Noble's Adm'r v. Moses Bros. , 81 Ala. 530 ( 1886 )

STONE, C. J.

— Lucy B. Noble, nee Lucy B. Micou, attained to her majority October 30, 1874. She had been relieved of the disabilities of minority by chancery decree rendered about twelve months before that time. She had a pretty large independent estate inherited from her deceased mother, and her father, B. H. Micou, was the guardian of her estate until she was so relieved of the disabilities of minority. She was a member and inmate of her father’s family until her marriage in October, 1879, and we are not informed that any charge was made against her for board.

B. H. Micou had been reputed to be a man of large wealth; but in 1874 he sustained financial reverses, was ruinously insolvent, and without credit. He had, through property of his wife — a second marriage — and the forbearance of his children, the use and control of two or more large plantations and the stock upon them, but he was without means or credit to conduct farming operations. Moses Brothers, real estate agents, and having good credit, advanced for him without security during 1874, and thus enabled him to conduct his farming operations and to support his fámily. At the close of that year Micou fell indebted to them in the sum of thirty-six hundred dollars over and above what the crop yielded.

At the commencement of the year 1875 Moses Brothers were unwilling to advance further to B. H. Micou on his individual credit, and they so informed him. After some negotiations between B. H. Micou and Moses Brothers, through one of their firm, it was agreed between them that the planting operations on the Prairie-Wollahatchie plantation, and on the Campbell plantation, should then be conducted in tbe name of Lucy B. Micou, and tbat she should give a crop lien and mortgage on tbe stock and crops to be grown to secure tbe same. Only two witnesses, B. H. Micou and one of tbe Moses Brothers, speak of tbe terms of this agreement. B. H. Micou’s testimony is as follows :

“Moses Bros., at or about tbe close of 1874 or first of 1875, required some security for tbe balance due them by me at that time, and for tbe advances to be made to support my family and other expenses, and to make a crop in 1875, as a condition for extending tbe indebtedness, and for making further advances. Tbe matter wa.s talked over between Moses Bros, and myself, and Lucy being the only member of my immediate family who was in a condition to assume any responsibility, it was decided between us that I should obtain her consent to have the planting interest run in ber name, and tbe stock, farming implements and provisions on tbe Prairie and Wollaliatchie plantations, which bad been bought in for tbe benefit of my wife, should be transferred to ber, and tbe busines carried on in tbat way by me as ber agent.”

Tbe testimony of Moses : “Micou did desire to obtain advances to make a crop in 1875. At tbe time we agreed to make these advances for 1875, he stated that bis daughter, Miss Lucy B. Micou, was willing for the planting to be conducted in ber name and on ber responsibility, and tbat she would assume payment of the balance of the account for 1874, and execute a mortgage to secure the balance of 1874 against B. H. Micou, and the advances to be made in 1875 for planting purposes, and B. H. Micou’s family expenses, for taxes and insurance and other purposes. This was agreed to, but before the papers were executed, Mr. Micou stated, and if was agreed between us, tbat he should conduct the business on the Prairie, Wollaha'tchie and Campbell places as before stated, and on the Shorter place in the name of E. S. Boykin, who was to execute a mortgage to secure advances for that purpose ; but with the further understanding that any profits on tbat place should be credited to the account of L. B. Micou at the close of tbe year, and losses, if any, should be debited to ber account.”

Tbe agreement spoken of by these witnesses was drawn up in writing, and bears date March 3, 1875. B. H. Micou procured the execution of it by Lucy B. Micou. Its recitals are as follows : “Whereas, I am justly indebted to Moses Brothers in tbe sum of three thousand dollars; and whereas tbe said Moses Brothers have agreed to furnish to me through my agent, Benjamin H. Micou, certain advances of meat, planting utensils, bagging and ties, and money to purchase other necessaries and supplies to enable me to carry on certain planting operations in said State and county, that I am now conducting on the plantations lately owned and occupied by Benj. H. Micou, and known as the Prairie and Wollahatchie plantations and the Campbell plantation; and which are necessary to enable me to make a crop on said plantations. Also advances of money and supplies to my agent, Benjamin H. Micou, for family support during the time of his attention to said business, and money to pay necessary taxes and expenses — said- advances to be furnished from time to time, in amounts not to exceed altogether the sum of five hundred dollars per month during the present year.” Said agreement then proceeded to convey to said Moses Brothers the stock of mules and horses on said places, and the crops of cotton and corn to be grown thereon during the year 1875, by way of mortgage, to secure said indebtedness and advances.

