McNelis v. Colonial-American National Bank

176 S.E. 176, 163 Va. 284, 1934 Va. LEXIS 186
CourtSupreme Court of Virginia
DecidedSeptember 20, 1934
StatusPublished

This text of 176 S.E. 176 (McNelis v. Colonial-American National Bank) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McNelis v. Colonial-American National Bank, 176 S.E. 176, 163 Va. 284, 1934 Va. LEXIS 186 (Va. 1934).

Opinion

Epes, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

Cornelius M. McNelis, who commonly signed his name C. M. McNelis, died June 11, 1931, leaving a will which is dated August 19, 1930. The provisions of his will are given in the footnote.1 234We shall hereafter speak of him as C. M. McNelis.

[287]*287.The will was duly probated, and Colonial-American National Bank qualified as executor of the estate. In January, 1932, the executor filed its bill in chancery for the settlement of the estate, making all the devisees and legatees parties.

In the course of the proceedings the executor, widow apd Burrell Memorial Hospital made claim that the three items of intangible personal property, below mentioned, which are now in the possession of the several persons below named, are the property of the estate of C. M. McNelis- and not the property of the persons who have possession of them:

(1) A note for $18,000, dated November 22, 1927, drawn by Cornelius M. McNelis and Mary McNelis, payable ten years after date, at Colonial National Bank of Roanoke, Virginia, “to Legal Holder or order,” with in[288]*288terest at six per centum per annum, payable semi-annually. On the margin of the face of this note are now written the following words, “Legal Holder Annie Mc-Nelis.”

On the back of the note are the following entries:

“Int. Pd. to
“May 22, 1929 ..............$540
“Nov. 22, 1929 ............... 540
“May 22, 1930 .............. 540
“Nov. 22, 1930 ____•........... 540
“May 22, 1931 ............... 540'
“Nov. 22, 1931 . ............... 540.”

This note is in the possession of Miss Annie McNelis, who claims that she became the legal holder thereof about May 22, 1929.

(2) A note for $1,000, dated September 15, 1928, drawn by Central Manufacturing Company, payable three years after date, with “interest at six per centum per annum,” at Colonial National Bank of Roanoke, to “bearer or order.” On the back of this note, in what we understand is admitted to be the handwriting of C. M. McNelis, is this endorsement:

“Pay to
“Mary A. Moore “C. M. McNelis.”

This note is in the possession of Miss Mary Moore, who claims to have become the legal holder thereof by gift from C. M. McNelis about eight months before his death.

(3) A certificate of deposit, dated January 15, 1931, issued by the Colonial-American National Bank of Roanoke, which reads in part as follows:

“This is to certify that Jas. J. Boyle by C. M. McNelis has deposited in this bank exactly $500 & 00 cts. payable to the order of Jas. J. Boyle by C. M. McNelis on the return of this certificate properly endorsed. * * * With interest at three per cent per annum if left three months. [289]*289With interest at four per cent per annum if left six months.”

This certificate is in the possession of Miss Mary Moore, but she and James J. Boyle testify that it was given to James J. Boyle by C. M. McNelis in January, 1931, and is held by Miss Moore as Boyle’s property.

The widow, Mary McNelis, and the Burrell Memorial Hospital appeared by counsel and joined with the executor in vigorously contesting the claims of Annie Mc-Nelis, Mary Moore and James J. Boyle, to the above mentioned notes and certificate of deposit. None of the other devisees or legatees (other than the appellants) made an appearance.

The court referred the cause to H. M. Moomaw, one of the commissioners in chancery, with directions to him to inquire and report, among other things, whether these two notes and the certificate of deposit are the property of the estate or of the claimants.

The commissioner, after taking voluminous evidence on the subject, which is returned with his report, reported that the two notes and the certificate of deposit were the property of the estate of C. M. McNelis.

In addition to these two notes and this certificate, the commissioner reported that the estate of C. M. McNelis consisted of the personal property and real estate, which with the value thereof as reported by him, is listed in footnote.2

[290]*290Parcel 4 is subject to a mortgage of $16,000 and parcel 5 is also subject to a mortgage of $16,000. These mortgages, securing different debts, were placed on these properties by the heirs of J. M. McNelis, and as between the heirs C. M. McNelis is liable for two-fifths ($6,400) of each.

Commissioner Moomaw further reported that, including two-fifths of the above mortgages, the indebtedness of the estate amounted to $17,547.20.3

By its decree entered November 1, 1932, the court overruled the exceptions of Annie McNelis, Mary Moore and James J. Boyle to the commissioner’s report and affirmed it, saying: The court is of opinion “that the report of Commissioner Moomaw is a sound conclusion based on the application of correct principles of law to a careful and well considered finding of the facts established by the testimony and exhibits.” By this decree the court ordered Annie McNelis to “assign and deliver” the $18,000 note to the executor, Mary Moore to “assign and deliver” the $1,000 note to the executor, and James J. Boyle to “deliver or cause to be delivered” to the executor the $500 certificate of deposit. From this decree an appeal has been allowed to Annie McNelis, Mary Moore and James Boyle.

Upon an examination of the evidence we are of opinion that the court erred in confirming the report of the com[291]*291missioner in so far as it relates to the ownership of these items. The commissioner should have reported, and the court should have decreed that the $18,000 is the property of Annie McNelis, that the $1,000 is the property of Mary Moore, and that the $500 certificate of deposit is the property of James J. Boyle.

To correctly appreciate, interpret and evaluate the evidence bearing more directly upon the questions at issue, it is important, we think, to get a view of the background against which it is projected, as that background is disclosed to our view by the evidence, and particularly of the relation C. M. McNelis bore to Annie McNelis.

C. M. McNelis had two brothers and three sisters—James, John, Annie, Mrs. Bridget Boyle and Mrs. Moore. James, the oldest brother, who never married, was the head of the family, or certainly of those members of it who lived in Roanoke. He died intestate in August, 1927, worth approximately $152,500. John, a widower, lived in Ireland where he died in June, 1929, leaving a will devising all his property to C. M. McNelis. Miss Annie has never married. Mrs. Moore died years ago leaving two children, Mary Moore (one of the appellants) and Mrs. Margaret Nunan. Mrs. Bridget Boyle lives in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. She has eight children, among them James J. Boyle (one of the appellants) and Mrs. Annie Halloran.

C. M. McNelis did not marry until 1924. From 1903 until in 1924 James McNelis, C. M. McNelis and their sister Annie lived together in James’ home in Roanoke, Virginia, which, for the latter part of this period, was at 1715 Patterson avenue.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
176 S.E. 176, 163 Va. 284, 1934 Va. LEXIS 186, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mcnelis-v-colonial-american-national-bank-va-1934.