12 W. Va. 427 | W. Va. | 1878
delivered the opinion of the Court:
In April, 1867, Christopher Hoke brought suit on the chancery side of the circuit court of Greenbrier county, against Eli Rogers and his wile and others. Afterwards, at the June rules, 1867, of said court, the plaintiff filed his bill in said cause, in which he alleges substantially, that on the — day of May, 1863, Christopher Hoke, Sr. died, he having first made and published' his last will, which was proven at the May term, 1863, thereof, under Confederate rule, and was also proven at April term, 1866, of the circuit court of Monroe county; that by said will, plaintiff and one Royal Fleshman' were appointed executors; that at the time of the death of said Hoke, he and his appointed executors lived in the counties of Greenbrier and Monroe, and within the lines and jurisdiction of the government in fact, called the Confederate States; and that the Virginia government at
Plaintiff further alleges, that he had been raised and all his life lived in the counties of Monroe and Green-brier, and never knew any government, except that at Richmond, to exercise local jurisdiction over those counties, and he verily supposed the Richmond authorities the rightful ones, and therefore went into the county court of Monroe county, at its May term, 1863, and proved the will of said Hoke, and gave security, and took out letters testamentary. That at the June term, 1863, of said county court the other executor, Royal Fleshman, appeared, took the oath and qualified as executor ; that under said authority said Fleshman and plaintiff, advertised and sold the personal property, and took bonds for the same, amounting to the sum of $-, as the sale bill will show; that there were some negroes left by the decedent, supposed tobe slaves; these were nominally sold. Two of them were knocked off to plaintiff at $ — -, and plaintiff supported them, until it was finally recognized, that they were free, when they left plaintiff; that some or all the lands, directed by the will to be sold, were sold, and the parties have in some instances, refused to carry out the sales, on the ground that the sale having been made under letters granted to plaintiff and Fleshman in a Confederate court, the sale is not binding; that at the sales, made of the personal property the terms of the sale were twelve months’ credit on all sums over $20.00; and $20.00 and under were to be paid in money; and Confederate money was the only currency and money then in- vogue, consequently a considerable sum was actually taken in Confederate money; that this Confederate money with other that was received andón hand, was funded by virtue of the law of Virginia, and of the Confederate States, then and here supposed to be the law in force, and some of this Confederate money re
A difficulty has grown out of the 10th clause of the will. The legatees contend that the three surviving brothers take the residuum, whilst others of the children contend that Anderson B. Hoke’s part lapsed and must be distributed to all the children. Again in the 5th clause of the will there is a devise to Christopher Hoke and Anderson B. Hoke, and the said Anderson having died before his father, plaintiff is advised, that he took all the property in that clause mentioned, whilst others contend, that Anderson’s part lapsed and passed under the residuary clause. That under the 9th clause of the will plaintiff, Henry Hoke and John M. Hoke, agreed,
The last will and testament of Christopher Hoke, deceased, appears by an official copy thereof, filed with plaintiff’s bill, and is as follows, viz :
“ I, Christopher Hoke, of the county of Monroe and State of Virginia, being of sound and disposing memory, do make and constitute, and ordain this my last will and testament, in manner and form following, to-wit:
“ Item I. I will and devise that my executors hereinafter mentioned, do first pay my funeral expenses — any debts that I may owe.
“ Item II. I will and bequeath unto my wife, Nancy Hoke, during her natural life, all that portion of my home plantation, being the same on which I now reside, lying and being on the southeast side of the great road leading from Rocky Point in the said county to my mills, to manage and dispose of as she may deem best for her interest with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging ; but my said wife Nancy is not to waste or destroy, or have it done, any timber on the said premises, not however hereby imposing any restraint upon her with regard to her using any timber, that may be necessary for firewood and for keeping said premises in re-.*441 pair. I also give and bequeath unto her, my said wife, two good horses, four milch cows, one good, large two-horse plow, two pair of horse gears, one large harrow, ten head of sheep, ten head oí hogs, three feather beds, and three bedsteads, and necessary bedding for the same; my eight-day clock, and as much of my household and kitchen furniture, as she may think necessary for her comfort and convenience, and my two-horse wagon.
“ Item III. I will and bequeath unto my son Henry Hoke, my plantation lying and being in the county of Monroe, adjoining the lands of Samuel Gurgun, Jacob Fleeke and others, which is said to contain one hundred and eighty acres, be the same more or less,- with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging, to him and his heirs forever.
“Item IV. I will and bequeath unto my two grandsons, Westly Hoke and Albert Hoke, sons of my son Henry, Hoke, my tract of land lying and being in the county of Monroe, on Gwinn’s mountain, estimated to contain two hundred acres, be the same more or less, adjoining the above named tract bequeathed to my son, Henry Hoke, to them and their heirs forever, upon condition that they, the said Westly Hoke and Albert Hoke pay to Sarah A. Hoke the sum of $50.00; to Lucinda Hoke the sum of $25.00; and to Henrietta Hoke the sum of $25-00; which sums are to be paid them at the decease of Henry Hoke, their father. And I further direct that my son, Henry Hoke, have the management and control of said plantation during his life-time. Should either the said Westly or Albert Hoke desire to sell his interest, he is to give the other brother refusal of the same at a fair valuation.
