Thomas v. Visitors of Frederick county school

7 G. & J. 369

• Court: Court of Appeals of Maryland
• Decided: December 15, 1835
• Status: Published

Opinion

Stephen, Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court.

Whether the appellees in this case, are entitled to the fund in controversy, depends upon the construction of several acts of assembly of this State, designating the manner in which the property of an intestate shall be disposed of, who dies without leaving heirs, or legal representatives, within certain specified degrees of consanguinity or affinity. The case has-been argued with much ability, and the right of recovery denied in limine, by the counsel for the respondents, upon ground, that the school is not of the character contemplated by the several acts of assembly, making provision upon the subject.

At an early period of the history of the then Province, but now State of Maryland, the legislative department of the government, seemed to have been deeply impressed, writh a strong and anxious solicitude, to impart to the several counties the benefits, and advantages of education, by the establishment of schools for the instruction of youth. This wise and enlightened policy had for its object, a general diffusion of knowledge, and was not designed to be local or partial in its operation. That such a feeling strongly pervaded the legislative mind of that day, is fully evinced by the fact, that the benefits of the system were extended to the several counties as they came into being, and particularly by the pointed phraseology of the laws themselves, by which such extensions were from time to time progressively made. The complainants in the case allege, as the ground of their title, that Jfewton Bradlee, late of Frederick county, on or about the first of February, 1826, died intestate in said county, without leaving any known relations, or representatives, within the fifth degree of consanguinity or affinity; that letters of administration on the personal estate of said Bradlee, in due form of law, were by the Orphans’ court of said county, on the 13th of February, 1826, granted to Catharine Thomas the respondent, and that she in her first account settled with the Orphans’ court, after deducting all expenses and allowances, except her allowances for commission, returned as the balance due the estate of said Bradlee, $743.58J in cash, also the following stocks to wit: $1,200 in the six per cent. loan to the United States, of July 1st, 1813, and $2,250 in the six per cent, loan to the United States, of July 1st, 1814, with interest on the aforesaid stocks from October the 1st, 1826. The complainants further state in their bill, that by an act of assembly, passed in the year 1763, ch. 32, and by a supplementary act passed in the year 1796, ch. 65, a public school was erected in Frederick county; visitors were appointed, and said school was put on an equal footing in all respects, with the public schools erected in the State of Maryland by an act of assembly, passed in the year 1723, ch. 19. The complainant further charges, that by an act of assembly passed in the year 1729, ch. 24, sec. 17, every administrator is bound to pay the balance of intestates’ estates, to the visitors of the public school of the county where the deceased resided, in the same manner, as the administrator is bound by law to pay the same to any legal representatives, in case there be such, to be applied to the use of such school. They further allege, that by an act of assembly, passed in the year 1802, ch. 101, sec. 11, the personal property of deceased persons, who die intestate, without leaving representatives within certain degrees of consanguinity, is declared to be the property of the college, if any in such county; or if none,, the property of any school, to which the public aid by law has been, or may be extended. They then charge in their bill, that the public aid was extended to Frederick county school, by an act of assembly passed in the year 1798, ch. 107, sec. 3. The complainants then charge, that in- virtue of their rights, derived from said acts of assembly, they applied to the respondent, to pay to them the balance in cash due the estate of said Bradlee, and to transfer said stocks,, but that she has-refused to do so, unless under the sanction of judicial authority» The complainants then pray, that a decree may pass commanding the respondent to pay to them the said balance due the estate of said Bradlee, upon a settlement of her final account with the Orphans’ court of the county aforesaid, and also, to assign and deliver over to them the certificates of said stock then in her hands, or on her refusal so to do, that she be compelled to account for the full value1 thereof, and pay such value in current money to them. The answer of the respondent admits that Bradlee died at her house in February, 1826, in Frederick county intestate, and that she became his administratrix, as stated in said bill; and that she has settled with the Orphans’ court, an account as stated; but states, that respondent does not know, whether or not, Bradlee died without relations as stated in said bill; and therefore she does not admit the fact, and calls upon the complainants to establish the allegations of their bill in that particular, and make out their case by legal and competent proof. This is the substance of the answer, so far as the allegations of the same are considered to be material to the merits of this controversy. After testimony had been taken in the cause, the complainants filed a petition for the purpose of obtaining leave to amend their bill, in which they state, “ that in said bill your petitioners prayed by way of relief, that the said Catharine, as administratrix as aforesaid, should be compelled to transfer certain government stocks, the property of said deceased at the time of his death, amounting to the sum oí $3,450 to the complainants in said bill of complaint. Your petitioners further represent unto your honors, that they are now advised, that it is necessary to enable them fully to secure the object for which their said bill of complaint was filed, that the said prayer should be amended. Your petitioners therefore pray for leave to amend their said bill in reference to said prayer, by inserting therein a prayer, that the said Catharine, the said defendant in said bill of complaint, shall be compelled to assign and deliver over to said complainants, the certificates of said stock, now in her hands, to enable said complainants to receive from the treasury of the United States the full amount of money due thereon, or on her refusal so to do, that she be compelled to account with said complainants for the full value of said stock, now in her hands, as administratrix as aforesaid, and pay such value in current money to said complainants.” Upon this petition, leave to amend, as prayed, was granted: upon the amendment being made, the respondent filed another answer, which she calls a further answer to the original bill; and her answer to the amended bill of complaint of the complainants. In this answer she alleges, that the deceased declared a short time before his death, that he had an aunt in Ireland, and that she never heard him say his said aunt was dead, which fact she alleges was inadvertently omitted to be stated in her former answer; she therefore denies that said Bradlee died intestate, as alleged by complainants, without leaving any relations within the fifth degree of consanguinity or affinity, so far as she is informed, and calls upon the plaintiffs to prove their averments and allegations according to law. She further states, that she has settled no final account of said estate; and that she has never received one dollar of the $3,450 mentioned in complainants’ bill, on account, or in redemption of the stock or certificates of stock in the original or amended bill mentioned. To this further or additional answer, the complainants filed their exceptions, and prayed that the same might be treated as a nullity, and taken off the files of the court, as not warranted by the principles and practice of the same; contending among other reasons, urged as objections to receiving said answer, that the amendment made by them was only in the prayer of their bill, and did not warrant, or call for any further answer on the part of the respondents. These exceptions wTere sustained by the court, and the answer ordered to be taken off the files thereof.

