Walker v. Smyser's ex'rs

80 Ky. 620, 1882 Ky. LEXIS 105

• Court: Court of Appeals of Kentucky
• Decided: December 16, 1882
• Status: Published

Opinion

■CHIEF JUSTICE HARGIS

delivered the opinion of the court.

Mrs. Nannie Walker owned, as .her general estate, certain lands which she and her husband conveyed to her ■brother, James B. Burks, in trust for her separate use ■during life, and in remainder to her children.

The following provisions of the deed are material to the issues which are involved in this case, to-wit:

“First. The said James B. slTall hold said tracts, lots, and slaves and their increase, for the separate and sole use of said Nannie for and during her life, and after her death for her child or children.

“Secondly. In the event of her death, leaving grandchildren, they are to take the part of their deceased parent or parents, and the property hereby conveyed is to be so Reid; and, in'the event of said Nannie leaving no child or children, grandchild or children, the estate hereby conveyed is to pass 'to their heirs at law.

Thirdly. The said James B. shall permit the said Nannie no use and enjoy said tracts (of land) . . . and collect the .rent . . in her own name, or for her. he may rent out . . said tracts . . and collect and pay over to her the rent . . •of the same, taking her receipt therefor, which, when given, .shall be a valid and complete discharge to him therefor.

“ Fourthly. Upon the request in writing of said Nannie, said James B. may, if he deem it to her interest, sell all or any • of said tracts, lots, or slaves, and invest the proceeds in any other estate or stocks he may deem to be most advisable to her .interest to buy, and when so sold or invested the estate or stocks ..acqtiired to be held upon the same uses and trusts as that sold; but said James B. may require a petition in chancery to be .brought, asking a sale and reinvestment, and on such petition being filed against him the chancery court shall order such .sale, and direct and see that such investment is made so as that said James B. shall be protected from all liability for •such sale and reinvestment: To such petition said James B. shall be made a- party, and said court shall, on such peti•tion, .have full power to order such sale, and pass the .entire title in fee-simple to the purchaser or purchasers, and the estate or stocks acquired with the proceeds of such sale to ;be held upon the uses and trusts mentioned herein.”

The deed was acknowledged and delivered on the 20th ■day of February, 1859, and on the 19th of March following Mrs. Walker and her husband filed a petition in the Louisville chancery court against the trustee, James B. .Burks, Mrs. Walker being made a defendant also to the •petition, alleging that, although a written request had been made of the trustee, he declined to sell the lands, and required a petition to be brought asking a sale and reinvestment; that she has no other estate than The lands, which do not yield her a support; that it would be greatly to her interest to sell them, which the defendant admits.

To the petition the trustee answered, admitting that “he-required the petition to be filed, and that the real estate sought to be sold is unproductive, and ought to be sold, and the proceeds reinvested. It yields but little, and is insufficient for plaintiff’s support. If sold and reinvested, estate- or stocks could be purchased therewith which would yield a support. He asks a sale of the said real estate, and an investment of the proceeds in other rear estate.”

A decree was rendered ordering a sale of the land to be made, which was executed by the marshal of the court, and A. Harbeson was the highest bidder for lot i of 34 acres, 32 poles, and J. B. Parks for lots 2 and 4, containing 47 acres, 2 roods, and 30 poles.

On the 2d of December, 1859, the. sales having been confirmed, deeds were executed to Harbeson and Parks, respectively, for the lots bid for by them as aforesaid.

Just twenty days thereafter, for precisely the same consideration bid by them, Harbeson and Parks conveyed the lots 1, 2, and 4, to which they had received the title, to-the trustee, James B. Burks, who thus became the absolute owner of the property of his cestui que trust.

Mrs. Walker died in 1863, leaving the appellants, Charles- and Elizabeth, her only children and heirs, and entitled in remainder to the trust property. On the 14th of February, 1863, John Burks, a brother of James B. Burks and. Mrs. Walker, was appointed guardian of Charles and Elizabeth, and obtained an order in the nature of a loan to-withdraw the money which had been paid into the chancery court for said lots of land.