“Item V. I will and bequeath unto my two sons, Christopher Hoke and Anderson It. Hoke, jointly, my mill-tract of land, estimated to contain about four hundred acres, be the same more or less; the John Peters tract, estimated to contain two hundred and forty acres, be the same more or less, lying and being partly in Monroe and*442 partly in Greenbrier counties and adjoins tl’.e above named mill-tract, James M. Nickell and Win. T. Mann; and my Beem tract of land, lying and being in the county of Greenbrier, adjoining the lands of Robert More-liead, Wm. T. Mann and others, and is said to contain eighty-four acres, be the same more or less, with all and singular the appurtenances belonging to the said tracts of land (mills, grist and saw included), to them and their heirs forever. And I farther direct that the said Christopher Hoke and Anderson R. Hoke pay to my son, John M. Hoke, the sum of $1,000.00, to be paid in five annual equal installments; and that they also pay unto my son, Henry Hoke, the sum of $300.00, to be paid in two annual equal installments.
“Item VI. I will and bequeath to my son, John M. Hoke, my tract of land called the Murdock tract, said to contain fifty-nine acres, be the same more or less lying and being in the county of Monroe, adjoining the lands of James Dunsmore and Addison Perry; my tract of land containing eleven acres adjoining the land of Addison Perry, and known by the name of the Erskine tract; and my tract of land containing one hundred and sixty acres, be the same more or less, and adjoining the lands of Addison Perry and others, and is known by the name of the Malcom tract, with all the appurtenances belonging to the said tracts of land, to him and his heirs forever.
“ Item,, VII. I will and devise, that my executors, or either of them, sell at public sale my tract of land in the county of Monroe, adjoining the lands of H. Hol-sapple, Alex. Jackson and others, commonly known as the Hoke place, and is supposed to contain one hundred acres; a tract of land on the Rich Mountain, containing two hundred and forty acres, lying in Monroe county ; and the tract of land commonly known as the Lake place and is adjoining the lands of Robt. Campbell, James Nickell and others, and is said to contain one hundred and fifteen acres. I further direct that the said tracts of*443 land above named be sold on a credit of six, twelve and eighteen months, and out of the proceeds of tbe sale thereof, pay to my daughter Sarah Vincent the sum of $500.00; to my daughter Mary Nickell the sum of $500.00; to my daughter Charlotte Rogers the sum of $500.00; and to my daughter Elizabeth Eleshman the sum of $500.00; and to my daughter Susan Hoke, the wife of Henry Hoke, the sum of $500.00. And I further direct that my executors also pay out of the proceeds of said sale $50.00 each to Washington Lemons, Delila Hawkins, Malinda Lemons and Virginia Lemons, my grand-children 'and children of my daughter, Adeline Lemons; and should there be any residue of the said proceeds of the sale of said lands, after paying the legacies directed in this 7th item of this my will, then I direct the same to be divided equally between my sons Christopher Hoke, Anderson Hoke, Henry Hoke and John M. Hóke.
“Item VIH. I will and direct that my house and two lots in the town of Covington and fifty-one acres of land lying and being in the county of Monroe, adjoining the lands of James Dunsmore, be sold by my executor as soon as convenient after my decease, for the best price that can be obtained for it. And I further direct that the said tract of land be purchased by some'member of my family, and that the proceeds of the sale thereof be divided equally between my four sons above named.
“Item IX. I will and direct that the plantation willed to my wife Nancy Hoke in the second item of this my will, be taken by some one of my four sons above named at the decease of her, the said Nancy Hoke, at $30.00 per acre; and he, to whom the said land may fall, is to have reasonable time to pay for same, and that the proceeds of said sale of said land be divided equally between my four sons, Henry Hoke, Christopher Hoke, Anderson it. Hoke and John M. Hoke.
“Item X. It is my will and desire that after my death all my property of any kind, not hereinbefore mentioned*444 or disposed of, shall be sold by my executors, and the proceeds thereof together with any debts or money on hand, applied to the payment of my debts; and the residue of said proceeds, if any, alter haying been applied as above, be divided equally between my four sons» viz : Henry Hoke, Christopher Hoke, Anderson R. Hoke and John M.Hoke. And I further direct that if any of the legatees mentioned in this, my will, become dissatisfied and go to law concerning this will, he is to forfeit his whole interest in the same, which is to be divided equally amongst the other legatees. And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my son, Christopher Hoke, and Royal Flesh-men, executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and cancelling all other wills and testaments made by me. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal, this 28th day of August 1857.
“Christopher M Hoke, [Seal.] mark
“Signed, sealed and acknowledged as the last will and testament of Christopher Hoke, in the presence of us, this 28th day of August, 1857.
“ANDREW CAMPBELL,
“Isaac Campbell.”
The will by the certificates attached appears to have been admitted to record by the county court of Monroe, at the May term thereof, 1863, and by the circuit of same county on the 19th of April, 1866.
