249 F. 1 | 3rd Cir. | 1917
Lead Opinion
Federal jurisdiction of this action depends upon diversity of citizenship. The bill was brought by Archibald A. Alexander, Mary C. Alexander, and John S. Alexander against the Fidelity Trust Company as executor of their father, John Alexander, to compel an account of a certain trust. The fundamental averments of the bill are that John Alexander* had been a trustee for the plaintiffs, that he had not accounted for the fund, but had left it as an indistinguishable part of his estate, and that his executor was in possession of assets sufficient to respond to the plaintiffs’ demand. In full detail the facts appear in the following unreported opinion of Judge Thompson, delivered August 26, 1915 :
“The plaintiffs filed a bill for an accounting by tbe Fidelity Trust Company, as executor and trustee under tbe will of John Alexander, deceased, of moneys received by tbe decedent, John Alexander, as trustee for tbe plaintiffs under tbe will of George Jones, deceased. The Fidelity Trust Company alone filed an answer and put in a defense.
“George Jones, a resident of Wilmington, Del., died in August, 1867. John Alexander married George Jones’ daughter, Mary Jane, who died prior to the time of George Jones’ death, leaving five children, Mary C., John S., Archibald A., still living, and James G. and Annie G. Alexander, both deceased.
“The second item of George Jones’ will is as follows:
“ ‘To my Son in Daw John Alexander and his heirs and assigns I give and devise all my farm land in Kent County in this State, in Trust for the Equal use, benefit and behoof of his children by my daughter Mary Jane (now deceased) with authority to retain and manage it for thefr respective Equal benefit, or at his option at any time to convey and assign the same to them and their heirs as Tenants in Common free and discharged of any trust or, with the assent to he expressed in writing, of such of the said children as may at the time of the Exercise of such option, have attained twenty-one years of age, to sell and dispose of the said lands and tenements, at public or private sale for the best price to be obtained therefor, and thereupon to make a good and sufficient deed or deeds in fee simple therefor to the purchaser or purchasers thereof, free from all Trust and any liability of the purchaser or purchasers to see to or account for the proper application of the purchase money by tbe said John Alexander or bis heirs; tbe said purchase money thereupon to be still held in Trust by him or them for my said Grandchildren, or at bis discretion, to be paid over to them respectively discharged of any Trust, at such times and manner as be shall deem most beneficial to them respectively.’
“Letters of administration were granted to John S. Alexander upon tbe estate of James G. Alexander, December 22, 1868, and upon tbe estate of Annie G. Alexander, November 4, 1899.
“After tbe death of George Jones, the decedent, John Alexander, remarried and bad one son, Lucien H. On March 27, 1868, John Alexander, together with Mary C., John S., and Annie G., all of whom bad then reached tbe age of twenty-one years, sold tbe real estate in Kent county, known as Linden Farm, to Henrietta Ord Underwood, for tbe sum of $13,009. Tbe purchase price was paid to John Alexander as follows: $19,000 by tbe assignment to him of a bond and mortgage of John P. McLear and wife to Henrietta Ord Underwood to secure tbe payment of tbe sum of $10,009 and tbe remaining $8,000 by a purchase-money mortgage upon Linden Farm in tbe sum of $3,000. John Alexander sold tbe McLear mortgage March 18, 1872, for $10,000, together with the interest due thereon, the proceeds in all exceeding $12,000. Tbe decedent, on March 28, 1873, charged himself as trustee, and credited tbe accounts of Archibald and Mary, respectively, with tbe sum of $4,026.91 each. It is conceded that settlement in tbe sum of. $4,026.91 in full for bis share of tbe proceeds of tbe McLear mortgage under tbe George Jones trust was made at that time by the decedent with bis son John S. Alexander. Tbe Underwood mortgage for, $3,000 was sued out in proceedings brought in 1S84,*5 and the land was purchased at the sheriffs sale by John Alexander in his own right for the sum of $0,500 and a deed made to him by the sheriff. The title to the property remained in John Alexander at the time of his death. John Alexander continued to recognize the George Jones trust and his liability to account under It down to the time of his death. This is shown by entries in Ms book and by declarations in wills made in 1891 and 1893. In a will executed June 20, 1891, by item 4 he directed his executors (in ease he did not do the same thing in Ms lifetime) to transfer to the Fidelity Insurance Trust & Safe Deposit Company, in trust for his daughter Mary, certain securities, and, in case he did not do the same thing in Ms lifetime, to transfer to Ms son Archibald certain securities and the proceeds of a certain life insurance policy, with the following clause applying to both bequests: ‘Which transfers include payment in full to my daughter Mary C. and my son Archibald A. of their interest in bequest of their Grandfather.’
