Court Opinion

ID: 6885019
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-23 21:25:59.486342+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:05:41.445690
License: Public Domain

CLARK, Circuit Judge.
Plaintiffs appeal from a judgment dismissing on the merits complaints in two consolidated actions which they define as “of equitable cognizance” “charging conspiracy and fraud in the acquisition and execution of an agency.” They are two of the three co-executors of the late Albert B. Shultz, who died in 1932, the third executor being the first-named defendant herein, Manufacturers & Traders Trust Company (the “Bank”). The suits grow out of the sale in September and October, 1928, by the stockholders of the Houde Engineering Corporation, of their stock in the corporation. Plaintiffs’ testate, who participated in the sale, was president and principal stockholder of the corporation, owning 46 per cent of its common stock.
The defendants, in whose favor the judgment appealed from ran, are, in addition to the Bank, nineteen individuals, comprising the principal officers of the Bank (Har-riman, president, Wurst, Rea, and Cantwell, vice-presidents), Cooley, a bank director and controlling proprietor of the New York Car Wheel Company, G. H. and H. L. Chisholm, both stockholders of Houde, G. H. being also Houde’s vice-president, Sawyer, who acted as Cooley’s lawyer, and, besides some others who need not be here described, the co-partners of the investment banking house of Eastman, Dillon & Co. All these were claimed to have been either active participants in the conspiracy or to have received some of the profits. They are the survivors of about thirty-five defendants who were sued originally, the remainder not having been served.1 Among issues presented for decision herein are (a) whether an agreement of the stockholders of September 26, 1928, legally constituted the Bank their agent to sell the stock or, on the other hand, gave the .Bank the option itself to purchase the stock at the agreed sum of $4,000,000, (b) whether, assuming the Bank was so made an agent of the decedent and the other stockholders, it was faithless to its trust, in that it conspired with other defendants named to sell to itself or its own designee with asserted large profits, (c) whether all important actions taken by the Bank and other defendants were unknown by the decedent either then or later and whether, if originally unauthorized, he ratified them by sharing in the proceeds and participating in other activities hereinafter described, and (d) whether all claims are barred by appropri*891ate statutes of limitation, since the first of the two actions was not instituted until the fall of 1938, almost ten years after the transactions involved, or whether decedent never knew of the asserted- fraud and plaintiffs remained ignorant of it until just shortly before the litigation was commenced.
After a lengthy trial on the merits the district court rendered a decision finding against the plaintiffs on all points, both of fact and of law. It ruled that the Ba-nk took an option to purchase the stock and was not an agent, that in any event the successive sales of the stock were bona fide, without fraud or overreaching, that the decedent knew or had means of knowledge of all the important facts in issue and, moreover, took the fruits of the transactions, and finally that the actions were barred under the applicable statutes of limitation. The writer of this opinion is of the view that the facts found by the court were supported by the evidence which appears of record, and that from these facts as found the conclusions of the court followed. He therefore is prepared to accept the views of the district court in toto. But it is felt by the court as a whole that decision should follow more narrow lines where possible; and since the statutes of limitation are a complete defense, they will be stressed here, and facts appropriate to that issue will be particularly discussed. A fuller discussion of the background and of the events involved, together with quotation of the important documents, will be found in the opinion of- the district court as reported in 40 F.Supp. 675-687.2
The transactions here brought up for reexamination disclose a not untypical American success story of the golden twenties. Prior to 1919, decedent acquired an exclusive license to the American patent rights for an automobile shock absorber invented by Maurice Houdaille of Paris, France. With an initial investment on his part of $30,000, he organized the Houde Engineering Corporation, which in 1928 was sold by him and his co-stockholders for an amount in excess of $4,000,000. Plis share of the sale price — excluding other profits, hereinafter noted — was $1,834,091.92 net after he had paid off a claim of other stockholders against him. This, however, did not exhaust the bonanza qualities of the stock, which still grew in worth after the sale, so much so, indeed, that these and other lawsuits followed.3 It was soon resold, as we shall see, by a syndicate in which decedent participated, for six million to a Michigan investment house, which proceeded to organize a new corporation and consolidate it with others. The shares of the new concern when offered to the public and traded in advanced so rapidly on the stock market that their paper value in a short time was asserted to be over fifteen million dollars. How much of this value vanished in the bleak depression days of the thirties does not appear. But these amounts show the richness of the prize. Plaintiffs value the loss to their estate at seemingly upwards of ten million dollars. But this is based on the extreme advance of the stock; the actual profits of the various participants were much less. It will appear, too, that decedent knew of the total amount of all these profits, and at most lacked complete knowledge only of their distribution and ultimate destination. And whether for good or ill, there can be no doubt that the Bank and its associates brought to consummation a disposal of these assets where previous efforts had failed. Their very success led ultimately to extensive claims against them.