Having obtained the possession of the money, John Burks-failed to reinvest or account for any part of it, and became-insolvent.

James B. Burks, on the 12th of March, 1864, conveyed, to Lewis Smyser said lots 1, 2, and 4, containing 81 acres, 3 roods, and 22 poles. • •

On the 22d September, 1874, in consideration of $90,000, John Burks and wife conveyed to Lewis Smyser 350 acres-of land. As part of the consideration Smyser executed his obligations for $25,000 to Mrs. Burks, and conveyed a house and lot, in the city of Louisville, to John Burks.

Smyser, becoming disquieted about his title to the .81 acres, 3 roods, and 22 poles bought by him of James B.. Burks, brought this action against Charles and Elizabeth Walker to quiet the title, and also against John Burks and wife for indemnity, in the event Charles and Elizabeth should be adjudged the owners of the land, and caused an injunction to issue against Burks and wife to prevent the wife from disposing of his obligations executed to her, and enjoining the sale of the house and lot conveyed to Burks, as stated above.

Smyser charged that John Burks and Charles and Elizabeth Walker had conspired to recover the land from him for the latter, and that John Burks had fraudulently caused the notes for $25,000 of the consideration of the 350 acres to be executed to his wife, for the purpose of cheating his creditors; that the transfer of the $25,000 was wholly voluntary and fraudulent.

Other' necessary and proper allegations were made in explanation at length of these transactions, which need not. be mentioned.

Burks and wife controverted all the material allegations •of the petition, and separately pleaded that the obligations for the $25,000 were executed to Mrs. Burks, in consideration of her potential right of dower in the 350 acres sold by John Burks to Smyser.

Pending the proceedings, a guardian ad litem was appointed to defend for Charles and Elizabeth Walker, who were infants, and John Burks was removed as their guar■dian, and Mr. Shipp appointed in his room.

A rule was awarded against Shipp, as their guardian, to •answer Smyser’s petition, but, before answering, resigned •his guardianship, and the appellant, W. W. Gardner, was appointed guardian to them. ■ •

He appeared, and moved to strike out a portion of the answer filed by the guardian ad litem, and to file an answer and counter-claim for his wards, alleging, in substance, that the purchase by Harbeson and Parks was not bona fide, and was fraudulent, that their conveyances to James B. Burks were fraudulent devices of said Burks to cheat and defraud his cestuis que trust, Charles and Elizabeth, and deny that he took any title to said. 81 acres, 3 roods, 22 poles by their conveyances; that Smyser knew all of these facts at the time of the conveyance to him by Burks, hence took no title under the deed from him; that Charles and Elizabeth were in being when the deed of trust was executed by their mother to James B. Burks in 1859, and were not made parties to the suit in which the decree to sell the trust estate and reinvest the proceeds was rendered; that the decree was therefore void, and did not divest their interest •in remainder-in the lands sold in pursuance of it.

The court refused to allow the regular guardian to make • defensé, but intrusted it to the guardian ad litem, and rejected the answer and counter-claim offered by the appellant Gardner, as guardian, and he appeals from that order, and from the judgment pronounced against his wards quieting Smyser’s '-title, and -Charles and Elizabeth Walker also appeal from that' judgment.

Was the judgment of the Louisville chancery court, rendered in 1859, for the sale of the trust property, void, because the infant remaindermen, Charles and Elizabeth Walker, were not parties to the suit ?

We will not stop to indicate the arguments of the various •-counsel, and dispose of them in detail; but we will, in a general way, discuss the law advanced by all, rather seeking conclusions than determining supposed propositions of law not deemed applicable to the facts of this record.

According to Heming v. Harrison, 13th Bush, 723, courts of chancery have no inherent power to sell the real estate of persons under disability.

And this seems to be the conclusion to which the authorities tend in all thé States where statutory provisions regulating the sales of the real estate of infants and married women are in force.

The provision embraced by section 32, article 2, of our state constitution, seems to require the legislature to confer such powers on the courts by general laws, which was done ■by the legislature immediately after the adoption of the ■constitution; and since, various modifications of the. law, looking to the preservation' of the estate of persons laboring under disability, have from time to time’been passed.

