Vernor v. Coville

Sherwood, J.

Martha Rumney on the 8th day of May, 1875, made her last will disposing of both real and personal •estate. The will is as follows :

“First. I hereby give and bequeath to my only daughter, Mary E Kumney, the interest .and income of the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars, now loaned out on three bonds and mortgages made by James Dewey, Jacob A. T. Wendell •and George W Bryant, now in the hands of my attorney, Edward C. Walker, to be kept on interest in the best manner for that purpose ' by my executors for and during so long a time as she shall remain unmarried ; the same to be divided equally between all my children whenever she shall marry.

Second. I desire that my executors shall pay all my just debts, but out of other property than the twenty-five hundred dollars aforesaid, which I desire shall be kept for her support and maintenance so long as she shall remain unmarried.

Third. All the rest and residue' of my estate I herebv devise and bequeath to my children, John G. Kumney, Mason P. Kumney, Mary E. Kumney, Benjamin Kumney and Henry K. Kumney, to them, their heirs and assigns forever, to be divided equally between them, share and share alike. In case, any of them should die, leaving issue; the issue to take the share that would have fallen to the parént by representation.

Fourth. I will and direct that the share of my estate hereinabove bequeathed and devised to my sons Benjamin Iiumney and Henry R. Rumney, shall remain in the hands of my executors until they reach respectively the age of twenty-five years, receiving meantime the income from the same; leaving it however to the wisdom and discretion of my executors to deliver to them respectively their shares of said estate at any. time after they reach the age of twenty-one, or any part thereof, if said executors are fully satisfied in either case that said share will be safely, wisely and judiciously used.

Fifth. I hereby nominate and appoint my son, John G. Rumney, and my friend, Guy F. Hinchman, the executors of this my last will and testament, with full power and authority to sell and convey any real estate of which I shall die seized.

Sixth. Before the partition of my estate I direct my said ■executors to pay and refund to any and each one of my children any sum or sums they may have advanced for the support and expense of the family between the death of their father and my decease, less the proper value of their own board and maintenance during that period.

Seventh. It is my earnest desire that after my decease my children shall continue to live together and shall constitute one family as heretofore.

Eighth. I direct that my said executors shall not be required to give bonds.”

Mrs. Rumney died, and on the 25th day of April, 1875, her will above mentioned was admitted to probate in "Wayne county. John G. Rumney duly qualified under his appointment as executor, and letters testamentary were issued to him. Guy F. Hinchman, the other executor named in the will, declined to qualify or act, and John G. Rumney has ever .since acted as the sole executor of the will, carrying out its provisions to the best of his ability, and so far as the record discloses, to the entire satisfaction of all the heirs and legatees interested in the will or the estate.

The executor, John G. Rumney on the 4th day of April, 1882, gave.to the defendant John Webster an agreement to sell to him the homestead property belonging to the estate. All the heirs and executors were to sign the deed of convey. .ancc. This contract was in writing, and is as follows :

Whereas, John Webster, of Detroit, Michigan, is negotiating with John G. Rumney, as executor of the estate of Martha J.. Rumney, for the purchase of the homestead property of said estate, in the city of Detroit, the same being No. 91 High street east, lot 60 feet front by 165 feet, more or iess, deep, the terms agreed upon being as follows, viz.: Said Webster to assume the $5000 mortgage upon said property, and pay in cash enough with $598.25, A. M. Coville & Co.’s note, to make up $1500, at time of delivery of perfect title paper and the balance of $2000 as follows: $500' endorsed note at six months; second mortgage on said property for $1500, due on or before two years from date, with the privilege of paying said $1500, second mortgage, in $500 payments at date interest accrues, viz., semi-annually; said! $500 endorsed note to be bankable; trade to be consummated within a reasonable time; all the heirs and executors to be grantors. To secure the fulfillment of this agreement, said Webster has delivered said Coville & Co.’s note, and said John G. Bumney $250 in cash, to Benjamin Vernor, of Detroit, Michigan.

The parties mutually bind themselves to the fulfillment of the above agreement.

John Webster.

Jno. G. Rumney,

Executor Estate of Martha G. Rumney.

In presence of A. E. Hawes.

Detroit, April 4, 1882.”

The executor deposited with the plaintiff the $250, and John Webster deposited the note with the plaintiff, mentioned in and required by the contract, and as this Court has heretofore held, for security for the performance of the same. See 51 Mich. 186. Before the sale of the homestead was perfected by giving a deed of the property the note deposited became due, and after the executor had tendered a conveyance to Webster made and executed by all the heirs, in accordance with the contract, and the same had been refused by him, Rumney then claimed he was entitled to the note deposited, and gave the plaintiff a bond of indemnity, took the note and brought suit thereon against both makers and indorser.