At the close of the year 1875 Moses Bros, were again unwilling to advance farther without other and real security. It was then agreed between them and B. H. Micou that Lucy B. Micou should execute to them a mortgage on real estate to secure the balance due to them, which was agreed on at the sum of thirteen thousand four hundred and sixty dollars. Thereupon a note for that sum was drawn up, due December 1, 1876, and bearing interest from date, and a mortgage on real property as security for its payment; each of which papers B. H. Micou procured Lucy B. Micou, his daughter, to execute, bearing date February 7, 1876. The mortgage conveyed her undivided half interest in certain real estate in the city of Montgmery, in the Campbell plantation, and also conveyed certain personal property and crops to be grown that year. The mortgage contained a power of sale on default.

In the reckoning and settlement which produced the balance of thirteen thousand four hundred and sixty dollars, certain items of debit were included which constitute the chief contention in this suit. Among these are the following: Two thousand dollars of the thirty-six hundred left unpaid by B. H. Micou at the close of the year 1874. This was charged against Lucy B. Micou in the account of 1875, as of the first of that year. At the close of the year there was an ascertained deficit on the Shorter plantation of five thousand and twelve dollars. That plantation had been cultivated in the name of one Boykin, but controlled by B. H. Micou. These two sums, with interest on the two thousand dollars, entered into the ascertained balance of thirteen thousand four hundred and sixty dollars, for which the note and mortgage were given. Moses, tbe witness, testifies that this was in accordance with the agreement with B. H. Micou, and the latter does not controvert it.

At the close of the year 1876, Moses Bros, interposed other objections, and exacted a change of security, as a condition of further indulgence, and of further accommodations. The requirement at this time was that thirteen thousand dollars of the debt, with some interest, should be placed in judgment against Lucy B. Micou. This B. H. Micou agreed to, and it. was done accordingly ; the judgment bearing date February term, 1877, of the City Court of Montgomery, and for the sum of thirteen thousand and fifty-three 35-100 dollars. In form the judgment is on jury and verdict, but the proof shows it was taken by consent. In the testimony of Moses, the witness, is the following language : “ It was our purpose in part in having the judgment taken to cut off all further inquiry into the account.” It is shown they had taken legal advice.

In 1881 Moses Bros, attempted to force the collection of their said judgment by execution, and thereupon Lucy B. Noble filed this bill in January, 1882, and seeks to have the account overhauled and corrected.

As we understand the purpose and prayer of the bill, it does not seek to repudiate any proper expense incurred in the cultivation of the plantations, in the maintenance of B. H. Micou’s family, in the payment of taxes, and in other expenditures incidental to these, and to the preservation and productiveness of the property. It concedes the liability of herself and her estate for meat, planting utensils, bagging and ties, and money to purchase other necessaries and supplies to carry on the planting operations to be conducted in her name and on the plantations named in the agreement. It also concedes a liability for B. H. Micou’s family support during the time of his attention to said business, and money to pay necessary taxes and expenses — said advances to be furnished from time to time, in amounts not to exceed altogether the sum of five hundred dollars per month during the year — the alleged indebtedness for which constitirted the basis of the mortgage and of the judgment. The chief purpose is to eliminate from the debit column of the account the two items of two thousand dollars and five thousand and twelve dollars described above, all other charges not falling within the classes for which she had bound herself, and all excess of interest charged above eight per cent.

Situated as B. H. Micou and his daughter then were — he financially ruined, and she in affluent circumstances — there was something beautiful as well as natural in the filial spirit she manifested. A reasonable family settlement uuder such circumstances find's no condemnation in that high, yet conservative morality, which the court of chancery inculcates and administers. It is only when confidence is abused that courts of conscience interfere. But we need not decide this. Frank v. Frank, 1 Ch. Cas. 84 ; Beckley v. Newland, 2 P Wms. 182 ; Stapilton v. Stapilton, 1 Atk. 2 ; Pullen v. Ready, 2 Atk. 592 ; Cory v. Cory, 1 Ves. Sr. 19 ; Kinchant v. Kinchant, 1 Bro. C. C. 369; Tendril v. Smith, 2 Atk. 85; Wycherly v. Wycherly, 2 Eden, 175 ; Houghton v. Houghton, 15 Beav. 278; Brown v. Carter, 5 Ves. 892 ; Tweddell v. Tweddell, Tur. & Russ. 1 Cooke v. Burtchaell, 2 Dru. & War. 165 ; Hannah v. Hodgson, 30 Beav. 19 ; Parfitt v. Lawless, 2 Courts Prob. & Div. 462 ; Blackie v. Clark, 15 Beav. 595.

