Powers v. Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free & Accepted Masons

177 S.W.2d 529, 237 Mo. App. 825, 1944 Mo. App. LEXIS 172
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 6, 1944
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 177 S.W.2d 529 (Powers v. Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free & Accepted Masons) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Powers v. Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free & Accepted Masons, 177 S.W.2d 529, 237 Mo. App. 825, 1944 Mo. App. LEXIS 172 (Mo. Ct. App. 1944).

Opinion

*829 SMITH, J.

This is the second time this case has been appealed to this court. The first appeal is reported in 146 S. W. (2d) 895. The petition in this ease is the same as in the former appeal. The petition, with the will attached, was set out in full in the former opinion and we do not set them out in full here. We held then, that the petition stated a good cause and was not barred by the ten-year Statute of Limitation.

When the cause went back to the circuit court, answers of the defendants were filed and a trial upon the then pleadings was had.

The plaintiffs are William Powers and the heirs at law of Clarinda Powers. The said William Powers and Clarinda Powers are two of the beneficiaries under the last will and testament of J. Logan Busby.

Plaintiffs’ action is to establish an implied trust in the lands devised by the testator and described in his will, sufficient to secure payment of the amount now claimed to be due plaintiffs.

The record title to the lands in question is now in the Masonic Home of Missouri, the corporate name of the orphan’s home of the Masonic Lodge. Under the admitted facts, the Masonic Home holds title for itself and also the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the other residuary devisee.

The pertinent parts of the last will and testament of J. Logan Busby involved in this controversy are, as follows:

“I, J. Logan Busby of Mississippi County, Missouri, do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all formér wills by me made.
“First: I direct that my executor hereinafter named, dispose of all personal property which I may own at the time of my death, and that the proceeds arising frpm said sale and from the Collection of any insurance policies which I may have on my life, be used as follows:
“A. I direct that all my just debts of whatever kind be paid.
“B. I will and direct that I be buried in the lot now owned by me in the I. O. O. F. Cemetery and beside my mother, and at the time of my death, should there be no monument erected on said lot, I direct that my executor shall erect a monument of such design as he or they may select,-of the best dark grey granite, said monument to cost not less than five hundred ($500.00) dollars and such further sum as my said executor may deem advisable.
*830 “0. I direct that my said executor or executors, next pay to my son, Ben F. Busby, the sum of one hundred ($100.00) Dollars.
“D. Should there be any money left from the sale of my personal property, or insurance policies above mentioned, after paying the debts, erecting the monument and paying the specific legacy to my son Ben F. Busby, as above mentioned, I direct my said executor to pay all of said balance upon any debts that I may owe, secured by mortgage on my real estate.
“Second: I will and direct that all of my real estate particularly described as follows, to-wit :
“The east half of the southeast quarter and the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter, and that part of the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter which lies east of Black Bayou, all in Section thirty-one (31) Township Twenty-five (25) Range Sixteen (16), and that part of the northeast quarter of Section Six (6) Township Twenty-four (21) Range Sixteen (16) which lies north of East Bayou, all in Mississippi County, Missouri, be held and managed by my executor hereinafter mentioned for a term of five (5) years, under the direction of the Probate Court of Mississippi County, Missouri, they to make only annual settlements with said court, after the first year, and I hereby direct my said executor to pay the net proceeds from the rents of my said lands, after paying taxes, cost of management, interest on mortgage debts, and the additional legacy hereinafter given to my son, Ben F. Busby, upon the principal of any mortgage which I may then owe; and I hereby expressly direct and empower my said executor to renew, if necessary, any mortgages which may be on my said land at the time of my death to the best advantage of my estate, said renewal to bear not exceeding six per cent interest and for a term not longer than five years, and for their services in making said renewal they are to be allowed twenty dollars. It being my will that no part of my real estate be sold unless it becomes necessary to do so to pay the mortgage debts. I will and direct that if in the judgment of my said executor, the net rents will not fully pay off the mortgage debts within five years, then he shall during the last year of said five year period, sell that part of the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter lying east of Black Bayou of Section thirty-one (31) and the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of said Section thirty-one (31) all in Township Twenty-five (25) Range (16) in Mississippi County, Missouri, or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay off all the remaining mortgage debt, first selling the tract first mentioned, the one next to Black Bayou, so as .to leave the farm in more compact condition; and for the.purpose aforesaid I hereby direct and empower my said executor, to make said sale by private or public sale as he may think proper, and to execute sufficient deeds of conveyance to the same and to apply the proceeds to the discharge of said mortgage debt.
*831 “Third: I hereby direct my executor to pay to my son, Ben F. Busby, the sum of one hundred ($100.00) Dollars per annum out of the rents of my real estate, provided there be sufficient to do so after paying interest, insurance, taxes and other necessary expense, if not he is to have whatever may be left, not to exceed one hundred, dollars, and in ease my said son shall become sick and be in need and distress, he shall pay him such sum as may be necessary to relieve his immediate needs, but in that event, my said executor is to be the sole judge of the necessity and of the amount and from his decision there shall be no appeal.
“Fourth: At the expiration of five years from the date of my death, I will, devise and bequeath to John L. Vaughn, all my real estate at time undisposed of to have and to hold in trust for a term of and during the natural life of my son, Ben F. Busby, and direct that he rent and lease the same, pay all taxes, insurance and necessary repairs, and pay over the net income and rents to my said son, Ben F. Busby, to dispose of as he sees fit, and in case of the death of said John L. Vaughn, during the life of my said son, then O. W. Joslyn of Charleston, Missouri, is hereby appointed to succeed him as such trustee with the same powers and restrictions, and in the event of the death of said O. W.

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Bluebook (online)
177 S.W.2d 529, 237 Mo. App. 825, 1944 Mo. App. LEXIS 172, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/powers-v-grand-lodge-of-ancient-free-accepted-masons-moctapp-1944.