Overman's Appeal

88 Pa. 276, 1878 Pa. LEXIS 232

• Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: June 24, 1878
• Status: Published

Opinion

Chief Justice Agnew

delivered the opinion of the court, June 24th 1878.

We must take the facts of this case as found by the auditor. They exhibit a devastavit by George J. Richardson, one of the executors and trustees, of a gross kind. Want of harmony in the execution of the trust, loose and careless management, failure to keep proper accounts of their doings, great delay, absence from the trust, improvident loans of very large sums of money, and gross mismanagement, seem to have characterized their transactions. It is upon such a case, the question arises, whether under the will of William Richardson, his father, George J. Richardson, one of the trustees, guilty of this gross mismanagement, is entitled, as a legatee, to his portion of the income set apart to himself and the other children of tlie testator; or -whether it or so much as is necessary, should ho retained to answer the portions of his co-legatees. It was held in the court below that he was entitled to his share of the income, notwithstanding his devastavit, on the ground that the trust for him and them was a spendthrift trust. This was a mistake resulting from two errors — one, giving to such a trust, a scope unsupported by equity, the other overlooking the plain intent of the testator.

That a trust for a spendthrift, as it is termed, will be upheld in equity, is a settled doctrine of this state, and rests on the donor’s right of dominion over his own property for a reasonable time. But it is exceptionable in its very nature, because it contravenes that general policy, which forbids restraints on alienation and the nonpayment of honest debts. In order to support it, resort is had to a trust, which equity will enforce, and equity necessarily regards its reasonableness and the clearly-defined intent of the donor. Without such a trust upheld in equity, title in the devisee or legatee claims to itself control and liability to creditors. As this is a trust resting in equity, it is clear that equity will support it only so long as it rests on the well-defined intention of the donor. When that is gone, the trust falls with the loss of this, the only true basis. A trust to pay income for life may last for the longest period of human existence, and may run for seventy or eighty years. While the law’ simply tolerates such a trust, it cannot approve of it as contributing to the general public interest. Property tied up for half a century contributes nothing to the general wealth, while it is a great stretch of liberality to the ownership of it to suffer it to remain in this anomalous state for so many years after its owner has left it behind him. Clearly it is against public interest that the property of an after generation shall be controlled by the deed of a former period, or that the non-payment of debts should be encouraged.

The argument of the appellee attributes to a spendthrift trust an inviolability, which transcends all proper notions of equity, in holding that a trustee, because he is also a legatee of a single share, shall be exempt from that valuable rule of equity, which requires a strict performance of duty as essential to the interest of his trust. Indeed, it is a rule of morality as well. Besides, it elevates a single special intent of the testator above the general interests of his estate, and subordinates the welfare of others, equal objects of his bounty to that of the faithless trustee, the object of the single intent. On ■what principle of equity, which guards this trust for others as well as for him, shall the control of the fund by the defaulting trustee enable him to enjoy his own portion at their expense without accountability ? Shall five others go a-begging to enable him to enjoy that which the testator gave him, free from creditors only when it accrues to him, as we shall see was the special intent of the testator ? There is neither good law nor sound morals in such a proposition.

