Witmeyer v. Sheets

24 Ohio Law. Abs. 59
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 8, 1937
DocketNos 389 & 370
StatusPublished

This text of 24 Ohio Law. Abs. 59 (Witmeyer v. Sheets) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Witmeyer v. Sheets, 24 Ohio Law. Abs. 59 (Ohio Ct. App. 1937).

Opinions

OPINION

By BARNES, J.

The proceedings originated in the Probate Court of Clark County, Ohio. Therein Kathleen Sheets filed exceptions to the fourth and final account of W. W. Witmeyer as trustee under Item 3 of the will of Mary [60]*60E. Collins, deceased. The exceptions were sustained in part and overruled in part. Both parties prosecuted error to the Court of Common Pleas of Clark County, Ohio. The Court of Common Pleas sustained the Probate Court in all its findings and judgments. Both parties filed notice of appeal 'on questions of law to this court. The two appeals are submitted, together with one set of briefs.

The following statement of facts in chronological order will render understandable the nature of the controversy and the claimed errors.

On July 11, 1917 Mary E. Collis executed a last will and testament and in 1920 thereafter she died. W. W. Witmeyer was named as executor, received his appointment as such and qualified on February 21, 1920. The only part of the will pertinent to the present inquiry was Item 3, and the same is set forth herein in full:

“I direct my Executor to convert my estate, both real and personal, including the property bequeathed and devised to me, under the will of my husband, John S. Collis, deceased, into money, as soon as he is able to do so, in order to get the best price therefor, and divide the same into five equal shares, and I give, bequeath and devise one share each to my three daughters, Edith A. Howe, Mabel R. Mosher and Nellie J. Collis, absolutely, and I give, bequeath and devise one share absolutely, to the heirs-at-law of my son Harry H. Collis, deceased, I give, bequeath and devise to W. W. Witmeyer, as Testamentary Trustee, to hold same in trust and pay the income derived therefrpm to my son, Edward H. Collis, during his lifetime, and after his death, said share to be given and paid to Kathleen Collis, daughter of my son, Edward H. Collis, provided she has attained the age of twenty-two years, in that event, same to be given and paid to her absolutely, if she has not attained the age of 22 years, at the time of the death of my son, Edward H. Collis, said share shall be held in trust by said Testamentary Trustee, until she arrives at the age of twenty-two years, and when ,she arrives at said age, same to be paid her, if her father is then deceased. If said Kathleen Collis be not living at the decease of her father, Edward H. Collis, then said share of my estate, I give and bequeath absolutely to my daughter, Nellie J. Collis, at the death of my son, Edward H. Collis.”

Among the assets of the estate were fifty shares of preferred stock of the Victor Rubber Company. The executor filed an inventory as executor on March 9, 1920 and therein the stock of the Victor Rubber Company was appraised at $102.00 per share or a total of $5100.00. Also, in the assets of the estate were thirty shares of preferred stock of the Springfield Metallic Casket Company, appraised at $104.00 per share. The total appraised value of the estate was $22,113.73. The executor filed his first account April 16, 1921, and therein show assets converted into cash in the sum of $14,861.53 and debts paid in the sum of $14,856.33, including costs of administration and executor’s fees. Appended to the first account was an application for extension of time, which reads as follows:

“Said executor asks the court for six months additional time from this date for the settlement of said estate for the reason that he has been unable to sell fifty shares of the preferred stock of the Victor Rubber Company owing to slump in stock market, and executor also has $3000.00 par value in second liberty bonds converted, said executor says all of debts of said estate have been paid.
“Said executor says that he has in his hands such stock and bonds applicable to the payment of the debts and bequests of the deceased and that he has used due diligence to collect the assets and pay the debts of said estate; that said estate is as he believes solvent; that at the time of this application there is not in his hands more than $100.00 in money subject to the claims of creditors of the said estate.
“W. W. Witmeyer.
“Sworn to before me and subscribed in my presence this 16th day of April, 1921.
“Harry G. Gram, Probate Judge, “by Fred A. Wagner, Deputy Clerk.”

On May 5, 1921, the executor filed application in the Probate Court to distribute the balance of the assets in kind. The application, omitting the formal parts, reads as follows:

“Now comes W. W. Witmeyer, -executor of the will of Mary E. Collis, deceased, and represents to the court that all the debts of the said deceased so far as he has any knowledge thereof have been paid and that there are no claims against the estate and that he still holds the following stocks and bonds belonging to said estate; that he believes it will be to the interests of the persons entitled to the distribution of the assets of said estate that the same may be [61]*61distributed to them in kind, said stocks and bonds being as follows:
“A certificate for fifty (50) shares of the preferred stock of the Victor Rubber Company par value, $100.00 per share.
“A certificate for thirty (30) shares of the preferred stock of the Springfield Metallic Casket Company, par value, $100.00 per share.
“Second liberty loan converted 414 gold bonds of 1937-1942, par value $3000.00.
“He further presents as a part of this application the written consent of the parties entitled thereto.
“Wherefore he prays that the court may make an order authorizing him to distribute said assets in kind to the distributees entitled thereto under the will of said decedent upon their giving a 'proper bond of indemnity to the executor as provided by law.
“(Signed) W. W. Witmeyer
“Sworn to before me and subscribed in my presence this 26th day of April A. D. 1921.
“O. B. Trout,
“Notary Public,
“Clark County, Ohio.
“We, the undersigned, all the persons entitled to the distribution of the estate of Mary E. Collis, deceased, hereby join in the above application of W. W. Witmeyer, executor and give our approval to the same and request that the court make the order as therein prayed for.
“Edith A. Howe,
“Nellie J. Thalls
“Wayne W. Collis
“W. W. Witmeyer, Trustee for Edward H. Collis
“Mabel R. Mosher
“Jennie B. Collis, Guardian of John S. Collis.”

Appended to -the above application was the executed bond referred to therein and signed by all the distributees.

On June 11, 1921 the executor filed his second and final account, wherein he charged himself with the remaining assets, totaling $8372.27, and made distribution in kind to all of the aforenamed distributees. The entry ordering distribution in kind, as per the application, was filed May 5, 1921.

Letters of authority to W. W.

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Related

In Re Trusteeship of Tischer
188 N.E. 876 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1933)
Warner v. Hoffman
18 Ohio Law. Abs. 403 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1934)
Pellegrino v. Pellegrino
36 N.E.2d 3 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1936)

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Bluebook (online)
24 Ohio Law. Abs. 59, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/witmeyer-v-sheets-ohioctapp-1937.