The first question which will be considered in the investigation, and decision of this case, relates to the construction and operation of the several acts of assembly, under which it is alleged the complainants are entitled to the fund in controversy. In performing this duty, we have endeavoured to arrive at a correct result, by carefully and deliberately examining their several provisions and enactments^ but more especially such as relate to the institution in question. And upon the best and fullest consideration which we have been able to bestow upon the subject, aided by all the lights of the able arguments of the counsel on both sides of the question, we have come to the conclusion, that the claim of the complainants upon a fair and just interpretation of those laws, ought to receive the support and sanction of this tribunal. We think that a connected view and comparison of the several acts of assembly passed upon the subject of education, and the establishment of county schools as the means of promoting it will clearly demonstrate, that those which were adopted in relation to the institution and patronage of a public school in Frederick county, were intended by the legislature, as parts of the general system, and designed to clothe and invest that school with all the rights and privileges appertaining to the several schools previously established in the other counties of the State. By the act of 1719, ch. 14, the fund in controversy was first appropriated to the purposes of education, and was directed to be paid into the public treasury, for the use of schools; and by an act passed shortly after-wards, that is to say, in the year 1723, ch. 19, provision was made for the establishment of schools in the several counties of the province, and visitors appointed to superintend and manage them, under the denomination of county schools. The schools were then twelve in number, one for each of the twelve counties then in the province, and by section nine, the money in the hands of the treasurers, which had been raised for the use of county schools, was directed to be paid to the visitors of the said schools for the purpose of purchasing lands, erecting school-houses, and employing teachers for said schools. By an act passed in 1729, ch. 24, sec. 17, the administrators of persons leaving no representatives within the limited degrees, were directed to pay the balance of the estate in their hands to the visitors of the public schools of their respective counties, where the deceased resided, to be applied to the use of such school. In 1746, an act passed for erecting a county school in Worcester county, and appointing visitors for the same. The preamble to this act of assembly strongly illustrates the object of the legislature when acting upon this subject, and proves it to have been equal and impartial extension of the advantages of learning to all the counties, as they successively came into existence. Its language is in the following terms, “ Whereas since the making an act of assembly of this province, entitled an act for the encouragement of learning, and erecting schools in the several counties within this province, the county of Somerset, in the said act mentioned, hath been divided, and a new county erected thereout, by the name of Worcester county ; and whereas it seems highly necessary that the said new county should have and enjoy the same benefit and advantage in a county school, as the other counties within this province the act then proceeds to appoint visitors for Worcester county school, and invests them with all the powers and authorities vested by law, in the visitors of the county schools, which had been previously established for the other counties of the province. By this preamble it appears, that since the act of 1723, Somerset county had been divided, and a new county erected within its territorial limits, by the name of Worcester, and so anxiously solicitous was the legislature to dispense equally to all the counties as they arose, the advantages of the general system of education which had been established, that they considered it a bounden duty to place this new member of the family, upon an equal footing with her elder sisters; although her parent, the county of Somerset, was then provided for, and receiving her full proportion from the common stock, under the act which had been previously passed. We next find, that by an act passed in the year 1763, ch. 32, a county school was established in Frederick county, and the preamble to that act explicitly declares it to be reasonable, that she too, should be placed upon grounds equally advantageous with those other counties which had preceded her in their existence, and the first enacting clause appointing visitors for said school, invests them “ with the same rights, privileges, powers and authorities,” as the visitors of the other county schools within the province. This investment of similar rights, and privileges it is, which we think clearly gives to Frederick county school, the fund in controversy in this suit; and that it was intended to clothe the visitors of that institution not only with similar corporate privileges and franchises, but with all the rights of property which belonged to the county schools, which had been established previously thereto.

