239 S.W. 73 | Mo. | 1922
Lead Opinion
On March 20, 1920, plaintiff, Flemmon E. Gloyd, filed, in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, a bill in equity, which had for its purpose the obtaining of an order and decree authorizing the sale of five parcels of real estate, located in Kansas City, Missouri, belonging to the Gloyd Lumber Company, a co-partnership formerly composed of plaintiff and his brother, Albert M. Gloyd, now deceased, each being an equal partner therein. The case was tried on an amended petition filed July 30, 1920. All the parties interested in the result were before the court.
The facts leading up to this litigation, as shown by the record, are substantially as follows:
Maiette S. Gloyd, defendant herein, and said Albert M. Gloyd, who was then a widower, were married in Denver, Colorado, on December 10, 1914. He had tuberculosis, and sought relief in Texas, Colorado and California. He was a citizen of Kansas City, Missouri, but while temporarily at Denver, made a will, on August 26, *176 1915, as claimed by his wife, whereby he devised and bequeathed his estate to his brothers, Flemmon and Samuel Gloyd, and his wife, as trustees, to hold and administer (except household goods, jewelry and automobiles, which he gave direct to his wife). Said trustees were to pay out of the net income of the estate monthly, sums aggregating $1125, by way of annuities after his death, including $600 per month to his wife for three years. At the end of said three years, she was given 52% of all the trust estate, including accumulated undisposed-of income. On the same day, he added a codicil providing for any heir that might be born to his wife after his death. Contemporaneously, at the foot of the will, it is claimed that Mrs. Gloyd, by signed and attested writing, accepted the trust and benefits of above will and, in consideration of its benefits of her, waived and relinquished her dower rights. Albert M. Gloyd thereafter established his residence in California and, on May 4, 1916, made a will at Los Angeles, California, hereafter designated as the California will, in which he declared his residence to be in said State. In the last mentioned will, he expressly revoked the Denver will, and gave, devised and bequeathed his entire estate, wheresoever situated, unto Flemmon E. Gloyd and Samuel M. Gloyd, his brothers, and Walter B. Taylor, his nephew, named therein, as trustees. The trust above created was to continue during the lives of the persons therein named, and to terminate on the death of the survivor of them, and at all events at the expiration of ten years from and after the testator's death. By said will, testator gave said trustees power to hold, manage and control the property of his estate during said trust period, as they deemed proper, and to the same extent as he might do if living. Said trustees were directed to pay certain bequests out of the "net income" of his estate, including among others, to Maiette S. Gloyd, the sum of $10 and no more. She rejected said will and refused to take said $10 gift. *177
Albert M. Gloyd died childless on April 4, 1918, in California. The last named will was admitted to probate there, on May 20, 1918, and, on January 29, 1919, admitted to probate in Jackson County, Missouri, at Kansas City, and Flemmon E. Gloyd qualified as the executor thereof. He resigned as such executor May 12, 1920.
In the California will, testator gave, devised and bequeathed specified percentages of his "estate in trust" to said Flemmon E. Gloyd, Samuel M. Gloyd, and Wm. B. Gloyd, who are parties to this suit, and to about thirty-five other persons therein named.
On October 17, 1916, Albert M. Gloyd filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles, California, his petition for divorce from said Maiette S. Gloyd, and, on February 27, 1918, aninterlocutory decree was entered, which recites "that the plaintiff is entitled to a divorce from the defendant, and that when one year shall have expired, after the entry of this interlocutory judgment, a final judgment and decree shall be entered granting a divorce herein, wherein and whereby the bonds of matrimony heretofore existing between the said plaintiff and the said defendant shall be dissolved," etc. As heretofore state, testator died April 4, 1918, less than one year from the date of said interlocutory decree.