•‘In an entry in his ledger under the date of January 13, 1887, lie had enumerated the same securities referred to in the will of 1891, and directed that his executors transfer them to Mary and Archibald, respectively, at his death in case he had not done so in his lifetime.
“The testator further directed that reference be made to the memoranda accounts of Ms children to ascertain whether the transfers referred to had been made in Ms lifetime. It is apparent that his intention in item 4 of the will of 1891 was to designate the funds held by Mm in trust, and, as far as Mary and Archibald were concerned, to carry out the directions of George Jones under the last clause of item second of Ms will, viz.: ‘The said purchase money thereupon to be still hold in trust by Mm (John Alexander) or them for my said grandchildren, or, at his discretion, to be paid over to them respectively discharged of any trust, at suqh times and manner as he shall deem most beneficial to them respectively.’
“In a subsequent will dated March 15, 1893, which was duly probated, in the fourth paragraph he again recognized Ms liability to account for the George Jones trust by directing his executors, in ease he had not done the same thing in his lifetime, to pay over to the Fidelity Insurance Trust & Safe Deposit Company for his daughter Mary C. the sum of $15,000, to be held in trust with power of appointment in her by will; and further directed his executors, in case he had not done the same thing in his lifetime, to transfer to his son Archibald certain stock, certain interest in joint indebtedness declared against his sons Archibald and John S., and the proceeds of a certain life insurance policy, and declared ‘these payments and transfers include payment in full to my daughter Mary C. and my son Archibald A. of their interest, in bequest of their grandfather Jones.’
“He further provided in item 4: ‘As my devoted son 'John S. has years ago received from me Ms share of his grandfather Jones’ estate, and has also been released from certain large cash liabilities to me, I bequeath in this item of my will only to my children Mary C., Archibald A., and Duelen H., and I have, according to my best judgment, done the strictest equity to all.’
“The existence of the George Jones trust at the time ot John Alexander’s death, and his recognition of his liability to account to Mary and Archibald, is therefore clearly established by the testator’s declaration.
“During the lifetime of John Alexander, he had advanced and loaned large sums of money to his sons, which appear charged against them on his books. In the will of 1893, item 8, he states that the advances to Ms two sons John S. and Archibald A. amount to $115,100, ‘a portion of which indebtedness to the extent of ($6,000) Six thousand dollars thereof I have by Section Four of my Will bequeathed to my son Archibald A., which leaves at this date as forming part of my residuary estate a net balance of indebtedness due by my said two sons of One hundred and nine thousand one hundred dollars ($109,100), whereby my said two sons have jointly received possibly more than their just share of my residuary estate.’ The amount of the indebtedness was by a codicil declared to he $121,800.
“The accounts with Mary upon her father’s books do not indicate any intention on his part to charge against her share in the George _ Jones trust any individual advances made to her. The individual accounts of Archibald*6 upon his lather’s books, as far as appears, show loans and advances máde by his father in his individual capacity, and do not indicate any intention to charge them against the fund held as trustee. The declarations in the wills of 1891 and 1893 indicate that up to that time no settlement of the Jones trust estate had been made, but that John Alexander intended by his bequest, in item 4, to charge against the shares of Mary and Archibald under the Jones trust in settlement thereof the money and securities therein enumerated.
