Case ID: nc_17/html/0181-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "RueeiN, Judge", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Hugh L. Wilson v. Moses Wilson et al.
    
    Where a testator directed the interest of one third of the valuation of. his slaves to be paid to his son, and requested another son to lake the; slaves and pay the valuation to his executors, and appointed that son and another his executors — Held, upon the probate of the will by the son alone, and upon his electing- to take the negroes under the will, that he might retain the value of the negroes, and that they-were not bound as a security for the annuity.
    The bill was originally filed in Lincoln. • The plaintiff alleged, that David Wilson, his father, died in September 1820, having, after sundry other legacies, provided as follows:
    “ I will unto my son Samuel Wilson one third part of t( the valuation of all my negroes.
    
      “ I will and bequeath unto my son Moses Wilson, (the- “ defendant,) one third part of the valuation of all my “ negroes.
    
      (i I will that the other third part of the valuation of my negroes be placed in the hands of my executors, “ for the support of my son Hugh L. Wilson, (the plain- “ tiff,) and my executors to pay the interest of the a-. “ mount annually during his life, then the principal to “ be equally divided among my children Samuel, Wil- “ Ham and Polly. It is also my request that my son “ Moses take the negroes that may be valued for- the, support of HughL. Wilson, and pay the valuation into 
      “ the hands of my executors” — and that he appointed the defendant Moses and another executors ; that Moses only proved the will; that after the death of the testator the negroes were divided, when two girls were allotted for the support of the plaintiff; that the defendant Moses never had paid the valuation of those negroes to any person in trust for the plaintiff; that because of the renunciation of the other executor there was no person to whom it could he paid, and that therefore the defendaut Moses held the slaves in trust for the plaintiff; that the' defendant Moses had never paid the plaintiff any of the hire of the negroes, but had become insolvent, and for a nominal consideration had sold the slaves to the other defendants, who had notice of the plaintiff’s claim. And the prayer was, that another trustee might be appointed in the room of the defendaut Moses, and the other defendants be compelled to reconvey to such trustee; and also for an account of the hire of the slaves and for general relief.
    The defendant Moses, in his answer, set forth a valuation of the negroes of the testator, whereby two female slaves, the eldest of which was not five years old, were allotted to the plaintiff at $ 420, one third of the whole value being $375 33. The defendant insisted, that upon the true construction of the will, he was only responsible to the plaintiff for the interest upon the latter Sum for his life ; and he averred, that on .the 24th of October, 1821, he for a full and fair consideration purchased of the plaintiff his interest, in this annuity. The sales to the other defendants were admitted.
    A general replication was taken to the answer, and the plaintiff filed proofs tending to impeach the fairness of the release set up by the defendant. A gentleman of the bar, who drew up the release and attested its execution by the plaintiff, deposed, that at its execution the plaintiff was perfectly competent to make any bargain ; that he, the witness, took the plaintiff aside, and cautioned him against executing the release, which was disregarded by the plaintiff.
    
      
      Hogg, for the plaintiff-,
    contended, 1st. That the defendant Moses was a trustee under the will of his testa- - tor for the plaintiff.
    2d. That the release, from the relation subsisting between the parties, was a nullity.
    
      JJeroereux, for the defendants,
    urged that the release was a bar to the claim of the plaintiff, and that it could not be impeached except upon a bill averring fraud in obtaining it; and that all the proofs filed impeaching it were irrelevant to the issues, as the only enquiry was whether it had been executed. (James v. McKernon, 6 John. R. 543.)
   RueeiN, Judge

