Archer v. Jones

Mr. Justice Handy delivered the opinion of the court. Several grounds have been taken here jn support of the demurrer to the bill in this case', and are assigned for error in overruling the demurrer in the court below. The substance of them is embraced in the positions which we will proceed to notice. [587] First. The complainants’ claim is alleged to be bound by-lapse of time, and in virtue of the principle of the statute of limitations. The demurrer here is general, the question of limitation not being specially raised by it. A defendant certainly has a right to rely upon the defence of limitation in his demurrer. But we are disposed to hold, that such ground of defence should be specially taken in the demurrer, in order that the complainant may have notice of it, and, if the merits of the case justify it, that he may have an opportunity of meeting the objection by amendment in the court below; and for "the further reason, that an objection against the bill should not be made in this court, when it was not made or considered in the court below. The defence in chancery, on the ground of limitation, is allowed by analogy to the rules at law; and as such a defence must be distinctly made at law, we do not think it should be allowed in chancery and in an appellate court, unless it is specially set up as a ground of defence in the demurrer. But in this case it does not clearly appear that this ground of defence to the bill should prevail. It appears from the general scope and tenor of the bill, that the slaves were brought by Jane S. Cocke from Virginia to this State, she holding a life-estate in them, and that she died in 1835, leaving them in the possession of the defendant Richard T. Archer, who had possession of them previous to her death, the complainant Mrs. Jones being entitled to the one moiety of the slaves after her death. In one part of the bill, it is stated that Archer “ claims some sort of interest in them,’’ but in other parts of the bill he is charged to hold them as executor, and subject to the claim of the complainants. It does not distinctly appear that he sets up any adverse title to the negroes. If he is to be regarded under the state of facts actually existing, as a trustee, holding for the use and benefit of Mrs. Jones, he could not claim the benefit of the defence of limitation against her claim. We, therefore, think it proper to leave this question of limitation for further investigation, when the rights and claims of the parties in this respect shall be presented by answer and proofs in such a manner as to exhibit it fully for consideration. [588] Secondly. It is objected that the bill and exhibits show that the slaves allotted to Mrs. Jane S. Cocke belonged to her absolutely, in virtue of the division made in the State of Virginia, and that she did not hold them merely for life, with remainder to the complainant Mrs. Jones. The bill distinctly alleges, that Mrs. Cocke had but a life-estate in the slaves, in virtue of the division made by the court in Virginia. The proceedings of that court making the division, do not define the character and extent of the estate vested in her by the division. It must be presumed to be such an estate as was authorized by the laws of that State, in cases of division of a deceased person’s estate among his widow and children. It was defined and limited by law, and was not necessary to be specified in the proceedings in court making that division. The allegation of the bill, therefore, that she took an estate for life, is sufficient to show, in the absence of proof to the contrary, what was the nature of the estate vested in her by the laws of Virginia. Another objection urged against the bill is, that the representative of Mrs. Jones’s former husband, in virtue of whom she asserts this claim, is not made a party to the bill, nor is the representative of Stephen Cocke made a party. It appears by the bill, that there are no debts against her former husband, and that he died previous to the year 1806. It further appears, that all the parties who could claim the property in right of representation or as next of kin to her former husband, bound themselves, in a bond executed in the year 1806, to “ secure to her any legal or equitable right which she may by law be entitled to in the dower, either real or personal, which Mrs. Jane S. Cocke is now (wms then) possessed of, as the widow of her deceased husband, Stephen Cocke; ” which tJbond had reference to the interest of the complainant in said estate, in right of her deceased husband, Joseph Cocke, one of the heirs of Stephen Cocke, deceased. There being no cred-. itors of Joseph Cocke, and the interest of those who would have been entitled as his heirs being thus concluded, as is alleged by the bill, there was no necessity for the administrator of Joseph Cocke to be made a party. The parties affected by [589] the agreement made in 1806, nnder which the complainants claim, are made parties, and have a right to contest the claim set up in the bill. These persons and Archer, who has the property in possession, are the only parties who seem to be necessary under the allegations of the "bill, which the demurrer admits to be true. "What are the rights secured to the complainants, in virtue of the agreement referred to, we do not undertake to say. That question is open to the parties for investigation, in reference to the laws of Virginia, under which it was made, if they see proper to controvert and can disprove the rights of the complainants as set forth in the bill. Nor was it necessary that the executors of Stephen Cocke should be made parties. The property was divided out by them to the parties entitled, in the year 1803, his widow receiving the slaves in controversy to hold during her life, with remainder to the heirs of the testator. Upon her death, they belonged to the heirs of Stephen Cocke, without the intervention of his executors. After such a lapse of time, there could be no debts against the estate to affect the property, and there could therefore be no parties in interest but those entitled to the property or interested as heirs, upon the death of Mrs. Jane S. Cocke. Again. It is said that Mrs. Jane S. Cocke forfeited her dower interest or life-estate in the slaves, in virtue of the laws of Virginia, by removing them from that State. If this be true, it certainly cannot prejudice the rights of the complainant Mrs. Jones, who was not implicated in the removal.- An act, causing a forfeiture of the life-estate, could not work a forfeiture to the party entitled in remainder. It could only affect the rights of the party committing the wrong. Lastly, it is contended that a court of equity has not jurisdiction, but that the proceeding should have been taken in the probate court. There was no administration of the estate of' Stephen Cocke, or of Joseph Cocke, granted by the probate court of this State, and on this ground, that court had not jurisdiction. The bill seeks an account for hire of the slaves and a decree for their delivery to the complainants. It is clear that the probate court was not competent to grant this relief in any [590] respect. We do not intend to express any opinion as to whether the complainants are entitled to hire from the defendant Archer. But that is part of the relief sought in the bill, and if, upon the merits of the case as they may be presented, this'claim should be established, it is clear that the probate court could not give the relief sought. . The decree of the. chancellor is affirmed, and the case remanded for further proceedings.