“It is evident from the books of the decedent and conceded by all parties in interest that there was a commingling of the trust funds with his individual funds, but there is no evidence that at the time advances were made in his lifetime it was intended by the parties that they should be considered as advances out of the trust funds.
“Upon the death of John Alexander on February 7, 1895, the will of March 15, 1893, with codicils thereto, was offered for probate. A caveat and petition for an issue filed by Archibald A. Alexander were, after hearing before the register of wills of Philadelphia county, dismissed, and the will and codicils admitted to probate. In October, 1898, John S. Archibald and Mary appealed to the orphans’ court from the decision of the register of wills, and, after lengthy hearing, the appeal was dismissed and an issue d. ,b. n. refused. From the action of the orphans’ court an appeal was taken to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, whereupon, on May 11, 1903, the decree of the orphans’ court was affirmed. See Alexander’s Estate, 206 Pa. 47, 55 Atl. 797. Meanwhile, on June 15, 1899, upon petition of Mary C. Alexander and John S. Alexander, the Co.urt of Chancery of Delaware appointed the Security Trust '& Safe Deposit Company of Delaware substituted trustee under the last will and testament of George Jones. The substituted trustee on December 12, 1899, filed in the United States Circuit Court for this district to No. 29 of October sessions, 1899, a bill in equity against the executors of John Alexander’s will, alleging substantially the same facts, so far as the right to an accounting is concerned, as are set forth in the present bill, and praying for the same relief as in the present bill. After the suit was at issue, a motion made to dismiss for want of jurisdiction was held under advisement by Judge McPherson pending a suggestion that the construction of the will should be primarily determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery, and the question of the propriety of the complainant’s appointment raised in that court. On April 13, 1905, a bill was filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery by the Fidelity Trust Company, as executor and trustee under thé will of John Alexander, praying that the appointment of the substituted trustee be vacated. A decree was finally entered on October 10, 1912, revoking the order appointing the Security Trust & Safe Deposit Company as substituted trustee as having been inadvertently entered.
“On January 7, 1913, the present bill was filed.
“It appears by the answer that repeated demands were made by the plaintiffs upon the defendant for the sums in controversy and for an accounting more than sixteen years prior to the filing of the bill herein, and a denial of all liability for the payment of any such sums or of any obligation to account therefor was then made by the defendant.
“The first account of the executors was audited in the orphans’ court April 17, 1898, and confirmed nisi, and adjudication filed April 30, 1896. It appears by the adjudication and schedule of distribution that $15,000 was awarded to the Fidelity Insurance, Trust & Safe Deposit Company as trustee for Mary C. Alexander under the trust declared in the fourth item of the testator’s will. It further appears that payments of $1,107.50 of income had been made by the accountants to the Fidelity Trust Company, which are referred to in the schedule as ‘payments on account interest to May 16, 1896, on Mary C. Alexander bequest of $15,000, in accordance with fourth item of will as per account filed,’
“It also appears that at that time there was contained in the schedule of distribution an award to Archibald A. Alexander of 100 shares of stock of the Texas National Bank, and of an assignment of $6,000 of the testator’s interest in the joint indebtedness due to the estate by his two sons, Archibald and John S. As the account then being audited was that of the executors*7 under the will, and not of the Fidelity Trust Company as trustee for Mary C. Alexander, it is apparent that the payments of income charged in the account consisted of income paid by the accountants as executors to the Fidelity Trust Company as trustee. There is no evidence of any payment directly to Mary C. Alexander, or .acceptance by her, of any income out of the i?15,000 bequest, and there is no evidence of any acceptance by Archibald A. Alexander of the bequest to him in settlement of his interest in the George Jones trust.