On December 2, 1918, about six months after the probate of said will in California, and about two months before the probate of same in Missouri, Maiette S. Gloyd brought suit by a bill in equity, in the United States District Court for the Western Division of Western District of Missouri, at Kansas City aforesaid, against all the trustees, and beneficiaries under the California will, and Flemmon E. Gloyd, as surviving partner. The above bill alleged, in substance, that F.E. Gloyd qualified as executor in Kansas City, as surviving partner, on April 24, 1918; that the partnership property was practically all located in Kansas City, Missouri; that decedent A.M. Gloyd's equal share of same was worth $800,000; that the amount claimed by complainant therein, respondent herein, was in value $400,000; *178 that it was subject to the Missouri law of descent and inheritance; that the Denver will, and her relinquishment of marital rights thereon, constituted a contract, irrevocable by later will; that she was his wife at the time of his death, andhis widow by death; that, in the alternative, if the Denver will was not such contract, then she was entitled to dower and marital rights therein under the laws of Missouri, and elected to take one-half her deceased husband's estate. Said bill concluded with a prayer, asking that the Denver will be adjudged binding and enforced, and that she be adjudged to have and be entitled to the benefits thereof; and in the alternative, if on proofs admitted, she be found not entitled thereto, that it be adjudged and decreed that she "as the widow of said Albert M. Gloyd, deceased, is entitled to all her rights of inheritance or dower under the law" and asked, that "she be decreed to be the owner of an undivided one-half interest" in the property of said decedent, and that her title be quieted, etc.
All of the defendants in said litigation, filed a joint answer on April 21, 1920, after the case had been commenced on March 20, 1920.
The foregoing bill and answer therein were read as evidence in this case.
The answer to Mrs. Gloyd's bill contained various defenses. It denied that there was any equity in said bill, and charged that it stated no cause of action within the jurisdiction of the court. It further alleged that there was a misjoinder of causes of action, in this, that plaintiff claimed 52% of the estate of Albert M. Gloyd under the Denver will and, in the alternative, claimed a half interest in the estate of said Gloyd under the laws of Missouri. The answer admitted some allegations of the bill, denied others, and set up various defenses tending to show that plaintiff therein had no cause of action and was not entitled to any interest in the estate of Albert M. Gloyd, except the $10 given her in the California will. The answer likewise pleaded the divorce proceeding, brought by Albert M. Gloyd in his lifetime *179 against said Maiette S. Gloyd, which culminated in an interlocutory decree for divorce, prior to the death of said Gloyd. It is further averred that Mrs. Gloyd, at the time of the death of said Albert M. Gloyd, was neither his wife, nor widow, and that, by reason thereof, she was not entitled to any interest in his estate, except as to the $10 aforesaid.
It appears from the abstract that the testimony in this case was closed on November 27, 1920. The amended answer alleged by plaintiff herein to have been filed in Mrs. Gloyd's case on December 2nd cannot, therefore, be considered as a part of the record herein, as the testimony had been closed before the filing of said amended answer.
The plaintiff and Albert M. Gloyd, at the date of the latter's death on April 4, 1918, owned, as co-partners, in Kansas City, Missouri, the following tracts of land:
1. An undivided two-thirds interest (the remaining undivided one-third interest being owned by Samuel M. Gloyd) in the East 110.5 feet of Lot 57, Swope's Addition, an addition to Kansas City, Missouri, herein called Tract One.
2. The North 39.42 feet of Lot 11 and all of Lots 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, Block 4, Vineyard's Addition, an addition to Kansas City, Missouri, herein called Tract Two.
3. All of Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and North 36 feet of Lot 8, Block 3, Vineyard's Addition, an addition to Kansas City, Missouri; also, the east half of vacated alley adjoining Lots 7 and 8, herein called Tract Three.
4. All of Lots 485 and 486, Block 36, McGee's Addition, an addition to Kansas City, Missouri, except portion taken for alley and widening of Main Street, herein called Tract Four.