The bill assumes as the construction of the will, that the negroes are bequeathed to the plaintiff; at least, that they are bequeathed to Moses in trust for him. If that were true, the defendants who purchased from Moses, with knowledge that he claimed the slaves under his father’s will, would hold them subject to the trust declared in it. But I think it plain, that the testator meant a sale of those slaves, which should be allotted as the third provided for the plaintiff’s support. He says, that one third of the valuation of his slaves shall be placed in the executor’s hands for Hugh’s support.” This is inaccurately expressed ; but means that the executors should get and keep the value of those slaves in their hands. Then they could not keep the slaves themselves. But this is rendered clear by the further provision, that the executors are to pay Hugh annually during his life the interest of the amount” —not the hire of the negroes and their increase. And ■then comes a disposition of the fund after Hugh’s death, •which is not of the negroes,' and their increase, but of “ the principal,” to be divided among three other children. If the wall had stopped here, there could be no doubt that it would have been the duty of the executor to sell the negroes, and put the money at interest for a life annuity to the plaintiff. Is this altered by the subsequent provision? That provision is expressed by way of request, that the defendant Moses should take those negroes, valued for the support of Hugh, and pay the valuation into the hands of the executors : and Moses and another are appointed executors, of whom the former a{0ne proved the will. It is argued, that if a sale was intended, a case has happened in which it was not s.o meant, and could not be made ; because there wa,s nobody who could sell to Moses, nor to whom he could pay the price. No act was necessary to complete the sale to Moses, but his own assent. The testator had already provided for that and the terms ; namely, that the neg’roes should be valued ; which was only necessary in case Moses, being an executor, should take them under the bequest in the will. There is no complaint of an improper division, or unfair valuation. That would be a distinct ground of relief, if it existed. But the bill affirms the division and valuation, and seeks the specific negroes allotted for Hugh. The meaning of the request to Moses to take those negroes could not be, that h'e should hold them upon terms different, and with a less perfect and disposable interest than another purchaser. If he would not keep them himself, he might and ought to sell them, by the terms of the will; and in that case, the purchaser would take them absolutely, and subject to no trust. If he kept them, why should his interest be less, or his title not as perfect ? It is said, because he was executor. Not so. That might be a reason why they should be valued to him, and not to another ; but none at all, why he should not have an indefeasible title, when he took them at valuation. The testator trusted him without security with the price, if sold to another. There seems to be no reason why he should not equally do so with the price in his own hands. I speak now of the mean-, ingofthe testator himself. Indeed had the other executor proved the will, the defendant Moses would have been as much entitled as he, to keep the price of the negroes» The intention then seems to be, to sell those negroes to provide a certain support for Hugh by placing the value at interest. And this is the more reasonable inference, when we find by the proofs, that there were only five altogether, and that four of them were of little service,The two, tiiat were allotteibfor Ihcgfi, were young females, the eldest of which was not five years of age, and would have been expensive for several years, instead of yielding any thing towards the plaintiff’s maintenance, B ut the testator wished the slaves to remain in his family, if his son was willing and able to buy them. This he requested him to do ; hut that request did not constitute a trust of the slaves, if the son took them as his own. The will is to be construed as a mode of proposing a sale, and not as incumbering the property with a trust, or embarrassing the purchaser in the disposition of it. Such a purpose would bo inconsistent with the apparent strong desire that Moses should take them. For what more likely to prevent him, than attaching such a trust to two slaves of their age and sox?

The interest of the defendant Moses must bo declared to be an absolute one, if he assented to the purchase at all.

That ho made an election in a reasonable time, and fairly, is placed beyond doubt by the contract and release executed to him by the plaintiff. The testator died in September 1820. The negroes were divided ami valued October 25th, 1820. And on the 24th October 1821, the plaintiff by his deed, in consideration of g> 107 50, released to his brother “the annuity” bequeathed by his father, and in his hands as the executor. From this it must be concluded, that at that time it was perfectly understood, that Moses had taken the negroes as his own .property, and that all parties understood him to be responsible for the value. Upon the matter of the bill therefore, touching any trust in the slaves, it must be dismissed as against ail the defendants.

The bill however charges the insolvency of the executor, and prays general relief; which may be considered as a prayer to secure the fund and the annuity, if a proper case appeal's,

In the answer, the release of October, 1821, is spe-cailly set up as a bar against this demand. While it remains in force, it is an absolute bar. Nor can it be annulled, but upon a bill expressly impeaching it upon the ground of fraud, unless upon its face or from the relation of the parties, the court can declare it void. The fair execution of this instrument is proved by both of the subscribing witnesses ; one of whom, an attorney, prepared it at the instance of the plaintiff himself. Other evidence has been taken by the defendant, going to show, that the agreement on which it was founded, was bona Jide and fair; and the plaintiff has offered no proof to impeach it. If therefore the decision turned on the merits of the release, there seems to be no reason to suspect it upon tlie present state of the proofs. But thb court does not enter into that; because the pleadings do n°t impeach it; and. the only matter in issue upon it is that made by the answer and replication, which is the fact °f execution. The plaintiff cannot therefore offer proofs in this case impeaching the release; nor can the * L depositions of the defendant tending to sustain it be cons jeered ; because the whole is out of the pleadings. If tlie witnesses have sworn falsely, they have not beeri guilty of legal perjury, since they have been interrogated to facts not stated in the bill or answer, nor in any manner put in issue. The court cannot hear the proof; it would be error if we did. (James v. McKernon, 6 Johns. 543. Lyon v. Tallmadge, 14 Johns. 501.)

Where the answer sets up release as a^de-fence to the the^Mi^and^the plaintiff replies ffenerallv li© cannot at the heanng; read tes-ing the release as fraudulent.

iíSsue^Svreen the parties ,• and factsTnot seated in the bill or answer is to be rejected. No interrogatories can be put to witnesses, which, do not re-

' The relation between these parties was not such as to prohibit their bargaining altogether, and invalidate every treaty between them, however fair and advantageous to • the plaintiff. The relation makes a dealing suspicious^ and imposes the burden on the executor of showing very clearly, that no advantage has been taken by him. The release is not therefore void, without proof aliunde. No proof has been, or could be offered here. The release must therefore be established as a bar to this bill. But because the circumstances, on which its validity depends, are not open in this suit, the bill will be dismissed, without prejudice to filing another for the security or recovery of the annuity, and impeaching tlie release.

Per Curiam. — Decree accordingly.