Substantially .the same matters were set up in defense as are now pleaded in this case. A recovery was had thereon in the superior court of Detroit, and on appeal to this Court that judgment was reversed — the Court holding that the present plaintiff, and not the executor, was the proper person to bring suit. That suit was then discontinued, and the note retransferred to the plaintiff, and this suit brought thereon against the makers and indorser.

The declaration is in assumpsit on all the common cotints. The defendant pleaded the general issue with notice of several defenses, all indicating the intention of defendant to show on the trial of the case a want of title in the plaintiff and of any right to bring the suit, and that Webster’s indorsement of the note was without consideration and invalid.

It is claimed by counsel for the defendants that the power was not conferred upon John Rumney alone, under the will, to make the sale of the homestead property in the contract heretofore given, contemplated, and that his letters of administration gave him no additional power for that purpose; that the power attempted to be used could only be exercised by both persons named in the will as executors, and that no sale of real estate could be made by Rumney alone, except as authorized by the judge of probate; and that the contract which was the consideration of Webster’s indorsement and which gave the plaintiff his right to the custody of the note was therefore void, and the plaintiff could not recover. This point raises the only question we deem it necessary to consider, and adopting the counsel’s premises, the conclusion to which he arrives necessarily follows.

The question raised is one of much importance to the people of our State. When the case was before this Court before, this question was not finally determined, the proper party plaintiff not then being before the Court. The solution of the question depends upon the proper construction of the will and the statutes relating to the subject. The language of the will under which the executor claims to derive his authority is plain and explicit, and it must be construed the same as though the provisions of the statute relating thereto and applicable were written in the instrument, as they necessarily constitute a part thereof, and it must be regarded as having been made with reference thereto.

The power of the executor to make sale of the real estate, and the contract for the sale thereof, which we are now considering, is given by the will if at all, and is not derived from any authority conferred by the judge of probate.

It is very clear from the terms of the will, that Mrs. itumney had great confidence in the persons named as her executors, as they were charged with important discretionary duties, and the exercise of much discrimination and judgment in the disposition, management and control of the property designed for the children, of the most difficult and delicate character. And in such a case, nothing b.ut imperative duty can ever excuse a court in disturbing or interfering with the action taken by the executors.

No question is or can be made about the power of both persons named as executors to do the act in question had both consented to serve and qualified. Hinchman renounced .the trust and refused to qualify. His relation to the-will and the trust was thereby rendered the same as though he had died. Could the remaining executor execute the powers and trust created under the will when there was no express provision- authorizing one of the executors so to do, in case of the death of the other or his failure to qualify ? There is no question but that one under such circumstances may exercise the powers and discharge the duties conferred upon both, in the management and disposition of the personal estate, and bind all persons interested therein. Dyer 23; 11 Miners’ Abr. 271; Bac. Abr. D. 1; 2 Williams Ex’rs, 810; Jacomb v. Harwood 2 Ves. Sr. 267; Wheeler v. Wheeler 9 Cow. 34; Bogert v. Hertell 4 Hill 492, 503; Weir v. Mosher 19 Wis. 311; Herald v. Harper 8 Blackf. 170; Dominick v. Michael 4 Sandf. 406; Boughton v. Flint 13 Hun 206. Co-executors and co-administrators are regarded, in law, as but one person, and acts done by one are deemed the acts of all in all matters relating to the personal estate. One may execute a valid release of a debt. Murray v. Blatchford 1 Wend. 583. He may discharge a mortgage. People v. Keyser 28 N. Y. 226. May make an assignment of a mortgage. Cronin v. Hazeltine 3 Allen 324. And this Court has held that a deed made by one of two or more administrators was not void and not subjéct to attack in collateral proceedings. Osman v. Traphagen 23 Mich. 80.

It is claimed by plaintiff’s counsel that the following provision of our statute, if the power did not exist at common law, gives full authority to the one executor in this case to make valid sale of the real estate of the deceased, and authorized him to make the contract in question. The statute reads as follows:

“When all the executors appointed in any will shall not be authorized, according to the provisions of this chapter, to act as such, such as are authorized shall have the same authority to perform every act, and discharge every trust required and allowed by the will, and their acts shall be as ■ valid and effectual for every purpose, as if all were authorized, and should act together; and administrators with the will annexed, shall have the same authority to perform every act, and discharge every trust, as the executor named in the will would have had, and their acts shall be as valid and effectual for every purpose.” How. Stat. § 5844.