Prior to the transactions directly in issue, several attempts had been made by decedent and others to dispose of the stock. Even though the company had achieved a moderate success, its working capital was insufficient and it was too dependent on patents which would soon expire. These efforts at disposition had been unsuccessful; but in the fall of 1927, Houde secured the contract of supplying shock absorbers for Ford, and its business, prospects, and asking price increased. Whereas formerly the stockholders had asked $2,400,000 and later $3,000,000 — without, however, effectuating a sale — now they desired $4,000,000 for their holdings. Decedent had gone to France on company business in September, 1928, when Rea — vice-president of the Bank in charge of its securities department — having, as he thought, an opportunity of developing a sale of the company, sought an option on the stock. The result of various negotiations, in which decedent’s interests were represented by defendant George H. Chisholm, co-officer and co-stockholder in Houde, as well as decedent’s financial rep*892resentative, led to the execution of the instrument of September 26, 1928, which is the prime source of confusion in this case.
By this document the signing stockholders of Houde (with Chisholm signing for decedent) “give to Krauss & Company [a partnership of junior bank officers actually representing the Bank] for a period of thirty days from the date hereof, the right to purchase all the stock, of the Houde Engineering Corporation at a price of ($4,-000,000) Four Million Dollars in total. This option can only be exercised by the payment of cash before its expiration.” The word “option” was used a total of four times in the instrument, which, however, also contained-this provision: “Inasmuch as Krauss and Company will act as a broker in this transaction, it is also understood that in the event of the sale of said stock being consummated Krauss and Company will be entitled to a commission from the purchase price of 3%.” It was also provided that the net assets upon exercise of the option should be equivalent to those of August 31, 1928, and any accrual in them should “adhere to the vendors in this option,” and that there should be a reduction of a proportionate amount per share for all shares up to 265 which the signing stockholders could not deliver.
After the signing of .this document, and in order to make sure that Shultz was in accord, certain cablegrams between Chisholm in Buffalo and Shultz in Paris, France, followed; and these, being the first direct connection of Shultz with the transaction, naturally have been much discussed by the parties and the court. They, together with the original option instrument, will be found set forth at pages 679 and 680 of 40 F.Supp. Also there set forth is an acceptance of the option signed by Krauss & Company on October 11, 1928, directed to the Houde stockholders who had signed up, the first sentence of which reads: “Referring to the option dated September 26, 1928, which you have given us for the purchase of all of the stock of Houde Engineering Corporation, at- a price of $4,000,-000.00, we beg to advise you that we have secured as a purchaser the New York Car Wheel Company, of this city, which has agreed to purchase said stock upon the terms of our option, and has made available in our hands the sum of $4,000,000.00 therefor.” A copy of this letter, sent to Shultz by registered mail, was received by him upon his return from Europe on October 18, 1928.
The New York Car Wheel Company, referred to as the purchaser, was a company dominated by the defendant Cooley, a director of the Bank. The bank officers had succeeded in interesting Cooley in the purchase and he was the actual purchaser of the stock, although he preferred the transaction to appear in the name of his company. Since he was averse to making such heavy commitments,' even though he was a man of means, he made an agreement with the chief bank officers, defendants Harri-man, president, Wurst, executive vice-president, and Rea, whereby they agreed to take the commitment off his hands in the event of his death or disability and to form a syndicate to relieve him of a portion of the purchase if he so elected. It was stated to be the intention of the Car Wheel Company to have the syndicate relieve it of approximately $3,500,000'of the $4,000,000 commitment; further, that it seemed best not to form this syndicate for three or four days, “but the officials of the Trust Co. have signified their ability and readiness to do so.” Harriman also agreed, on behalf of the Bank, to lend Cooley the money to purchase the stock upon deposit of the Houde stock and additional collateral to secure the loan. This agreement, reached on October 10, was reduced to writing on October 11, the day the Bank exercised the option. Since plaintiffs point to this instrument as showing that in substance the Bank, not Cooley, was the purchaser, it should be noted that' these three individuals took only a contingent commitment, and that Cooley himself assumed no obligation at all to them.
Negotiations immediately took place with representatives of General Motors who visited the Houde plant on October 12 and conferred with the bank officials and with Cooley. This conference left little prospect of a sale to General Motors. On October 13, Cooley met with the three bank officers at the Bank and outlined in writing his intention with respect to the venture by reciting the purchase by the Car Wheel Company, “of which I own control,” of the Houde stock at approximately $4,000,000 in accordance with the Krauss option; that the three bank men had agreed to relieve him of the obligation in case of death; and that negotiations were pending with a subsidiary of General Motors. Then he went *893on to say that if these negotiations were successful it was his intention, after expenses were paid, to divide the net profits one-half to the Bank and its investment affiliate, 30 per cent to the three bank men, with Rea taking one-half this amount, and 20 per cent to himself. If, however, the sale was not consummated, it was contemplated that an underwriting syndicate be organized, wherein the net profits retained by Cooley should be divided 15 per cent each to Harriman and Wurst, 30 per cent to Rea, and 40 per cent to himself.
These two documents by Cooley of October 11 and 13 are particularly significant because, unlike substantially all the other documentary evidence in the case, the district court has found there was no evidence to show that decedent knew of either of them. But, as we shall see presently, he did know, and the court so found, that the Bank was loaning money to Cooley for his purchase. Hence this matter of the so-called concealed “kickbacks,” referred to in the memorandum of October 13, and later paid, seems in essence the nub of plaintiffs’ entire case.
When decedent returned from Europe on October 18, he thought the stock had been sold to General Motors, and was incensed, because General Motors was a large competitor of Ford. After being assured by the Bank that it had been sold to Cooley, he seems to have been not only satisfied, but rather anxious to put the deal through. Among other things, he arranged to buy off the Scully brothers, minority stockholders, who had not agreed to make the sale and who were objecting; and actually, by agreement, $50,000 was paid by Cooley on decedent’s account to settle their claims. On October 24, the Bank loaned Cooley $2,-500,000 to pay for the stock; and, in addition to the Houde stock already delivered in escrow to the Bank, Cooley deposited collateral securities having a market value in excess of $600,000. Decedent, however, was not then paid in full; he received a total down payment from Cooley of $250,-000 and allowed the balance to stay due on demand, with interest, since interest would not be paid by banks on deposits until the first of the month. The Bank guaranteed the payment of this balance. All this appears from decedent’s receipt dated October 24, 1928, a highly significant document.
In this document decedent acknowledged receipt from the Car Wheel Company, “by Fred B. Cooley,” of $250,000 as part payment on $1,884,091.91 for his Houde shares “sold and delivered under the terms of an option dated September 26th, 1928, given to Krauss & Co., the three per cent (3%) commission allotted to the latter having been deducted from the sale price. The balance is to be paid to me on demand, except that I may be permitted to take stock of a new corporation in part payment of the balance. It is understood that I am repaying to Fred B. Cooley” the $50,000 paid by him to settle the Scully claims “against me.” This shows, of course, familiarity with the original option, even to details such as the Krauss commission, and anticipation of future plans for the stock which might lead to the formation of a new corporation. Even more significant is the fact that underneath Shultz’s signature is the statement, “We undertake to see that payments are made to A. B. Shultz, in accordance with the terms of the above receipt, on demand,” signed by the Bank, by Wurst as executive vice president. As to this, Wurst testified to a conversation with decedent wherein the latter referred to an earlier conversation with Cooley— wherein Cooley had said he could borrow the money and pay decedent back at any time — and inquired in a half-joking manner how he would know the Bank would lend Cooley the money. So Wurst said, “I will fix that,” and dictated and signed the undertaking.4 From these facts the court quite properly found that decedent knew the Bank was financing Cooley’s purchase and had made a loan to him in connection with it.
*894Not having developed a purchaser, Cooley, with Harriman and Wurst, went ahead with the syndicate, except that now it was to take over the entire commitment at the price paid by Cooley for the stock. Subscriptions for the syndicate were taken from decedent, the Bank, its securities affiliate, the bank officers, and others. Although subscriptions generally had to be cut, decedent’s own subscription of $250,000 was not reduced. The syndicate agreement, which he signed, recited the purchase of the stock by the Car Wheel Company for $4,000,000, plus accruals of income from August 31 to October 11 (as provided in the original option), and contained explicit provisions for the carrying out of the syndicate and the division of the assets and profits. As to the latter, it was provided that 25 per cent of any net profit resulting from the syndicate operation “shall first be paid to the New York Car Wheel Company, or its assigns, as its profit upon the sale of Houde Engineering Corporation stock in the Syndicate.” Defendants rely upon this, in connection with the “kickbacks,” as showing that decedent was perfectly willing that 25 per cent of the profit should be paid in substance to Cooley or to his assigns.
Actually, members of the syndicate were never called upon to pay the amounts subscribed by them or any amount, for on November 14, negotiations for a sale of the stock to Harris, Small and Company, an investment house of Detroit, Michigan, were opened, and on November 20, they were concluded by sale to this company of the stock for $6,000;000. The syndicate managers received the proceeds of the sale on December 3. They paid off the Bank’s loan to Cooley and other expenses of Cooley and of the syndicate and distributed the balance as provided in the syndicate agreement. Decedent received as his portion thereof $76,942.39.
Decedent also received from the syndicate managers the balance due him from Cooley on the sale of his stock to Cooley, taking interest-bearing certificates of deposit from the Bank in place of Cooley’s obligation, guaranteed by the Bank. The 3 per cent commission was paid to the Bank in the sum of $126,318.33 on or about December 5, 1928. At this time there was sent to Shultz by the syndicate managers, along with his check for the profits, a statement of the expenses of the syndicate and its net profit, which then continued: “By the terms of the underlying agreement. Mr. Cooley receives 25% of this sum which amounts to $436,006.88.” And Shultz’s portion of the profits was carefully figured out after deducting this profit to Cooley. Later, and about the first of the next year, Cooley paid Harriman, Wurst, and Rea the percentages of his profits which had been set forth in his statement of October 13. The Bank also gave the sum of $15,-000 each to an Illinois bank (not a party here) and to defendants Eastman, Dillon & Co., in each case stating that it was in appreciation of their aid in negotiations, and not because of any obligation. The court found that the Bank was not obligated to make these payments, but that they were customary in the investment banking business, and that there was nothing improper about them.
Decedent continued as president of the Houde Company, his salary being increased from $20,000 to $25,000. He bought stock in the newly organized Michigan corporation and became a vice-president and director of it, remaining as such for some years. His relations with the other actors in this little drama remained always cordial; and when he died in 1932, he made the Bank a co-executor of his will, with large discretionary powers. During his lifetime he never made any complaint about the transactions here involved. After his death certain evidence as to the transaction appeared in a claim of the United States against the Chisholms for taxes,5 and later in an unsuccessful suit by a minority stockholder of the Car Wheel Company on the claim that Cooley’s transactions were not personal, but were for the benefit of that company.6 Finally, certain minority stockholders of Houde brought suit against the Bank and others in litigation in the state courts, which extended for some time and was eventually decided adversely to them in 1938. 7 Plain*895tiffs claim that this litigation for the first time brought to their attention the facts of an agency fraudulently executed and led to these actions.8
Some difference has developed between the parties as to the nature of these actions.9 Defendants say that their entire basis is that of fraud and conspiracy, and that they are essentially actions for damages for deceit. Plaintiffs assert that, while they have shown such fraud, nevertheless the claimed fiduciary relationship of the Bank is sufficient to justify recovery of at least all the rewards and profits made by the parties hereto, even without a showing of definite fraud. They also assert that their suits are wholly equitable, a contention which has direct bearing upon the issue of the statutes of limitation hereinafter discussed. The district court, while finding against the plaintiffs generally, asserted that the action was one of fraud and suggested that it could not be changed to a different and inconsistent theory, namely, that of recovery on an implied obligation to pay over money received as a result of breach of trust and for restitution of profits. After a long and thorough trial we should not be disposed to hold the plaintiffs to any particular theory they may have set forth in their complaints, so long as the facts proven would justify recovery. We do not see, however, any dif~ ference in the result as between a claim for damages and a claim for restitution of profits. The bar of the statutes of limitation appears to be equally strong in either event.
The statutes applicable are state statutes of New York. Civil Practice Act § 48(1) allows six years for “an action upon a contract obligation or liability express or implied, except a judgment or sealed instrument”; (3) allows the same period to recover damages for a personal injury; and (5) allows the same time for “an action to procure a judgment on the ground of fraud,” but it continues: “The cause of action in such a case is not deemed to have accrued until the discovery by the plaintiff, or the person under whom he claims, of the facts constituting the fraud.” The action for restitution of profits or of unearned commissions has been held to come under (1), even if these were secret and unknown, and hence to require action within six- years from the receipt of these sums by the defendant. Wechsler v. Bowman, 285 N.Y. 284, 34 N.E.2d 322, 134 A.L.R. 1337. As to any other claims not based on actual fraud, (3) would govern, even if the claims are unknown. Brick v. Cohn-Hall-Marx Co., 276 N.Y. 259, 11 N.E.2d 902, 114 A.L.R. 521; Adolf Gobel, Inc., v. Hammerslough, 263 App.Div. 1, 31 N.Y.S.2d 23. That is, except and unless plaintiffs can establish their claim of a planned fraudulent conspiracy here, their time for commencing action expired in 1934. Cf. Schmidt v. Merchants Despatch Transp. Co., 270 N.Y. 287, 300, 200 N.E. 824, 104 A.L.R. 450.
In this connection the case of Wechsler v. Bowman, supra, is persuasive. There defendants, who were real estate agents, made a secret agreement with one of several executors, in order to secure the agency to sell some land for the estate, that they would turn their fee back to this executor and meanwhile would collect another fee for themselves from the purchasers. This was done. The matter was not discovered by the remaining executors until more than six years had elapsed, when they brought suit. The court held unanimously that the agents had forfeited all claims for commissions, but that recovery for those retained by defendants was quasi-contractual in nature, being a claim for restitution, and had to be brought within six years. Such an action was subject to subdivision (1) of the státute, and hence was barred by lapse of time. The court further held, four to three, as to the commission obtained for the unfaithful executor, that this was a claim for damages for fraud (there being no benefits retained by defendants) and was not barred, because it had only lately been discovered. Our case as to benefits received is exactly similar to *896the claim there held barred. Hence, unless a claim of fraudulent conspiracy lately discovered can be sustained, these actions, too, are barred.
With respect to the claim of fraud the district court made findings of fact, the nature 'of which we have indicated above. From these it concluded that “decedent had actual knowledge of the basic and material facts with respect to the Houde transactions sufficient to put him on inquiry and to start the Statute of Limitations running on the alleged claim based upon fraud.” This conclusion seems amply supported by the facts we have set forth. From these it is clear that decedent was in possession of the essential facts of Cooley’s and the Bank’s participation in the disposal of the Houde stock, and was satisfied with the outcome. The only matter of any substance as to which evidence of his knowledge is here lacking,.10 is as to who Cooley’s assigns were, among whom the latter’s known profits were to be distributed. How far it was a matter of importance to him that Cooley, a bank director, as he knew, actually was going to divide his profits with other bank officials, Harriman, Wurst, and Rea, may be questioned. Be that as it may, the explicit finding of the court, which was in accord with all the direct testimony, was that this statement by Cooley of his intentions was not made until October 13, that is, not until two days after the sale to the Car Wheel Company was actually agreed upon. As the court found, these sums therefore had nothing to do with the sale. Hence at most they, like the commission paid the Bank, can only be benefits which the Bank, or its officers, might be obligated to return to its principal, if agency existed. But claims for these sums, as we have seen, are barred by the six-year statute. As to all other matters, these were so known to the decedent at or near the time of their happening that no conclusion of a concealed cause of action for fraud is justifiable.
It may be added that plaintiffs’ claim of conspiracy depends on a highly involved series of inferences, all against the direct findings of the court. They think that a conspiracy of the bank officials and the investment brokers to get possession of the Houde stock, in order to turn it over for large secret profits, matured as early as July, 1928. Hence with decedent in Europe, and with Chisholm a co-conspirator, the opportunity afose. The Bank was an agent and a fiduciary, but nevertheless was the real purchaser of the stock and Cooley was only a front for the Bank. And hence the “kickback” arrangement must actually have been made sometime before the claimed sale of October 11 and as a part of the plan. And this conspiracy was carried out by the other steps leading to the disposal of the stock at an advance and division of the profits. And decedent never knew that the Bank, which was actually his agent, was thus constantly working against his interests. But the evidence does not afford a basis for these deductions, and the district court has found directly to the contrary.
Plaintiffs make two further claims based upon their contention that the complaints were “of equitable cognizance.” They assert, as to equitable claims, either that Civil Practice Act § S3 applies, under which ten years are allowed for an action, “the limitation of which is not specifically prescribed in this article,” or else that under Russell v. Todd, 309 U.S. 280, 60 S.Ct. 527, 84 L.Ed. 754, no state statute, but only the doctrine of laches, applies in a federal equity suit. The answer to these two’alternative contentions is the same, namely, that no ground was shown here for purely equitable relief. As Russell v. Todd shows, the court was ready to accept an explicit applicable state statute to a suit of exclusively equitable cognizance, and further held that a suit even of an equitable nature brought in aid of a legal right follows the state statute of limitations as to such right — the same answer made under state law to the claim that the ten-year statute governs. Borst v. Corey, 15 N.Y. 505. Although plaintiffs have asked for an accounting, and added allegations in their complaints of an equitable nature, and although they now try to argue that-such accounting is necessary because of the large number of defendants, it is quite clear that in no aspect can their case have any other than the two forms already discussed: (1) damages for injury because of an extensive conspiracy and fraud, or (2) a claim for restitution of profits made by various individuals at the expense of the decedent. New York law has always been quite definite that an equitable remedy is not to be had on a claim such as this against agents, even if an accounting is asked for; that a number of persons were involved cannot change the essentially legal nature of *897the remedy or lift the bar of the statute. See, among others, Keys v. Leopold, 241 N.Y. 189, 149 N.E. 828; Carr v. Thompson, 87 N.Y. 160; Roberts v. Ely, 113 N.Y. 128, 20 N.E. 606, 22 N.Y.St.Rep. 185; Mills v. Mills, 115 N.Y. 80, 21 N.E. 714, 23 N.Y.St.Rep. 604; cf. Cwerdinski v. Bent, 256 App.Div. 612, 11 N.Y.S.2d 208, affirmed 281 N.Y. 782, 24 N.E.2d 475; Frank v. Carlisle, 261 App.Div. 13, 23 N.Y.S.2d 849, affirmed 286 N.Y. 586, 35 N.E.2d 932. There is nothing in the situation here disclosed to extend the time by virtue of unnecessary allegations incorporated in the complaint.
It follows, therefore, that the claims here made as against the Bank primarily and as against the other defendants, either as participating in the activities of the Bank or as taking profits belonging to plaintiffs’ estate, are all barred under the applicable state statutes of limitation. The judgment is therefore affirmed.