5. An undivided one-third interest (the remaining undivided two-thirds interest being owned by Samuel M. Gloyd) in all of Lots 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 37, Union Station Addition, an addition to Kansas City, Missouri, herein called Tract Five. *180
At the time of the death of Albert M. Gloyd the co-partnership aforesaid was indebted as follows:
Mortgage indebtedness dated April 29, 1910, on Tract One — Gloyd Building ................................. $ 66,666.65 (The indebtedness on said property, for all of which the partnership estate was liable, was one-third greater than the amount stated, Samuel M. Gloyd being the owner of a third interest, is liable for the other third of the indebtedness.) Mortgage indebtedness dated January 3, 1916, on Tract Two — Montgomery Ward Building ................. $140,000.00 Unsecured indebtedness consisting of short time partnership notes. book accounts and taxes and special assessments for 1918, in the aggregate amount of ................. 77,807.36 ___________ Total ....................................... $284,474.01
Plaintiff as surviving partner of the Gloyd Lumber Company, on being confronted with the foregoing indebtedness, a part of which was due and soon to become due, realized that in order to sell and pass a good title to said real estate, without sacrifice, it would be necessary to have a decree in chancery, with all the parties in interest before the court, authorizing the sale of same. He accordingly filed the original bill herein, and the amended petition upon which this cause was tried. The latter, in substance, alleges, that on April 4, 1918, and prior thereto, plaintiff was a member of the Gloyd Lumber Company, a co-partnership consisting of himself and Albert M. Gloyd, each being an equal partner therein; that said co-partnership owned the five tracts of real estate aforesaid, describing same; that Albert M. Gloyd died testate, while a resident of California on April 4, *181 1918; that said co-partnership was thus terminated, and plaintiff, as surviving partner, took charge of said estate under the laws of Missouri. He then set out the terms and provisions of the California will, executed by said Albert M. Gloyd as heretofore stated, and named the beneficiaries therein. It is alleged that on January 29, 1919, plaintiff was appointed by the Probate Court of Jackson County, Missouri, executor of the estate of said Albert M. Gloyd, qualified and acted as such until May 12, 1920, when he surrendered his letters as executor, and the probate court of said county appointed George H. English administrator de bonis non etc. It is alleged, that Maiette S. Gloyd claims to be the widow of said Albert M. Gloyd, deceased; that she also claims that Albert M. Gloyd, on August 26, 1915, by an instrument alleged by her to be partly testamentary and partly contractual, agreed to and did give, devise and bequeath unto her, a certain portion of his property, and 52% of the remainder of his estate; that she claims, by virtue of the foregoing, and by virtue of being his widow, to have an interest in the residue of the co-partnership estate of the Gloyd Lumber Company, passing to the estate of Albert M. Gloyd, upon final distribution. The petition, with particularity, further sets out the indebtedness, the nature of same, and alleges that the total cash assets of the co-partnership estate did not exceed $17,000. It is further averred that the duty devolved on plaintiff, as promptly as practicable, to sell the entire co-partnership assets and estate, and to reduce the same to cash, in order that he might perform his duties as such surviving partner, make his final settlement as such, and close the administration of such estate, etc. It is further averred that, in order to raise money to pay the partnership debts, prevent foreclosure of the mortgages aforesaid and to avoid loss to all others who may be entitled to an interest in the residue of the partnership estate on final settlement, plaintiff has endeavored to sell portions of said property, but was unable to do so, by reason of his inability to pass a good title *182 under deeds made by himself as surviving partner. He further alleges that the immediate object of this suit is the establishment and enforcement of said lawful rights in favor of plaintiff as surviving partner, and against said defendants, and each of them, in their individual and representative capacities, and against all claims under or through them or any of them. It is alleged that plaintiff has no adequate remedy at law, and in order to prevent a mutiplicity of suits, legal and equitable, and to enhance the vendibility of said property, so as to secure and protect the greatest value to all claiming any interest in the residue of the partnership property, to prevent waste and loss, etc., plaintiff seeks aid of this court in equity, and prays: (a) That a decree shall be entered directing, upon such terms as the court may deem best, the sale of all said partnership property composed of the five tracts of real estate heretofore mentioned, in such manner that, under the sale thus made, there shall pass to the purchaser all the right, title, interest and estate, legal and equitable, of all persons having, or claiming to have, any interest or estate of any kind or character therein; (b) confirming in the purchaser of said real estate full and complete title in fee simple, free from all claims of every kind of the parties hereto, in whatever capacity, and of all persons claiming under or through them, and (c) directing that all the proceeds of said sale, shall pass to plaintiff, to be held and administered by him, as sole surviving partner of said partnership, under and in accordance with the laws of this State, and for such other relief as may be proper.