The theory on which relief is claimed in this case is, that when these transactions were entered upon, complainant, the daughter and ward of B. H. Micou, had just reached her majority, and was still a member of his family ; that any contract she may have made with her father, by which she incurred a heavy responsibility, or parted with a valuable interest, for his use or accommodation, will be referred to improper control and parental restraint, and does not bind her, unless all imputation of undue influence is repelled by the proof; and that Moses Bros., being cognizant of the relation of the parties, past and present, knowing complainant’s age and surroundings, stand in no better right than B. H. Micou would, if he were claiming relief for his own benefit. It is claimed that no testimony has been offered disproving such parental influence, ortending to showthatLucy B. Micou had any outside advice, or that she executed the papers of her own free will, or that any explanation was made to her, informing her of the nature and effect of the contracts she was entering into..

Boykin, brother-in-law of complainant, and an inmate of the family, in 1876, after she had executed the note and mortgage and the latter had been recorded, inquired of her if she knew the extent to which she had bound herself and her property, and then informed her of the amount. She expressed surprise that her father should treat her so. It is shown that Micou resented with some feeling Boykin’s interference in the matter. It is not shown that Boykin gave complainant any information as to the items composing the indebtedness. It is shown that he did not inform her that the two items of two thousand and five thousand and twelve dollars were included in the account, for he did not know it himself. With the foregoing exception, all the testimony found in the record shows Lucy B. Micou, while entering into these solemn contracts and engagements, was brought in contact only with her father; that the papers she executed were never explained to her farther than by reading them over to her ; that the accounts of the several years’ transactions were never so much as shown to her, and that when papers were presented to her by her father for execution, she executed them without inquiry, and in trusting, filial confidence.

It is shown that until shortly before the present bill was filed- — January, 1882 — Miss Micou had never been informed, and did not know that two thousand dollars of her father’s deficit for 1874 had been charged to her, and entered into the sum for which she gave her note and mortgage in February, 1876. And not until after her bill was filed did she learn that the five thousand and twelve dollars, deficiency in the crop grown on the Shorter place, was also charged to her account, and entered into the sum she had secured by note and mortgage. This last named item is the subject of an amendment to her bill. It is shown, however, by Moses Bros, and admitted by B. H, Micou, that one of the conditions on which they agreed to advance and did advance for 1875, was that the unpaid balance for 1874 — thirty-six hundred dollars — should be secured. Another fact shown and not denied is, that it was part of the agreement on which the Shorter place was worked in the name of Boykin in 1875, that if there should be an excess of debits for advances over payments realized from that place, such excess was to be charged to L. B. Micou. This excess constitutes the item of five thousand and twelve dollars charged to complainant’s account for 1875. There is no proof that L. B. Micou was ever notified of either of the agreements. The written contract of March 3, 1875, - — the commencement of the dealings — makes no reference to either of them. The testimony is, that at the close of the crop year of 1875, B. H. Micou informed complainant, as the result of the year’s planting, that she had fallen in debt thirteen thousand four hundred and sixty dollars; and upon his requesting her to do so, she gave her note and mortgage to secure its payment.

Would this transaction stand, if B. H. Micou himself were seeking to enforce the contracts against complainant and her property? In Archer v. Hudson, 7 Beav. 551, Lord Lang-dale' said : “ Everybody will affirm in this court that if there be a pecuniary transaction between parent and child just after the child attains the age of twenty-one years, and prior to what may be called complete emancipation, without any benefit moving to the child, the presumption is that undue influence has been exercised to procure that liability on the part of the„ child, and it is the business and duty of the party who endeavors to maintain such a transaction, to show that the presumption is adequately rebutted, and that it may be adequately rebutted is perfectly clear. This court does not interfere to prevent an act even of bounty between parent and child, but it will take care (under the circumstances in which the parent and child are placed before the emancipation of the child,) that such child is placed in such a position as will enable him to form an entirely free and unfettered judgment, independent altogether of any sort of control.” .

