Case ID: sc-eq_10/html/0099-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Harper, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

*Fripp vs. Talbird.
    A deed or marriage settlement which is good between the parties, but void as to creditors for the want of a schedule, or for not 'being recorded, is nevertheless valid as to creditors until they choose to avoid it by seizing the property, and the party in possession under it will not be bound to account for rents and profits during the time such deed was regarded as valid. [*143]
    A wife, being entitled to a life estate in certain negroes, had them settled to her separate use by marriage settlement which had no schedule annexed and was not recorded; the husband died, the wife surviving, who administered on his estate, received her portion of it, married a second time, and died: on a bill filed ■ by the creditors of the first husband against the second husband, it was held, that the life estate of the wife in the negroes, was not assets for the payment of the debts of her first husband, and his creditors were not entitled to an account for their possession by the wife after the death of her first husband. [*143]
    Creditors may follow assets in the hands of legatees or distributees and compel them to refund: and the property may be followed in the hands of one to whom it has been transmitted on the death of a legatee or distributee; there is no limit to this right except that of time. [*144]
    Mary Bell, under her- father’s will, was entitled to a number of negroes for life. She married William Palmer, and the negroes were settled to her use, but there was no schedule annexed to the deed, and the deed was not recorded. Palmer and Isaac Perry Fripp, joined one William Barns, as his sureties in two administration bonds on the estates of Bichard and Sarah Reynolds. In November, 1811, Palmer died — his widow administered — she sold his estate in 1818, and nine negroes were bought in, and retained by her. The next of kin bought to the amount of his share, and gave an indemnity bond. The debts of Palmer were not then paid. In 1822 she married John Talbird, who acquired in her right the nine negroes above mentioned, and also those bequeathed by her father. She died in 1825, and administration of her estate and also of her first husband’s, was granted to John Talbird.
    William Barns committed a devastavit — and died in November, 1821, leaving John Barns his executor. Administration de bonis non, of the estates of Reynolds, was committed to" Robert Oswald, and on a bill filed by him against John Barns, executor of William Barns, a decree was given against Barns for $6,669 50. Oswald sued on the administration bonds against Fripp, and he was compelled to pay $5,454 66; he died, having appointed the plaintiff his executor.
    The bill is filed by Perry Fripp, executor of Isaac Perry Fripp, against Talbird, as administrator of William and Mary Palmer, for an account of their estates, and contribution ; and against John Barns, for an account of the estate of William Barns.
    The Court ordered a reference, and the Commissioner at Coosawhatchie took an account, in which he charged Talbird with the nine negroes of Palmer that came to his hands, and with their hire ; also with the hire of the negroes which Ms wife held under her father’s will and the settlement, as well before his marriage with Mary Palmer as afterwards.
    *Tke Court confirmed the report; from the decree, as contained in the order of reference and confirmation, the defendant Talbird appeals — because,
    1. He is not liable for any debts contracted by his wife, before marriage ; no decree having been obtained against him in her life time.
    2. The negroes that came to his hands by virtue of his marriage with Mary Palmer, are not assets to pay the debts of Palmer.
    3. The creditors of Palmer could not have an account of antecedent hire for those negroes which she held under the settlement — much less can they have such an account from her husband after her decease.
    
      Pettigru, for the appellant,
    commented at length on the grounds taken, and cited and relied on 1 Schoals & Lefroy; Toller’s Law Ex. 282; Coleman v. The Duke of St. Albans, 3 Yes., Jr., 315 ; Higgins v. York Buildings, 2 Atk. 101.
    
      Treville, contra,
    referred to 1 Sch. & Lef. 269 ; Padgett v. Hoskins, Prec. Ch. 431; 1 Eq. Rep. 421.
   Harper, J.

There is no question with respect to the negroes which Mrs. Palmer derived under her father’s will; they have been disposed of according to the provisions of the will, and I do not understand them to be in the defendant’s possession. With respect to the hire of those slaves which the Commissioner has reported, and which constitutes the defendant’s third ground of appeal, I am of opinion the complainant is not entitled to any account. Admitting the marriage settlement of Palmer to have been void as to creditors, for want of a schedule, it was good as between the parties themselves.

When it is said that a deed, good between the parties, is void as to creditors, there is perhaps a want of exact precision in the language. They may treat it as void. They are not compelled to institute any legal proceeding to avoid it, but may seize the property, as if there were no deed. But until they do seize the property, the deed remains perfectly good. There is no case in which a ^person not a trustee, has been hold liable to account for the rents and profits of his own property. When a legacy is ordered to be refunded, it is without interest: Gettins v. Steele, 1 Swan 200; a mortgagor in possession, though the legal title be in the mortgagee, is not accountable for rents and profits. Higgins v. The York Building Company, 2 Atk. 107; Mead v. Orrery, 3 Atk. 244; Coleman v. The Duke of St. Albans, 3 Ves. 32. In a case decided by myself as Chancellor, at Columbia, I held, after very full consideration, that an heir-at-law in possession, was not accountable for rents and profits; it would operate hardship, approaching the effect of fraud, to make one account for profits which he may have expended, in the just confidence of their being his own.

With respect to the defendant’s first ground of appeal, it is not contended on the part of the complainant, that any assets of the estate of his wife came into the defendant’s hands after her death; nor that a husband is liable for the debt or devastavit of his wife, contracted or committed before the marriage, in respect of her property which he has acquired by the marriage, when his liability has not been fixed during the coverture. The claim is to follow the specific assets of the estate of Palmer, in his hands. The wife’s life estate in the negroes included in the marriage settlement, was claimed as such assets. I have already expressed the opinion that they could not be so regarded. After the death of her husband, they were her own property, and after her second marriage, her life estate vested in the second husband.

But with respect to the nine negroes derived from the estate of Palmer, I am of opinion that they may be followed as assets of that estate. There is no doubt about the general rule, that if an executor or administrator proves insolvent, creditors may follow the assets in the hands of a legatee or distributee, and compel them to refund, even although the executor may have retained sufficient assets to pay the debts and wasted them. 1 Vern. 94; 2 Ib. 205. It was said that when the distributee has died and transmitted the property to others, this is too far to follow it: *1 know of no such limit to the right. In the anonymous case, 1 Vern. 162, the legatees of an executor, who had wasted his testator’s estate, were compelled to refund, by a creditor of the first testator. There is no limit in such case, but that of time. In’ the case of Miller v. -, decided by myself, and the decree affirmed by this Court, I held that a legatee who had received his legacy, might protect himself by the statute of limitations. But the statute cannot avail the defendant in this case, the complainant’s cause of action arose just before the filing of the bill. It was argued that the other distributee of Palmer ought to have been made a party, and to refund in proportion. If Mrs. Palmer had been merely a distributee, and not an administratrix, there might be something in this. If she were living, the complainant’s bill would be properly against ber alone; the demand would be established against her, as administratrix, and payment enforced out of this property, or any other in her possession.

Her personal representative stands in her stead. It would only be in the event of her insolvency, that the complainant would be authorized to go against the other distributee. Having paid a debt which had unexpectedly arisen, she might compel the other distributee to refund rateably. It appears, too, that she took a bond of the other distributee, to refund in the event which has happened. Of this she might have availed herself, and so may her representative now do, unless it be true as stated, that she received assets of the estate over and above her distributive share, sufficient to satisfy this demand. If this be so, she can never have any claim for contribution against the other distributee.

It is ordered and decreed, that the report of the Commissioner be confirmed, so far as respects the nine slaves in the hands of the defendant, derived from the estate of Palmer, but in other respects overruled, and the, order confirming the same reversed.

Johnson and O’Neall, Js., concurred.