[1] “The defense mainly relied upon is laches, in that the trust determined on the death of John Alexander and the beneficiaries’thereunder were then entitled to sue therefor; that sixteen years prior to the filing of the bill repeated demands were made by the plaintiffs for an accounting and a denial of all liability made by the defendant, and that, in view of the laches of the plaintiffs, forty-two years having elapsed since the alleged tortious conversion of the trust fund and failure to pay income to those entitled, and eighteen years having elapsed since the death of the testator and the filing of the hill, they have lost their right to an account and the bill should be dismissed.
“Under the facts developed, laches cannot be imputed to the plaintiffs based upon their failure to claim an accounting during the lifetime of their father. There was no disavowal by him of the trust, and up to the date of the will of 1893, and therefore to the time of his death, he never disavowed his liability to an account, but, by his own declarations in his books of account and in the wills of 1891 and 1898, declared the continued existence of the trust and his liability to an accounting.
[2] “Neither can laches be charged against the defendant by reason of the fact that the hill was not filed until January, 1913, or eighteen years after the death of the testator. That is an unusually long period to elapse before the assertion of one’s right, and, if nothing had been done during that interval, the defense of laches would doubtless avail even in favor of a fiduciary. It is admitted, however, that demand was made by the plaintiffs for an accounting in 1897. Meanwhile a caveat against the probate of the will under which the defendant claimed as executor had been filed, and in 1898 an appeal taken to the orphans’ court. In 1899 a substituted trustee was, upon the application of two of the plaintiffs, appointed by the Delaware Court of Chancery for the purpose of asserting the same rights as are now asserted by this suit. In 1899 the substituted trustee brought suit in the Circuit Court in this district, based upon the same grounds as the present suit. By reason of litigation in Delaware concerning the appointment of the substituted trustee, ihe proceedings in tbe prior suit in this court were not carried to a conclusion, but, upon the vacation of the appointment of the trustee in 1912, the present, bill was promptly filed. If the Fidelity Trust Company had had no notice of the trust, delay for a much shorter period would defeat the plaintiffs’ rights upon the ground of laches, but the testator, by tho terms of the very will under which the defendant dqrives its authority, declared the existence of the trust. The disavowal by the Trust Company upon demand two years later was followed by the proceedings brought in 1809, four years after tho decedent’s death. The Trust Company was not at that time in a position to assert that the beneficiaries under the George Jones trust were sleeping upon their rights, and surely it could not so claim during the pendency of that suit. If, during the time before the bringing of the present suit, the defendant has parted with the evidences of the condition of the trust, its position Is not due to want of notice of the claims of the plaintiffs through their laches. It was not because of neglect to assert tho plaintiffs’ rights that the books of account in which the decedent kept the record of his dealings with tho beneficiaries under his will liad been allowed to go out of Its possession and were brought into court in the custody of Lucien H. Alexander, who appeared and produced them under a subpoena duces tecum. At tbe audit of tho second account of the executors, May 9, 1901, it was requested by counsel for the defendant that tho sums awarded he retained by the accountant to await the result of the suit pending in the. Circuit Court for tills district brought by the Security Trust Company of Delaware, trustee, under the will of George Jones, against the executors. This request was denied because of uncertainty as to the length of time which would probably ensue before the final determi*8 nation of the suit, but, in order to protect the accountant, distribution was made conditionally upon a refunding bond being entered into by the distributees, and it appears that the executor still has in its custody about $43,000 undistributed. Surely'in 1904, when its counsel called the court’s attention to the pending suit, the defendant had notice and would not have deprived itself of the means of defending that suit. So far as appears, the suit is still pending, but cannot be prosecuted, because the plaintiff’s appointment as trustee under the George Jones will was, at the instance of the defendant, vacated in 1912, but the present suit was immediately brought after the order váeating the appointment was made. In the absence of the running of a statute of limitations, the doctrine of laches is invoked to prevent injury to an innocent party. It is doubtful if it should be applied as strictly in favor of a corporation engaged under its charter in the business of acting as executor and trustee as in favor of an individual. That the defendant has not, during the last eighteen years, been permitted by the plaintiffs to lose sight of the fact that they claimed as beneficiaries under the George Jones trust for sufficient intervals of time to bar them by laches is clearly apparent upon the present record, and no evidence has been presented to sfiow that the defendant as a stakeholder will suffer by reason of being required to 'account.
