Warner's Admr. v. Bronson

69 A. 655, 81 Vt. 121, 1908 Vt. LEXIS 123

• Court: Supreme Court of Vermont
• Decided: May 7, 1908
• Status: Published

Opinion

Watson, J.

The defendant Mary A. Bronson insists in her answer by way of demurrer that there is no equity in the bill, and that the orator has an adequate remedy at law. This demurrer on hearing before trial on the merits was overruled and the bill adjudged sufficient. The same questions are presented by her here on appeal, but inasmuch as the master’s report shows substantially the same material facts as are alleged in the bill, and the same questions are raised thereon, the rights of the defendant are fully considered and determined on the merits.

No claim is made but that by the gift of the use of all the testator’s real estate, stock, and farming tools to the wife during her life for her support and for the support of the daughter Elizabeth P. the widow took a life estate. It is contended, however, that under the provisions of the will the real estate, stock, and farming tools did not vest in Asahel B., of his grantee, until the death of the widow and “on the fulfillment of the aforesaid contract with said Asahel B. on his part to be performed as aforesaid.” In other words, that the vesting of the property in Asahel B. was made contingent upon his full performance of the terms of the lease, substituting his mother in place of his father therein, extended to the time of her death. The master finds that the condition imposed by the will in this behalf was fully performed by Asahel B. and his grantees until the decease of the mother, and no question is raised thereon. Hence the character of the condition is material only because of its bearing on the present status of some of the legacies in question.

Whether the condition was precedent or subsequent is not to be determined upon the mere words used. There are no technical words distinguishing either class from the other. The same words will make a condition of either character according to the intent of the testator to be gathered from the whole instrument. Without the words “and on the fulfillment of the aforesaid contract with said Asahel B. on his part to be performed as aforesaid,” there would be nothing indicating that a performance of the conditions of the lease until terminated by the death of the mother was intended as a condition to the property vesting under the bequest over. With these words thus used, however, there is force in the contention made.

The manifest design of the testator was that during the life of his widow she should have the use of the property for her support and for the' support of their daughter Elizabeth P., in the same form and with the same conveniences and accommodations, as the use had been enjoyed by himself and wife in his lifetime. Beyond its term, the lease contains nothing which might not be found in the ordinary written contract for letting such property to tenants to the halves. In itself, therefore, neither the lease nor the required extension of term shows any intention to give effect different in nature from that naturally resulting from a devise of the use to the widow for the same purpose with a gift over of the corpus, possession to be had at her death. Manifestly the life estate to his wife for her support and for the support of their unfortunate and helpless child during the same period was the first purpose' of the testator ; yet it is equally manifest that at the end of the life estate he designed to make a division of his property among his children by giving all the real estate, also the stock and farming tools on the farm, to the son, to be his and his heirs forever, on condition that he pay the legacies specified to the daughters within the time limited; and the will creates no residuary estate, nor contains any provision looking to the happening of any contingency which in the mind of the testator would prevent the son from taking the property accordingly. This strongly indicates that such a contingency would be contrary to the general spirit of the will and was not intended by the testator. It is said that when a man makes a will it is fair to presume that he does not intend to die intestate, nor to become so after death. Weatherhead v. Stoddard, 58 Vt. 623, 5 Atl. 517. There is the same presumption against an intention of partial intestacy. In re McClure, 136 N. Y. 238.

The provisions of the lease that each party should pay half the taxes “assessed upon the farm and stock,” and that the son should “annually account” to his mother “for one-half of the produce and profits made on the said farm” are such as to permit and perhaps require performance after the vesting of the estate. It might happen that taxes thus to be paid were.not yet even assessed, or if assessed not payable, at the time of her decease, or that the time for the next annual accounting was yet some, months ahead. In these circumstances the taxes would need to be paid and an accounting had subsequent to her death. In Finlay v. King’s Lessee, 3 Pet. 346, 7 L. ed. 701, the Court, through Mr. Chief Justice Marshall, said: “If the language of the particular clause, or of the whole will, shows that the act on which the estate depends must be performed before the estate can vest, the condition is of course precedent; and unless it be performed, the devisee can take nothing. If, on the contrary, the act does not necessarily precede the vesting of the estate, but may accompany or follow it, if this is to be collected from the whole will, the condition is subsequent.”

