creditors, hereby agree to accept the — 596 — sum of fifty per cent, of each of our debts as orignally due in full satisfaction of our respective debts upon the following basis in consideration of the payment of following sums to us respectively, viz: Kraft So Rosenburg.. $120 12 Robert Simpson. 100 88 Greer & Laing. 83 09 Speyer Bros. 81 27½ Harper & Bros. 38 14 Laughlin Bros. & Co, 25 76½ M. Gutman & Co. 44 50 G. W. Johnson. 10 80 Wheat & Naylor.... 8 87½ • “Aggregating the sum of. $513 15 “ — Receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged from Stephen H. Headlee. We assign, transfer and sell to said Headlee our respective claims and debts above described in trust for the sole and exclusive use and benefit of the widow and infant heirs of said James M. Headlee, deceased, after the said Stephen H. Headlee shall have been reimbursed his money actually expended by him in paying to us the above-named several sums; the true intent and meaning of this assignment being to give to the said widow and infant children the benefit of the compromise of above-recited claims. Witness the following signatures this 14th day of January, 1885. “Wheat & Naylor. “Kraut BROS. & ROSENBURG. “M. Gutman & Oo. “Laughlin Beos. & Oo. “Geo. W. Johnson’s Sons. “Geeee & Laing. “Speyer Bros. “RobeRt Simpson. “Harper Bros.” — 597 — PAPER MARKED “RECEIPT No. 2.” “ Wheeling, W. Va., JDec. 5th, 1884. “List of creditors, in the city of Wheeling, of J. M. Head-lee, deceased: Kraft Bros. & Rosenburg. $240 24 Robert Simpson ... 201 16 Greer & Laing. 166 18 Speyer Bros. • ■ • 162 65 Harper Bros. 76 28 Laughlin Bros. 51 33 M. Gutman & Co. 89 00 G. W. Johnson. 21 60 "Wheat & Haylor. 17 76 “$1,026 29 “We, the undersigned, hereby acknowledge the receipt of twenty five^er cent, of our respective claims as enumerated above; being first dividend on the same. In witness whereof we hereby affix our names, with the amount of the dividend. Said amounts are paid by Mr. S. H. Headlee, assignee. “ Kraut and RosenbuRG, sixty and .08-100.. $60 06 “ ROBERT Simpson, fifty and 29-100 50 29 “ HARPER Bros., nineteen and 07-100 . 19 07 “ Speyer Bros., forty 64-100 . 40 64 “ Greer .& Laing, forty one and 54-100 .... 41 54 “ M. Gutman & Go., twenty two 25-100 ... 22 25 “ Laughlin Bros. & Co., twelve 88-100. 12 88 “ Wheat & Naylor, four 44-100 . 4 44 “ Geo. W. Johnson’s Sons, five 40-100 .... 5 40 “$256 57” Paper Marked “ Receipt No. 3.” “The following creditors of James M. Headlee, deceased, late of Blackville, Monongalia county, West Virginia, to whom said Headlee’s estate is indebted, as follows: To Daniel Miller & Co. $310 98 Chas. Duval & Co.■ 90 30 Carroll, Adams & Co. 77 05 H. & E. Hartman & Co. 510 55 Johnson, Sutton & Co. 118 86 “All of Baltimore, Md., — aggregating. $1,107 74 — 598 — “ In consideration of the sum of eight hundred and thirty dollars, being at the rate of seventy-five per cent, of each of said claims paid to us on said claims, pro rata, by Stephen H. Headlee, do hereby sell, assign, ti’ansfer to said Stephen H. Headlee, in trust for the use and benefit of the widow and infant heirs of said James M. Headlee, the several claims above named, with the accounts and other evidences of said indebtedness, but without recourse either in law or equity upon us, or either or any of us, in any way or manner whatever. The true intent of this assignment is that said Stephen H. Headlee shall take and hold said claims in trust as aforesaid, after reimbursing himself for the amount actually advanced and paid by him to us out of his own separate estate and moneys, and that the abatement made to us in the amount due us,respectively, shall not inure or go to the benefit of said Stephen H. Headlee, or any of the creditors of said James M. Headlee, deceased, either directly or indirectly. Given under our hands this 8Qth day of December, 1884. “ Daniel Milled & Go. “Johnson, Sutton & Go. “ OaRRoll, Adams & Go. “ H. & E. HaRtman & Go. “ Ghables Duval & Go.” Thus it clearly appears on the face of the report of the commissioner and from the three receipts hereinbefore set forth and referred to by him as the vouchers, upon which he allowed the trustee credits for the amounts specified therein, as well as from the testimony of George 0. Sturgiss, introduced and examined on behalf of the plaintiff, and from the testimony of the defendant elicited upon his cross-examination, that twenty five per cent, of the debts due to said Wheeling and Baltimore creditors, amounting to the said sum of $533.51, has never in fact been paid, discharged or released for the benefit of the estate of James M. Headlee or any of the creditors thereof. These Wheeling and Baltimore creditors; by the very terms of their assignments of twenty five per cent, of their respective claims to the said Stephen H. Headlee in trust for the use and benefit of the widow and infant