Defendant, Maiette S. Gloyd, filed an answer to the amended petition herein and set up substantially the same facts alleged in her bill in equity, filed in the Federal court supra, and, in addition thereto, made certain admissions and other averments which will be referred to hereafter. In said answer, after pleading the pendency of her bill in equity aforesaid, she alleged that, in so far as the present cause of the plaintiff herein seeks *183 to sell any of the real estate belonging to said partnership over and above the amount necessary to pay just debts of said partnership, or seeks to distribute her rights in the surplus real property, such effort invades and tends to override the jurisdiction of the Federal court in the premises, and this court has no jurisdiction, in respect to said matter; that plaintiff and the other defendants in this cause are, in said Federal court action, denying and contesting her claims and assertions of an interest in the real property aforesaid, and deny that she has any interest in the estate of said Albert M. Gloyd. It is further averred in said answer that Samuel M. Gloyd and Walter B. Taylor are not trustees for her or of any property claimed by her, as she claims an interest independent of the California will under which they are acting. It is alleged that she brought the suit in the Federal court aforesaid, in order to have her rights determined in respect to said property, and that this court had no jurisdiction to proceed any further than to permit plaintiff, as surviving partner, to sell such small portion in the partnership in Missouri, as may be necessary to pay said partnership debts as may be unpaid at the date of such sale and otherwise unprovided for. Among other things the answer further alleges that, in the event, for payment of partnership debts, the court determines that it is necessary to sell any of said real estate over her protest, that in no event shall the same be sold other than by a commissioner appointed by the circuit court for such purposes, and as a judicial sale, in order that the proceeds of such sale, of said real estate, shall be in the hands and treasury of this court for proper distribution on final determination of said Federal court suit, and of this defendant's rights and interest therein, and that such proceeds be not subject to any attempt at distribution by plaintiff. She further asks in said answer that her rights be protected in the event a sale be made of said real estate not ordered to pay partnership debts, by holding such proceeds in the treasury of this court until her rights in and to said real *184 property shall have been finally determined and adjudicated in said Federal court action.
Samuel M. Gloyd, Walter B. Taylor and Wm. B. Gloyd filed a joint answer herein practically admitting the allegation of plaintiff's petition, except as to some matters not necessary to set out. Defendant George H. English, as administrator de bonisnon etc., also filed an answer similar to that filed by the other defendants supra; except Mrs. Gloyd.
The plaintiff herein filed a reply to the answer of Mrs. Gloyd and put in issue new matters pleaded in said answer.
On July 20, 1920, the court, after hearing the evidence in this cause, took the same under advisement until August, 31, 1920, at which time it entered an interlocutory decree herein, setting out the facts on which it was based and the necessity for entering said decree. As a part thereof, it appointed Clement A. Lawler as special commissioner, to sell all five of the tracts of real estate heretofore mentioned, and in said decree set out in detail the duties devolving upon said commissioner in making said sale. Among other things, said interlocutory decree contains the following:
"The court hereby expressly reserves jurisdiction to approve and confirm or reject any report hereafter made by the commissioner of acts and things done under or pursuant to this decree and to make and enter such further orders, judgments and decrees in the premises as to the court may seem just and proper."
It appears from the record that all the parties in interest, were satisfied with the interlocutory decree, except Mrs. Gloyd, who, on August 31, 1920, filed motions for a new trial and in arrest of judgment. On September 21, 1920, her motions for a new trial and in arrest of judgment were overruled and, on September 24, 1920, she applied for an appeal to this court, which application was overruled.
On October 22, 1920, Mrs. Gloyd filed in the Supreme Court an application for a writ of prohibition to prevent *185 the Circuit Judge from entering said interlocutory decree. This application was overruled by the Supreme Court. Thereupon Special Commissioner Lawler made a full and detailed report of his proceedings aforesaid, which culminated in the sale of all five of said tracts of said real estate, to the Gloyd Realty Company, for $700,000.
On November 3, 1920, Mrs. Gloyd filed a motion to set aside said sale. The plaintiff and Gloyd Realty Company filed motions requesting the court to confirm said sale. The motion filed by plaintiff, reads as follows:
"Now comes plaintiff and moves the court to confirm the sale heretofore by the special commissioner made on October 29, 1920, to Gloyd Realty Company and to confirm said report heretofore filed herein and to take such further action as to the court may seem proper and best."
After the trial court made known to the parties in interest the nature of the final judgment proposed to be entered, all the parties in interest, except Mrs. Gloyd, withdrew their request for a confirmation of the report of sale under the final decree. Mrs. Gloyd, upon being informed as to the proposed final decree, withdrew, with the consent of the court, her motion to set aside the sale, heretofore filed.
