Judges： Appleton, Barrows, Peters, Symonds, Virgin
Filed Date： 11/8/1881
Status： Precedential
Modified Date： 11/10/2024
The demurrer to the complainant’s bill admits the facts therein set forth. The inquiry then arises, whether it states a case in which the complainant is entitled to the aid of a court of equity. We think it does.
It appears that William Lawry and Seth Spaulding on November 15, 1854, purchased of John Hall a tract of land in Hermon, each paying half the price, and that the conveyance was made to Spaulding alone.
On October 21, 1856, Spaulding conveyed to Lawry an undivided half of the Hermon lot, but the deed was not placed on record.
On April 30, 1860, Spaulding and Lawry exchanged the Hermon lot for one in Grlenburn with one Abraham Close, taking a conveyance from him to Spaulding.
On May 11, 1861, Spaulding agreed with Lawry to purchase Ms half of the Grlenburn lot for the sum of two hundred dollars, and to give him therefor three notes of that date, each for sixty-six dollars and sixty-six cents with interest, in one, two and three years, and to secure the same by mortgage of an undivided half of the Grlenburn lot which he held in trust for said Lawry, the notes and the mortgage running to Submit Lawry, his wife, as whose administrator, Lawry brings tMs bill.
It appears that Close, when he conveyed on April 30, 1860, the Glenburn lot, had no title to the same, but that the title was in one John C. Clements in trust for him, and that said Clements on June 23, 1864, at the instance of said Spaulding, conveyed the same to Elvira Spaulding, the wife of said Seth, in trust for him, and for the purpose of defeating the mortgage given by him to Submit Lawry.
The consideration for the conveyance from Clements to Elvira Spaulding was the conveyance of the lot in Hermon to Close. This lot was owned by Lawry and Spaulding. No part of the consideration of the Clements deed was furnished by Elvira Spaulding. She paid nothing for it. She held the estate as trustee. As half of the consideration of the Clements deed was from Lawry, she held the estate, so far as regards him, in trust for Mm. It is the not unusual case of a resulting trust. The
It is obvious, therefore, that William Lawry could have enforced his equitable rights as against Mrs, Spaulding. He was cestui que trust and she a trustee. This court can always enforce the execution of a trust, when equity requires it. Morton v. Southgate, 28 Maine, 41.
Nor would the condition of Mrs. Spaulding be improved, if the conveyance of the estate was made to her for the purpose of defeating the mortgage. She paid nothing for the estate. She cannot avoid the trust by the claim, that she holds the estate for the purpose of defeating the rights of a cestui que trust.
As William Lawry could have enforced his equitable rights, so can his assignee. A trust is assignable in equity and may be enforced by an assignee. Buck v. Swazey, 35 Maine, 41.
William Lawry was entitled to the aid of the court, if the mortgage had been to him. His wife, to wdiom the mortgage was made, is equally entitled to the protection of the court, whether she held it in her own right or as the trustee of her husband.
This is not a case where the complainant is required to proceed at law before he can claim the interference and protection of a court of equity. Whether Mrs. Spaulding holds the Grlenburn lot as trustee or for fraudulent purposes, in either event she holds it subject to the superior equities of the mortgagee of the same.
The plaintiff, under the general prayer in the bill, is entitled to relief.
Demurrer overruled. Defendants to answer.