Block v. Cross

36 Miss. 549

• Court: Mississippi Supreme Court
• Decided: October 15, 1858
• Status: Published

Opinion

HáNDY, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

The appellant, as surviving partner of the mercantile firm of Block & Turner, filed this bill, for the purpose of subjecting the proceeds and income of certain property belonging to the appellee, Martha J. Cross, and held to her sole and separate use, to the payment of an account for goods and merchandise, sold to her.

The allegations of the original and amended bills, are in substance, that Mrs. Cross, in the month of December, 1851, came to reside at Monticello, in this State, with her family, consisting of five children and several servants, — having been brought there by her brother, Lucius A. Turner, appellant’s partner, from the State of North Carolina, and opened a book-account at the store of Block & Turner, in her own name; that she was possessed of certain slaves, her separate property, which were brought with her, and in contracting said account, that she intended to bind her separate estate, and was trusted on the faith of it; that the account was opened by Turner, and kept by him in the books of the firm, and was continued until his death, and for a short time thereafter ; that at the time of her removal to this State, Cyprian Cross, her husband, had left her, and gone to California, having been absent about two years, and did not come to this State until a year after her removal here; that Turner assisted his sister in the management of her business, and made all needful contracts for her, in ber name; that the articles furnished by the firm to Mrs. Cross, were necessary for the support of herself, her children, and servants ; that after the husband’s return from California, he bought articles at the store, but, by an arrangement between him and his wife and Turner, the account was continued in her name, and that the husband, on his own account and of his own means, paid the sum of $2450, being about the sum due for articles purchased by and for himself, the residue of the articles in the account having been chiefly, if not entirely, supplied to Mrs. Cross and her family and servants ; that Block & Turner paid the expenses of bringing the slaves from North Carolina to Monticello, and the same are charged in the account; that both of the appellees have acknowledged the correctness of the account since the death of Turner, except one or two items, which were then left blank, but have since been filled up, the vouchers being then in the appellee’s hands, and the amounts unknown to the appellant; and they proposed to pay the account out of Turner’s interest in the firm, Mrs. Cross being entitled to the same under the will of Turner. It is further alleged, that it is the duty of the appellant to collect this debt, to enable him to pay off the debts of the firm, which are large; and discovery is prayed, as to the articles in the account, which were for the use of the slaves of Mrs. Cross, and when, where, and by what means, she acquired her separate estate.

The answer admits the removal of Mrs. Cross, and that she became a resident of Monticello, as alleged, and that her husband was absent in California, from the time of her removal, until his return, in the latter part of the year 1852 ; that her removal was by his consent, and that she is possessed of considerable separate property, principally slaves, which came to her possession in this State, since the passage of the Married Woman’s Law of 1846;— denies that she ever intended to bind her separate property for the account of appellant, or that she ever obtained credit by that means, but admits that it was her intention to pay any just account which Block & Turner might have against her; denies that the separate property came to the appellee’s possession in North Carolina, and alleges that it first came to Mrs. Cross’s possession in this State, and after the year 1846; admits that, before her husband’s return from California, she purchased goods from Block & Turner; that the account was opened and kept by Lucius A. Turner, without consulting Block, and was continued until 1856, and that so much of the articles in the account as were not purchased by Cyprian Cross, for his individual use, were obtained for the use of Mrs. Cross, her children, and servants. The appellees deny that they ever admitted the correctness of the appellant’s account; and allege, that at the close of the year 1852, Lucius A. Turner had in his possession a large sum of money belonging to Mrs. Cross, being the proceeds of the hire of her slaves, much more than sufficient to pay any just demand of the firm against her, and sufficient to pay for any goods afterwards purchased for her of the firm, without entering charges therefor on their books, — to wit, for the year 1852, $832; for the year 1853, $980; and for the year 1854, $1515; besides the sum of $125, due for the hire of one of her slaves by himself, for the year 1855 ; which sums remain due and unaccounted for by Turner; — and they charge that these sums were used by Block & Turner, about their business, except the sum of $400. They deny that there was any agreement, after Cyprian Cross’s return, that the account should he continued in the name of Mrs. Cross, but state that he requested his accounts to be charged to himself, and not to his wife; they deny that Block & Turner paid the expenses of the slaves from North Carolina, or the bill for furniture charged; they claim that Block & Turner are indebted to Mrs. Cross three or four hundred dollars, for a slave, of her separate property, kept in their employment; they admit that some small part of the account was for articles furnished for her slaves, but state that they are unable to specify them.