In Houghton v. Houghton, 15 Beav. 278, 299, Sir John Bomxlly said: “In many cases the court, from the relations existing between the parties to the transaction, infers the probability of such undue influence having been exerted. There are cases of guardian and ward, of solicitor and client, spiritual director and pupil, medical adviser and patient, and the like; and in such cases the court watches the whole transaction with great jealousy, not merely for the purpose of ascertaining that the perspn likely to be so influenced fully understood the act he was performing, but also for the purpose of ascertaining that his consent to perform that act, was not obtained by reason of the influence possessed by the person receiving the benefit; not that the influence itself, flowing from such relations, is either blamed or discountenanced by the court; on the contrary, the due exercise of it is considered useful and advantageous to society ; but this court holds, as an inseparable condition, that this influence should be exerted for the benefit of the person subject to it, and not for the advantage of the person possessing it. The case of parent and child is undoubtedly one of this class of cases, and it is prominently put forward as such in all cases illustrating this principle.” Heron v. Heron, 2 Atk. 161; Carpenter v. Heriot, 1 Eden. 338; Cocking v. Pratt, 1 Ves. Sr. 401; Hawes v. Wyatt, 3 Bro. C. C. 156; Huguenin v. Baseley, 14 Ves. 273, s. c. and notes, 2 Lead. Cas. in Eq. (4th Amer. Ed.) 1156. In that excellent treatise, Pomeroy’s Eq. Ju., Yol. 2, § 956, is this language : “ While equity does not deny the possibility of valid transactions between the two ‘parties, yet because every fiduciary relation implies a condition of superiority held by one of the parties over the other, in every transaction between them by which the superior party obtains a possible benefit, equity raises a presumption against its validity, and casts upon that party the burden of proving affirmatively its compliance with equitable requisites, and of thereby overcoming the presumption.” In Rhodes v. Bate, L. R. 1 Ch. Ap. Cas. 252, 257, Sir J. G, Turner, Lord. Justice said : “ I take it to be a well established principle of the court, that persons standing in a confidential relation towards others cannot entitle themselves to hold benefits which those others may have conferred on them, unless they can show to the satisfaction of the court that the persons by whom the benefits had been conferred had competent and independent advice in conferring them.” Such has been the almost unbroken current of decisions on each side of the Atlantic, from the very dawn of well defined English Equity Jurisprudence. — 1 Sto. Eq. Ju. § 307.

Alabama, at an early day, placed herself squarely abreast with England and with her sister States, on the question we have in hand. In Johnson v. Johnson, 5 Ala. 90- — decided in 1843 — this, court said : “ Contracts made by persons between whom the relation of trustee and cestui que trust exists, are viewed with so much jealousy by courts of chancery, that they are voidable by the latter if, within c reasonable time, he seeks to set the contract aside, and can'be supported only when the trustee, previous to the contract, has made such a full disclosure of all the facts and circumstances which have come to his knowledge as trustee to the cestui que trust, as to enable the latter to deal with him on equal terms.” In Malone v. Kelly, 54 Ala. 532, the language of the court is, that “if either of the known legal relations of guardian and ward, trustee and cestui que trust, attorney and client, or any other relation in which a confidence is reposed and accepted, or influence acquired, exists between the parties, on him to whom the confidence is extended, and who has acquired the influence, if he claims the benefit of the contract, the law, on a principle of public policy, casts the duty of proving its fairness, and that it is untainted with a violation of the confidence reposed, or an undue exercise of the influence of the relation.” In Voltz v. Voltz, 75 Ala. 555, this court said : “Even if the relation of trustee and beneficiary has terminated, courts regard with distrust' and prima facie dis approbation all dealings in property between them, until a sufficient time has elapsed for all presumption of undue influence to have ceased. And there are sound reasons for such a rule. The trustee stands as a guardian, protector, and in many cases the adviser of the cestui que trust. He must bestow the same care, diligence, and watchfulness upon the personal and pecuniary interests confided to him, as an ordinarily prudent man bestows on his own similar interests. He is on watch, not of his own, but of another’s property rights. He should not, and can not rightfully strike a bargain with his beneficiary, which he would not advise and approve, if proposed by a stranger ; and when he attempts to deal with .his beneficiary, he is placed in the repugnant, dual attitude of being forced by duty to give his counsel, watchfulness, best judgment, and trading capacity to another, against his own personal pecuniary interest, if antagonistic.” — Juzan v. Toulmin, 9 Ala. 662; Boney v. Hollingsworth, 23 Ala. 690; Thompson v. Lee, 31 Ala. 292; Cleveland v. Pollard, 37 Ala. 556; Dickinson v. Bradford, 59 Ala. 581; Waddell v. Lanier, 62 Ala. 347; Shipman v. Furniss, 69 Ala. 555.

There can be no - question that if this were a contention between B. H. Micou, the father, and Lucy B., the daughter, the contracts would be set aside, as presumptively obtained by undue parental influence.