 In Shultz v. Manufacturers & Traders Trust Co., 2 Cir., 103 F.2d 771, we dismissed an appeal from orders eliminating unserved defendants from the case and also striking parts of the complaint, 1 F.R.D. 53.

 For denials of summary judgment, see 1 F.R.D. 451 and 32 F.Supp. 120; for orders as to discovery, see 1 F.R.D. 243.

 Other lawsuits growing out of this transaction are cited in notes 5-8, infra.

 This testimony was received over plaintiffs’ objections based on New York Civil Practice Act § 347, the so-called dead man statute, excluding testimony of transactions with the deceased unless opened by the executors. The court held that this transaction had been so opened. Throughout the case plaintiffs objected to all conversations with decedent except such as they chose to open; and testimony from Chisholm, for example, concerning his conversations with decedent or, as here, bearing on the content of the earlier conversation with Cooley, was rigidly excluded. We have already commented on the effect of this statute, as preventing a full view of the facts, in Dellefield v. Blockdel Realty Co., 2 Cir., 128 F.2d 85.

 Chisholm v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 2 Cir., 79 F.2d 14, 101 A.L.R. 200, certiorari denied Helvering v. Chisholm, 296 U.S. 641, 66 S.Ct. 174, 80 L.Ed. 456.

 Goetz v. Manufacturers & Traders Trust Co., 248 App.Div. 665, 289 N.Y.S. 918.

 Shultz v. Manufacturers & Traders Trust Co., 249 App.Div. 88, 291 N.Y.S. 117; Id., 254 App.Div. 128, 5 N.Y.S.2d 61, affirmed 279 N.Y. 781, 18 N.E.2d 865.

 They first sought — unsuccessfully—the removal of the Bank as co-executor. In re Shultz’ Will, 254 App.Div. 228, 5 N.Y.S.2d 190; Id., 254 App.Div. 928, 6 N.Y.S.2d 647; Id., 254 App.Div. 935, 6 N.Y.S.2d 647; Id., 255 App.Div. 751, 7 N.Y.S.2d 231; Id., 279 N.Y. 812, 18 N.E.2d 46. They also questioned the accounting for the estate in a federal suit, wherein we dismissed an appeal from a conditional order of intervention involving one of the present plaintiffs. Dolcater v. Manufacturers & Traders Trust Co., 2 Cir., 106 F.2d 30; Shultz v. Manufacturers & Traders Trust Co., D.C., 32 F.Supp. 120.

 The two actions which have been consolidated seem for all substantial purposes the same and have been so treated below; apparently they were brought to reach different parties.

 In general, declarations and statements of decedent were strictly excluded, on plaintiffs’ objections. See note 4, supra.