The will of the mother of Mrs. Cross, which was admitted to probate in North Carolina, in the year 1849, bequeaths the property to Mrs. Cross as follows — “ unto Etheldred J. Peebles, my ex.ecutor, for the sole and separate use of my daughter Martha, wife of Cyprian Cross, during her natural life,” with remainder to her children, &c. The said property to be free from the contracts, debts, or liabilities of said Cross; “ but the profits, and use of the same, during her coverture,, to accrue to the sole use of my said daughter.” It provides for the appointment of another trustee in case of the death or resignation of the executor, and empowers Mrs. Cross, if she should desire to sell or exchange any of the property bequeathed, to direct the trustee in -writing, and that be should thereupon comply; but the property thus acquired to be subject to the trusts stated in the will.

Upon the final hearing of the case, on the pleadings and proof, the bill was dismissed, and from that decree this appeal is taken.

Several questions are presented by the pleadings, and have been argued by counsel. We will proceed to consider such of them as are material to the determination of the case as it is presented by the pleadings.

The first question arising is, whether Mrs. Cross had the power to subject her interest in the property bequeathed to her by her mother’s will, by her personal contract, made with the intention of binding it.

It is to be observed, that the will in question was made, and the interest conferred by it took effect, in the State of North Carolina, and before the property bequeathed was removed to this State. Consequently the rights and powers derived from it are not to be governed by our laws in relation to the disposition of property held bj femes covert to their separate use. For our laws have reference to such property acquired by married women in this State, and have no application to rights vested under the laws of other. States. Our laws did not intend to interfere with such rights, or to impose restraints upon the exercise and enjoyment of them, when the property, to which they were attached by the laws of the State under which they were vested, might be brought into this State.

What right, then, was given to Mrs. Cross, apart from our statutes in relation to the separate estate of married women, and especially by the law of North Carolina ?

By the terms of the will, the property is left to the executor, for the sole and separate use of Mrs. Cross during her life, remainder to her children; “ but the profits and use of it, during her cover-ture, to accrue to the sole use of Mrs. Cross,” with power to the trustee, upon her written request, to sell or exchange any of the property; the property thereby acquired to become subject to the same trust as that bequeathed. From this, it is plain, that “the profits and use” of the property, during coverture, are given to Mrs. Cross absolutely, and without any restriction, to her sole use. It is not a mere power as to the profits and use of the property that is granted — it is an estate given to her. No restriction or condition whatever is annexed to the right given, and consequently the profits and use become her separate and absolute property by the terms of the will, with a 11 the rights of disposition and of subjection to her debts incident to property of that nature. No question, therefore, can arise as to her power to alienate or charge the subject of the bequest in any particular mode; for no mode is indicated, and her right of property is absolute, and her power over it that of a feme sole.

There can be no doubt upon the rule of law established upon this point, either upon reason or authority; and it has been declared by this court, in the recent case of Garrett v. Dabney, 27 Miss. 335, 343, where the question was fully argued and considered. Indeed no doctrine of the law, about which' there has ever been controversy, may be considered as more firmly settled than that in cases of this nature, where the instrument is silent as to the power over the property given, neither restricting it in any respect, nor prescribing the mode of disposition; the power of disposition is absolute, and the estate is that of a feme sole.

But it is sufficient, for the purpose of this case, that this is the settled rule in North Carolina, and therefore controls this case. Frazier et al. v. Brownlow, 3 Ired. Eq. 237; Harris v. Harris, 7 Ib. 111.

The profits and use of the property in question were, therefore, clearly capable of being charged by her for her debts.

The next question is, whether that interest was subjected to the debt of the appellant by the acts of the parties shown by the record; and this depends upon the intention of the party to be charged, which may be -shown by her positive declaration, or be inferred from her conduct and the circumstances under which the debt was contracted. Boarman v. Groves et ux. 23 Miss. 280.

The answer denies that it was her intention to bind her separate property for the account, and there is no evidence that she declared that it was her intention to bind it; but it admits that she always intended to pay any just account the firm might have against her, and it is evident that she was aware that the account was opened at the store of Block & Turner, and that the goods charged in the account, or some of them, were received by her from the firm. If, then, it was her intention to pay for goods furnished to her, how or by what means were they intended to be paid ? The circumstances of the case appear clearly to show that the credit was obtained with reference to her separate property, and that she intended to make payment by that means, and that it was so regarded by the merchants with whom she was dealing.