On the 22d day June, 1870, the plaintiff, by leave of the court filed an amended bill, in which he alleges substantially, that on the 27th day of June, 1863, plaintiff, Henry Hoke (son of the testator) and John M. Hoke, being the survivors of the four sons, to whom the farm in the 9th clause of testator’s will was devised, and which by the terms of the will was to be taken by one of the sons by lot, agreed that it should be held, that lots had been cast, and the lot had fallen on Henry Hoke, and he should convey to plaintiff and John M. Hoke each,
Plaintiff charges, that soon after said agreement was made, the parties took possession, each oí one-third of said home farm, and have used and enjoyed the same until the present time, and they are each responsible for the rent thereof; and plaintiff prays, that the said land be sold to pay the debts of the testator, and that the parties may be compelled to account for rents; or if the court should determine that the parties had the power to agree as the writing shows, and that the agreement, ought to be executed, then plaintiff prays that the parties may be compelled to execute the same, &c.
It further appears by the record, that on the 22d day of June, 1870, Henry Hoke, a son of the testator, having died, the cause by consent was revived against the administrator, widow and legal heirs, &c., of said Henry Hoke, deceased. A number of depositions were taken in the cause, but no answers appear to have been filed by any of the defendants, and several decrees were made in the cause prior to the 26th day of April, 1871, which I deem unnecessary to notice further at this time, and on the day and year last aforesaid, John M. Hoke and several other defendants, presented their petition to the court praying for a re-hearing of the cause; and on consideration whereof the court ordered, that said petition . be filed, and the prayer thereof, as to the re-hearing be granted, upon the petitioners, or some one of them, filing with the clerk of the court bond with good security in the penalty of $500.00, conditioned to pay all costs occasioned by a re-hearing of the cause, in case the order and decree theretofore rendered, should after such rehearing be affirmed.
By the same decree, to-wit-: the decree of the 16th of October, 1870, the cause again came on to be heard ; the court referred the cause to Alexander Walker to take, state and report, the following account, viz : “1. An account of the. administration of the estate of C. Hoke, Sr., deceased, by C. Hoke and Boyal FleshmaD, the executors, both while acting as such under the pretended authority of the county court of Monroe county, as well as C. Hoke since his qualification before the recorder of said county. 2. An account of the indebtedness of said estate at the time of the death of said C. Hoke, Sr., and which remains due and unpaid, stating the debts in the order of their priorities. The said commissioner shall report specially any matter deemed pertinent by himself, or which shall be required by any of the parties to this suit to be stated. The said commissioner, in settling the administration account above directed, shall charge the executors with the property embraced in the appraisement bill; and the value, as reappraised, shall be prima faoie evidence of its true value, with leave to any parties concerned to show that the same was not the true value of any particular piece thereof. He is further directed to make and state such administration account on such other basis, as any party may require. He is further directed to ascertain and report the fact respecting the slaves of said estate according to the requirements of the decree, pronounced at the April term, 1870, of this court,” &c.
From the said decree of the 16th of October, 1870,
On the 8th of May, 1873, Alexander Walker, the commissioner to whom this cause had been referred having died, by consent of parties James Withrow was appointed a special commissioner to take said account, in the room and stead of commissioner Walker, and report to court, as required of said Walker by the order of his said appointment.
Afterwards on the 14th of June, 1873, the parties appeared, by their counsel; and John M. Hoke tendered his answer, which was made a cross-bill; and the plaintiff objected to the filing of the same, and his objection was overruled, and the said answer made a cross-bill,
The answer and cross-bill of John M. Hoke is as follows, viz: “ The separate answer of John M. Hoke to a bill, filed in the circuit court of Greenbrier county, against him and others by Christopher Hoke, Jr., executor. &c. This respondent for answer to said bill says, that Nancy Hoke, the wife of the testator, C. Hoke, Sr., departed this life before the death of said C. Hoke, Sr.; that by the 6th clause of said C. Hoke’s will the testator devised to this respondent, three tracts of land: one of fifty-nine acres, called the ‘ Murdock tract,’ the second of eleven acres, known as the c Erskine tract,’ and the third of one hundred and sixty acres, known as the ‘ Malcom tract;’ that in the 8th clause of said will, the' testator devises fifty-one acres of land to be sold by his executors, and the proceeds divided equally between his four sons; that as a fact, respondent avers that, exclusive of the land devised to him as aforesaid, the testator had but thirty-five or forty acres of land adjoining James Dunsmore, being a tract known as the ‘ Tincher tract,’ and which was supposed to contain fifty-one acres, and which may embrace that number of acres by taking a part that lies across the public road, which respondent claims was originally, and is now a part of the said ‘ Tincher tract;’ but the executors have sold a part of the ‘ Malcom tract,’ and this respondent asks for an interpretation of the will, and claims that he should be allowed the proceeds arising from so much of the said fifty-one acres as was sold off his said ‘ Malcom tract,’ the same being about twelve acres, worth $50.00 per acre.