We have arrived at this conclusion, because we find that similar language is used in the act of 1774, ch. 14, by which the public school of St. Mary's, Charles and Prince George’s, were united into one, and called by the name of Charlotte Hall school. The third section of that act, after providing that the school shall be governed by a president and twenty-one trustees, invests them “ with the same rights, privileges, powers and authorities, to every intent and purpose, as the visitors of the other county schools within the province.” It was in virtue of this investment of similar rights and privileges, that Charlotte Hall school claimed and recovered in this court a similar fund, a few years since; for if she did not derive the right from that provision of the act, there is no other part or provision of it, which can with a semblance of propriety, be considered as giving it to her.

The fifth section of the act of 1796, vests in the visitors appointed by that law, all the rights, powers and privileges, with which the visitors or trustees were invested by the act of 1763; and the act of 1798, ch. 101, sub. ch, 11, sec. 15, expressly saves to the different schools in the state, the rights which they then had under the laws existing at that time ; and at the same session, the legislature made to the school in Frederick county, a donation of eight hundred dollars, to be annually paid out of the public treasury forever thereafter. The only remaining act of assembly, which it is deemed necessary to advert to, as bearing upon the question of title involved in this case, is the act of 1802, ch. 101; the eleventh section of which act, besides a similar saving to the one provided by the act of 1798, gives the fund in controversy to any school to which the public aid, had been by law extended, in case there should be no college or free school in the county. If therefore, the school established in Frederick county is not to be considered a free school, under the provision of the act of 1728, ch. 8, sec. 3, and entitled to the fund in that character, (which we incline to think she is) she is clearly entitled, as a school, to which the public aid or patronage had been by law extended. If then, the school be of such a character, as to be entitled to claim the fund in question ; the next question which presents itself, is the fund in that predicament which entitles the school to demand it at the hands of the administrator? or in other words, is there sufficient proof in the cause to establish the fact, that JYewton Bradlee died intestate, without any relations within the fifth degree of consanguinity or affinity ? Of such fact, it must be admitted, no direct or positive proof has been adduced ; but we think the circumstantial, or presumptive proof existing in the case, is sufficient for that purpose. It is true, there is some contrariety in the testimony upon the question, but we think it sufficiently appears from the declarations of Bradlee himself, made a short time previous to his death, that he did not believe he had any relations in Ireland, unless it might be an aunt, whom he described as far advanced in years, when he left Ireland in the year 1798. It is true, one of the witnesses, Cornelius McNulty, speaks of his having said that he left a maiden sister in Ireland, who was well provided for, and that his brother had either been killed or executed; but there is strong reason to believe that the witness either misunderstood the conversation, or that his memory deceived him, and that it was his aunt, and not his sister about whom the conversation was had; for the same witness proves, that Bradlee said at that time (which was in the year 1820, or 1821) he had no other relations except his said sister. Michael Hauser deposes, that Bradlee told him that at the time he left Ireland, he had a brother and a rich aunt living, that one of his brothers had been killed, and that the surviving brother was named Philip, and the brother who was killed, was named Alexander, and that Bradlee did not say he had any other relatives in Ireland. The same witness proves, that Bradlee told him shortly before his death, that he was anxious to go to Ireland, to ascertain if his aunt was living, and assigned as a reason for not going that he was unwilling to incur the expense. Susan Hanshaw also proves, she heard Bradlee say, he had an aunt living in Ireland about two years before his death. Thomas C. Shipley proves, that Bradlee told him that when he left Ireland he had an old aunt, but that he supposed from her advanced age, from the course of nature she was dead, but he was not certain; the same witness proves, that about eighteen months afterwards, when he asked him about his relations, Bradlee said he had no relations in this country or elsewhere that he knew of. The Rev. Mr. Schaffer also proves, that a few days before the death of Bradlee, he desired deponent to draw his will, and to give to deponent’s church two hundred dollars; the residue to Caroline Thomas, the daughter of respondent; and that upon the deponent asking him why he wished to dispose of his property in that manner, Bradlee said his reasons were, that when he left Ireland he left an old aunt there, but from her advanced age, in the course of nature, he supposed her dead, but did not certainly know, and he had no relations here or elsewhere, that he knew of.

