Miller v. Miller

49 S.W. 852, 148 Mo. 113

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: February 15, 1899
• Status: Published

Opinion

MARSHALL, J.

This is an action in partition and to adjust the equities of the parties.

Moses W. Miller died leaving two sons, Edward T. and Moses W. Miller, Jr. On the 15th of August, 1879, Edward T. Miller conveyed his half interest in the land inherited from his father to his brother, Moses W. Miller, Jr., by a straight deed, for an expressed consideration of $500, but in truth to be held by Moses in trust, one undivided ono-half in trust for Ruby Miller, then a minor, during her minority, and to be conveyed to her when she became of age, and the other one-half for himself, but the consideration for the one-fourth so conveyed to Moses was that he should support, educate and maintain Ruby Miller until she should become of age. Oh the 29th of December, 1879, Edward T. Miller purchased another tract of land and had it conveyed directly to Moses W. Miller, Jr., to be held by him upon the same trust, terms and conditions as stated in reference to. the inherited property, except that Moses was to have one-half of this tract. There was nothing in either deed expressive of this trust. Rnby was then a minor of tender years. Edward died about March 10th, 1880, and Moses died on the 29th of October, 1881. Moses took possession of the lands and wholly failed to support, educate or maintain Ruby, but on the contrary paid nothing for her and left her to the compassionate care of others who were under no such obligations to her. After Moses died his heirs refused to recognize the trust and its obligations, and claimed the whole property. Ruby, by her next friend, brought suit against the heirs of Moses, to have a trust declared in her favor, and upon a hearing the chancellor, on March 6th, 1888, declared the rights of the parties as they are herein stated to be, and appointed Henry S. Miller trustee in place of Moses, deceased, directing him to carry out the trust, make annual reports to the court, and give bond as trustee. There was no appeal from this decree and it remains in full force. On the 26th of August, 1882, the probate court of Olay county appointed Henry S. Miller guardian of Ruby Miller. The first settlement of the guardian made in 1885 shows that he received as rents for the land $280, and he took credit for $200 for two years’ support, education and maintenance of the ward, three hundred dollars paid as attorney’s fees in the equity case, and this, with the probate fees, aggregated $513.85, and left a balance due the guardian of $233.85. His second settlement, made in 1888, shows that he received $130 a year rent for the land from March 1st, 1885, to March 1st, 1888, aggregating $390. He took credit for $200, being one-half of the expense of digging a pond “to secure stock water,” making fences, etc.; for $250 for his services in the litigation to have the trust declared; deducted the $200 he had taken credit for support, education and maintenance of the ward in bis first settlement from tbe $238.85 balance due bim under that settlement, and these items, with tbe probate fees, showed a total credit of $495.35, and left a balance of $105.35 due tbe guardian. TTis final settlement made in 1889 shows be received as rents for tbe year from March 1st, 1888, to March 1st, 1889, $150, and his credits show that be paid to tbe ward “for .household and kitchen furniture” $100, and this, with various small items allowed by the probate court, and the balance of $105.35 due the guardian on' his settlement in 1888, left a balance due the guardian of $65.60. On the 13th of October, 1890, Ruby Miller having reached the age of fourteen years, selected John T. Hall as her guardian and curator. He qualified and gave bond. His first settlement, made in 1891, showed he had received for rent and for other purposes $162 and that he paid out for Ruby $43.30, which with sums paid for taxes and other small items allowed by the probate court, aggregated $160.55, and left a balance due the ward of $1.45. His second settlement, made in 1892, showed he had received'for rent $80, which with the balance of $1.45 due the ward on his first settlement, aggregated $81.45, and that he had paid for Ruby, $28.20, which with taxes and allowances made by the probate court, aggregated a total credit of $82.55, and left a balance due the guardian of $1.13. His final settlement, made in 1894, shows he had received for rent $390, and that, he paid Ruby $33 in 1893, and with the other allowances-made by the probate court aggregated $307.74, which left a balance due Ruby of $82.26, which he paid to her and was-discharged. Thus showing that between 1881 when Moses died and 1894 when Ruby attained her majority, the whole-land yielded $1,452, or an average of $111.64 a year and that of this Ruby received only $286.76, or an average of $22.05 a year.

Immediately after Ruby became of age, the heirs of Moses W. Miller, Jr., instituted this action, seeking to have tbe property partitioned and asking tbat tbe rights of tbe parties be adjusted. Tbe answer of tbe defendant, among other things, set up tbe total failure of Moses to carry out tbe terms of tbe trust and upon compliance with which be was to have one-half- of his brother’s share of their father’s estate, and one-half of the property afterwards purchased by his brother, and asked that Ruby be paid out of the share of Moses the sum of two hundred dollars a year, from August 15th, 1878, the date of the first conveyance in trust, up to the date she attained her majority in 1894, as and for her support,education and maintenance, and that it be decreed a lien on the individual interest of Moses in the land. There was evidence that $175 to $200 a year would be reasonably required to support and maintain the minor.