“ Respondent claims that Anderson R. Hoke having died in the life-time of the testator, the devises to him in the 5th. 8th, 9th and 10th clause of the will be*449 came void, and passed to Henry Hoke, Christopher Hoke and this respondent under the 10th clause, they being the residuary legatees in said clause; that Christopher Hoke, executor, has been in possession of all the property mentioned in said 5th clause ever since the death of the testator ; that he is accountable to the estate of Henry Hoke, deceased, and this respondent for one-third of the rents and profits of said property, which amount to at least $-per annum ; that he has íd no manner accounted for any part of said rents, and profits; that said C. Hoke, executor, has greatly damaged said property, and otherwise impaired its value, for all of which he is accountable to respondent and the estate of the said Henry Hoke, deceased; that the property mentioned in the 9th clause of the will was, by a written agreement, dated- June 27, 1863; divided between the said Henry Hoke, C. Hoke, Jr., and the respondent, as stated in plaintiff's bill; that each party took possession of the one-third assigned to him under said agreement, and has held the same as his own ever since ; that the personal estate which came into the hands of the executors of said estate was more than sufficient to pay off all the debts and legacies charged upon it. Respondent therefore prays, that if proper and necessary this answer may be taken and treated as a cross-bill; that all proper accounts may be directed, and the said will of C. Hoke construed; that C. Hoke, executor may be required as executor to account for all the- estate, rents and profits which did or should have come into his hands of said-estate ; that he may be required to account for the rents, profits and use of, and damages done to the one-third of the property mentioned in the 5th clause of the said will, and that such other,.further and general relief may be granted as shall be proper in this case,” &c.
The reply and’ganswer of C. Hoke to the answer and cross-bill of John M. Hoke is as follows, viz:
*450 “2he answer and reply of Christopher HoJce against John M. HoJce and others.
“He admits the death of Nancy Hoke as charged. This respondent, the plaintiff, denies that exclusive of the land devised to him as aforesaid, the testator had but thirty-five or forty acres of land, adjoining James Dunsmore, being a lot known as the ‘Tinche.r tract,’ which was supposed to contain fifty-one acres, which may embrace that number of acres taking a part that lies across the public road, which respondent claims was originally and is now a part of ‘Tincher tract.’ He denies that the executor or executors have sold a part of the ‘Malcom tract;’ and he denies that he, as executor, or otherwise had sold any land devised to the said John M. Hoke. He says by the 8th clause of his father’s will he directs that his fifty-one acres of land lying and being in the county of Monroe, adjoining the lands of James Dunsmore, be sold by his executors. This plaintiff says that he has sold the fifty-one acres directed by the will to be sold, and he has sold no more, nor has he sold any land willed or devised to John M. Hoke, and he flatly denies the charge that he has sold any part of the ‘ Malcom tract,’ or any tract belonging to John M. Hoke ; and he denies that John M. Hoke should be allowed the proceeds arising from so much of said fifty-one acres sold off his ‘ Malcom tract.’ He denies that there were twelve acres, or any part thereof, of the ‘Malcom tract ’ sold, and he denies that it was worth $50.00 per acre. This plaintiff denies that John M. Hoke has any manner of interest in the property, by the 5th clause of the will devised to Christopher Hoke and Anderson ft. Hoke jointly; Anderson ft. Hoke died during the lifetime of the testator, and this plaintiff, as survivor, took the whole estate. He denies that he is bound for the rent of said property to John M. Hoke, as the property belongs to affiant. He denies that John M. Hoke has any interest therein. He denies that the property is worth at least $-per annum. The*451 rent is worth nothing. To keep the mill in repair, as he has done, is worth more than the rent of the property. Besides, he has expended large sums in repairing said property, and if he does not own the property, he asks to be allowed for the repairs; and he denies that he had greatly, or otherwise, damaged said property. But he pleads and relies upon the fact that there is a suit in this honorable court already brought for the construction of the will, and for the one-half of the property devised to ‘ Christopher Hoke, Jr., and Anderson B,. Hoke jointly.5 It is the suit of Elizabeth Fleshman and others against this plaintiff, Christopher Hoke and others, in chancery, and that suit is pleaded and relied on as a bar to the remedy sought by the answer and cross-bill. As to the property mentioned in the 9 th clause of the testator’s will, this plaintiff says at the death of the testator, the country was involved in war; the currency was inflated; Confederate treasury notes were almost the only currency; it was not only exceedingly unpopular to refuse to take Confederate money — this inflated currency— but it was contended by many that Confederate treasury notes were lawful tender, and the parties, Henry Hoke, John M. Hoke and the plaintiff, were unwilling to sell the land mentioned in the 9th clause of the w'ill for the currency; and they feared if they sold it at all they would be compelled to take that sort of currency, and that sort of currency would not pay debts due from the testator. Under this state of affairs the parties agreed to divide said lands, and hold them as divided until the war should be over and the currency settled, and then if the testator’s debts could be paid without the sale of this land, the home place, the parties were to hold it according to the divisions. But the said plaintiff says that it was never intended to withdraw said land from the operation of the will and the debts of the testator, and he denies most positively that John M. Hoke ever claimed the part assigned to him as his own. He has held the same under and in subjection to*452 fe >'trusts of the will. This plaintiff denies flatly and positively that the estate that came to the hands of the executors was more than sufficient to pay off the debts and legacies charged upon it. He denies that it was anywise sufficient to pay them. It was greatly less than enough to pay them. And this plaintiff denies every allegation of the answer and cross-bill not hereinbefore admitted. On June 21, 1873, this order was entered in the cause : “ Robert F. Dennis and James W. Davis having reported