The final judgment was entered in this cause on March 7, 1921, motions for a new trial, etc., were filed by the defendants, except Mrs. Gloyd, which were overruled and the cause duly appealed by all the parties to this court, except Mrs. Gloyd.
In the brief filed by plaintiff, at pages 31-2-3 and 4, the following appears:
"Those portions of the decree of which the appellants, and each of them, complain as erroneous and prejudicial, are as follows:
"1. The allowance of $10,000 to the special commissioner as compensation for his services, and the decree that he shall pay to himself that sum. *186
"2. To all those paragraphs and portions of the decree which read as follows:
"`(g2) To Flemmon E. Gloyd as surviving partner the sum of $20,000 as a fund now by this court found and deemed from the evidence to be sufficient to cover and supply any lack of other moneys, and funds in his hands to pay any balance of partnership debts and obligations, legal or equitable, and costs of administration of the Gloyd Lumber Company, any part of this sum not necessary for such purpose to be taken and considered as part of the realty sold which it represents in part as between the plaintiffs and defendants in this action.
"`(g3) To the receiver hereinafter named and appointed the sum of $20,000 to be by him held subject to the further order of the court in this cause for the contingent purpose of supplying and providing for any possible deficiency in funds to pay partnership debts or obligations in event the amount herein above ordered to be paid the administering surviving partner should prove insufficient; and this to be paid to him for such purpose upon proper and sufficient application and showing of necessity therefor as the same may, if it does, from time to time arise and so further to be held and disposed of by the receiver as this court may order.
"`(h) To Flemmon E. Gloyd, surviving partner, a sum equal to one-half of the balance of the money remaining on hand, received by the special commissioner under said bid on account of the purchase price of the said property, after the payments heretofore directed have been made.
"`(i) Out of the balance, being one-half of the remainder of the proceeds of said sale after paying the amount stated in subdivisions (A) to (G), inclusive, the court reserves the sum of seventy-five hundred dollars to cover all future costs and expenses that may be incurred in this proceeding, said sum to be paid to the receiver of this court hereinafter designated.
"`(j) Of the balance remaining after having paid and reserved the amounts hereinbefore stated, being one-half *187 of said sum received from the sale of said real estate, after the payment of the amounts set forth in subdivisions (A) to (G) inclusive, and after reserving from same the sum of seventy-five hundred dollars, forty-eight per cent of said sum shall be paid by the commissioner to said Flemmon E. Gloyd, as surviving partner for the reason that his claim thereto as such is not disputed by and its assertion is joined in by the defendant trustees under the will of A.M. Gloyd, deceased, and by George H. English, administrator de bonis non with will annexed of the estate of A.M. Gloyd, deceased, and the other fifty-two per cent of said sum shall be paid by the commissioner to the receiver hereinafter now appointed by the court to receive, hold and disburse said fund under the direction of this court.
"`It is therefore further ordered, adjudged and decreed by the court that Mord M. Bogie, Esq., be appointed receiver of this court to receive, hold and disburse under the direction of this court the three certain sums of money set out and referred to in paragraphs (g3), (i) and the latter part of (j). Bond with sufficient sureties in the sum of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, to be approved by the court, shall be given by said receiver, the reasonable cost thereof if made by a surety company, to be paid out of the funds herein directed to be turned over to him, as part of the expenses of the receivership, and it shall be the duty, and it is so ordered, that said Commissioner Clement A. Lawler, deliver to the said receiver heretofore named the sum mentioned in paragraph (g), to-wit $20,000, the said sum of seventy five hundred dollars, as more fully set out in foregoing paragraph (i), and the further sum of fifty-two per cent of the balance of said money remaining in the hands of said commissioner after making the payment set forth in paragraphs (A) to (I), inclusive, and more fully described in paragraph (j). An said Commissioner Clement A. Lawler, shall make said transfer of said fund hereinbefore set forth to said receiver within five days from the date said receiver qualifies.'" *188
I. It is conceded by counsel herein that,Final Decree: since the trial below, a settlement has beenValidity Determined made with respondent Maiette S. Gloyd, andas of that she has no further interest in theits Date. subject-matter of this litigation.