It may, therefore, be considered as the settled law of this state that the powers of the courts of equity simply to sell and reinvest infant’s real estate are statutory and not inherent; and we have-never heard it intelligently, asserted that the acts of persons, either by deed or otherwise, can confer jurisdiction upon a court where it would have none but for such acts; and that portion of the deed of trust executed by Mrs. Walker, attempting to confer jurisdiction, will be wholly disregarded, and the deed construed as if it did not embrace it.

But we do not think that the absence of inherent powers on the part of the chancellor ordinarily to sell infant’s real estate affects the question under consideration, as the sale, by the decree of 1859, was not sa^e infant’s real estate within the meaning of any of the statutes on that subject in Kentucky.

While the forms of the proceeding were similar to those pursued in obtaining judgments for the sale of infant’s, estate under the statutes, they were substantially an application by the life-tenant, Mrs. Walker, to the chancellor to-compel her recusant trustee to execute the powers of his trust.

It is clear from authority that the chancellor could not. legally compel the trustee to exercise the power at the request of Mrs. Walker, if the power be a mere naked power, or if the power be coupled with a trust, and the refusal of .the trustee was a bona fide exercise of the discretion confided in him by the deed of trust.

The classification of powers by the best text-writers and authorities are divided into naked powers and powers coupled with a trust, or powers which imply a trust; and the rule regulating the power of the enforcement and supervision of trusts by the chancellor has never restricted his authority, where the trustee, invested with a power coupled with an express trust, is proceeding to pervert or abuse the trust, or refuses, without excuse, to execute his powers, thereby disappointing the purpose of his appointment, and ■ defeating the interest which the exercise of his powers would and were intended to conserve and advance. (Brown v. Higgs, 8 Vesey, 572; Story’s Equity Jurisp., sec. 1061; Perry on Trust, sec. 248, et seq.; Moore’s heirs v. Moore’s devisees, 4 Dana, 367; University v. Clay, 2 B. M., 386; Berry v. Hamilton, 10 B. Mon., 135; O’Neal and wife v. Beall, Id., 275.)

The vital question then is, did the facts exhibited by •the record of the case, wherein the judgment of sale of the trust estate was rendered, authorize the exercise of jurisdiction by the chancellor? For if they do, the sale is not void, and a purchaser will be protected.

The deed created in Mrs. Walker a separate estate for life, and Charles and Elizabeth were vested with the right to the remainder in fee, after the death of Mrs. Walker; but ‘this right, by the deed which created it, was subject to the power of sale and reinvestment by the trustee, regardless of the consent of Charles or Elizabeth, whenever Mrs. Walker should, in writing, demand that a sale be made, and the trustee deem it to her interest, and to her interest • alone, to sell.

The petition showed that she did, in writing, demand a •sale of the lands, because they were unproductive, and all she had for a support, and their profits were insufficient for that purpose, and it was to her interest to sell and reinvest 'the proceeds in other lands.

The trustee, by his solemn answer, admitted that these facts were true, and that he knew it was to her interest to ;sell, but that he had declined to do so, and required Mrs. 'Walker to appeal to the chancellor, although a sale could ¡have been made by the trustee, and other land or stocks purchased with the proceeds which would yield a support for her.

What was the chancellor’s duty under this state of facts? The trustee was invested with a power to sell; hé held a sacred trust in conjunction'with that power; he admitted that the lands were not ¡supporting the life-tenant, who had created the trust out of her general estate; that he deemed it to her interest that the lands be sold; that a reinvestment could be advantageously made in lands which would yield a support for her, yet that he refused to exercise his discretion in making the sale, although every fact existed which would make it proper for him to sell and exempt him from all danger of mistake in the exercise of his discretionary powers.

The interest of those in remainder was created with the express condition that the property was subject to transmutation when the facts named in the d'eed should exist and the trustee deem it to Mrs. Walker’s interest to sell.