We hold therefore that the provision for the fulfillment of the contract extended under which Asahel B. was to continue to carry on the farm during the term of the life estate was a condition subsequent, and that on the death of the testator Asahel B. was vested with the title and ownership of the real estate, stock, and farming tools, subject to the life estate, and on condition that he pay the legacies specified in, and according to the terms of, the will. In re Tucker’s Will, 63 Vt. 104, 21 Atl. 272; Jones v. Knappen, 63 Vt. 391, 22 Atl. 630; Burton v. Provost, 75 Vt. 199, 54 Atl. 189.

It is further contended that the legacies do not constitute a charge on the real estate. But we think it clear that the testator intended to make the payment of them a charge, by way of an equitable lien, on the property of the bequest. It follows that the remainderman took but an equity of redemption which may be foreclosed in a court of equity. ITis grantees, having notice of the incumbrances, can stand no better. Dunbar v. Dunbar, 3 Vt. 472; Scott v. Patchin, 54 Vt. 253; Casey v. Casey, 55 Vt. 518; Lovejoy v. Raymond, 58 Vt. 509, 2 Atl. 156.

On February 18, 1891, Fred C. Davis was duly appointed administrator de bonis non with the will annexed of Rhoda Ann (Warren) Bronson’s estate. As evidence of this appointment a certified copy of the appointment was received, the defendant objecting on the ground that the copy of the will was not included therein. The master reports that if this copy was inadmissible because of the objection he cannot find that the appointment was ever legally made, except from the testimony of Davis himself that he had had regular letters of administration, but had lost or mislaid the same and could not produce them, and that he was then acting as such administrator. The master finds his oral evidence in this behalf to be true, but the question of its sufficiency to establish his appointment and authority is submitted to the court. We understand the question here submitted is as to the legal sufficiency of evidence. The report does not show that any objection was made to this oral testimony, for which reason, if for no other, the exception to the report because of its reception is without force. Boyce v. Carpenter, 80 Vt. 37, 66 Atl. 888. In these circumstances we think the master might well base a finding thereon of such appointment. This being so the question of the admissibility of the certified copy becomes immaterial.

The defendant Mary A. Bronson was the third wife of Simon N. and after his death remained on the premises in question for some years and had or claimed to have some interest therein by reason of her marital rights. She moved therefrom some time about 1888 or 1889, and before the death of the life-tenant. After the latter’s death a homestead in the premises was set out to Mary A. by commissioners appointed by the probate court for that purpose, whose report was returned to the court on the 9th day of June, 1904. The report was duly accepted by the court and no appeal taken therefrom. It is contended by Mary A. that since her homestead was thus set out and no appeal taken it became established, and that she is entitled thereto free of any charge of legacies thereon. The matters connected with the settlement of the estate of Asahel W. were all of record, and all persons taking under the will had at least constructive notice and are bound thereby. Moreover, she can take no greater estate than did her husband who expressly agreed in the indenture to him, as a part of the consideration thereof, to do and perform all the conditions expressed in the will to be done and performed by Asahel B. “and pay all the legacies therein set forth to be paid at the time and in the manner in said will set forth, save only the legacy” to Asahel B. The homestead therefore could not be set out free of such incumbrance so long as the legacies remained in force and unpaid; nor was it even in form so done, for the commissioner’s report filed in the probate court and by it accepted and ordered to be recorded expressly states that the homestead is set out “if permissive after the settlement of A. W. Warren’s estate,” which in effect leaves it as before subject to the charges created by the will. Consequently in decreeing that the amount of the legacies should be apportioned between the homestead and the rest of the land on the basis of their comparative values there was no error. Nor is there anything in the record indicating, as is argued, that the “Powers lot” was not included therein.