[3] “The next defense set up is payment through advances to the plaintiffs, through their support by their father and through settlement made under his will. The capacity in which the decedent held the funds of the Jones trust was entirely separate and distinct from the capacity in which he dealt with his children in supporting them and in making advances to them. .After' a careful examination of the voluminous statements of account which were offered in evidence, I have been unable to find anything which indicates that, prior to the will of 1891, John Alexander intended that the liability of his sons and daughter to him individually should have any relation to his liability to them as trustee under George Jones’ will. ' It is contrary to the ordinary conception of a trust that a trustee may offset his individual claim against his cestui que trust against the latter’s claim upon the trust fund. It is apparent, however, that, under the wills of 1891 and 1893, the testator attempted to make a settlement under the trust with his son Archibald and daughter Mary. John Alexander could dispose of his individual estate as he desired, but he could not make a settlement with his children of the trusteeship as provided for in the wills without the consent of the cestuis que trustent evidenced by acceptance or in some other manner indicating their consent, express or implied. There is no evidence that Archibald ever consented to such arrangement, nor that he has accepted the provisions made for him under his father’s will, and he is therefore free to dispute the effect of the bequest as a settlement with him. If there were evidence of the acceptance by Mary of income from the fund bequeathed to her under the fourth item of her father's will as such, she no doubt would be estopped from demanding an accounting in this suit. It has not been shown, however, that the payment to the Fidelity Trust Company as her trustee was followed by payment to her, and there is no evidence in the case, therefore, that she has accepted the' benefits of the $15,000 bequest, as alleged in the answer, and the allegation, being deemed denied under the 31st equity rule, falls for want of proof.
“The claim of John S. Alexander was withdrawn by his counsel at the trial.
[4] “The question of jurisdiction raised by the defendant was determined by Judge Sater, sitting by designation in this court, when a motion to dismiss the bill upon that ground was denied. If the defendant is injured by the pendency of the suit of the Security Trust Company, it should, as suggested by Judge Sater, move for a dismissal of that bill.
[5] “A further question is raised by the pleadings as to whether the interests of James G. and Annie G. Alexander vested in their father, the decedent, or in their brothers' and sister, the plaintiffs. The decision of that question is not necessary in the present suit, as in either 'case their shares would be distributable to their administrator.
“A decree may be entered in accordance with the prayers of the bill in favor of the plaintiffs Mary O. and Archibald A. Alexander, and dismissing the bill as to John S. Alexander.”
“The additional evidence offered by the defendant the Fidelity Trust Company upon rehearing is sufficient to establish an acceptance by Mary C. Alexander of the bequests under her father’s will, subject to the terms of the. will providing that the ‘transfers include payment in full to my daughter Mary O. and my son Archibald A. of their interest in bequest of their grandfather.’
“The additional evidence does not support the same conclusion as'to Archibald A. Alexander, and no sufficient cause is shown for disturbing as to him the findings in the opinion filed August 16, 1915.
“As to the interest of John S. Alexander in the Jones trust, there is no evidence of any demand made by him upon his father for an accounting during his lifetime, nor is there any evidence to establish such a recognition by his father of accountability to him as appears by his declarations in-regard to Archibald A. and Mary 0.”
