Shearman v. Cameron

74 A. 979, 76 N.J. Eq. 426, 6 Buchanan 426, 1909 N.J. Ch. LEXIS 5
CourtNew Jersey Court of Chancery
DecidedDecember 18, 1909
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 74 A. 979 (Shearman v. Cameron) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Jersey Court of Chancery primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Shearman v. Cameron, 74 A. 979, 76 N.J. Eq. 426, 6 Buchanan 426, 1909 N.J. Ch. LEXIS 5 (N.J. Ct. App. 1909).

Opinion

Garrison, Y. C.

The first matter that required consideration was whether this was a proper case for this court to exercise its jurisdiction.

It seemed to me that it clearly was.

With respect to the subject-matter involved, the defendant Alpin J. Cameron was by the testator left in such a delicate position that the interposition of the court of chancery, under the circumstances, was practically imperative. Alpin J. Cameron, the son of the testator, was one of the executors of the will. He was one of the partners in the firm in which the testator had a very large investment, and he was also to be trustee of the interest of the testator in the said firm. Under the provisions of the will it became Ms duty, as one of the executors, to agree with himself, as one of the partners, what the interest of the testator was in the firm, and then, as trustee, to make with himself, as one of the partners, such equitable terms and arrangements as to the profits which should be allowed upon the share of the estate in the said business. His duties and interests as surviving partner, executor and trustee were such that a case was clearly made out for the court of chancery instead of leaving the matter for settlement in the orphans court. The necessity of discovery, the necessity of bringing the surviving partners before the court as parties, the need which the complainants had of the peculiar features of equity jurisdiction which are lacking in the orphans court in such a case, all made for establishing the special reasons which appeal to the jurisdiction of this court and induce it to take over the matter from the orphans court.

In my view the principles are so well settled and this case so clearly conies within them that it is unnecessary to elaborate. The authorities will be found collected in the court of chancery and the court of errors and appeals in the case of Filley v. Van Dulce (Vice-Chancellor Garrison, 1908), 74 N. J. Eq. (4. Buch.) [433]*433219; (Court of Errors and Appeals, 1909), 75 N. J. Eq. (5 Buch.) 571.

The technical objection interposed by the defendant that the accounting by the executors in the orphans court would bar-relief in this court is without merit. Under the will the trustee had cast upon him the duty of securing the interest of the testator in the business of A. J. Cameron & Company, and it is that trustee who is sought here to be brought to account. I do not think it possible that, because as executor he filed an account in the orphans court and stated the amount which he said had been ascertained as the interest of A. J. Cameron in the business aforesaid, this is conclusive upon the parties. In my view it is perfectly clear, under the circumstances of this case, that what that interest was must be ascertained and settled in this court upon equitable principles.

Upon determining that this court would assert its jurisdiction an interlocutory decree was then entered by which it was ordered that the defendant Alpin J. Cameron, as trustee, should make and render an account in this court of the estate bequeathed to him in trust, less the debts, legacies and testamentary expenses directed by the testator to be paid thereout, as such debts, legacies and testamentary expenses have been established by the accounting of the executors in the orphans court of Bergen county and the decree of the said court on the said accounting, and should further account for such income on the balance as said trustee may be lawfully chargeable with from and after the death of Alice E. Cameron. The matter was referred to a master, and the trustee was directed, within a given number of days, to present to the master his account, to which any party might present written exceptions to the master, and thereafter either party might apply to the court for directions as to the scope of the testimony that should be required or permitted under the exceptions. Various such applications were made to the court, and directions and instructions issued in pursuance thereof. By an agreement between the parties expert accountants were employed to investigate the books of A. J. Cameron & Company, and they made an extensive report which accompanies the master’s report.

[434]*434■ The master’s report and the exhibits, including the report of the expert accountants aforesaid, cover many hundreds of pages. Upon the coming in of the master’s report exceptions were filed by each of the parties thereto, and since, with respect to some of them, the court desired to send the matter back to the master, all questions were reserved until the coming in of the supplemental report of the master. When that supplemental report came in all of the exceptions of the parties were considered and are now to be disposed of.

. The accounts and report are so voluminous, and the questions raised are of such a character- that, I think, in the interest of clearness, I should state the issues and findings and my determination thereon in narrative form, rather than attempt to take them up piecemeal under specific exceptions.

Prior to 1880, Alexander J. Cameron and Alpin J. Cameron were partners in a firm called A. J. Cameron & Company. W. P. Denegre was an employe of that firm. On the 1st day of January, 1880, a new firm was formed composed of Alexander J. Cameron, Alpin J. Cameron and W. P. Denegre, using the same firm name.

We have no books of the old firm. The books of the new firm, under an account headed “Old Books,” began with two items. They charge themselves with liabilities, under date of January 1st. 1880, “to sundries, $68,563.08.” They credit themselves as with assets, under the same date, “by sundries, $58,499.48.”

There is no item showing anything to the credit or debit from the old books in the individual accounts opened with Alexander J. Cameron or with Alpin J. Cameron, but under date of January 1st, 1880, Denegre’s account opens with a credit “by old ledger, 249, p. 3, $11,063.49.”

The details of the items of the “old book” account set forth above appear in a journal then opened, and that journal account does not- contain any items concerning the individual accounts of the partners, excepting the $11,000 item above alluded to, credited to William P. Denegre.

With respect to the matter of determining and ascertaining the interest of Alexander J. Cameron, the testator, in the firm of A. J. Cameron & Compan}7, which, under the eighth clause of [435]*435the will, the executors with the surviving partners were to do, the facts proven are as follows :

Some time in the year 1892, and after the books had been made up as of December 31st, 1891, a brother of Alexander J. Cameron, named Allan Cameron, was requested to come to the office of the firm and go over the books, and he did so, and ascertained, in conjunction with the surviving partners, that the interest of Alexander J. Cameron in the firm of A. J. Cameron & Company, as shown by those books, was $48,306.56, and that certain deductions should, in his judgment, be made therefrom.

Subsequently, and on the 8th day of November, 1893, Alpin J. Cameron desiring to have this in writing, requested that Allan Cameron reduce it to writing, and he did so, the writing being as follows:

“New York, November 8tb, 1893.
“Mr. Alpin J. Oameron, in account with the Estate of Alexander J. Cameron.
Dec. 31st. Bal’ce to credit of Alexr J. Cameron on books of

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Related

In Re Taylor
103 A.2d 268 (New Jersey Superior Court App Division, 1954)
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4 A.2d 794 (New Jersey Court of Chancery, 1939)

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Bluebook (online)
74 A. 979, 76 N.J. Eq. 426, 6 Buchanan 426, 1909 N.J. Ch. LEXIS 5, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shearman-v-cameron-njch-1909.