It appears, by the evidence, that previous to the autumn of 1851, the separate estate of Mrs. Cross had been managed in the State of North Carolina, by the executor and trustee appointed by the will of her mother, he having charge of the slaves, receiving their hire, supplying her with money, and acting as her agent and trustee in providing for her support, and her husband having removed from that State to California. That trustee accounted in the proper court in North Carolina for his acts, and his accounts were settled, showing a small balance due him; and, upon application in behalf of Mrs. Cross, under the direction of the court, the property in his hands and' the trust were transferred to her brother, Lucius A. Turner, who took, upon himself the trust, and brought Mrs. Cross and her children to this State in the month of December, 1851. About the same time, or shortly thereafter, the slaves mentioned in the will were brought to this State. Upon her arrival at Monticello she commenced housekeeping, and appears to have been without money. Her husband was absent, and did not come to the place until about a year after her taking up her residence there. Her brother lived with her, and acted as her agent and trustee, hiring out her slaves and receiving their hire, making contracts for her, and attending generally to her business, so far as was necessary for the support of her family. He opened the account here sued for, with the firm of which he was a member, in her name, and the goods and matters of charge in the account, were for the most part such as were necessary and proper for her condition and for the support of her family. She appears to have had no other means but the property in question, and it is clear that she knew that the account was opened for her by her trustee and agent. He acknowledged that it was intended to pay the account out of her income, and it is claimed by the answer that the hires of the slaves for the year 1852 should have been applied to the payment of the debt at that time; and this goes far to show that the account was contracted by her and her trustee with the expectation that it would be paid by the hire of the slaves.

It is clear that her trustee and agent intended that the account should be paid by means of her income from her separate property. He was intrusted by her with power to contract for her, and if it was his intention to bind her property, it is to be presumed that it was done by her consent. Her circumstances and situation alone, at the time she took up her residence at Monticello, a stranger, with a large family of children and servants, without money to purchase the necessaries for family subsistence, and having no means by which to support herself and family, except the income to accrue from the hire of slaves, and no other property to give her credit, render the probability very strong that her contract must have been made upon the faith of her income, and as the means by which they were intended by her, and expected by creditors to be paid. But Avhen we consider that this was the intention of her agent and trustee, who made the contract in question for her, and in her name, and who was competent to act for her, and acted with her acquiescence in the matter, it is too clear for controversy, that her separate income was intended to be charged for the payment of the account during the absence of her husband.

Did this liability continue after her husband returned to his family ?

It is alleged by the answer, that after Dr. Cross returned to live with his family, he repeatedly requested that his account with the firm should be kept in his own name, and not in that of his wife, and it is denied that there was any agreement that his account should be kept in the name of his wife. It is admitted that purchases for the family were continued after his return, and that the goods not purchased for his individual use, were purchased for the use of the family, wife, children, and slaves. And it appears that he paid on the account, an amount about equal to the articles which, from their nature, were probably purchased by him for his individual use. The bill alleges that this payment was made on this account, and the answer does not deny it. It is not attempted to subject the estate of Mrs. Cross, further than for the items in the account contracted on her account; and, therefore, under the circumstances, the fact that articles purchased by Dr. Cross for his individual use, were charged in the account, cannot affect the appellant’s right, if the articles furnished to Mrs. Cross, or for her family, were intended to bind her separate estate. It may be true that the purchases of Dr. Cross for his individual use, were improperly charged to the account of his wife; but this would not affect the account, so far as the charges were properly made against her.

It is evident, and, indeed, appears to be admitted by the answer, that the purchases for- the family were continued after Dr. Cross’s return, in the same way as at the commencement of the account. The charges were made by the trustee and agent in his name, as before; and if it was intended, at the commencement of the dealing, that her separate estate should be charged with the account, there appears to be nothing to show that there was any change in the matter. When the account was made out and handed to the appellees, no objection was made to it on the ground that the articles furnished, and charges made, after the return of Dr. Cross, were charged to the account of his wife. On the contrary, it is proved to have been admitted by them to be correct, except some small articles. Indeed, it appears to be manifest, from all the evidence and the circumstances of the case, that the account was contracted with reference to the separate income of Mrs. Cross, and that it was expected and intended to be paid by that means. Her situation and circumstances, and those of her husband, the peculiar nature of her property, the acts of her trustee and agent in relation to the account, and her recognition of these acts, appear to render this conclusion unavoidable. And it would appear that this controversy was occasioned, not really from the fact that it was not intended that Mrs. Cross’s separate income should be charged with the payment of the account of the appellant, but from the fact that her trustee had failed to apply the funds which came to his hands to that purpose, as was his duty.