heirs of the said James M. Headlee, deceased, declared that “ the true intent of the — 599 — assignment isj that Stephen H. Headlee shall take and hold said claims in trust as aforesaid after reimbursing himself for the amount actually advanced and paid by him out of his own separate estate and moneys, and the abatements made by us shall not inure or go to the benefit of the said Stephen H. Headlee or any of the creditors of the said James M. Headlee, deceased, either directly or indirectly.” These assignments were prepared and executed, (and the moneys specified therein paid by Stephen H. Headlee,) within less than three months from the death of James M. Headlee by the witness George O. Sturgiss, a lawyer having had twenty one years’ experience in his profession, acting at the time as the counsel of said creditors and said trustee; and, as he testifies, they were prepared “ with the approval and assent of Stephen H. Headlee, so as to give the benefit of the discount to the widow and heirs of James M. Headlee.” By this act of these creditors no others were injured. All their debts were amply secured by the trust-deeds. They had the right to claim and collect the whole. They had the right to assign the same in whole or in part for the benefit of the widow and infant children of their deceased debtor, and in assigning to Stephen H. Headlee twenty five per cent, of claims to hold in trust for the exclusive benefit of said widow and infant children they in equity transferred the security afforded to them by the deed of trust for that much of their several debts, and the estate of James M. Headlee could have no interest therein, and as a consequence thereof the trustee was precluded from applying any portion of said twenty five per cent■ of said debts to the satisfaction of any debt due to him from James M. Headlee at the time of his death, or to reimburse him for any moneys subsequently expended by ■ him in the payment of debts due by him to other persons, not included in said deed of trust. It follows as a natural result from these facts, that the sum of $443.99 ascertained by the report of the commissioner, as reformed and modified by the final decree, belongs wholly to the said widow and infant children; and that, unless otherwise paid to them, they alone are entitled to receive the $443.99 ascertained by the final decree to remain in the hands of the defendant, out of the trust-fund aiising from — 600 — the sale of the personal property mentioned in the deed of trust, and that no part of said $443.99 belongs to the plaintiff as the administrator of James M. Headlee. The plaintiff not haying excepted to the commissioner’s report must be considered as having admitted that no greater amount of the trust-fund than $443.99 remains in the hands of the defendant as trustee; and, that sum being less than the unpaid residue of said trust-debts which was assigned for the use and benefit of said widow and infant children, secured to them by the deed of trust., it follows that the Circuit Court erred in decreeing, that the same should be paid to the plaintiff. There is nothing in this record to justify the imputation that the defendant was chargeable with want of diligence or good faith in the execution of the deed of trust, and in the payment of the several debts secured thereby; and it is not even pretended, that he was chargeable with any greater sum than the $2,725.47 of the trust-fund with which he is charged in the commissioner’s report. On the contrary it is apparent upon all the facts in this record, that the defendant in the discharge of the duties of such trustee proceeded with usual diligence, and must have advanced more than $1,000.00 of his private funds in payment of the charges upon said trust-funds. This defendant was guilty of no negligence in the dischárge of his duties, and the pretension of the plaintiff that lie has been hindered and delayed in the administration of the estate of his intestate by any want of diligence on the part of the defendant, has been shown to be unfounded.. Having reached the conclusion, that the plaintiff has failed to show himself entitled to any of the relief prayed for, we deem it unnecessary to determine any other of the numerous grounds of error assigned by the appellant, and in regard to these we express no opinion. For the reason before stated, we are of opinion, that the decree of the Circuit Court entered in this cause on the 21st day of October, 1886, is erroneous and must be reversed with costs, and the plaintiff’s bill dismissed. And this Court now proceeding to render such decree, as the Circuit Court should have rendered, it is adjudged, ordered and decreed, that the plaintiff’s bill — 601 — be dismissed, and that the plaintiff out of the assets of his intestate in his hands to be administered do pay to the defendant his costs. .Reversed.