I think this provision clearly authorizes the executor in .this case to sell the real estate of the deceased mentioned in the will, and to make the contract for the sale thereof, to secure the performance of which the deposit of the note in question and its indorsement were made. Not only is the sale authorized, but the designation of the person and his power to make it are derived solely from the will. The probate of the will and letters testamentary furnish no more than the evidence of the existence of these things, and not the authority for doing them.

I think it may well be doubted whether the provisions of .our statute, or that of 21 Hen. VIII. c. 4, so far as it relates to executors, is anything more than confirmatory of the common law upon this subject. Bonifaut v. Greenfield 1 Cro. 80; Co. Litt. 113a.

Whether this be so or not it is quite certain that the spirit of the law requires that the intention of the testator, as expressed in his will, should be carried out. This could be as well accomplished usually by one person as by more; and whatever number may be selected, they are all supposed to be chosen with special reference to their qualifications for the position, and to be prepared to act in accordance with the views and desires of the testator concerning the execution of the trust; and however large the number may be, each is vested with all the powers of the others, and all are required to perform the same duty or duties, and in the discharge of them they act as an individual. But life and ability to act are always uncertain. That the testator may always have some person of his own choosing to execute his will in case of the death or inability of the other to act, is undoubtedly the principal object of appointing two or more executors, and to hold that the inability of one thus appointed to act, or his neglect to qualify, disqualifies the others, it seems to me would manifestly be against the intention of the testator and the true spirit of his will, and defeat the very object he had in view in making the appointment. To remove all doubt upon the subject and secure the construction here contended for, seems to have been the object of the statute upon the subject both in England and this country.

It would in my judgment be a perversion of the trae intention and meaning of the statute, and do violence to what I believe to have been for a long time the accepted interpretation of the law by the profession generally in our State, to hold otherwise. It is possible and I think quite probable, that were we to give the statute the construction claimed for it by counsel for the defendant, titles to large amounts of real estate, purchased in entire, good faith, and now quietly enjoyed, might become unsettled, and all the evil consequences usually accompanying such action by the courts would follow.

It seems to me there is no sufficient reason for, nor does public policy require such a construction of the law, and it ought not to be given by this Court. The following authorities may be examined with profit in examining the question raised in this case: Bonifaut v. Greenfield 1 Cro. 80; Dike v. Ricks 4 Cro. C. 335; 1 Sugd. Pow. (6th Lond. ed.) 143, 144; Pitt v. Pelham Ch. Cas. 178; 1 Lev. 304; Wardwell v. McDonnell 31 Ill. 364; Clinefelter v. Ayers 16 Ill. 332: s. c. 20 Ill. 463 ; Conklin v. Egerton 21 Wend. 430; Roseboom v. Mosher 2 Denio 61; Wills v. Cowper 2 Ham. 124; Powell, Devises, 196, 197; Judson v. Gibbons 5 Wend. 224.

I think the executor in this case had the power to make sale of the homestead property of the Rumney estate, and the contract made therefor, and that the indorsement and transfer of the note in question were not without consideration, and must be held valid.

It is unnecessary to consider the case further. This disposition of the main question raised, renders it necessary to reverse the judgment, and a new trial must be granted.

Campbell and Champlin, JJ. concurred.

Cooley, C. J.

The question in this case arises under the statute which provides that “when all the executors appointed in any will shall not be authorized, according to the provisions of this chapter to act as such, such as are authorized shall have the same authority to perform every act, and discharge every trust required and allowed by the will, and their acts shall be as valid and effectual for every purpose, as if all were authorized, and should act together j and administrators with the will annexed, shall have the same authority to perform every act, and discharge every trust, as the executors named in the will would have had, and their acts shall be as valid and effectual for every purpose.” How. Stat. § 5844. Another statute provides that “ when a power is vested in several persons, all must unite in its execution; but if, previous to such execution, one or more of such persons shall die, the power may be executed by the survivor or survivors.” Id. § 5628.

In this case two executors were named in the will, one of whom declined to qualify, but is still living. The other qualified and acted. The question discussed in the case was whether it was competent for him alone to execute, not for purposes of administration and long after the time for the settlement of the estate under the statute bad expired, a power which by the will was conferred upon both. It is an interesting and important question, and was ably argued, but is not discussed in the opinion of Mr. Justice Sherwood, which treats the case as if the power had been executed as a step in administration. No one has ever doubted,' so far as I know, that for administration purposes the acting executor might execute such a power, and no authority beyond the statute itself is needed in support of such an execution. Whether a case like the present is within the intent of the statute first recited is quite a different question, which I do not discuss, because the prevailing opinion in the case avoids any mention of it.