that they have in their hands the sum of $1,262.95 collected on the sale of the fifty-one acres of land sold in this cause by the said Davis and Dennis,it is by consent, ordered, adjudged and decreed that the said Dennis and Davis do loan out said money on bond and approved security, payable in six months from date and bearing six per cent interest.” And on the day and year last aforesaid the court made this further decree by consent, viz: “Each party having excepted to the report of special commissioner James With-row, and the court not being advised and not determining any thing at this time as to said exceptions, it is by consent, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that this cause be again referred to James Withrow, commissioner of this court, to make an additional report and state the account between the plaintiff as executor of C. Hoke, deceased, and the legatees of said C. Hoke, deceased, and any other matters deemed pertinent by himself, or req uired by either party; and notice to the counsel shall be sufficient notice to all the parties.” At a circuit court held for Greenbrier county, on the 26th of Novembei’, 1873, Christopher Hoke, executor of C. Hoke, deceased, plaintiff v. Christopher Hoke’s heirs et al., defendants; and Henry Hoke and Virginia S., his wife et al., plaintiffs v. Christopher Hoke et al., defendants. In these causes at the date last aforesaid the court made and entered this decree, viz: “ These two causes came on this day to be heard together, by consent; the first upon the papers heretofore read, the report of commissioner James Wife*453 row, with the exceptions filed thereto by both the plaintiff and defendants,, the facts agreed which are filed with the papers and marked X. Y., the depositions of witnesses with the exceptions thereto by both parties; and the second, upon the bill, process duly executed upon the home defendants, and order of publication against the absent defendants, the answer and amended answer of Christopher Hoke, with replication thereto, the bill taken for confessed as to the other defendants who have failed to appear and answer, and upon the argument of counsel. On consideration whereof, and the court being of opinion that the matters complained of in said second cause are all involved in said first cause, and that there was no necessity or excuse for instituting said second cause, it is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the bill be dismissed, and that the plaintiff therein pay the defendant, Christopher Hoke, his costs; and as to the matters submitted in the first of these suits, the court doth adjudge, order and decree, that by the death of Anderson E. Hoke, without children or descendants, in the life-time of the testator, the devise to him in the 5th clause of the will of C. Hoke, deceased, lapsed and did not pass to C. Hoke, Jr., as the surviving devisee, but that C. Hoke, Jr., took only one undivided half of the entire devise under said 5th clause, and the other half passed to tbe residuary legatees in the 10th clause of the will, except the part of Anderson E. Hoke, who was also named as one of the residuary legatees, which passed to the heirs general of the testator, including said residuary legatees as part of said heirs. And the court is further of opinion that the testator in the '8 th clause of said will, used the terms ‘ fifty-one acres of land, &c./ as descriptive of the tract' or parcel of land to be sold, and not as the designation of'the exact quantity of acres to be sold; and that it was not the intention of the testator if the said tract did not actually contain fifty-one acres, to make up the deficiency in quantity from the adjoining lands, which had been specifically devised to John M.*454 Hoke in the 6th clause of said will; but not having' before it sufficient evidence to determine with certainty that the fifty-one acres heretofore sold in this suit to Joseph Coffman, embrace, as said John M. Hoke claims, part of the lands devised to him in the said 6th clause, the court doth refer the matter to commissioner James Withrow, who is directed to ascertain and report what portion, if any, of the said fifty-one acres sold to Joseph Coffman as aforesaid, is included in the devise to John M. Iioke in the 6th clause of said will, the number of acres and value thereof, both in relation to the other part of said fifty-one acres sold to Coffman and to the remaining lands of the said John M. Hoke, and if said commissioner deems it necessary, or is required by either party, he is authorized to employ a surveyor to survey said land, and also to examine witnesses in relation thereto ; but he shall return with his report all the evidence before him upon this inquiry. Without passing seriatim upon the numerous exceptions of the plaintiff and defendants to 'the report of commissioner Withrow, the court being of opinion that said report should be recommitted, doth give the following instructions which will dispose of all the material questions raised by said exceptions.
“ 1st. Under the peculiar circumstances of this case, C. Hoke should not be charged with the slaves ; either as executor or as creditor, or legatee or purchaser; nor should any of the other legatees be charged with any slaves purchased by them of the estate.
“ 2d. The price of the one hundred and fifteen shocks of corn, which it is proven was paid in Confederate money, and in good faith funded by the executor, should be set-off against the certificate of the Confederate States for $1,400.00; and neither should be charged or credited.
“ 3d. It not appearing, that Royal Fleshman did anything as executor, except to act as such in the sale of the personal estate, and convert the same into money and bonds, which were all turned over to the co-executor, C.*455 Hoke, consequently, unless by said sale and conversion, be committed a devastavit in some way, he is not chargeable with any.
“ 4th. That in the construction of the will of the testator, and the settlement of the estate, it was right and proper for the executor, as he has done, to invoke the aid of this Court; and that being advised by judicious counsel, it was not improper for him to appeal the suit to the Supreme Court; the Court therefore holds that the executor should be allowed for reasonable attorneys’ fees paid by him in this suit, in addition to the taxed costs; and that in any other proper suits upon claims due the estate, the executor is entitled to an allowance for the fees of attorneys employed by him, together with reasonable compensation for any extra services rendered by the executor in attending to such suits, but that such allowance should be based upon an itemized account of actual expenses and charges for services rendered.
