Case Name: Hunnier vs. Rogers
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1869-06-07
Citations: 55 Barb. 85
Docket Number: 
Parties: Hunnier vs. Rogers.
Judges: 
Reporter: Barbour's Supreme Court Reports
Volume: 55
Pages: 85–87

Head Matter:
Hunnier vs. Rogers.
A testator, after making various bequests, and giving “ all the rest, residue and remainder ” of his estate, both real and personal, unto his children living at his decease, and to the issue of such of them as should then be dead, empowered his executors to sell his real estate, in these words: “ And I authorize and empower my executors * * * to sell all or any part of my real estate, at any time, in his or their discretion, at public or private sale, and to execute valid deeds of conveyance for the same, to the purchaser or purchasers thereof.” JXeld that the will gave a clear power of sale to the executors, as to the testator’s lands. That the power was a general power in trust under our statutes, and the trusts were authorized by the statute. And that a sale of the lands by the executors, under the power, was legal, and passed a good title to the purchaser. Clebke, P. Ji, dissented.
A purchaser from executors will get a good title if the will gives them a valid power of sale.
APPEAL from a judgment entered at a special term allowing a demurrer to the complaint and dismissing the complaint, with costs.
The action was brought by a vendor, against the purchaser, to enforce the specific performance of a contract for the sale and purchase of real estate. The material facts are set forth in the opinion of Justice Clerks.

Opinion:
Geo. G. Barnard, J.
The conveyance by the executors of David Sampson passed a good title to the property in question. The will gives a clear power of sale of the testator's lands. It imposes upon the executors the duty of paying the testator's debts and legacies, and upon a certain contingency, the payment of money to the testator's unmarried daughters. The power is a general power in trust under our statutes. The trusts are authorized by the statute. The sale of the land under the will was legal. That there may be sufficient property to relieve the real estate, is not the subject of inquiry when a vested power in trust is executed. That question is material in determining whether the power should he exercised as between the executors and the beneficiaries, but a purchaser will get a good title if the will gives a valid power of sale.
The court at special term fell into an error, and the judgment should be reversed and the demurrer overruled, with leave to the defendant to answer in twenty days, on payment of costs.
Cardozo, J., concurred.