We, therefore, think that the charges in the account for the use and benefit of Mrs. Cross, her family and slaves, to the exclusion of those for the individual use of Dr. Cross, should be paid out of the profits and income, the separate property of Mrs. Cross.

The next question arising is, whether the account is sufficiently proved ?

It is shown by the testimony that it was presented both to Dr. Cross and to Mrs. Cross, and was admitted by both to be correct, except some small items. The charges for expenses of bringing the slaves from North Carolina, and for furniture purchased for Mrs. Cross, were not complete as to their amounts at that time, but they are fully proved to have been paid by the firm of Block & Turner. The former charge was necessary, in order to give Mrs. Cross the benefit of the hire of the slaves, and the latter was a necessary expenditure for the family. It is further proved that Dr. Cross offered to pay the account out of the interest of Turner in the firm, which was left to Mrs. Cross by the will of Turner. This evidence is certainly sufficient to establish the account, leaving it open, to ascertain and separate from it the items purchased by Dr. Cross for his individual use; and that will be proper to be done by the commissioner, who may be appointed to ascertain and report the amount due from Mrs. Cross on the account.

But it is insisted that the account has been paid by means of the moneys collected by Turner for the hire of the slaves.

The testimony upon this point is that of James M. Turner, which is, in substance, that having been informed by Block that Mrs. Cross was largely indebted to the firm, he inquired of Lucius A. Turner about it, in his last illness, who told him that although the books showed that she was indebted, yet in truth she did not owe anything, and mentioned in that connection something about the hires of her slaves. This witness further states, that he was executor of Lucius A. Turner, and as Mrs. Cross was residuary legatee by his will, and entitled to Turner’s interest in the firm, he proposed to Block to permit Mrs. Cross’s account to stand until the partnership was settled, and if her interest.therein was not sufficient to cover her indebtedness, that he, the witness, would pay whatever balance was found due.

It appears that, although the amount which Lucius A. Turner had collected of the funds of Mrs. Cross, was kept by him in a private book in his possession, yet no entry of it was made on the books of the firm, and especially was no credit for the amount given on account of Mrs. Cross, and there is no evidence whatever, or admission, to show that the amount was applied to the use of the firm. He had collected the money as trustee and agent for Mrs. Cross, without any connection with the business of the firm of which be was a member; and a simple declaration that she owed the firm nothing, because he, as trustee, had collected funds belonging to her, would not bind the firm, without an admission, or some other evidence, that it had been applied to the use of the firm.

The circumstances show that this was the character of the declaration ; for the witness subsequently states that he, being executor of Turner, proposed to Block to let his account stand until the settlement of the partnership, and if her interest therein was not sufficient to pay the account, that he would pay the balance. If he really understood his testator to say, that the account had been paid by applying the funds of Mrs. Cross in discharge of it, it is strange that he should propose to pay it again. His proposition is altogether inconsistent with the idea that the account was paid by the appropriation of Mrs. Cross’s funds to the use of the firm. And taking the statements of the witness in connection with other facts shown in the case, the true sense of the declaration of Turner must have been, that Mrs. Cross would have to pay the firm nothing, because he had bequeathed her his interest in the firm, which would be equivalent to what she was indebted to it on her account. This is rendered still further probable by the fact that he acknowledged his indebtedness to her, which would not have existed if he had applied her funds in his hands, and which were the only ground of his indebtedness to her, to the payment of the account of his firm against her. But be this as it may, the mere declaration that she owed the firm nothing, by reason of his having collected her funds as trustee, in the absence of all evidence to show an appropriation of the funds to the use of the firm, is incompetent to bind the firm, and to prove that the account was paid.

In conclusion, we are of opinion that the fund due Mrs. Cross for the hire of the slaves in question, is liable to the payment of the sum which shall be found due the appellant on the account sued for, excluding from it all charges for articles purchased by Dr. Cross, for his individual use, and applying the credits stated to his account, and giving her credit for the value of the services of the boy alleged to have been in the employment of the firm, if it shall be ascertained that the boy was employed by the firm.

The decree is reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings.