Court Opinion

ID: 6141983
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-05 14:41:07.412655+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:54:41.140619
License: Public Domain

The Surrogate.
The facts in this case are mainly gathered from the records and files in the office, and from statements, made by counsel in their briefs. No oral testimony was taken, and no charge is made that the present trustee or any of its predecessors have culpably mismanaged the affairs of the estate. The chief question concerns the distribution of the fund admitted to be in hand. This amounts, without reckoning some small matters of income and payments, to $50,259. As James Hall has been paid his share in full, including the Sanford and Martine mortgages, then outstanding, he has no interest in the matter.
Counsel, in their briefs, dwell much upon the different modes of stating the interests of the parties, adopted on the various accountings that have been had. This is calculated to lead the mind astray from a just and comprehensive view of the subject. It seems immaterial to a proper adjustment, at this stage of the case, that different amounts, based upon hypothetical values of the securities, which varied on the occasion of each settlement, except in the case of James, were deducted from such values. Such estimates ivere merely tentative, with a view, apparently, of showing approximate results, at different times. The whole subject was left open to abide the event of the conversion into money. That event has occurred, and more has been realized than was estimated, but as nearly as I can discover, less than the sums originally invested. The excess, therefore, over the estimated *77value, cannot be treated as income. Nor does the fact that the two parcels together have sold for more than the added amounts for which they were bought in, render the excess an accretion or increase of the estate. It is only restoring to the estate what was taken from it in order to make the investments in the first place. Hence, it must be regarded as a part of the corpus of the estate, and must be dealt with as if it were an original integral part of the assets of the deceased. In no sense can it be regarded as income, as is the contention on the part of Mrs. Kelemen.
■ There is then a principal fund of $50,250 for assignment and distribution among those entitled. It would be a very simple matter to. assign one half to the fund of which Mrs. Kelemen is entitled to the income and one eighth to each of the four grandchildren ; but this cannot be done because James has been finally settled with, and has had his share of it, while Abigail has already received her share in the Sanford investment but is still entitled to her share of what the Mar tine property realized. Thus, the matter is somewhat complicated. It does not appear how either of them was paid, whether out of the pockets of the trustees, or otherwise. At all events, it is agreed that they were so paid. If the trustees paid them, they have a right to reimbursement. But no claim is made to that effect on behalf of the trustee Weed during whose administration they were paid, nor was any made by his administrator in 1882, when he accounted for and paid over the trust fund in Weed’s hands to the present trustee. If he took the funds from other portions of the estate, they must be re*78placed. Should it appear, in either event, that the legatees were paid less than what would otherwise have been their just proportions, the difference will not belong to the trustees, but must be properly divided between Mrs. Kelemen’s interest, and Charles and Agnes.
The fact that James and Abigail have both abandoned or discharged any claim on account of increase in the Sanford investment, does not clothe the amount, to which they would have otherwise been entitled, with the character of a lapsed legacy. Even were it such, it would not fall into the residuum, of which Mrs. Kelemen and the Hall children are the legatees, for the reason that the surviving residuary legatees cannot take the lapsed legacy of a co-residuary legatee. This would involve the absurdity that it would pass to the next of kin, among whom they are numbered, when they had released their claim.
It is not easy to understand how it happens that James R has been paid his full share of both mortgages, and Abigail her full share of the Sanford mortgage, and yet that the proceeds of both now in hand for distribution are more than the original investments. If the amount paid for the Sanford mortgage was $37,000, the sum of the two shares paid to them was $9,250; add the full share of the Martine mortgage paid to James R and the amount is about $10,500. The mystery is, whence was this sum, so paid, derived. As counsel have not touched upon this question in the briefs submitted, it must be assumed that it is susceptible of a solution which leaves the fund to be distributed among those now apparently *79entitled to it. All have been settled with and paid, or had assigned their interest in all of the estate, except these Sanford and Martine matters, save James, fully paid. After the settlements with James and Abigail, these mortgages were foreclosed, and the properties purchased by the then trustee, at an expense of $4,680.69 to the estate, for costs, taxes, etc., incurred and paid before the present trustee was appointed. This sum added to the amount originally invested makes the whole cost, $52,680.69, for which there is to show $50,250, the difference being the net loss to the estate. Hence, counsel are in error in basing any arguments upon the theory that there has been an increase of the fund.
Under all these circumstances, the difficult question recurs as to how the fund in hand shall be divided among those having an interest in it. The will gives one half to Mrs. Kelemen, and the other half in equal shares to the four grandchildren, but one of them has been fully paid without it, and another has only a partial interest. But Mrs. Kelemen and Charles and Alice only, are interested exclusively in the Sanford proceeds—which is $45,000. If it were divisible among all, according to the will, Mrs. Kelemen would take as her half $22,500 and each grandchild one quarter, or $5,625, but as two have, as stated, been paid, it must be divided also among the three, regarding the rule fixed by the will. The two shares thus paid amount together to $11,250. Of this sum Mrs. Kelemen will take $7,500—making the whole amount of her share $30,000, and Charles , and Agnes will each take $1,875—making the share of each $7,500— *80together $15,000. As to the Martine investment, James’ share alone has been paid, and the division among those entitled will give Mrs. Kelemen her half, $2,625, increased by her share of James’ one eighth (say, $656.05) $375.05, making it $3,000.00—while each of the three shares of Abigail, Charles and Agnes ($656.25) will be increased $93.75, making each of their shares $750.
The statement for distribution will, therefore, stand thus:
Mrs. Kelemen, share account Sanford $30,000
“ “ Martine 3,000
Abigail, share Martine Charles, “ Sanford “ Martine
Agnes, “ Sanford
“ Martine
$33,000 750 $7,500 750 $8,250 $7,500 750 $8,250
$50,250
Subject, of course, to commissions, expenses, etc.
It may be joroper to remark that the various trustees very properly never separated the funds into shares and made investments for each beneficiary, but invested for all. T am not informed as to whether Mrs. Kelemen has issue to take the remainder after her life interest is ended, or whether these four grandchildren will probably take it, nor is it regarded as of much moment. No reason is discovered for going into any calculation as to what portion of the fund to be distributed is to be regarded, as capital, and what portion income, first, because there is no sum to be considered in the light of income, and no question as *81between a life beneficiary and remaindermen, and second, because the loss or gain, occurred on loans made by the trustees in the course of administration, in making investments and not by the decedent. The case of Roosevelt v. Roosevelt (5 Redf., 264) is, therefore, not in point. As I have endeavored to show, there was a loss of upwards of $2,000 growing out of these investments, and that can only be apportioned by according to each a proper share of the fund remaining. If Mrs. Kelemen has issue who are remaindermen as to her share, they are not before me, and their rights coidd not be affected by any adjudication here made. As no complaint is made as to the conduct of any trustee in the matter, it would not seem that Mrs. Kelemen is entitled to any interest other than that actually earned. Of course, Abigail, Charles and Agnes are also, and for a like cause, deprived of such interest as their portions might otherwise have earned.
I have not aimed to give exact figures, for a decree, nor to go into detail as to the income from, and expenses incurred in carrying, the Sanford and Martine properties. A ready excuse for this is found in the fact that no account appears to have been filed. Those are matters of detail. The effort has been to fix some proper basis for the distribution of the fund remaining on hand. As to other matters, counsel can be heard on the settlement of the decree; and especially on any matter that may have been overlooked.
Costs, to be taxed, are allowed to all parties, out of the fund.