The circuit court made a special finding of the facts, substantially as stated herein, and concluded it as follows: “And the court further finds that, under the decree of this court, rendered March 6th, 1888, defendant Ruby Miller, was entitled to receive from Moses "W". Miller, Jr. support, education and maintenance until she became of age, and that since March 6th, 1883, defendant Ruby Miller, has received and enjoyed all the rents of said land, and that the plaintiff and other defendants have received no part of said rents. And the court further finds that said rents, so by said defendant Ruby Miller enjoyed since March 6th, 1888, have equaled and do offset her right to said support, education and maintenance until she became of age.” The court thereupon entered a decree of partition, appointed commissioners to admeasure and set off dower to the widow of Moses W. Miller, Jr., “in said lands” and to “make said partition herein adjudged of the residue of said lands.”

After proper steps defendant Ruby Miller appealed to this court.

I.'

Tbe learned chancellor erred in awarding dower to the widow of Moses W. Miller, Jr., “in said lands,” and in directing partition “of the residue of said lands.” Under the decree of March 6th, 1883, Moses "W". Miller, Jr., was a trustee for Euby Miller as to one-fourth of eighty acres of land inherited by Edward T. Miller from his father and was likewise trustee as to one-half of the sixty acres of land afterwards purchased by Edward and conveyed to Moses, As to this part “of said lands” Moses was never seized of an estate of inheritance, at any time during the marriage, and therefore his widow is not entitled to dower in them. A wife acquires no right to dower in lands that were held by her husband as trustee. [E. S. 1889, sec. 4513; Park on Dower, star p. 100, ch. VI.] .

EL

The principal contention of the defendant is that the circuit court erred in holding that the rents enjoyed by Euby Miller since March 6th, 1883, “have equaled and do offset her right to said support, education and maintenance until she became of age.” This ruling disposed of the main point of controversy between the parties. The defendant Euby Miller, claimed that as Moses "W. Miller, Jr., never contributed a cent towards her support, education and maintenance, and as his contract with his brother that he would support, educate and maintain her until her majority was the consideration upon which his right to the land vested, a court of equity should ascertain what a reasonable sum for that purpose would be, and decree it to be a lien on the portion of the trust estate belonging to Moses. Defendant Euby Miller, further claims that in estimating what she had received since 1883, the portion that accrued from her share of the trust fund should not be considered or taken into account, but tbat only tbe rents arising out of tbe interest of Moses in tbe trust estate should be allowed as a credit upon tbe sum found by tbe court to be a reasonable sum for ber support, education and maintenance. Tbe plaintiff combats tbe first contention by claiming tbat tbe court can not ascertain tbe sum to be allowed and fix it as a lien on Moses’ interest in tbe land, because there was no l'ien on tbat interest expressly reserved in tbe deed to secure tbe performance of Moses’ promise, and therefore tbe proper remedy was by a personal action against Moses for breach of contract; and she denies tbe correctness in law of tbe second contention of defendant, and insists, tbat tbe rents received by Ruby after 1883 were sufficient to support, educate and maintain ber. Tbe court adopted plaintiff’s view, and this is here assigned by tbe defendant as error.

If tbe purpose Edward T.- Miller bad in view when be conveyed tbe property to Moses is considered and always borne in mind, tbe questions presented in this case are not at all difficult of solution. Edward intended to make a suitable provision for tbe support, education and maintenance of Ruby. If be bad conveyed tbe property to trustees with directions to use tbe rents, issues and profits for this purpose, and if they were not sufficient, then to use a portion of tbe principal, tbe duties of tbe trustees would have been simple. She would have received tbe rents, issues and profits after paying taxes, repairs and tbe compensation tbe court might allow tbe trustees for their services, and whatever of tbe principal remained when she reached ber majority would have been hers absolutely. Instead of taking this course be conveyed tbe property to bis brother upon tbe agreement tbat be should bold one-balf of it in trust for Ruby to be turned over to ber when she became of age, tbat be should support, educate and maintain ber until tbat time, using tbe net rents, issues and profits for tbat purpose if sufficient, and if not sufficient be should support, educate and maintain ber at all events and under any contingencies, and if be did so bis (Moses’) compensation for tbe expense, obligation and risk be thus assumed should be tbe other half of tbe land conveyed. We are not concerned whether Moses made a bad bargain or not. He was sui juris and be made it. He never made any pretense whatever of complying with bis contract or living up to bis trust obligations. During bis life be did absolutely nothing for tbe helpless child. After bis death bis heirs denied tbe obligation and repudiated tbe trust, and disinterested persons were obliged to take up tbe child’s cause and appeal to the courts for justice. Tbe trust estate was put to an expense of $750 by this action of tbe heirs of Moses. That sum exceeds fifty per cent of tbe gross rents and profits that arose from tbe trust property after tbe court righted the wrong that these heirs tried to perpetrate and before Ruby became of age. Now these same heirs say it is no concern of theirs whether tbe rents, issues and profits were sufficient to support, educate and maintain Ruby during ber minority or not; that they are not responsible for any mismanagement of tbe trust estate after they were defeated in their attempt to confiscate it all, nor for any expense that was.incurred to defeat their unjust claim. They plant themselves squarely upon tbe proposition that Ruby is of age, and they want one-half of the land, totally ignoring tbe fact that their father did not comply with tbe terms of bis contract upon which bis right to any part of tbe land depended. They stand here in tbe attitude of not having borne tbe burdens of tbe contract, but claiming tbe fruits of the contract, to which they would only have a right upon showing that they had borne the burdens. They ask equity although they .have not done equity, and refuse still to do equity.