It is urged that the stock and farming tools should bear their share of the burden of the legacies, as-well, and that they should be accounted for. In this respect what finally became of the personal property is immaterial. For since Simon N. in the conveyance of the real estate to him, on record, covenanted to pay the legacies according to the provisions of the will, the charge on the mixed property, as against him and all persons claiming under .him, was made to rest primarily on the real estate in exoneration of the personalty, and his widow in her right of homestead can stand no better.

The legacy to James Whipple Warren and the one to Asahel Bailey Warren have been paid or adjusted,-and no claim is made regarding them. The three daughters, Sarah Jane Bronson, Rhoda Ann Warren, and Elizabeth Paulina Warren, survived their father but died before the time when the legacies were payable. It is contended that the legacy to each of the daughters was personal and that it lapsed because not given to her “and her heirs.” The first two of these bequests are together and the words of the will are: “and I hereby give and bequeath to each of my four children last named” the sum named, “to be paid by the said Asahel B. within one year after the decease of my said wife. ’ ’ And the other the son is directed to “pay * * * to my said daughter Elizabeth Paulina,” “within one year after the decease of my said wife with interest from the time of her my said wife’s decease which sum I give, devise and bequeath to my said daughter Elizabeth P.” In every instance it is a gift immediate to the daughter, though not to be paid until a specified time after the death of the mother who as we have seen took a life use of the whole estate, except the household furniture which was given to her absolutely. Clearly the postponement of the time of payment was for the convenience of the estate, and not owing to the circumstances of the legatees. The legacies are made chargeable upon a mixed fund of personal and real estate. This is as was the case of Lyman v. Vanderspiegel, 1 Aik. 275. There the legacies payable twelve months after the testator’s death were charged upon a mixed fund. One of the legatees survived the testator but died before his legacy was payable. The question was whether the legacy lapsed. The Court stated the rule supported by the authorities to be that a legacy given absolutely to be paid at a future day vests if the legatee survives the testator, though he die before the time of payment; but when it is given as a charge on real estate only and the legatee dies before the day of payment the legacy lapses, unless it appears by the will that the time of payment was postponed as a convenience to, the estate, and not to the person to be benefited, in which case it does not lapse. It was further stated that where a legacy is charged upon a mixed fund the decisions were less uniform. It was held that time did not attach to the legacy, but only to the time of payment, and that the legacy vested immediately on the death of the testator. How the rule may be where legacies are charged upon a mixed fund of real and personal estate we need not inquire; for of the property on which the legacies here in question were made chargeable only the real estate remains, consequently the rule where the charge is upon land determines. Richardson v. Greese, 3 Atk. 65; Duke of Chandos v. Talbot, 2 P. W. 601; Attorney General v. Milner, 3 Atk. 112. We hold therefore that the three legacies in question became vested at the death of the testator and did not lapse on the death of the legatees.

The report of commissioners for the allowance of claims against the estate of Asahel W. Warren was received in evidence without objection. From it the master finds that there was due from the estate to the daughter, Rhoda Ann (Warren) Bronson, the sum of $422.58 on a note which she held against her father and allowed against his estate with interest thereon, which has not been paid. Since this finding was made solely on the commissioner’s report, the exception to the report of the master because he received in evidence the note itself and the indorsements on the same is without force. It is further urged that this note was outlawed — that the findings do not show who made the indorsements. But the allowance of the note by the commissioners on the estate was equivalent to a judgment and merged the original claim. Lowry v. Stevens, 6 Vt. 113. If the defendant relies upon an outlawry of that judgment, the burden is on her to show it, which she has not done.

The master further found from the commissioner’s report that Asahel W. at the time of his death owed other debts to the amount of $847.11, no part of which has been paid.