In Perry on Trusts, § 201, is found this language: “The law ... does not presume in the first instance that a parent would make use of his authority and parental power ■to coerce, deceive, or defraud the child. Therefore it is always necessary to prove some improper and undue influence in order to set aside contracts between parents and children.” The only authority he cites which sustains him is Jenkins v. Pye, 12 Pet. 241. The majority opinion, delivered by Thompson, J., is confessedly opposed to the English authorities, and is supported by no ruling cited by its author. None can be found which agrees with him, so far as our investigation has extended. The bill was fatally bad on the ground of staleness, and was rightly dismissed for that reason. Judge Catron, while concurring in the conclusion, filed an able opinion, in which he dissented entirely from the principle announced above. In the later case of Taylor v. Taylor, 8 How. 183, the case of Jenkins v. Pye was reviewed and explained, and its authority, at least, impaired. And the case of Allore v. Jewell, 94 U. S. 506, as we understand it, departs entirely from the principle declared in the case of Jenkins v. Pye by Thompson, J., and follows the English doctrine declared above. Speaking of the case of Jenkins v. Pye, the learned author of the American notes to the fourth edition of Leading Cases in Equity, Yol. 2, p. 1205, says: “But for the last mentioned ground (staleness) this judgment could scarcely be reconciled with the general course of decision.” — See collection of authorities by him, pp. 1192 to 1204. And in 2 Pom. Eq. 495, note 3, that great and painstaking author takes decided ground against the soundness of the ruling in Jenkins v. Pye.

It may as well be stated here, as elsewhere, that this record contains no evidence that either Boykin or any one else ever informed Miss Micou, until after lier marriage, and her husband obtained counsel, that she had any show of defense against the note and mortgage, on the ground of imputed undue influence.— Voltz v. Voltz, 75 Ala. 555.

Have Moses Bros, a better footing than would B. H. Micou have if he were suing?

The only witness examined for Moses Bros, was one of the firm. He testified that the firm had no personal interview with L. B. Micou, the daughter, and that all their dealings with her had been through B. H. Micou, her father, styled in the papers her agent. They had no knowledge of the communications made to her, save that evidenced by the papers she executed. In his testimony is the following-language : “We knew that complainant was 22 or 23 years of age, and that before she arrived at 21 years of age a sufficient showing of her capacity to manage her own affairs was made to induce a Chancery Court to relieve her of the disabilities of non-age. . . Up to and prior to the confession of said judgment, we knew that complainant was a young woman living with her father, B. H. Micou, and that he had been her guardian until the removal of her disabilities before she became of age; and that at the time of the confession of said judgment she was about 23 or 24 years .of age, and that said B. H. Micou was insolvent. ... I regarded B. H. Micou as carrying on the business for his own benefit, but in the name and on the credit of complainant, and by her consent, and that he was authorized to make all the charges shown in said account against her estate. . . In the dealings had with us, we recognized that the plantations were carried on by B. H. Micou for his own benefit and advantage, but in the name and on the credit of L B. Micou.”

In Maitland v. Irving, 15 Sim. 437, Maclean was indebted to Irving- & Brown, and desired to obtain indulgence on the indebtedness. He had a niece living with him, Miss Maitland, whose guardian he had been. She was in her twenty-third year. The material facts and principles of the case are briefly and clearly stated by Hare & Wallace in 2 Lead. Eq. Cas. (4th Ed.), 1190, as follows : “Irving & Brown consented to postpone the payment of ¿£5000, due to them from M aclean, in consideration of his procuring and giving the guarantee of the plaintiff, Miss Maitland, for that sum ; and Maclean at the same time informed Irving & Brown that Miss Maitland was his niece, and was possessed of considerable property; that she had resided with him for some time, that he had been her guardian, and that she had been of age about a year and a half. (The guarantee was given.) Afterwards another (agreement) was made between Irving & Brown and Maclean, in pursuance of w'hich Irving & Brown delivered up the guarantee, and Maclean procured and gave them plaintiff’s (Miss Maitland) check for ¿63000, and her promissory note for ¿61200, as security for his paying them those sums. Sir L. Shadwell, Y. 0., granted, and afterwards continued an injunction, restraining Irving & Brown from prosecuting an action against the plaintiff to recover the ¿63000 ; and notwithstanding they had obtained a verdict, he refused to order the money to be paid into court. The case, said his Honor, has been argued for the defendants as if it were a case in which they had some ground to resist the rule in equity, because of their not being volunteers. But no consideration whatever was given to the young lady ; on the contrary, she was induced to do the act upon an application made to her by a person who, if he had performed his duty, would have advised her not to do that which he applied to her to do. * " The facts of the case seem to me to amount to this : That Irving & Brown, knowing the defenceless situation of the young lady, combined with Maclean, who disclosed it to them, in order that advantage might be taken of her defenceless situation, for the benefit of all the three. And my opinion is that all three be considered as standing in the same situation.”