The express will of the testator in this instance coincides with the general intent. Two things of equal strength are declared in the tenth item. 1st. That the executors or trustees shall not be liable for each other, or one for money received by the other. 2d. But each shall be liable only for his own individual acts and deeds, and for such moneys as shall come into his hands. After this declaration, can it be doubted that the testator intended that each should be liable for his own breach of trust? If not, on what principle can it be held he meant that his liability should be less than the loss he has caused ? HiS portion is a part of the estate, and how shall it be exempt from a devastavit, which affects the portions of others equally the objects of the testator’s bounty, and who have no part in the fault which causes the loss ? If the whole estate is lost by the fault of the trustee, what becomes of his own portion ? It is gone with that of the others, and that is the result of the act of the testator, who made him a trustee for himself as well as others. Now, did the testator, in thus clothing .him with a power over his whole estate, intend he should not be- responsible to any one ? If, as trustee, he shall have spent it for his individual use and thus had its benefit, because of his control as trustee, can it be said that the testator meant that he should enjoy his own wholly, while the others should get* nothing ? The will itself distinguishes between the trustees and the legatees in the very clause conferring protection over the shares given to the latter. Item 9th: “ The said income so directed to be paid by my said executors, shall he paid to my said children and grandchild, in such -way and manner that the same shall be free from the control, contracts, debts, liabilities or engagements of either or any of my said children or grandchild,” &c. Thus the trustees are to secure the payment to the legatees in such Avay that neither creditors nor they shall control the testator’s' bounty. Thus it is the thing paid or ready to be paid over, which is to be protected, and it is the trustee who must perform the duty of protection when he pays over and the protection is to be against others. The will presupposes that the executor has performed his duty and is ready to pay over the legacy. Then comes in the idea of protection against creditors and the legatee himself. But what warrant of intention on the part of the testator is there that this protection is to be carried backward to protect the trustee who fails to produce the legacy ? Clearly he stands before, and if he fails to produce the things to be protected, he must answer for it both in equity and according to the intent of this testator. If the trustee, having it in his own hands, has squandered his own legacy, it is gone; if that of others, his own must share in the loss, if partial, or make it up if entire. Neither reason nor the intent of the testator relieves it from the effect of a devastavit. But if the trustee may squander the shares of -others and yet save his own, it will carry the doctrino of a spendthrift trust beyond all our notions of equity and honesty, and fasten upon tlie testator a special intent in favor of a faithless trustee, and in violation of the same protection he intends for the benefit of the other objects of his bounty. This is unjust. The decree of the Orphans’ Court is therefore reversed, and the record ordered to be remitted to carry out the views expressed in the foregoing opinion

Suarswood, Mercur and Paxson, J'J., dissented.

The court, on motion, ordered a re-argument before a full bench.

On the re-argument at Philadelphia on January 8th 1879, before a full bench, 8. Dickson submitted the following additional brief:—

The limitation in the opinion of the Chief Justice of the scope of a spendthrift-trust would destroy such trusts altogether, and neither the ninth nor tenth item expresses a general intent with sufficient clearness to override the special intent of the other. The will, like any other writing, must, if possible, be so construed as to give effect to every part. The ninth section makes no distinction in terms between, debts to the estate and to third persons, and the tenth section relates to all five executors, of whom only one was a beneficiary, and clearly they were intended to respond out of their own estates. To infer that the fifth was to be held answerable in the same way and in that only, satisfies the language used and harmonizes both clauses.

The tenth section is intended to limit and restrict responsibility and not to enlarge it; and confessedly, had it not been inserted, the share could not have been withheld. ' Why should a clause inserted for his exoneration from liability for the acts of his co-trustee, be taken to import an intention to destroy a provision for his maintenance which otherwise would have been loft secure ? It does not create any other liability than such as the law would create without it. It does not even impose a responsibility in terms. It only confines that of each to his own acts.

Under the facts as found in this case, Gleorgo J. Richardson is not responsible because of the tenth section. Had it been omitted, his liability to the estate would have been what it is now — neither more nor less. If the ninth section, therefore, is to be nullified, it cannot be done but by the help of the tenth section, because that not only does not give rise to any now or peculiar liability, but it cannot be made tlie foundation of any liability whatever except by implication. All contracts, debts, liabilities or engagements are embraced in the ninth section ; a surcharge under tlie tenth section is still only a debt or liability; therefore it is included in the ninth section.

Though the rule as to the general intent overruling the particular intent is still recognised (Sheetz’s Appeal, 1 Norris 213 ; Jenkins v. Hughes, 8 H. L. C. 571), no attempt is made in any case to define precisely what, they mean, nor any rule given whereby it may be determined, in the special case, which is the general and which the particular intent; and Lord Denman observes that the doctrine “ has been justly objected to, of late, as incorrect and vague, and likely to lead to erroneous results:" Doe v. Gallini, 5 B. & Ad. 621 (27 E. C. L. R. 138); see also 2 Jarman on Wills, 400-407. If it means anything it must mean the principal purpose of the will,— that to which the testator attached the greatest importance, — and if so, the chief end this testator had in view was to secure to all of his children, including the appellee, a sure income for life; while the tenth section is only “the given formula of city scriveners Williams’s Appeal, 2 Norris 388. No new exception should be en-grafted upon a system like that of spendthrift-trusts, which is peculiar to Pennsylvania and itself an exception.

On May 5th 1879, Mr. Justice Woodward delivered the following opinion

Notwithstanding the fact stated by the auditor in his first report that one hundred and thirty-three meetings were held before him, and the fact that in the final decree surcharges were made against the trustees under Mr. Richardson’s will, amounting to the sum of $579,000, only a single point is in issue in this appeal. That is raised by the assignments of error in which the appellant complains that her exceptions to the report were overruled by the Orphans’ Court. The first of these exceptions covers the whole field of this controversy. It was in these words : “ She excepts because said auditor has reported in effect that George J. Richardson is entitled to receive from time to time, equally or rateably with the other children of said William Richardson, deceased, a full share of the income of said estate from the said trustees.”

