Succession of Grover , 12 La. Ann. 334 ( 1857 )

Buchanan, J.

Hi/i'am J. Grover, of the parish of West Baton Rouge, made his will on the 19th September, 1846, which contained, among others, the following clauses:

“ That the partnership existing between me and Dr. Nolan, in the plantation on which we reside, be continued in accordance with the contract entered into between us, and if Dr. Nolan is willing, that additional negroes be purchased with the earnings of the plantation, (after the payment of debts and legacies) and placed on it until the joint force amounts to sixty working hands.

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“I hereby appoint Samuel M. D. Glande, tutor to my children, Han'riet Pauline, Hiram Justus, James Hamilton and Man'ij Estelle, and desire that he will have my children raised in a proper manner, and educated in a manner to make them useful citizens.

“ I appoint Samuel M. D. Glande executor of this my will and testament, to settle up and have all my just debts paid, and all the provisions of this will carried into effect, and to be testamentary executor and detainer of my estate.”

Shortly after making this will Grover died. The will was admitted to probate, and letters testamentary were issued to Glande, a* Iso letters of tutorship.

The inventory of Grover's estate was made on the 31st October, 1846, with the following result:

Amount of property held in partnership by the deceased and John T. Nolan..................................................

Estimation of share of deceased..............................$19,759 75

Amount of deceased’s individual property...................... 21,099 00

Total...................................$40,858 75

According to the terms of the will, and of the contract of partnership between the testator and John T. Nolan, referred to in the will, Nolan administered the sugar plantation, owned in common by himself and the testator, during the period of nine years from the 26th December, 1845 ; before the expiration of which period Glande, the executor of Grover's will and tutor of Grover's children, died.

It is very clear, therefore, that although the will, in,gencral terms, constituted Glande “detainer” of Grover's estate, yet this seizin must be considered as limited to that portion of the estate, as inventoried, which was held by Grover in his separate and individual right, not that which formed Grover's capital in the sugar planting partnership of Grover & Nolan.

The general expressions in the will must be considered as controlled by.the ■ clause above quoted, in which the testator declares his wish that the partnership between Nolan and himself should continue in accordance with the contract of partnership. Had the will even been silent on that subject, Nolan could have resited the executor, had he attempted to take possession of Grover’s interest in the plantation and its appurtenances. But, in point of fact, there was no such pretension asserted by the executor. Nolan always possessed and administered the partnership property without opposition from the executor, to whom he rendered an account yearly, and paid over the net proceeds of the crops. The opposition concedes the right of Glande's estate to a commission upon the amounts so paid to Ciarle by Nolan, a right which is evident from Article 1677 of the Givil Code.

The claim of the estate of Glande to ten per cent, upon the gross incomes of his wards, as commissions of tutor, was opposed, and has been abandoned in argument in this court. See case of Succession of Hargrove, 9 An. 505. Our conclusions upon the law of the case are entirely in accordance with those of the District District Judge. But we are requested to give a money judgment, which he has omitted to do, and thus settle the balance between the parties, and prevent further litigation.

Proceeding to do so, in conformity to the principles herein expressed, we find that the account of executorship and tutorship rendered by the widow and representative of & M. D. Ciarle, shows a balance in his favor of............................. §5,321 16

From which deduct, being a charge of 10 per cent, upon the gross proceeds of the crops from 1847 to 1853, inclusive.........................................$5,529 48

Also commissions of 2$ per cent, upon total of inventory, being $40,858 75, say........................... 1,021 46

- 6,650 94

Balance against Olas'h's estate................................ §1,329 78

But credit Glares estat^with 2& per cent, commission on Grover's separate estate, as inventoried, say $21,099 o $527 47

Also with like commission on amount of crops actually paid over to Cla/i'lc by Nolan from 1847 to 1852, inclusive, say $18,864 15.......................... 471 60

- 999 07

True balance against Clas’lc's estate............................ $330 71

It is, therefore, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the District ■Court be affirmed, and that William B. Chamberlain, as tutor of the minors, Hcarriet Pauline, Hiram Justus and James Hamilton Gs'over children of Hiram J. Groves' and Margaret Hasnilton, both deceased, recover of the succession of Samuel M. D. Glarh, formerly tutor of said minors, represented by the widow of said Ciarle, and tutrix of his minor children, the sum of three hundred and thirty dollars and seventy-one cents, with legal interest from judicial demand, (14th June, 1854,) with the privilege and general mortgage accorded by law to minors upon the estate of their tutors; the costs to he home by the estate of Grover.