“ 5th. The commissioner properly refused to allow the executor credit for the judgment against John M. Hoke; the proof was insufficient; but in any instance, including this claim on John M. Hoke, when the executor can show that any claim due the testator’s estate is unavailable and uncollectable, and that in all matters relating thereto, he has exercised ordinary discretion and due diligence without avail, he should be entitled to a credit for the amount he has been charged with on account of such claim, with all the proper taxable costs incident to the same, but such costs should not be allowed until and unless he shows himself entitled to credit for the debt in the manner aforesaid.
“6th. The lands devised to pay legacies, should not, in the first instance, be charged to the executor, but should be kept separate and in the legatee account, subject however to be brought into the executorial account, if required to pay debts.
“7th. In regard to the building of the Crigler house, the mill-dam, powder-mill, repairing mill, &c., the court*456 concurs with the commissioner in his first statement, and holds that the same should be setoff against the rents of the mill accruing prior to the death of the testator, and that no balance should be allowed either way.
“ 8th. The commissioner properly set off the items paid by the executor from June, 1863, to June, 1864, with the Confederate money on hand at the death of the testator, and he also properly disallowed the taxes paid by the executors on the lands specifically devised; these taxes may however, be properly chargeable to the devisees of the lands upon which they were paid in the legatee accounts. In all respects wherein said reports of commissioner Withrow are not changed, modified and corrected in the foregoing directions, the same is approved ; and all exceptions thereto, by both the plaintiffs and defendants, inconsistent with said report so modified and corrected, are overruled, and so far as they are consistent therewith, are sustained.
“ And the court doth sustain so much of the defendants exceptions to the depositions of Christopher Hoke, as relates to conversations had personally with the testator, C. Hoke, deceased; and doth overrule the plaintiffs exceptions to the depositions of William Campbell, Philip Boyer, David S. Hern and others, taken before Alexander Walker, at his office in Lewisburg, on the 12th, 13th and 14th days of March, 1873. It is therefore adjudged, ordered and decreed, that said report be re-committed to James Withrow, with directions to re-state and modify the same upon the principles, and in the particulars hereinbefore indicated, and that he shall separately state the legatee accounts; that in taking said legatee accounts, he shall charge C. Hoke, Jr., with 26.72 of the rents and profits of the estate devised in the 5th clause of the will of C. Hoke, Sr., and such damages as he may have committed in regard thereto, since the death of said testator, subject to all proper credits against said rents, and profits, and damages, for taxes and permanent improvements, subsequent to the death of C. Hoke, Sr.; that the*457 parties shall be allowed to take further proof in order to support any charge or credit against or in favor of the estate of C. Hoke, whether heretofore reported or not; and in view of the likelihood of the necessity of an abatement from legacies for the payment of debts, he is directed to ascertain and report, as far as he can, the facts proper for making such abatements ratably, and report to court, together with any other matter he may deem pertinent, or any party in interest may require; and he shall convene the creditors according to law. And leave is given to re-take, before the commissioner, the testimony of any witnesses hereinbefore examined. But before taking said accounts, said commissioner shall give notice to the parties or their counsel.”
“ At a circuit court continued and held for Greenbrier county, at the court house thereof, on Saturday, Nov. 21, 1874, Christopher Hoke, executor, plaintiff, v. Christopher Hoke’s heirs et al.; defendants, and John Duns-more, administrator, et al. plaintiffs v. Christopher Hoke, et al., defendants. These causes came on this day to be heard together; the first upon the papers heretofore read therein, the amended bill against the defendants, E. J. Eleshman and others, with process duly executed on said defendants prior to the last term of this Court, the bill taken for confessed as to the adults, and the answer of the infant defendants by their guardian ad litem, with general replication thereto, upon the petition and exhibit of John McCarty the deposition of witnesses, affidavit of C. Hoke, which by consent is taken as a deposition, with exceptions to said deposition and affidavit, the report of commissioner James Withrow, dated April 10, 1874, with written exceptions filed thereto by both plaintiff and the heirs of C. Hoke, deceased, upon the report of commissioners Davis and Dennis, and upon the argument of the counsel. John Dunsmore, one of the plaintiffs, in the second of these causes, having departed this life intestate, and Samuel A. Clark, sheriff of Monroe county, having been ap*458 pointed, as his administrator, on motion of said administrator, this cause is revived in the name of said ' Clark, administrator. And the said second cause coming on to be heard upon the papers heretofore read therein; the petition and answer of Wm. McMann, who upon his petition is made a defendant in said cause; and upon thejpetition and answer of MatthewMann; the report of