Case Name: Eliza Susan Ferguson, by her guardian, A. McKinney, v. William Stephens
Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Decision Date: 1838-04
Citations: 5 Mo. 211
Docket Number: 
Parties: Eliza Susan Ferguson, by her guardian, A. McKinney, v. William Stephens.
Judges: Edwards, Judge. — I concur in the foregoing opinion.
Reporter: Missouri Reports
Volume: 5
Pages: 211–213

Head Matter:
Eliza Susan Ferguson, by her guardian, A. McKinney, v. William Stephens.
1. A. by deed oonveyed certain slaves to his son and one B. as trustees for his son’s daughter, and such other children as his son might thereafter have, providing that the profits of the negroes should be a fund to support and educate his grand child, and such other issue as his said son might have; and on the demise of the son, to be equally divined among such of his children as might then be living,
2. Held, that on the death of the son, the legal estate of B. teimin-ated, and the slaves would fall under the .control of such guardian of thecestuysque trust as the law assigned.
ERROR to the circuit court of Montgomery county.
Wells and Porter, attorneys for appellants,
cited:
1 Barnwell and Alderson, 336; 2 Tucker’s Com. 438; 5 East’s Rep. 162; 2 Term Rep. 759; 1 Bibb, 88.
T. L. Andersoti, attorney for appellee,
cited:
Fonblanque, top page, 460, 24, 623; 1 Marshall’s Rep, 243; 1 Maddox, 44'5; 4 Johnson’s C. R. 654.

Opinion:
Tompkins, Judge,
delivered the opinion.
This was an action of detinue, commenced in the circuit court of Montgomery county, by E. S. Ferguson, a minor, by McKinney, her guardian, against Stephens. In the progress of the suit, the plaintiff took a non-suit, and afterwards moved the couit to set it aside, which motion being overruled, this writ of error is prosecuted to reverse the judgment of the circuit court.
A. by deed veyed certain and one tees for his son's suchotherchH-dren ashis son might thereafter have, providing the negroes should be a fund chU^ and^such other issue as h\S In liave-onfhe denrise^ot' the son, tobe equally divided chUdon"^1 might then be living.6
Held, that on the death of the^ B.'tenninated* °' and ihe Mavis would (all unner gn»rdiun° of the cestuijs que trust as the law astigued.
On the trial of this cause, it was in evidence, that in the year 1825, Dugald Ferguson, senior, conveyed to Dugald Ferguson junior, l>is son, and William Stephens, as trustees tor Eliza Susan Ferguson, daughter of said Ferguson, junior, and lor such other children as the said Dugald Ferguson, junior, might thereafter have, slaves. The provisions of this deed are: "That the profits and emoluments accruing liom said slaves t)e a fund to support and educate the said Eliza Susan Ferguson, and such other issue as the said Dugald Ferguson, junior, might thereafter have; and at his de-mjSe, to be equally divided among such of his children as might then be living."
Some time in the year 1834, said Dugald Ferguson, Jeavingr no issue but E. S. Ferguson, the plaintiff; and McKinney, being appointed her guardian, commenced this action against Stephens, the surviving to recover these slaves, they having remained in the possession of Dugald Ferguson, senior, during his lifetime, and on his death, being taken possession of by Stephens, the surviving trustee. The evidence on the Part (>1' the plaintiff being all exhibited to the jury, the defendant moved the court to instruct them, that they must find for him, because the plaintiff had shown no legal title in himself. The circuit court gave the instruction as prayed, and the plaintiff as above stated, took a non-sun.
The deed, by which Stephens was made trustee for E* Ferguson, seems to have determined the estate lie had 'n the slaves, bv the death of Dugald Ferguson, junior, The provision maile by that deed that the slaves should |)£} <]¡yi<led among the surviving children on the death of their father, Dugald Ferguson, junior, seems to indicate that although the grandfather might, in t/ie lifetime of his son? |lilve been willing to intrust tlte management of those slaves to him and Stephens jointly,' et, that on the death of his son, he preferred that a guardian should, indue course of law, be assigned to t: ke chatge of tin m. There Can lie no doubt that he had power to limit the duration of the legal estate of Stephens. Such being my opinion, it seems to me that the circuit court committed error in instiucting the jury that the legal estate in these slaves remained in Stephens after the death oi Dugald Ferguson» junior; and that lor such error its judgment ought to be reversed;and the two other Judges of tlm court concurring with me in this opinion, it is accordingly reversed, and the cause will he remanded for further proceedings in conformity to this opinion.
Edwards, Judge. — I concur in the foregoing opinion.
McGirk, Judge. — I incline to the opinion the judgment ought to be reversed, hut am not entirely satisfied that the trust expired on the death of Ferguson.