This is the substance of the whole of the testimony, which relates to the question, whether Bradlee died intestate, without leaving any relations entitled to the property in controversy in this case. It is fully proved, that about the close of his life, and particularly when he was about to make his will, disposing of his property, he spoke only of his aunt, and of no other relation, and that she was described as a person far advanced in years, whom from the course of nature, he supposed to be dead. What then is the conclusion, which the proof in the cause, fairly and legitimately warrants, upon the question, whether she were dead, or living at the time of the intestate’s death ; and what inference would a jury be justifiable in drawing, in relation to that question, under the circumstances of this case? For the same deduction which a jury would be warranted to make, this court is authorized to make when deciding the case, without the intervention of that tribunal. It appears by the proof in the cause, that Bradlee left Ireland in the year 1798, that when he left there, his aunt was old and far advanced in years ; he died in the year 1826, twenty-eight years after he left Ireland. These facts we think, fairly warrant the presumption, that she was dead, at the time of his death; and such appears to have been his own impression. This presumption of death, arising from her age when he left there, and the lapse of time which has since intervened is sanctioned by a decision of this court, founded upon circumstantial evidence, not stronger in its nature than that which exists in this case. The case is to be found in 3 Har. and Johns. 554. A testator by his will dated in 1744, devised a tract or parcel of land intail to his son after his mother’s death, and died in 1746. The son in 1780, being in possession conveyed to a certain person, who died intestate in 1800, leaving six children, one of whom conveyed all his interest to the- lessor of the plaintiff. This court determined? that the life estate set up to defeat the action, must from the length of time that had elapsed, be considered as having expired, before the ejectment was brought, and that the plaintiff was entitled to recover. ' The ejectment was brought in the year 1808, and the will was. made in the year 1744 j sixty-four years had elapsed from the date of the will to the institution of the suit. The tenant for life had been married?- and it appeared by the will? was the mother of four children j and assigning to her a reasonable age, under such circumstances, (which the counsel in that case contended was about twenty-five) and at the institution of the suit, if living, her age would have been about eighty-nine years-. In that case the court say, “ the life estate set up to defeat the action? from the length of time that had elapsed before the suit was-brought, must be considered as having expired before the ejectment was brought.” In the case now pending before this court, the presumptive evidence of death to be collected from the declarations of Bradlee, and the time which had elapsed- after his arrival in this country, is? we think of a character equally strong, with that in the case to which we have referred. If his aunt was an old woman far advanced in life when he left Ireland, it is not unreasonable to suppose that she must have been of an age, at the time of his death,not inferior or less, than that of the tenant for life, whose death we have seen, this court thought it not unreasonable to presume. Speaking upon this subject, in 3 Serg. and Raw. 493,. Tilghman, C. J. says, “ when a man has been proved to be living, the first general presumption is, that he continues to live unless the contrary be proved, the proof of death is therefore thrown upon the party who asserts it. But there may be circumstances which destroy the first general" presumption of life, and induce a contrary presumption, namely, of death; and in such -Cases, the burden of proving the life will be thrown upon the party who asserts it. For instance, although a person whq has been from Philadelphia to France, may be presumed to be living, although he be not heard of for several years, because such things commonly happen; yet when many years have elapsed without hearing from him, and no circumstance is shown by which this may reasonably be accounted for, it is so contrary to general experience that he should be living, that the jury may, and ought to presume his death. For in such cases what is to be done ? The jury must find the fact one way or the other; they are not to give a verdict by caprice, but upon principle; therefore when a man’s being alive, is inconsistent with the other fact found in the cause, according to general experience it ought to be presumed that he is not alive.”