commissioner James Withrow, who by consent executed the order of reference committed to commissioner A. Walker, deceased, to which report there are no exceptions; and upon argument of counsel. On consideration whereof, it is adjudged, ordered and decreed that the plaintiff’s bill in the second of said causes be dismissed as to the tract of land containing one hundred and nineteen acres, situated on Second creek, which was conveyed to the said C. Hoke by John Moorehead, which is claimed by the defendant, Wm. McMann, in his answer, and that the title of the said McMann thereto be quieted. The court doth sustain the exception to the affidavit of C. Hoke, made on the 4th June, 1874, and doth overrule all exceptions taken to the depositions by either party; the court doth also overrule all exceptions filed by the plaintiff to the report of commissioner Withrow in the first of these causes, except the 11th and 17th, which are sustained. So much of the first exception filed by the defendants, C. Hoke’s heirs, to^said report as relates to vouchers Nos. 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82,183, 84 and 85, (see page 229 this report) and the debts they represent, on page 11 of said report, is sustained sub modo, with leave to the holders of said debts to take further proof in regard thereto as hereinafter provided, and the balance of said first exception, and also the defendants’ second and fourth exceptions are overruled, except so much of said second exception as relates to vouchers Nos. 112 and 113, on page six (6) of said report, (page 217 this record,) which is sustained, the court being of opinion that the executor must be charged with the debts represented by said vouchers*459 Nos. 112 and 113;' and the third exception of the defendant is sustained to the extent of disallowing $300.00, part of the item of $1,040.00, and said item is reduced to $740.00, and the rest of said third exception is overruled. The exceptions of John M. Hoke and Susan Hoke are each overruled, and in all other respects said report of commissioner Withrow, dated the 10th April, 1874, is approved and confirmed by the court. And it appearing from said report as hereinbefore modified and confirmed, that the plaintiff as executor of C. Hoke, deceased, is indebted to the estate of his testator in the sum of $2,569.23, that being the aggregate of principal and interest of the item of $1,048.87, on page 7 (see page 220 this record) and the two judgments of $993.34 and $293.47 on page 6 of said report as of the 1st day of June, 1874; that the defendant JohnM. Hoke is indebted to the said estate in the >sum of $1,157.93 being the aggregate principal and interest of the judgment of $993.34, on page 6 (page 217 this record) as of the 1st June, 1874; that the defendant, Henry Hoke, is indebted to the said estate, in the sum of $362.43, bring the aggregate principal and interest of the judgment of $293.47, as of June 1,1874; and that the plaintiff, C. Hoke in his own right is indebted to the other heirs of his testator for the use and occupation of26.72 of the mill property in the sum of $1,088.96 as of June 1, 1874, as shown on page 10 of said report, (page 227 of this record); that said estate is indebted to Samuel Price attorney, $260.00, and to James W. Davis, attorney, $740.00, as of June 1, 1874, which two last are preferred debts ; that said estate is indebted to plaintiff in his own right in the sum of $3,393.20 principal, and $121.59 interest, as of June 1, 1874; and said estate is also indebted to the other creditors, whose debts are reported in said report and not disallowed by this decree, in the sum shown in said report, with interest thereon, from June 1, 1874; it is therefore, adjudged, ordered and 'decreed, that James W. Davis and A. C. Snyder, who are- hereby made special receivers of the*460 court in these causes, after baying filed with the clerk of this c°urt, bond with good security, in the penalty of $10,000.00, conditioned according to law, do recover from the plaintiff as executor of C. Hoke, deceased de bonis propriis the sum of $2,569.23; from the plaintiff^ C. Hoke, in his own right the sum of $1,088.96 ; from the defendant, John M. Hoke the sum of $1,159.93, and from the defendant, Henry Hoke, the sum of $362.43, with interest on each of said sums from the 1st day of June, 1874, till paid; and they are allowed to sue out execution in their names as such receivers for each of said sums; but if they succeed in collecting the whole or any part of the said sums herein decreed against John M. and Henry Hoke, they shall credit the amount so collected to the plaintiff on said $2,569.23.
“And it appearing from the report of commissioners Davis and Dennis, filed in the first of these causes at this term, that there is in their hands to the credit of this suit $1,868.01, as of this date, of which $881.16 is due to the defendant, JohnM. Hoke, it is, therefore, further adjudged, ordered and decreed, that said commissioners Davis and Dennis, pay to the special receivers hereinbe-fore appointed the said sum of $1,868.01, and that said receivers out of said sum shall pay to John M. Hoke, the said sum of $881.16, with interest thereon from this date, and out of the balance thereof, and the said sum of $2,569.23, they shall pay the costs of this suit, and the debts hereinbefore decreed to Samuel Price and J. W. Davis, and after paying said costs and debts in full, they shall loan out any balance in their hands till the next term of this court, and that said receivers report their proceedings to this court at its next term.
