Baker v. Langley

247 Mass. 127 | Mass. | 1923

Braley, J.

It appears that one Phillip Joseph, an unmarried seaman, died intestate November 16, 1857, leaving no heirs in this Commonwealth, and the defendant concedes that the plaintiff is the duly appointed administrator of his estate, although the date of appointment is not disclosed by the record. G. L. c. 194. The intestate left as his only estate a deposit in a savings bank of $100 which with accumulated interest amounted on August 5, 1921, when the plaintiff was first informed of it to $2,474.45. The bank book after the intestate’s death remained in the possession of the testator who died January 3, 1868. But neither he nor this executrix, nor legatees and heirs attempted to obtain the money, although from time to time the book which remained in their possession and control was presented for the entry of accrued interest. The defendant on July 18, 1922, brought an action of contract in the Superior Court against the plaintiff to recover for board and lodging alleged to have been furnished by the testator to the intestate, and to recover the amount of the deposit as a gift to the testator, and as money had and received to the plaintiff’s use. The defendant in that case, plaintiff in the case at bar, demurred, and the case was pending on the demurrer when the defendant in that case brought in that court November 10, 1922, the bill in the case at bar, asking, that the defendant in the case at bar, plaintiff in that case, be perpetually enjoined from prosecuting the action at law because of the inexcusable delay of the testator and those claiming under him to assert whatever rights they had against the estate of the intestate, or to the deposit. It is alleged that, approximately sixty-five years having elapsed since the death of the intestate, and fifty-four years since the death of the testator, the plaintiff “ is without means of satisfying himself as to the validity of the claim set forth in said declaration ” in the action at law, and has been “ advised that there is a reasonable doubt whether the statute of limitations may be urged [[therein] as a defence.” It also is found even if the bank book at the plaintiff’s request was submitted to him by counsel for the defendant under the condition that after examination it should be returned, that the deposit was property left by the intestate.

The bill under the prayer for general relief can be maintained to recover possession of the bank book, his alleged right to which the defendant had not relinquished, and to determine whether the deposit is to be administered as the intestate’s estate. Mitchell v. Weaver, 242 Mass. 331, 336, and cases collected.

The main contention of the defendant under the demurrer in the case at bar, and under the requests for rulings which are before us on the appeal, Kennedy v. Welch, 196 Mass. 592, Cushman v. Noe, 242 Mass. 496, is, that the plaintiff has a complete and adequate remedy at law by pleading the statute of limitations, or by an equitable defence under G. L. c. 231, § 31. But to sustain any objection to the jurisdiction of the court on the ground of the adequacy of the remedy at law it is settled by our decisions, that it must be pleaded “ without delay and at the earliest opportunity.” It is neither raised by the demurrer nor stated in the answer, and this objection presented for the first time at the hearing on the merits comes too late. Russell v. Loring, 3 Allen, 121, 125, 126. Jones v. Newhall, 115 Mass. 244. Haskell v. Merrill, 179 Mass. 120, 123. And no answer having been filed the plaintiff can elect the concurrent remedy of a bill in equity. Nash v. D’Arcy, 183 Mass. 30. Corbett v. Craven, 196 Mass. 319, 320. J. P. Eustis Manuf. Co. v. Saco Brick Co. 198 Mass. 212, 217. Noyes v. Noyes, 233 Mass. 55. The demurrer being general and the bill being sufficient for reasons previously stated, it was overruled rightly. Granara v. Italian Catholic Cemetery Association, 218 Mass. 387. And the court having acquired jurisdiction for one purpose will retain it for any purpose within the scope of the bill. Bartlett v. Parks, 1 Cush. 82. Perry v. Pye, 215 Mass. 403, 413.

It is uncontroverted that for more than half a century the claimants neglected to assert any title to the deposit, or claim for compensation and the statute of limitations in so far as urged by the defendant need not be further considered. Sawyer v. Cook, 188 Mass. 163, 168. Sunter v. Sunter, 190 Mass. 449, 455, 456. See Phelps v. Brewer, 9 Cush. 390, 399. The estate of the intestate should not be put to the expense, nor its settlement delayed, nor the ends of justice defeated by the further prosecution of the case at law in which no substantial living cause of action exists. Cook v. Sawyer, supra. It should, however, be observed that the general rule, that where the case, whether at law or in equity is within the jurisdiction of either court, the court which first acquires jurisdiction must decide the case, is not applicable because both cases are in the same court, which had general jurisdiction of the entire litigation. G. L. c. 212, § 3, c. 214, § 1. Phillips v. McCandlish, 239 Mass. 301, 305.

The decree overruling the demurrer, and the final decree granting full injunctive relief must be affirmed.

Ordered accordingly.