Accordingly an account was stated by a special master (Hon. Wm. W. Porter), who in a clear and convincing report sustained the material positions of Archibald, and recommended a decree in his favor, the amount not being in dispute on this appeal. Exceptions- to the report were dismissed in the following opinion (also unreported), and a final decree was entered:
[6] “As stated in the brief of counsel for the defendant:
“‘These exceptions-all depend on the same underlying principle of law, which may be thus briefly stated:
“ ‘The Jones trust terminated on the death of John Alexander. No property belonging to the trust came into the hands oE his executors, from which it follows that at no time since the death of John Alexander would a bill in equity lie against his executors for an accounting in reference to said trust, the only right of action being one at law against the executors for the tortious conversion by their testator of the trust funds in question. The status, therefore, of the beneficiaries after the death of John Alexander, was changed to that of ordinary creditors of his estate, from which it follows, as a corollary, that the executors have the right to set off against such claim any debts due by the beneficiaries to the estate, and the statute of limitations runs against this, as against any other action at law, from the date of the death of John Alexander.’
“Assuming that the trust terminated at the death of John Alexander, it does not follow that the cestui que trust’s right to an accounting was then changed into a debt at common law.
“The fallacy in the argument for the defendant is that some controlling facts aro left out of consideration.
“First. The trustee commingled the funds of the trust estate with his own, without the consent or knowledge of the fiduciary.
“Second. The decedent recognized the validity and existence of the trust and his liability to account therefor up to the time of his death.
“Third. The estate came into the hands of the defendant as John Alexander’s executor in the same condition as it was in when he recognized his liability to an accounting.
“Fourth. There are no rights of creditors or purchasers for value or innocent third parties intervening.
“The master found against the defendant’s contention that the entries in the books of John Alexander concerning- the trust funds constituted a distribution to the beneficiaries, and found that such a disposition of the trust funds constitutes in law a conversion by him of the trust funds. Counsel for the defendant argues that therefore it must be concluded that there was no trust fund in existence when John Alexander died, and con*10 sequently the beneficiary was merely a creditor of the deceased trustee’s estate.
“Counsel has industriously collected authorities in support of the doctrine of failure of right to pursue trust funds commingled with other property. In every case so cited an equity superior to that of the cestui que' trust was established, but in none of those cases is it held that a trustee who, without knowledge or consent of the cestui que trust, has commingled the trust funds with his own, can set up his own tortious conversion, and thereby establish a claim to the whole of the commingled property.
“In the following cases relied upon by the defendant the cestui que trust claimed a preference over the trustee’s general creditors: Thompson’s Appeal, 22 Pa. 16; People’s Bank, 93 Pa. 107, 39 Am. Rep. 728; Freiberg v. Stoddard, 161 Pa. 259, 28 Atl. 1111; Lebanon Trust & S. D. Banks Assigned Estate, 166 Pa. 622, 31 Atl. 334; Comm. v. Tradesman’s Tr. Co., 250 Pa. 372, 95 Atl. 574; Columbia Bank’s Estate, 147 Pa. 422, 23 Atl. 625, 626, 628; Rado’s Estate, 30 Pittsb. Leg. J. (Pa.) 410.
“And in Milligan’s Appeal, 82 Pa. 389 the question was whether the trustee should be ordered to transfer to the cestui que trust certain valuable stock, purchased by the trustee out of commingled assets, instead of money. There was no evidence that the stock was purchased with her money; moreover, sufficient to satisfy the trust remained in the trustee’s hands uninvested, and it was held that she was rightly awarded the money rather than the stock.
“It may be assumed that the industry of counsel would have produced authorities'in support of his contention that the accountability of a trustee as against the cestui que trust ends when he commingles the trust funds with his own if there were such cases upon the books. The rule as to following trust funds, even where other equities are asserted, is thus stated by Mr. Justice Bradley in Frelinghuysen v. Nugent, et al. (C. C.) 36 Fed. 229, and.approved by Mr. Justice Fuller speaking for the Supreme Court in Peters v. Bain, 133 U. S. at page 693, 10 Sup. Ct. at page 361, 33 L. Ed. 696:
“ ‘Formerly the equitable right of following misapplied money or other property into the hands of the parties receiving it depended upon the ability of identifying it, the equity attaching only to the very property .misapplied. This right was first extended to the proceeds of the property, namely, to that which was procured in place of it by exchange, purchase, or sale. But if it became confused with other property of the same kind, so as not to be distinguishable, without any fault on the part of the possessor, the equity was lost. Finally, however, it has been held as the better doctrine that confusion does not destroy the equity entirely, but converts it into a charge upon the entire mass, giving to the party injured by the unlawful diversion a priority of right over the other creditors of the possessor.-’
“The court’s attention has not been called to any authority holding that, as against the cestui que trust, the trustee can set up his own failure to set apart trust funds, and say: T converted your money to my own- use long ago by mixing it with my own. True, I have ample to pay you, which is the product of the commingled funds, but I do not know which is yours and which is mine. You did not consent that I should do so, nor did you know that I did so, but by converting it to my own use I made you a mere creditor and the statute of limitations has run against your claim.’