In passing upon the validity of the interlocutory decree of divorce in the case of Albert M. Gloyd v. Maiette S. Gloyd, referred to in the pleadings and evidence, the Supreme Court of California, in the prohibition case of Maiette S. Gloyd v. Superior Court of Los Angeles, California, in 185 Pac. l.c. 996, said:
"That relation and status having been dissolved by death, the petitioner, Maiette S. Gloyd, forthwith became the surviving wife of Albert M. Gloyd, with the vested right to be recognized as his widow and with such further vested rights of property as may result from the fact that she was his wife at the time of his death."
In passing upon the validity of the final judgment rendered in this case, we must do so upon the theory that respondent Maiette S. Gloyd, when said decree was rendered, was a party to this litigation, and in court asserting her legal rights.
II. Appellants in their assignment of errors, contend, that the trial court erred in that part of the final decree, which reads as follows:
"That Clement A. Lawler, Special Commissioner, herein, be and he is hereby allowed the sum of tenSpecial Commissioner: thousand dollars as compensation to him inAllowance full for all services heretofore renderedReasonable. and to be by him hereafter rendered as such special commissioner."
In a brief filed by appellants in this court on January 23, 1922, we find the following:
"We contended at that time that the allowance to the commissioner ought not to exceed $5,000, as a fair compensation for his services, and that, with the utmost liberality in dealing with other people's money, it ought not to be in excess of $7,500." *189
Counsel for appellants in their reply brief admit that "no fault is found with the manner in which the special commissioner performed his duties," etc.
After reading the record and numerous briefs in this case, we are of the opinion that the above allowance to the special commissioner was not unreasonable, and that no error was committed in the allowance of same.
III. The final judgment rendered herein is assailed by appellants, on the ground that the trial court acted without jurisdiction in appointing a receiver, and impounding a part of the proceeds of the sale of said partnership property, to be held in custodia legis, until the rights ofFinal Decree: respondent Maiette S. Gloyd could beReceiver: Jurisdiction. determined in the Federal court, under her bill in equity filed in 1918, before the commencement of this litigation.
The facts have heretofore been very fully stated, and will only be referred to again in a general way. For the purposes of the case, without stopping to consider the matter, it may be conceded that the widow of a partner has dower or a child's part only, in what remains, after the payment of the partnership debts, and the adjustment of the claims of the partners. In this case, it is manifest upon the face of the record that the assets of the Gloyd Lumber Company, over and above all indebtedness, will be in excess of the sum of $300,000. The share of Albert M. Gloyd would amount to $150,000 or more. With matters standing in this shape, appellants denied that respondent Maiette S. Gloyd was the wife and widow of Albert M. Gloyd at the time of his death. They contended that she had no interest in his estate, except to the extent of the $10 given her in the California will which she rejected.
On December 2, 1918, Mrs. Maiette S. Gloyd lived in Wyoming and, on the above date, filed a bill in equity in the Federal court at Kansas City, Missouri, against these appellants, to have said court construe the Denver will aforesaid, and if it was found to be invalid, to declare that she was entitled to one-half of the Missouri real estate *190
aforesaid as the widow of said Albert M. Gloyd, etc. The proceedings in the Federal court were authorized by the laws of this State. [First Baptist Church v. Robberson,
Notwithstanding the pendency of the equitable proceeding in the Federal court, where this plaintiff had answered as a defendant, on March 20, 1920, he commenced the present action, to obtain a decree to sell the Missouri lands aforesaid. Mrs. Gloyd answered in this case, set up the pendency of the proceedings in the Federal court, and asserted that the trial court herein had no right to sell any of said property, except for the payment of the partnership debts, until the determination of her rights in the Federal court.
As a matter of comity, it was the duty of the trial court to have complied with her request, and simply ordered the sale at that time of enough of said land to pay the partnership debts. [State ex rel. v. Williams, 221 Mo. l.c. 254; State ex rel. v. Stone, 269 Mo. l.c. 345-6, 190 S.W. 601; Reed v. Railroad, 277 Mo. l.c. 84 and following; Covell v. Heyman,
Mrs. Gloyd in her answer also asked the court, in case the balance of said real estate was ordered sold, *191 to sell the same through a commissioner, and to protect her rights, by holding the proceeds in the treasury of the court until her rights were determined in the Federal court action.
