McNall v. Mitchell's Estate

144 N.W. 850, 178 Mich. 493
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 5, 1914
DocketDocket No. 142
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 144 N.W. 850 (McNall v. Mitchell's Estate) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McNall v. Mitchell's Estate, 144 N.W. 850, 178 Mich. 493 (Mich. 1914).

Opinion

Kuhn, J.

The claimant presented a claim in the probate court of Gratiot county against the defendant, which was as follows:

“Estate of Uriah H. Mitchell, To B. Frank Mc-Nall, Dr.
“To services in loaning money for said Uriah H. Mitchell, looking up the value and title of lands on which it was loaned, taking and having the care of •said money till it was loaned, collecting the interest on said loans and remitting same to said Uriah H. Mitchell, from A. D. 1884, until the death of said Uriah H. Mitchell, $2,000.”

The claim was tried before the probate judge, who allowed it at the sum of $993.64. An appeal being taken to the circuit court by the executor of the last will and testament of the deceased, the case was tried before the circuit judge without a jury, who allowed the claim at the sum of $2,000 and made the following findings of facts and law:

“First. That deceased in his lifetime and during the year 1887 made a contract and agreement to and with the claimant whereby the claimant should, as the agent of the deceased, receive money from deceased and loan the same out in Gratiot county, Mich., upon real estate security, and that the deceased in consideration thereof would, after his (deceased) death, pay the claimant handsomely for such services, a great deal more than any percentage would amount to, a great.many times more than any percentage would be.
“Second. I further find that the claimant under this agreement entered upon such employment during the year 1888 and loaned money for the deceased, furnished him by deceased during each of the years 1888, 1890, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1898, 1902, 1903, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, and 1909.
“Third. I further find that during these years the claimant loaned out a gross sum of. $39,747, from [495]*495which loans the deceased received as interest earned thereon the sum of $18,615.59. That in some instances the interest was remitted direct by the mortgagors to Mitchell, and in some instances it was paid to the claimant, and by him remitted to Mitchell or to the bank where Mitchell kept his deposits, and through which he did business. But the evidence does not show what amounts were so remitted direct or how much was remitted by claimant.
“Fourth. That deceased died on the 17th day of May, 1910, leaving as his heirs and next of kin nephews, nieces, and a sister-in-law, and leaving a last will and testament by which he bequeathed and devised his estate to his nehpews, nieces, and sister-in-law, excepting $1,000, which he bequeathed to claimant’s only son.
“Fifth. I further find from the evidence that, under said agreement aforesaid between the deceased and the claimant, the claimant is entitled to receive for such services in loaning such money, and as a reasonable compensation therefor, a commission of one-tenth of the interest earned, where the loan was at 5 per cent., and one-twelfth where the interest was 6 per cent., and in addition thereto such a sum of money as is equal to the interest at 5 per cent, on the commission on each year’s business from the end of the year up to the time of the death of the deceased.
“I also find that the claimant is entitled to receive interest at 5 per cent, on the amount owing to him, at the time of the death of the deceased, from the time of the death of the deceased to the present time.
“Sixth. I find from the evidence of the amounts loaned during each year and the interest earned on such loans, and computing interest on such amounts as aforesaid, that the gross amount of such commission and interest thereon is in excess of the sum of $2,000.
“Seventh. I further find that the claim of the claimant, as presented in probate court, was for the sum of $2,000, and, this appeal from probate court having been heard upon the claim as so presented in that court, that the claimant cannot have in this court any greater amount than the amount of said claim as so presented in probate court.
“Eighth. Therefore this court does hereby find, [496]*496adjudge, and order that the claim of the claimant is a just and proper claim against the above estate for the sum of $2,000, and the same is hereby allowed against said estate at the sum of $2,000.
“Ninth. The court further finds and adjudges that the claimant do recover his costs in this court to be taxed as in an original suit brought in this court.”

The case is brought here by writ of error, and ap"pellant sets forth in the record 21 assignments of error, the first 12 of which are abandoned in this court. The principal claim urged by appellant is that the court erred in finding that the deceased made a contract with the claimant in 1887; it being contended that there are no facts in the case which support this finding. The claimant, who was a cousin of the deceased, is a farmer and has resided in Gratiot county since 1881. Before that time he resided in Niagara county, N. Y., about one-half mile from the home of the deceased, who resided there at the time of his death. Claimant lbaned money for the deceased, from the year 1887, on property in claimant’s neighborhood, at 1 per cent, below the prevailing rate. It is undisputed that he did not receive any commissions from the borrowers. In support of his contention, claimant produced James H. McNall, his brother, upon whose testimony reliance is placed to support the contract. He testified as follows:

“While I lived in Michigan, prior to 1908, I went back to New York frequently. I remember being there to attend my daughter’s wedding, in 1887. My brother was there also. I then saw and visited Uriah Mitchell. At that time my brother and I were at his place together a great many times. On one of these occasions, something was said about the claimant loaning money for Mitchell. , There were present, at that time, my brother, Mitchell, his sister, and I. Mitchell said, ‘Boys, what are the chances, what would be the chances of making good, safe loans in Gratiot county?’ My brother said he thought that they would be all right and safe if a man was care[497]*497ful and got a good abstract of title and so forth. Mitchell said if he had any places for it he would send my brother some money to loan. My brother told him he would loan it for him. Mitchell said, ‘If you do any business, make any loans, I do not expect Frank to pay you a percentage on these loans but will pay you “handsomely,” a great deal more than any percentage would amount to;’ that he would pay him at the time of his decease or when he got through doing business in this world;' I think those were exactly his words. * * * Some time, previous to Mitchell’s death, in the latter or middle part of December, 1909, my brother and I were in New York again. Mitchell died on the succeeding May. I was then living in New York, about 6 miles from Mitchell. From 1903 to the time of his death I visited Mitchell frequently, sometimes once a week, sometimes once in two weeks, and sometimes perhaps twice a week. When my brother came down in December, 1909, he came to my place. He and I went over to Mitchell’s. While we were there, there was some conversation in respect to what Mitchell would do for my brother or what he would give him. There were present, at that conversation, my brother, Mitchell, and I.

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Bluebook (online)
144 N.W. 850, 178 Mich. 493, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mcnall-v-mitchells-estate-mich-1914.