So in 1st W. Black. Rep. 404. Lord Mansfield, C. J. says, “ In establishing a title upon a pedigree, when it may be necessary to lay a branch of the family out of the case, it is sufficient to show that the person has not been heard of for many years, to put the opposite party upon proof that he still exists.” We therefore think that the court below were well warranted in presuming that Bradlee the intestate, died without leaving any relations within the fifth degree of consanguinity or affinity, and that the complainants upon that ground were entitled to recover.

We think further that the court below committed no error in ordering the second answer of the appellant to be taken off the file. It professed to be an answer as well to the original, as to the amended bill, the original bill had been before answered, and no leave to amend the answer had been applied for or granted. It is unquestionably true, that whenever a bill is amended by the introduction of a new fact, a defendant has a right to answer such amendment, and is entitled to the benefit of his answer upon the trial of the cause; but it is equally clear, that after an answer has been filed a defendant has no right to alter or amend it, without the leave of the court first obtained for that purpose. In this case the petition was for leave to amend the prayer of the bill only. But it is alleged, that not only was the prayer amended, but that a new fact was charged, namely, that she had the certificates of stock then in her possession. Upon ex-aminingthe answer, it does not appear that there is any thing in it directly responsive to this additional charge, and that the respondent if the right to answer such additional allegation, did exist, has not thought proper to avail herself of it; but under the cover of this privilege to answer anew, she has essentially altered and new modeled her original answer, without the leave of the court first had and obtained for that purpose. Such a proceeding ivas clearly unwarranted by the principles and practice of the court, and could not be sanctioned or sustained without establishing a precedent fraught with the most injurious consequences. A case somewhat analogous, may be found in 1 Dick. Rep. 234, where the court pursued a course similar to that adopted by the court below. It was the case of an amended bill, without an order of the court for that purpose. The complainant after the amendment made, applied for leave to amend, which was granted, but the bill which had been amended without leave, was ordered to be taken off the file. If a bill amended without leave, ought to be taken off the file, a fortiori, ought an answer when so amended. We do not think that the appellant has sustained any objection, to the order of the court below from which this appeal has been taken; no final decree has been passed, and the nature and character of the relief which may be ultimately granted is still undetermined. The court have only ordered the auditor to state and report an account, and have directed in what manner it is to be done; but the nature of the relief to be granted by the final decree, still remains open and undecided. The right determined is a right to the assets whatever they may be. The account is still subject to the control of the court, and maybe corrected or .altered in any manner they may think proper.

We do not think that the act of assembly passed in the year 1829, ch. 183, changing the name of this institution, from that of a school to a college, has created any obstacle or impediment to the support of this suit. We consider, that if any difficulty would have arisen from that circumstance, the act of 1833, has fully and entirely relieved the case from the operation and effect of such difficulty. The language of that law is explicitly mandatory, that the old corporation shall not lose any of its powers, rights, or privileges by the change of its corporate name; that no suit brought by it shall abate ; but that the same shall be continued, and brought to a close, in the name in which the same was instituted ; and that the proceeds of such suit shall be applied and appropriated to the use of the college. This act of assembly, we consider perfectly competent to heal every defect and infirmity of title, which might arise from the change of the corporate name ; and that every difficulty in supporting the bill of the complainants has been obviated by its enactments, which this court are bound to obey, and cannot feel themselves at liberty to disregard. We therefore think that the order of the court below ought to be affirmed, and the cause sent back for further proceedings preparatory to a final decree.

Order affirmed with costs, and record remanded for further proceedings.

Archer and Spence, Judges, dissented.