By the ninth section of the will of Mr. Richardson, the residue1 of his estate was vested in his executors in trust, to collect and pay over the income to his wife, children, and a grandchild, during their lives. This provision was made in the concluding clause of the section : “ The said income so directed to be paid by my executors shall be paid to my said children and grandchild in such way and manner that the same shall be free from the control, contracts, liabilities or engagements of either or any of my said children or grandchild, or debts, liabilities or engagements of either of the husbands of my said daughters.” Five gentlemen, including George J. Richardson, his son and two of his sons-in-law, were appointed executors and trustees, no one of whom, it was directed by the tenth section of the will, should be liable for any moneys received or any acts done by either or any of his co-executors or co-trustees, but only for moneys received or acts done by himself. After the first account was confirmed, Mr. Sparks, one of the trustees, resigned, and Mr. Smethurst, another of them, died, and the estate was thenceforth left under the management of the testator’s son and sons-in-law.

Mr. Richardson died on the 24th of January 1866, and soon afterwards the trustees undertook the development and improvement of the coal lands belonging to the estate in the county of Schuylkill. A lease was made to John Lucas & Co., and the advances made to the lessees by the trustees began about the 25th of March 1867, and were continued until they amounted to $271,759.40, with which sum the trustees were surcharged by the auditor. The enterprise was ruinous from the outset. Lucas & Co. finally failed. The report found that the trustees “ had no power under the will to make such loans,” and that no law existed “ to sustain such use of trust funds.” It found also that “ after Lucas & Co. became embarrassed and loans were made to them, the business of the estate was loosely and carelessly managed by the accountants; that sometimes two acted for the three, and at other times the money affairs were largely under the control of George J. Richardson,” and that it was “ impossible to say how far the moneys of the estate were mixed with his own, as there wore no regular books of the estate or his own to enable any one to decide that question.”

Under these facts, it has been strongly urged on behalf of the appellant, that the right of George J. Richardson to receive his share of the current and prospective income of the estate has become forfeit. The allegation was that he joined with the other trustees in a negligent or fraudulent waste of a sum, the interest on which would largely exceed the income of what remained.

The argument was pressed with some feeling and much force. Analogies that were more or less apt were suggested. But analogies are as likely to misguide as to guide safely. Just the facts as they stand in this record are to be fairly met. The auditor said that while there had been carelessness, mismanagement and mistake on the part of the trustees, he did “ not mean to charge any of them with taking and using the funds of the estate,” and he assumed in the absence of evidence that they acted honestly in this respect, and disastrous as the results of the effort to develop the Schuylkill lands proved to be, the general powers conferred by the will on the trustees were very large. By the eleventh section they were authorized to make partition of lands in Schuylkill or other counties, to purchase the moieties or interest of co-tenants, and to raise the means of purchase by mortgage or otherwise on the lands. They were authorized also, if expedient in their opinion, to create a joint-stock company to manage the lands, “ or in any way or manner to take action with regard to them” which they should “ deem to be manifestly to the interest” of the estate. Under a charter so broad as this they entered into the Lucas lease and made advance after advance, upon assurances of certain and near success that are always given, and with the glowing hopes and firm faith which often unhinge or cloud the judgment of very prudent men when they are searching for sources of wealth that are hidden in the earth. Besides, the income to be paid to George J. Richardson was to be free from his own “control, contracts, debts, liabilities or engagements.” He has not anticipated his income, for the auditor found that no charge of “ taking and using the funds of the estate ” was made out against him. It is true that the tenth section of the will made him, as well as each of the other trustees, responsible for his own acts. But as was said in the very -able argument of his counsel, that section “ did not create any other liability than such as the law would create without it. Had it beén omitted, his liability to the estate would have been what- it is now — neither more or less.” It happens that he has become liable to his father’s estate, and not to a stranger. But it was from “ liabilities ” of all kinds that the income given him was to be protected.

Nothing is better settled than the rule which sustains such trusts as this: It has produced beneficent and just results. And it ought not to be evaded or infringed in any case that is fairly within its scope.

Decree affirmed at the cost of the appellants, and appeal dismissed.