Oyster v. Oyster

28 F. 909, 1886 U.S. App. LEXIS 2390

• Court: U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Eastern Missouri
• Decided: October 16, 1886
• Status: Published

Opinion

Brewer, J.

in this case a bill in equity was filed some years ago, seeking, in behalf of the children of David Oyster, to enforce a parol trust created at the time of an administrator’s sale, and also to enjoin certain judgments in ejectment. That case went to hearing, and a decree was entered dismissing the bill, upon tho pleadings and proofs, but containing a reservation of this kind :

“Without prejudice to the rights of any parties to enforce a trust created by a subsequent deed from tíimou K. Oyster to George Oyster, one of tho defendants, and also without prejudice to any of their rights created by a will of the ancestor of these parties.”

Now, a new bill has been filed by the same complainants, containing tho same allegations and others, but seeking to enforce that same parol trust; and counsel for complainants insist that the decree heretofore rendered was not a decree upon the merits, but left the whole matter open for inquiry. We have no doubt but that the language of the decree expresses just what was the intention of the court at that time,—a determination of the merits of that inquiry,—and that the question as to whether there was or was not a parol trust was settled by that decree adversely to the complainants. To this bill, or at least so much thereof as asks for an enforcement of the parol trust, the defendants have filed a plea in bar, setting up that former adjudication. An inquiry arises whether the plea should not have been broader and run to the whole bill. It is possible it should have been, because the whole cast of this bill is for the purpose of enforcing that parol trust, and rights springing therefrom, and that has been adjudicated against the complainants. There is no doubt that it was so-adjudicated. The demurrer to the plea will therefore be overruled, because there has been a former adjudication, so intended, and so expressed, in the language of the decree as to be beyond any possibility of misconception.

Treat, J. I would remark to counsel that the plea seems to be, in one sense, a plea pro tanto. It might have been a plea in entirety.

Mr. Dryden. I intended to make it a plea to all of the principal relief sought.

Treat, J. The only question, then, as Brother BreweR says, is on ' the demurrer.

Brewer, J. The entry will be, “Demurrer to the plea overruled.”