“As found by the master, the intent of the decedent to commingle the trust funds with his own was not one which the donor contemplated, nor the law sanctions,- and cannot bind the cestui que trust without his consent or knowledge.
“What John Alexander did cannot be set up to the advantage of his estate to defeat the trust.
“ ‘All that he did must be taken as in furtherance of the trust. To this he was bound by the duties of his office.’ Pauli v. Oliphant, 14 Pa. 350.
“In the case at bar it is shown that, while the trustee mingled the moneys of the trust estate with his own, it was done in recognition of the trust.
[7] “The finding by the master of the trustee’s intention to postpone distribution under the discretion vested in him by George Jones’ will until the time of his death is supported by the evidence, and is in accordance with*11 the maxim that, whore the act of a party may be referred indifferently to one of two motives, the law prefers to refer it to that which is honest rather than that which is dishonest, Boone County Bank v. Latimer (C. C.) 67 Fed. 27.
[8] “The presumption is that in commingling the trust funds with his own, and crediting the cestui que trust on his books, John Alexander intended. the joint fund to he chargeable with the trust funds, there being ample funds in the hands of his executor to meet the charge. So that where the two funds are thus blended, and the claim of the cestui que trust is not; subject to any superior equities, the burden is put upon the trustee or Ms representative to show clearly what part of the property belongs to his estate. Perry on Trusts and Trustees, § 128; Boone County Bank v. Latimer, supra; Bank v. King, 57 Pa. 202, 98 Am. Dec. 215.
“It would be strange, indeed, if, with the presumption of a rightful intention on the part of the trustee to Anally distribute the sums credited on his books to his son, and with the joint product of the commingled funds coming into the hands of the executor, the holder of the estate, thus enriched by the trust funds, should be allowed to defeat the trust by pleading a dishonest intent on the part of its decedent.
“What the plaintiff is claiming hei’e is the right to follow his property or its value and the accrued profits into the product arising from the commingling of the trust funds with the mass of the decedent’s estate.
“It was his right to elect to pursue this remedy, and an election to proceed as a mere creditor cannot be made for him by the defendant so as to invoke the statute of limitations and convert the trustee’s individual dealings with him into a set-off and thus defeat the trust.
“I am of the opinion that there is no merit in the exceptions, and they will be dismissed, and the report confirmed.
“A decree may be entered accordingly.”
Four appeals are before us, each presenting a separate question.
Fidelity Trust Company’s Appeal.
In several particulars many of the cases now cited differ materially from the situation before us on this appeal, and therefore do not furnish the rule for decision. No conflicting rights of creditors or of purchasers for value are now involved;»there is -no dispute that the trust continued to the date of the testator’s death, or that his estate became liable in some form of action; the assets of the trust certainly went into the executor’s hands, although no one could point them out in specie, and the estate is amply solvent. In the fourth paragraph of his will the testator distinctly recognizes the trust and his liability, and in effect offers to settle with Mary and Archibald on specified terms. He had not settled with them himself, and he practically said to his executor: “I am bound to settle with Mary and Archibald for their shares of the Jones trust. The fund is somewhere in my estate; I do' not know where, and I do not know how much I should pay them, but I propose to make a certain provision for each of them in full settlement of my obligation, and if they accept I leave it to you to,carry the proposal into effect.” No doubt he intended also to impose the settlement upon his children, but this was beyond his power. In substance, tire proposal of the will had the same effect as if it had been made in his lifetime, and neither then nor after his death could he compel its acceptance. Under the trust he had exercised his right to postpone settlement until his death, but this left the task for his executor, unless the beneficiaries should see fit to accept the proposals in the will. Under sucff circumstances, we think a bill for an accoqnt was an appropriate, although perhaps not an exclusive, remedy, and we agree with the District Court that the present record shows no obstacle thereto.
