Case Name: Margaret Breen vs. James Emlah; Stephen D. Breen, executor, vs. Same
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1926-01-30
Citations: 254 Mass. 507
Docket Number: 
Parties: Margaret Breen vs. James Emlah. Stephen D. Breen, executor, vs. Same.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 254
Pages: 507–508

Head Matter:
Margaret Breen vs. James Emlah. Stephen D. Breen, executor, vs. Same.
Suffolk.
January 29, 1926. —
January 30, 1926.
Present: Rugg, C.J., Pierce, Crosby, Wait, & Sanderson, JJ.
R. W. Nason, for the defendant.
J. H. Vahey, for the plaintiffs, was not called on.

Opinion:
By the Court.
These are two suits in equity. In one it is sought to obtain reconveyance of real estate from the defendant, who holds the record title by virtue of a deed from one Mary Tally, upon the ground that such deed was obtained by the undue influence of this defendant. The other is a suit by the executor of the will of Mary Tally seeking to establish title to certain personal property, title to which is claimed by the defendant. The cases were heard by a master. His report sets out in great detail the relations between the defendant and said Tally. In each case the finding is unequivocally in favor of the plaintiff. The evidence is not reported. It is not necessary to narrate the facts set forth in the reports of the master. They must be accepted as true. Smith v. Lloyd, 224 Mass. 173. Glover v. Waltham Laundry Co. 235 Mass. 330, 334.
Certain obj ections were filed to the master's report. They all were to the findings of fact. No exceptions were filed. Therefore, the objections need not be considered. Smedley v. Johnson, 196 Mass. 316.
There is error in each of the final decrees in that each contains the clause: "That costs be allowed the complainant to be taxed by the clerk." A final decree in equity should specify the amount of costs in dollars and cents, if they are allowed. Stevens v. Rockport Granite Co. 216 Mass. 486, 494. In each case the final decree is to be modified to specify the amount of costs in dollars and cents; and, so modified, may be affirmed with costs of appeal.
Ordered accordingly.
See now Equity Rule 26 (1926); 252 Mass. 608.