White v. McKeon

Judgment affirmed.

Attached as an exhibit was a petition of the solicitor-general of the Augusta circuit, “ representing the public generally,” to the judge of the superior court of Richmond county, alleging: James Adams died leaving a will, a copy of which is annexed, under the eighth item of which Blodgett was appointed trustee of a charitable-institution to be established and known as the Adams-Institute, in the manner and for the purposes set forth in the will. Under the eighth item Blodgett was empowered to appoint a successor to himself as trustee, but died without having exercised this power, and the institute has no trustee. Petitioner is informed and believes that there are large parcels of land in Louisiana which belong to the institute, which have never been sold. The institute is the residuary legatee under the second item of the will, and as such is interested as a contingent remainderman in the property conveyed to the wife of James Adams under the second item. Wherefore, in behalf of the poor children of the city of Augusta, he prayed that the court would appoint a trustee for the Adams Institute, to carry out the will in reference to that institution. Attached to this petition was a copy of the will, whereby testator bequeathed to Blodgett the land in question, in trust for the sole and separate use of his wife Ann Adams, during her life, free from the control etc. of any future husband, and at her death the whole to be disposed of in such manner as she might by her last will direct; provided, that should it be deemed desirable to change the trust estate, the trustee should have power, without any order of court, to sell all or any portion of the property, Ann Adams to join in the conveyance, and the amount raised to be invested in other property to be held to the same uses and trusts. Another item bequeathed all the residue of testator’s estate to Blodgett, to be invested by him in erecting a school-house and keeping up a school in Augusta, to be free for all the poor children of that city and under the exclusive control and direction of Blodgett during his life; and gave to Blodgett power to appoint in writing a successor, to succeed in the control and management of the school and the fund appropriated to its support; and directed that the title of the school should be the Adams Institute. The judge of the superior court, at chambers on April 6, 1892, passed an order appointing May trustee of the Adams Institute, which- appointment on the same day May accepted. It does not appear that there was any service of the petition of the solicitor-general.

Also exhibited was the petition of Mrs. McKeon to the judge of the superior court, stating: James Adams died leaving his will, by the second item of which he bequeathed to her certain land, describing it (being the land in question). She has been in possession of the property since his death. After his death she married McKeon, and in 1876 Blodgett, the trustee named in the will, died leaving no successor. There is a vacancy in the trusteeship which she desires to have filled, and she prays the appointment of her son "W. P. MeKeon, to represent her as trustee under the terms of the will, and that notice of the application be served upon such person as the court may indicate as a fit and proper person to represent the trust estate created in the eighth item of the will, petitioner being informed that the institute claims a contingent remainder interest in the land. The petition sets forth certain reasons why it is necessary to have a trustee appointed. Attached to this petition was a copy of the will, and an order of the judge, that, it being made to appear by an examination of the petition that the trust estate created in the eighth item claimed a contingent remainder interest in the land devised to Mrs. MeKeon, and the court having appointed May as trustee for the institute, and it further appearing that the trust created is a public charity, it is ordered that the petition be served upon May, as trustee of the institute, and also upon the solicitor-general of the Augusta circuit, representing the public, who would examine and answer the prayers of the petition. May as such trustee and the solicitor-general acknowledged service of this petition, upon April 8, 1892, and reported that ~W. P. MeKeon was a proper person to be appointed trustee for his mother and for the estate created in the second item; and on the same day the judge passed an order, that, the petition having been regularly and duly served upon May, theretofore appointed trustee of the estate claiming a contingent remainder, and also upon the solicitor-general, and the appointment of "W. P. MeKeon being consented to by all the parties in interest, and it appearing that he is a fit and proper person to act as trustee, it is ordered that he be appointed as such upon giving bond.

Also exhibited was the petition of W. P. McKeon to the judge of the superior court, stating:' He is the duly-appointed trustee of Ann McKeon and of the property passing under the second item of the will of Adams. That property is unremunerative and not bringing in a proper income in proportion to the value of the land. The life-tenant has no other means and is unable to improve or repair the same, etc. The property can be most advantageously sold for cash at private sale, and the proceeds invested in more profitable property for the benefit of the estate and the cestui que trust. He has an opportunity to sell the fee of the property to Timothy White for $25,500, its full value. Ann McKeon is willing to join in the sale, and to contract to devise the property to White, in consideration of the advantage to her arising out of the sale, and to agree not to revoke or cancel said devise to him by any subsequent will. Petitioner prays to be allowed to sell and contract the property to White for the sum mentioned, and that a copy of the petition be served upon Mrs. McKeon, the solicitor-general, and May as trustee. The service was ordered by the judge and was made, and consent given to the sale by May. as trustee, and by the solicitor-general. Mrs. McKeon acknowledged service of a copy of the petition and consented to the sale, and in writing stated that she would join in the conveyance from the trustees, and; in consideration of the benefit to her as life-tenant from the sale of the land and the investment in other property, would likewise devise the land to White by irrevocable will, under the power of appointment by will conferred on her in the will of Adams. The judge granted authority to sell as prayed for, and ordered that the trustee make report to the court of his actings in the event of sale, report the property in which the proceeds had been invested and hold the same subject to the same uses as contained in the second item of the will.

Also exhibited was the correspondence between McKeon and White: Under date of June 1, 1892 (?), White wrote to McKeon, that he had been informed McKeon was acting for Mrs. McKeon and desired to sell the property; that some time before he offered Mrs. McKeon $25,500 cash for it, provided the title was perfect; that upon examination it was found that there was some complication, and if McKeon was in a position to get rid of the trusts and remainders and convey to White a perfect title in fee simple, the latter would be glad to buy the property at that price and would pay cash, but he did not wish to buy a lawsuit or get a title about which there was any doubt. On June 8, 1892, McKeon replied, that upon receipt of White’s letter he took steps, at Mrs. McKeon’s request, to have himself appointed trustee, and wrote to accept the offer of $25,500 for the property; that Mrs. McKeon would join the writer in any necessary conveyance, and if there was anything necessary to be done to make White a valid and perfect title to the land, McKeon would take pleasure in having it arranged. On the same date White wrote, acknowledging the receipt of this letter, and stating that if McKeon was the legally appointed trustee and could make him a perfect title, free from all trusts and remainders, incumbrances or liens, so as to give him perfect title by a fee simple deed, he would take the property at the price named, otherwise he did not want it; and that he would want the title examined by an attorney. On June 15th White wrote that he had had the title examined, and regretted that he could not accept the deed tendered; that he was advised that there were several irregularities in the appointment of the trustee for the institute and in McKeon’s appointment, and therefore that the deed offered by McKeon was invalid and Jid not convey a perfect fee simple title to him, White. McKeon answered, insisting that his appointment was regular, tbat the deed tendered did convey a perfect title in fee simple, and that he would hold White to the bargain, etc.

The grounds of demurrer were: (1) The petition sets forth no cause of action. (2) The court has no jurisdiction of the suit. (3) The order appointing May trustee of the institute was void, the same being in vacation and without service upon any of the beneficiaries of the trusts, and without proper service upon any person. (4) McKeon was not properly appointed trustee of Mrs. McKeon, there being no proper service upon the persons interested as beneficiaries in the institute, and service upon May being insufficient, the record of his appointment showing that he had not been duly appointed trustee. (5) It appears from the exhibits attached, and from the will of James Adams, that plaintiff cannot convey, the lands to defendant so as to give a perfect title in fee simple without remainders or trusts, such as was provided for and required by the written offer to buy the land and the acceptance thereof by plaintiff

J. R. Lamar, for plaintiff in error. John A. Barnes, contra.