“Tlie additional evidence does not support tlie same conclusion (of acceptance) as to Archibald A. Alexander, and no sufficient cause is shown for disturbing as to him the findings in the opinion filed August 16, 1915.”
On the Trust Company’s appeal the decree is affirmed.
Appeal of Archibald Alexander.
“plead either (1) that he never was such an executor, (2) that he has fully-administered the estate, or (3) that he had only assets to a certain extent in his possession belonging to the decedent’s estate. If he should fail to file any of said pleas, then, on a judgment or a decree against him, the law presumes he has a sufficiency of assets in his hands belonging to the testator with which to 'pay the judgment or decree against him.”
Cases are cited in support of this contention, and in disputes where the limited jurisdiction of the federal courts is not an element the practice may be as argued. But in the present situation we do not think these cases are decisive. The testator’s estate is still in process of settlement before the orphans’ court of Philadelphia county, and we must take care to do nothing that may interfere with the distribution that belongs peculiarly to that tribunal. It may be true that the executor has abundant assets to pay the decree and all other claims that may be urged against the estate; but this we cannot certainly know, and, in order to avoid the possibility of mistake, we think we should coniine the appellant, at least for the present, to the advantage he has gained by recovering the decree. He has now established his right to an account and has liquidated his claim. As it seems to us, the next step is to present the decree to the orphans’ court, and if it shall there appear that the company has sufficient assets to pay the decree in full, 'and if the company should thereafter refuse to pay, we have no doubt the district court would permit the execution to issue. But until this shall be
On the appeal of Archibald Alexander the decree is affirmed.
Appeal of Mary Alexander. ,
On her appeal the decree is affirmed.
Appeal of John Alexander.
We may add that we. neither express nor intimate an opinion concerning the effect that a recovery by John and Archibald in this proceeding may have upon their claim (if any should hereafter be made) to share in a future distribution under their father’s will.
On Petition of Rucien H. Alexander for Reargument.
Rucien H. Alexander, in pro. per.
We direct that on or before February 5, 1918, he serve upon opposing counsel his printed brief, and such other planted matter as he may desire to present to this court; any reply thereto to be served on him on or before February 16, 1918; and the reargument to take place on February 21, 1918.
Rehearing
On Rehearing.
The rehearing granted in three of these appeals has now been had, and we have carefully considered again the arguments that were presented last November, as well as the arguments that have recently been presented for the first time; but we have not been brought to see that the opinion previously filed should be modified in any respect.
It is perhaps superfluous to say that much of the prolonged litigation that has vexed John Alexander’s estate is directly due to his own well-meant and kindly, but nevertheless masterful, attitude toward his children’s rights under their grandfather's will. But the statement is true, and, although it will probably have little, if any, effect, it may stand as one more contribution to the mass' of testimony that favors established legal rules and methods rather than individual caprice and irregularity. And so, too-, in reference to rules of evidence. Having learned what kind, of a man live testator was, we do not find it easy to shut our minds to the declaration in his will that he had already settled fully with John; but, if the general rule is to prevail, this declaration is not competent, and there is then no evidence concerning a settlement, except John’s own admission, and this only affects the $10,-000 mortgage. We feel bound to stand by the rule, and to disregard our own belief concerning the value of the testator’s statement.
No change will be made in the opinion filed November 24, 1917.