One of the risks Moses assumed was that if the rents, issues and profits of the whole land were' not sufficient' to support, educate and maintain Ruby,, he would make up the deficit, and would get bis pay when Ruby became of age by becoming tbe owner of one-balf of tbe trust estate. Now bis beirs want tbe reward, altbougb admitting it bas not been earned.

We do not so understand tbe principles and practices of equity. Ruby was entitled to support, education and maintenance at tbe expense of Moses until sbe became of age. Moses was entitled to use tbe net rents, issues and profits arising from tbe whole trust property to reimburse bimself for bis expense. If tbe net rents, issues and profits were not sufficient to meet tbe expense of Ruby’s support, education and maintenance, tbe deficit was tbe price Moses agreed to pay for bis balf interest in tbe trust property wbicb be was to get when Ruby attained ber majority. Tbe net issues and profits amounted to only $286.16 for thirteen years. Sbe was supported by persons wbo were under no contractual obligations and wbo were not working for a reward, but tbis fact does not justify tbe claim of Moses’ beirs to tbe land when tbey and tbeir ancestor bave not earned it.

Ruby is entitled to a reasonable allowance for tbe support sbe did not get from Moses, and from tbis sum should be deducted tbe $286.76 sbe bas received as tbe net rents, issues and profits, and tbe balance should be deducted from tbe interest of Moses and bis beirs in bis part of tbe trust property. Tbe land should be ordered sold and this balance should be paid to Ruby in addition to ber balf interest in tbe property conveyed by ber father' to Moses. In tbis way alone can equity between tbe parties be meted out. This is a proceeding in equity and tbe court having jurisdiction of the cause should do complete equity between tbe parties.

There is no difficulty; such as plaintiff suggests, about tbe court liquidating tbe amount rightfully due Ruby for support, education and maintenance, and at tbe same time requiring tbe Moses beirs to pay it or charge it as a lien on their share or- to sell tbe property and deduct it from tbeir stare of tte proceeds. Tte same principle is observed as in cases of a creditor’s bill in equity. If tte property tad passed into tte tands of a third, innocent party, for value and wittout notice of suet a ctarge on tte land, tte case would be different, and tte lien could not be enforced, and Ruby would be relegated to ter remedy of a personal action against tte promisor for breach of contract. But in this case the heirs of tte promisor are claiming tte res, which, ever since the decree in 1883, to which they were parties, was rendered, has tad this trust impressed upon it, which has the same effect as if the lien tad been reserved in the deed to Moses. They have never discharged the requirements of the trust, and hence can not complain, if the court does for them now what they and their ancestor should have done long ago, as a condition precedent to awarding them any stare of tte trust estate. Neither can these heirs urge a mismanagement of the trust estate, whereby tte net rents, issues and profits were rendered insufficient to support, educate and maintain Ruby, for it was their tortious act which caused the expenditure of over fifty per cent of the gross receipts of the trust estate, and being responsible for the litigation, it does not lie in their mouth to question this expenditure; and the other items of expense in managing the trust estate, were allowed and approved- by the judgment of the probate court, and hence are prima facie correct under any circumstances.

Edward T. Miller intended that Ruby should be supported, educated and maintained out of the trust property. How well his expectations have been realized is seen when we consider that in the thirteen years of her minority after the trust estate was created, she received only $286.16 from the trust estate. This amounts to the munificent sum of $22.05 a year, or about $1.84 a month, or 6 and a fraction cents a day. The greatest economist that ever lived never would dream that a young girl could be supported, educated and. maintained for any such sum. And Ruby was not. Other persons, kinder than Moses and bis heirs, took care of her, or she would never have been a party to this suit.

But enough. Words can not make plainer the equity in this case. It speaks louder than words.

The judgment of the circuit court is reversed and the cause remanded to be proceeded with in accordance herewith.

All concur.