That such was the condition annexed to the remainder is-clear from the fact that the deed dedicated the proceeds of any sale that the trustee was authorized to make to the same uses and trusts as the property sold, and the further fact, which is conceded, that had the trustee exercised his powers and made the sale, the title would have passed,, although the remaindermen were neither parties to the sale nor consulted about it.

We can perceive no distinction, between a sale made by the trustee and a sale made by the chancellor under a state of facts which leave no room to doubt that the'trustee was-willfully refusing to perform his known duty, and declining; to exercise the power which he ought to have exercised.

The provision in the deed authorizing the trustee to require a petition in chancery to be filed asking a sale, as we-have said, conferred no power on the chancellor, he did not possess without such a provision, nor did it lessen the jurisdiction of the chancellor to compel an exercise of the discretion by the trustee when he declines to do so in face of his own admission that it is his duty to exercise it, and of the-facts which show that his admission is not a mistaken conclusion of his. ' “

Although he required a petition to be filed under the-idea that the deed conferred jurisdiction on the court to entertain it, and that he had the right to make the requisition, it is nevertheless true that he did not have any right to do so, and his refusal to exercise his powers for those reasons, which were insufficient, was as injurious to the rights and' interest of the life-tenant, and destructive of the purpose of hi? appointment, as if the alleged reasons for the refusal and neglect of his duty had never existed.

For these reasons we are of the opinion the chancellor had jurisdiction to decree the sale of the trust lands for, and instead of, the trustee who had refused to make the sale on an insufficient reason, whether he believed his reason was-, sufficient to justify his action or not; the fact still being that he refused to act when he should have acted, and it therefore-necessarily follows that the omission to make the appellants, Charles and Elizabeth, parties, did not render the sale void or inefficient to pass the title to persons lawfully permitted to purchase the land.

Having disposed of this view of the case, it now becomes necessary, under the assignment of errors, to. consider whether the court properly rejected the answer and! 'counter-claim and offer of the appellant Gardner to defend .'Smysér's suit, and prosecute the counter-claim of his wards.

The pleading tendered by the appellant Gardner, as guardian of the appellants, Charles and Elizabeth Walker, embraced a defense and a cross-petition in legal effect.

Newman, in his Pleading and Practice, says: “A counter-claim, however, under the Code, is but another name for •a cross-petition, and may be so styled without impropriety, ■especially in an action prosecuted by equitable proceedings.” (Pages 610-618, and see authorities cited in support ■of the text.)

This was written with reference to the old Code, which was something different from the new Code in regard to the ■characterization of pleadings in the caption, but the same with reference to the substance of pleadings.

This being the nature of his pleading — an action by cross-petition for his infant wards — we entertain the opinion that he, and he alone, had the right to prosecute it, under the provisions of section 53 of the old Code, which was in force, and governed thé proceedings in the suit. That section declares that ‘ ‘ the action of an infant must be brought by his guardian or his next friend. Any person may bring the action of an infant as his next friend, but the court has power to dismiss it if it is not for the benefit of the infant, or to substitute the guardian of the infant or another person as the next friend.”

It will be seen this section does not provide that the court has power to dismiss the action brought by the regular guardian, and substitute another person for the guardian; it only provides for the dismission of an action brought by a next friend. And we do not understand that the guardian can be deprived of, his power to bring an action — original •or cross — for his ward unless his own interest was in conflict with his ward’s, as he is responsible on his bond for neglecting to bring an action when he knows, or has good reason to know, that the interests of his ward demands it; and •certainly the guardian ought not to be held responsible for neglecting to prosecute actions, and, at the same time, • deprived of the privilege of doing so by substituting a .guardian ad litem, .who is, at most, only responsible for ■costs when he becomes an actor for the infant. (2 Monsh, 168; 1 Mass., p. 400.)

There is another view of the action of the court in appointing the guardian ad litem, based upon the provisions •of section 55 of the Code, as to the conduct of the defense •of an infant, that should be noticed.

That section provides that ‘ ‘ the defense of an infant must be by his regular guardian, or by a guardian appointed to defend for him, where no regular guardian appears, or where the court directs a defense by a guardian appointed for that purpose.”