In Archer v. Hudson, 7 Beav. 551, a niece, two months after she came of age, and after her guardian had fully accounted to her, entered into a voluntary security for her uncle with whom she resided, to his banker, as a condition upon which the uncle would be permitted to overdraw his account. Hanxwell was manager of the bank. The bill was filed by the niece, then Mrs. Archer, to be relieved of the liability. Lord Langdale, Master of the Bolls, said “It does not appear that this young lady was, ever severed from the influence which the uncle and aunt had over her, so as to enable her to form an adequate, full and independent opinion as to what she ought in prudence to have done. I do not mean to say that if t his young lady had her trustees, or some friend or relation of the f amily, or somebody interested in her welfare, to advise and consult with in the absence of the uncle and. aunt, that the circumstance of her situation and the circumstance of her uncle’s situation might not have been such, that this court would have said that, having entered into this liability, she should be held by it. It might have been so; but to say that Mr. Hanxwell, the agent of the bank, a person with whom the uncle was dealing, the person with whom he is carrying on his business as customer of the bank, by explaining to an inexperienced young woman, who had just attained her age of twenty-one years, the meaning of this note, offered anything like such a protection as would secure to her that free and independent judgment which she had a right to exercise, seems to me to go far beyond anything which has been proved in this case. It does not appear to me, taking this transaction as it stands upon the evidence before me, that it can be supported.

In the last case the uncle, Daniel, had not been guardian to the young lady. The master of the Rolls found as fact, that it was “fully proved that Mr. Hanxwell was well acquainted with the relative situation of Mr. Daniel and the young lady.”

In Espy v. Lake, 10 Hare, 260, Miss Espy had become surety for her step-father, Speakman, in a promissory note payable to Lake. The note was for borrowed money. Suit being instituted on the note,' Miss Espy filed her bill to restrain its collection, after verdict had been rendered, but before judgment. Neither actual fraud, misrepresentation, nor undue influence was shown, but the case went off on the presumption the law raises from the relation ol the parties. The Vice-Chancellor, in delivering the opinion of the court, said : “I take it to be quite clear that the principles of this court go to this extent — that in the case of a security taken from a person just of age, living under the influence and in the house of another person, with a relationship subsisting between such other person from whom the security is taken, which constitutes anything in the nature of a trust, or anything approaching to the relation of guardian and ward, or of standing in loco parentis to the surety, this court will not allow such security to be enforced against the person from whom it is taken, unless the court shall be perfectly satisfied that the security was given freely' and voluntarily, and without any influence having been exercised by the party in whose favor the security is made, or by the party who was the medium or instrument in obtaining it..... It is said by Lake that he took no part in the transaction, and that he left it entirely to Speakman. I impute no moral fraud to Lake in the course of the transaction. I do not believe that there was any moral fraud on his part, nor might he have been aware of the principles which guide the court with regard to securities taken from a person in the situation of Miss Espy at that time. But what does the defendant say ? Why, that he left it Avholly to Speak-man. That is, lie himself allowed a party' standing in the relation of guardian to this young lady to persuade her to join in this security for the sum of ¿£500. In the' application of the principles of the court, I see no distinction between the case of one who himself exercises a direct influence, or of another who makes himself a party with the guardian who obtains such a security from his ward. The defendant, Lake, left it to Speakman, who had influence over his young ward, as she may be called, to induce her to join in the security, thereby placing her more directly under undue influence than if he had applied for the security himself. Such a security can not be maintained consistently with the principles of this court.” It should be remarked that Speakman was not, and never had been the legal guardian of Miss Espy.