During the hearing before the master the orator’s solicitor, as well as the master, had in the presence of defendant’s solicitor, he assenting thereto, considered that allegations in the bill that debts, legacies, and expenses had not been paid, not denied in the answer, ought to be taken as admitted. But the defendant’s solicitor at the close of the defendant’s evidence repudiated this position, whereupon the orator was allowed, in the discretion of the master, to introduce evidence showing that the legacies had not been paid, to which the defendant objected as not in rebuttal. The defendant was permitted to introduce evidence in reply thereto. In this there was no error.

The witness Fred C. Davis was allowed to testify that'he had searched the records of the probate court and could not find that any person other than Asahel B. Warren, Simon N. Bronson, and the orator had ever been executor or administrator of Asahel W. Warren’s estate. The defendant objected to this evidence, assigning as the reason only the incompetency of the witness. This ground is not urged here, but the argument is that the evidence was wholly immaterial, — quite a different thing. A new ground of objection is not available. Royce v. Carpenter and Taylor, 80 Vt. 37.

It is further contended that the administrator of Asahel W. Warren’s estate cannot maintain this bill to foreclose, that no one can, other than the legatees, either, jointly or severally. As we have already observed, that estate yet remains in an unsettled condition. The defendant, Mary A. Bronson, moved away from the farm in question three or four years before the death of the life-tenant which occurred June 9, 1903. Later in that month the orator leased the farm to Charles R. Bronson who took possession thereof under his lease and has hitherto thus held it. After the homestead was set out to Mary A. in the settlement of her husband’s estate, she brought her action of ejectment against the tenant to eject him from so much of the premises as were included in the homestead, and for damages. This action still pending is perpetually enjoined by the decree from which this appeal was taken, and herein error is claimed. The tenant was in possession under the administrator of Asahel W. Warren’s estate, who had a first lien on the property for the payment of debts and expenses of administration, and his possession was the administrator’s possession. Mary A. stands in the place of a devisee, and in the circumstances disclosed by the record before us can not bring an action to recover the seisin or possession of the land, or for damages done thereto. V. S. 2450; Austin v. Bailey, 37 Vt. 219.

There is no estate other than the realty on which the legacies are charged. The value of the legacies is wholly in the land which in effect was set apart by the testator for their payment. In proportion to their several amounts, the legacies are made liable for the payment of the debts and the expenses 'of administration. Y. S. 2497. The legatees could enforce their legacies against the land by foreclosure, and the land, standing in place of the legacies, would then be liable for the debts and expenses of administration, to be enforced by the administrator. But such circuity of action and multiplicity of suits is unnecessary. As “the court of equity in all cases delights to do complete justice, and not by halves,” the administrator in the place of the legatees, may by bill enforce the unpaid legacies, and hold the proceeds or the property to satisfy the debts and expenses of administration, and in trust for those entitled to the legacies, all persons in interest being brought before the court, in order that all rights in the matters in controversy may be bound by the “decree and complete justice be done. Story Eq. PI. see. 174; Knight v. Knight, 3 P. W. 331.

' Finally the defendant says that costs should be decreed her in the ejectment suit, citing Enright and Fitch v. Amsden, 70 Vt. 183, 40 Atl. 37. In that case the orators defended the action at law to the extent of a trial on the merits in the county court, and on exceptions in this Court. Then after considerable time they resorted to equity. The Court said that instead of thus putting the defendant to the expense of double litigation, they should have elected certainly as early as the first term of the action at law whether they would resort to chancery or not; and not doing so, they should receive costs therein only to and including that term, and should pay the subsequent costs of that action.

The ease before us is different. Here the orator‘was quite expeditious in making his election. His bill was filed and the temporary injunction issued restraining further prosecution of the action at law in less than a month after it was docketed in the office of the clerk of the county court, and more than two months before the first term of that case. In these circumstances the claim of the defendant in this respect is without equity.

Decree affirmed and cav,se remanded. Let a new time of redemption be fixed below.