This section could not, by any reasonable construction, be extended farther than‘to empower the court to appoint a guardian ad litem, to defend in lieu of the regular guardian, •cases where there is no necessity for a cross-action to obtain affirmative relief, as, in that event, the guardian ad litem would become bound for costs as plaintiff; with no bond, like •the regular guardian’s, to insure the infant from loss against •neglect or inefficiency; and even where the defense is a mere 'traverse or plea in bar, if the regular guardian appears, there should be a valid reason for denying him the conduct of the ■defense, such as his interests are opposed to those of his ward, as the^Code does not provide expressly or by necessary implication for the appointment of a guardian ad litem, • except where the regular guardian fails to appear or undertake the defense of the suit. Had the defense of the infants not embraced the duty of 'bringing a cross-action in the alternative against Smyser and James B. Burks, and John Burks and wife, we would have felt inclined to affirm the judgment appointing and continuing the guardian ad litem; but it being the duty of the regular guardian to institute such an action in the alternative, by way of cross-pleadings, to recover the land from Smyser, and in the event of failure to secure substitution to his rights under the provisional remedies invoked by him against John Burks and wife, and to hold John Burks and his property bound for the satisfaction of the demands of the wards whose money this record shows John Burks, under color of his authority as guardian, unlawfully obtained possession of and squandered, we are of the opinion that the court should have permitted him to file his answer and counter-claim, and afterwards perfected it by amendment, and controlled' the defense and cross-action for his wards.

While we think the conduct of the guardian ad litem, in the management of the defense, is worthy of praise, his answer does not charge that Harbeson and Parks bought the land for Jas. B. Burks, who had no legal right, directly or indirectly, to purchase or obtain title to the property of’ his cestuis qua trust, and that Smyser had actual knowledge of the illegality of his fraudulent purchase; but the answer and counter-claim of the regular guardian does, 'in legal effect, contain these charges, while not as specific in theaverment of the-facts showing the alleged fraud as it should have been. This defect, however, was not a sufficient reason for denying his right to defend for his wards; and we can see no reason why the guardian should not be permitted to file his pleadings, and litigate that feature of the case-with Smyser; for if it should be made to appear that James-B. Burks procured Harbeson and Parks to buy the land in their names for him, he was guilty of an illegal act as trustee of the interest of Charles and Elizabeth Walker, and could not thereby divest them of title to their property, and invest himself with it, nor could he invest Smyser With a better title .than he held himself, if Smyser had actual knowledge of-his bad faith and fraudulent conduct as trustee.

If Smyser, however, had no actual notice, but only constructive notice, from the records and deeds made in the suit to sell the land under the decree of the chancellor, of the fraud of James B. Burks, his title to the 81 acres, 3 roods, and 22 poles of land, bought of the latter, cannot be disturbed.

Should the guardian Gardner, upon the return of this-cause, after his answer and counter-claim shall have been filed, fail to perfect it by amendment, setting out the facts-as to the alleged fraud of James B..Burks, and Smyser’s knowledge thereof before he purchased, and neglects to present appropriate allegations against John Burks and wife to hold him responsible, and secure the property attached or enjoined by Smyser, in the event of failure to succeed against him, for the satisfaction of his wards’ demands against John Burks, his cross-action should be dismissed, on the ground of conspiracy with John Burks to defraud Smyser, as the relationship of the parties interested, and the history of this whole transaction,- are sufficient to justify the charge of conspiracy made by Smyser, if the derelict' uncle, John Burks, is not prosecuted with due diligence, in the manner indicated, for the'- wards, or by them, if they ■desire to control the action, they having arrived at full age.

The question as to the validity of any incumbrance placed ■by John Burks on the house in Louisville, conveyed to him by Smyser, in part consideration of the 350 acres of land, •or whether the notes executed to Mrs. Burks for $25,000 ■of the consideration was a voluntary assignment of that ■sum, or any part of it, by John Burks to her, by reason •of the excessive valuation of her potential right of dower, or from any other cause, will not now be disposed of, as the necessity for doing so has not arisen.

Wherefore, the judgment is reversed, and cause remanded, ior further proceedings consistent with this opinion.