The great case of Savery v. King, 5 H. of L., 627, was decided by the British House of Lords in 1856. The opinion was prepared by Cranworth, Lord Chancellor, and fully concurred in by the House of Lords. Lord Brougham, one of the peers, expressed his concurrence in a brief, separate opinion. Savery was an attorney and solicitor, and John King had been his client. Through John’s influence Bichard, his son, after reaching his majority, so changed the tenure of his estate as to enable him to pledge it, and actually did encumber it as security for his father, John King, to Savery. The bill was filed by Bichard King, alleging undue influence, and seeking to relieve himself of the liability he had incurred for his father, and his estate of incumbrance he had placed upon it in favor of Savery. No actual fraud or intentional wrong was imputable to Savery, and the distinguished Chancellor and Ex-Chancellor each relieved him of all such imputation. The court granted to Bichard King full relief. Great names appear in the argument. Among them that of Sir William Pollett. This case is highly instructive in this most' conservative branch of equity jurisprudence. The following cases assert substantially the same doctrine as that set forth above. —Maitland v. Backhouse, 16 Sim. 58; Baker v. Bradley, 7 DeG. M. & G. 597; Kempson v. Ashhee, 10 L. R. Ch. Ap. 15; See May v. LeClaire, 11 Wall. 217, 233 ; Yonge v. Hooper, 73 Ala. 119.

Appellees cite and rely on Green v. Thompson, 2 Ire. Eq. 365 ; Nace v. Boyer, 30 Penn. St. 99; Atlantic Delaine Co. v. James, 94 U. S. 207, and De Ronge v. Elliott, 23 N. J. Eq. 486. In the first three of these cases there was no fiduciary relation, and hence no question of undue influence could arise. In the New Jersey case De Bonge had taken out a policy of insurance on his life, payable to his wife at his death. It is not stated that his wife had paid the premiums, or had parted with anything that was her’s. The husband became greatly embarrassed, and was arrested for debt. To relieve him from the great distress of mind under which he was laboring, the wife united with the husband in an assignment of the policy to his creditors. After his death the wife exhibited her bill to restrain and enjoin the payment of the loss to the assignee. Relief was denied her, the court finding there had been no duress, and that she fully understood the transaction. The case was very like that of Holt v. Agnew, 67 Ala. 860.

It is claimed for appellees that all inquiry into anterior dealings between these parties was foreclosed by 'the rendition of judgment at the February term, 1877. The argument is, that inasmuch as appellant’s intestate, Mrs. Lucy B. Noble, was represented by counsel when the judgment was rendered against her, that fact repels the presumption of undue parental influence, and renders the judgment conclusive as to all matters of debit which are embraced within it. Corbet v. Brock, 20 Beav. 524, is relied on as supporting this view. In that case, the creditor required, before he would accept the security, the obligation of a Miss Colyer, that the security proposed should be read by a solicitor on her behalf. This was complied with; and, before it was accepted, the solicitor approved it on her part. It was then executed, the said solicitor being present. The court, Sir John Romilly, denied her relief from the obligation.

The present case is entirely different. Lucy B. had no counsel whatever, save that of her father, when she executed the note and mortgage. Nor had she any independent advice when she accepted service of the summons, which led to the judgment against her, although the attorney of Moses Brothers was present, and procured her acceptance of service. The only explanation then made to her, so far as this record informs us, was a statement made by her father, “ that it was the same debt as the mortgage debt, and that Moses Bros, wanted to change the shape of the debt.” The reason given by Moses Bros, why they wanted the claim reduced to judgment, is furnished in the following answer by one of the firm, when examined as a witness, the only testimony offered by them on the subject: “The reason why we wished a judgment instead of a mortgage was, because we could use it as a better collateral in raising money, and we considered it a more satisfactory form for the account to be in; and because it would prevent the necessity, in case of the death of either party, or in case of the marriage of Miss Micou, of perhaps having to go over all the accounts and vouchers with an executor or husband, which would involve the expenditure of great labor, time and trouble. In short, we wished a complete settlement of the account while the matters were fresh in the minds of the parties to the transactions, and such a settlement as would be final and binding on both parties.”

And it is equally true that she had no independent advice, either before, or at the time the judgment was rendered. All that the present record shows in relation of employment of counsel by her, must be gathered from the following facts shown by the record : The bill, after stating that complainant’s father, B. II. Micou, “ undertook to obtain from her, for them [Moses Bros.] a consent that judgment should be rendered against her upon said note ” ; and after averring the acceptance of service by her, referred to above, charges that “ oratrix, at the instance of her said father, B. H. Micou, wrote to D. P. B., an attorney of said court, directing him to appear for oratrix in said cause, and consent that said Moses Bros, should take a judgment for the amount claimed by them to be due on said note.”