As shown in the preceding statement the trial court appointed a receiver, in order to protect Mrs. Gloyd's interest, until her rights were determined in the Federal court. After Mrs. Gloyd's rights had been thus protected, she withdrew her objections to the interlocutory decree aforesaid, acquiesced in the final decree as rendered herein, and did not appeal therefrom. On the other hand, appellants appealed from the final decree, on the ground that the same was unauthorized, and that the trial court had no jurisdiction to enter same. If the trial court had the power to enter said decree, its action in so doing ought to be sustained. On the other hand, if the property had been sold under the terms of the decree without protecting the interests of Mrs. Gloyd as aforesaid, and she had appealed from said judgment to this court, we would undoubtedly have reversed and remanded the cause, as we did in the case of State ex rel. v. Stone, 269 Mo. l.c. 345-6, and for the same reason.
IV. This brings us face to face with the proposition, as to whether the trial court had jurisdiction and the power to render the decree complained of by appellants herein.
This was not a statutory proceeding, where the rights of the chancellor were circumscribed by the provisions of the law under which he was proposing to act, but on the contrary, it was an application to a court of chancery to act in the exercise of its inherent and common law rights. The circuit court had jurisdiction over this class of subjects. It hadJurisdiction: jurisdiction over the subject-matter of thisPreservation litigation, and had before it all the parties inof Fund: interest. It was called upon, to enter a decree,Receiver. after a hearing, for the purpose of passing the title to real estate of the value of $700,000. In the exercise of this power, it was the duty of the court, to have due regard *192 for the proceedings already commenced in the Federal court, to determine what rights, if any, Mrs. Gloyd had in respect to said land. If the Federal court found she had no interest therein, these appellants would have sustained no injury, and would have been entitled to the property of Albert M. Gloyd, deceased. If, on the other hand, the Federal court, after a hearing, had held that Mrs. Gloyd was entitled to one-half the estate of Albert M. Gloyd, after the debts of the partnership had been paid, and the claims as between the co-partners adjusted, she would have had the right to call upon the trial court in this case to see that the proceeds due her were secured by bond or otherwise before the entire proceeds of the sale were turned over to the surviving partner.
In other words, the decree as rendered, did not undertake to deprive appellants of any legal rights which they might ultimately have in the distribution of the proceeds of said sale, but held these rights in abeyance, until Mrs. Gloyd's status could be determined by the Federal court, which then had exclusive jurisdiction over this subject.
We do not find anything in the authorities cited which would warrant us in holding that the final judgment rendered in this case, on the facts as they then existed, was improper. On the contrary, it is well supported, on principle at least, by many well considered authorities in this State, some of which are as follows: Rozier v. Griffith,
The broad doctrine of this court, in respect to above matter, is very clearly and forcefully stated by SHERWOOD, J., in Real Estate Saving Inst. v. Collonious, 63 Mo. l.c. 295, as follows:
"The court had the subject-matter of the suit within its grasp; had jurisdiction of that and likewise of the parties; and the doctrine is too well settled to admit of either discussion or dispute, that when a court of equity once acquires jurisdiction of a cause it will not relax its grasp upon the res until it shall have avoided a multiplicity of suits by doing full, adequate and complete justice between the parties."
It is unnecessary to extend this discussion further. We are of the opinion that the final decree rendered by the trial court on the facts then before it, was proper, and that the allowance in behalf of the special commissioner should be sustained. As heretofore stated, appellants have, since the trial below, settled with respondent Maiette S. Gloyd, and she no longer has any interest in the result of this litigation. In view of this situation, there is no further necessity for a receiver, as all the proceeds of the sale, after deducting the special commissioner's compensation, and other costs and expenses incurred herein, should be turned over to the plaintiff as surviving partner of the Gloyd Lumber Compaany.
In order, therefore, that the trial court may modify its record, in accordance with the foregoing, and to enable it to make all necessary entries to perfect the purchaser's title, etc., we remand the cause for such further proceedings as may be deemed necessary and proper in the circuit court. White andReeves, CC., concur.
Addendum
The foregoing opinion of RAILEY, C., is hereby adopted as the opinion of the court. All of the judges concur. *194