The answer is very full upon most subjects, and denies all personal influence exerted by Moses Bros, on Miss Micou. It even denies that they ever had any interview with her in relation to the subject-matter of this bill, or any communication with her, except through her father. It makes no allusion whatever to the charge copied last above ; and neither pleads nor sets up in bar of recovery, the fact that, in the matter of recovering the judgment, Miss Micou was represented by counsel. And defendants — appellees—offer no testimony on this particular subject. -On the other hand, it was testified by Mrs. Noble, appellant’s intestate, that her “ father wrote out a paper and requested her to copy it and send it to Col. B.,” (attorney); and that in that paper she “ directed him (the attorney) to confess judgment. Did not know the effect of that paper, nor what a judgment was.” The testimony of B. H. Micou, the father, is as follows : “ Mr. J. W. M., the attorney of Messrs. Moses Bros., came and obtained her assent in form, and he, or Messrs. Moses Bros., gave me a form of a letter or note that she was to direct to her attorney, Col. B., to appear for her in court and confess judgment She copied the form of said letter and signed the same, and handed it to me.” The foregoing is all the record contains, tending to show Miss Micou had personal, independent counsel. It falls very far short of the rule required in such cases. It is much below the measure of advice Bichard King had in Savery v. King, 5 Ho. of Lords, 627, and yet that court set the conveyance aside, on the ground of presumed undue influence, which the court thought was not sufficiently rebutted.

The judgment in this case was obtained through imputed undue influence, not rebutted nor explained away by any testimony found in the record. That influence is of the nature of constructive fraud, which vitiates all transactions, even the solemn judgments of courts ; and is one of the acknowledged equitable grounds for setting aside judgments at law.- — -1 Brick. Dig. 666, § 376; Yonge v. Hooper, 73 Ala. 119.

Moses Bros., as to the items the bill seeks relief against, stand in no better right than would B. H. Micou, if he were suing. We think in this we stand on impregnable ground; for as to these items, not only the complainant, but Boykin, her only advising friend, were in utter ignorance that they had been charged against her, until after the last transactions were had in her name, or upon her credit. So, she was without information on which to form an independent opinion.

It is further objected that there is a material and fatal variance between the allegations and proof in this case. The alleged variance is, that while Mrs. Noble charged in her bill that the plantations were cultivated by her as principal, through B. H. Micou as her agent, in reality he was the principal, and she only his surety. The writings between the parties evidencing their dealings, declare and fix the status of the parties precisely as it is set forth in the bill. Possibly the claim to relief would have been stronger, if the bill had truly set forth B. H. Micou’s true relation to the transaction, for it would then have negatived all semblance of consideration moving to Miss Micou. It averred the contract as the parties expressed it in their writings, and it is sufficient. When a bill truly sets forth sufficient facts to entitle complainant to relief, the pleader may or may not at his option aver additional, cumulative facts, which only intensify, without varying the principle of relief claimed.

In what we have said above, we necessarily overrule the decision in this cause when it was formerly before us. — Noble v. Moses, 74 Ala. 604; Code of 1876, § 579.

We have declared above that Miss Micou, then Mrs. Noble, did not and does not by her bill claim or pray to be relieved of the entire liability she incurred by her agreement of March 3, 1875, and by her mortgage of February 7, 1876. The purpose was to eliminate from the account the balance of two thousand dollars, brought from the account of 1874, and charged to her at the beginning of 1875, with its interest. Also, the balance of Boykin’s account for advances made for the Shorter place in 1875, charged to Miss Micou at the close of that year. Also all items of the account from the beginning, which are not provided for in the agreement of March 3, 1875 ; and all interest and charges on moneys and other things advanced, loaned, or forborne, over and above eight per cent, per annum. To this extent she is clearly entitled to relief, with this qualification. There is some testimony that some part of the product of the crop grown on the Shorter place in 1875, went to Miss Micou’s credit with Moses Bros., or, to her advantage in the continued cultivation of the plantations by her after that time. If such was the case, the credit of five thousand and twelve dollars, deficit of the Boykin crop, must be reduced to that extent. And in stating the account, annual rests must be made, where payments have been made during the year ; but in no event so as to charge interest upon interest.

She is entitled to credit for all sums paid from her property, or property covered by the mortgages, or from her own private means.

In taking the account, the judgment will cut no figure whatever, either as conferring or taking away any rights. And, as what is known as the Lehman, Durr & Co. acceptances were part of the adjustment, which led to the judgment, that transaction will be entirely disregarded in taking the account, as conferring on Mrs. Noble no right to claim a credit therefor, and, as a consequence, dispensing with all inquiry as to the propriety of charging it back against Mrs. Noble.

We will not attempt a decretal order of reference. The chancellor, aided by the suggestions of counsel, can perform this service much better than we have the means of doing. We leave this subject entirely open-for his consideration, with the exception that he will be governed by the principles declared above.

Beversed and remanded.

Somerville, J., dissenting.