“On consideration of the second of these causes, the court doth approve and confirm the report of commissioner James Withrow made therein, except as to the two first items of the account therein stated, to-wit: the one of $3,746.03, and the other, $430.00. These items being contingent, are reserved for the future action of the*461 court; and when these items, or the amounts properly chargeable in said items, are definitely ascertained, they are to be,¡paid in preference to all other debts against the defendant, C. Hoke, and they are not to lose their priority as fixed in said report, except that the costs of said second suit shall be first paid. And it being here admitted that the judgments reported in favor of John S. Johnson for, &c., have been fully paid, and that $90.00 were paid on the judgment in favor of Jacob Hufnagle, for, &c., on or about the 20th of October, 1874, it is ordered that said judgment in favor of Johnson for, &c., be disallowed, and that said judgment in favor of Hufnagle for, &c., be credited with $90.00 on the 20th day of October, 1874, and that with these exceptions, each and all other creditors in said report mentioned recover each severally against the defendant, O. Hoke, the respective debts, principal and interest aggregated as of June 15, 1873, reported in said report, with interest on said aggregate sums from the 15th day of June, 1873, till paid; the said sums to be paid in the order of priority shown by said report, except that judgments rendered at the same term shall be paid ratably, and that the plaintiffs and each of the petitioners in this second cause recover from the defendant, C. Hoke, their respective costs. It appearing from the reports and exhibits in these causes, that the lands mentioned and described in the fifth item of the will of C. Hoke, deceased, consisting of three tracts, and known as the mill-property, devised to Christopher and A. E. Hoke, are held in one equal and undivided interest by said C. Hoke and all the other heirs of the testator, and that the personal assets of the estate of said C. Hoke, deceased, will not be sufficient to pay the debts due from said estate, and that the creditors, whose debts have been reported and confirmed in the second of these causes, are entitled to a sale of so much of the real estate of the defendant, C. Hoke, in said second suit, as will pay their debts, and the devastavit of said C. Hoke, in the first of these suits, and the court*462 being of opinion that the mill-property should be ; first sold, it is therefore further adjudged, ordered and decreed, that J. W. Davis and A. C. Snyder, wbo are hereby appointed special commissioners for that purpose, unless said debts are paid within thirty days from this date, do sell said mill-property at public auction, in front of the Lewisburg hotel, in the town oí Lewisburg, upon a credit of six, twelve and eighteen months, except so much in cash as will pay the costs in the second of these suits, and the expenses of sale, which shall be cash, taking from the purchaser bond with good security for the purchase money, and the title to be retained until said bonds are paid. Before making said sale, said commissioners shall give notice of the time, terms and place of sale, by advertisement for four consecutive weeks in the Greenbrier Independent, published in this county. But before receiving any money under this decree, said commissioners shall execute and file with the clerk of this court, bond with good security, to be approved by him, in the penalty of $10,000.00, conditioned according to law. And they shall report their proceedings to this court at its next term.
“The modifications hereinbefore made in the reports of commissioner James Withrow, filed in these causes, renders a supplemental report necessary to final settlement of the matters involved in these causes, it is therefore ordered that said reports be recommitted to commissioner Withrow, with directions to re-state the accounts therein according to the principles and modifications set forth in this decree; that he take proof as to any debts against the estate of C. Hoke, deceased, which have not been confirmed and allowed in this decree, whether heretofore presented or not, but he shall allow no debt against-said estate until it is proven by competent testimony, and the creditor, his agent or attorney, shall have made and filed an affidavit that no part of the debt so proven has been paid, or is subject to any legal set-off; that he shall re-state the legatee account, and report any debts that*463 may be liens on tbe real estate of C. Hoke, Jr., not heretofore reported; that he shall ascertain and report was the value of the growing crop on the lands devised to John M. Hoke at the death of the testator, and shall report specially any matter deemed pertinent by himself, or required by any party to either of these suits. Before taking said accounts, he shall give written notice to the parties or their attorneys of the time and place of taking the same; and he shall report to this court at its next term.”
From the said decree of the 21st day of November, 1874, and all decrees rendered in this cause, prior to the date last aforesaid and subsequent to the 14th day of October, which were not made or entered by consent of C. Hoke, the said C. Hoke upon his petition with assignment of error obtained an appeal to this Court, and it is for this Court to determine whether there is error in said decrees, or any of them, for which they should be reversed.
The first error assigned by the appellant in his said petition, is as follows, viz :
“ By the 5th clause of the will of said Christopher Hoke, deceased, he gave to his two sons, Christopher Hoke, Jr., (your petitioner), and Anderson R. Hoke, certain lands therein described. During the life-time of the testator, the said A. R. Hoke departed this life without child or children, never having been married, and the question arose* upon the pleadings in the cause whether a moiety of that devise lapsed or passed to your petitioner as sole devisee living at the time of the death of the testator.
“ This was the rule at common law, and this rule, as your petitioner is adyised, has never been changed by the Legislature. The court below, however, held that by analogy to the other cases in which the Legislature had interfered, it would hold the devise to be lapsed and passed under the residuary clause of the will to the residuary devisees, and A. R. Hoke being one of these devisees, the testator as to his part died intestate.
*464 “ Your petitioner is advised and charges that this hold-ing is not sustained by the law.
The following facts are agreed in this cause, viz :
“1st. That Anderson R>. Hoke died a year or more before his father. C. Hoke, the testator.
“That Christopher Hoke and Anderson B>. Hoke, mentioned in the 5th clause of Christopher Hoke’s will, were at the date of the will bachelors, and so continued until Anderson’s death, and Christopher remained a bachelor until his father’s death.
“3d. That all the other children of the testator, C. Hoke, were married and had children at the date of the will.
“ 4th. That the testator, C. Hoke, was administrator of the estate of Anderson R. Hoke.
“ 5th. That Christopher and Anderson seemed to be thrifty men.
“SNYDER & Dennis,
For Defendants.
“Davis, Price, P. Q.
“ November 4, 1873.”
The will of Christopher Hoke, deceased, the construction of portions of which is involved in this suit, was made before the formation of this State, and was probated after the death of the testator, while the provisions of the Code of Virginia of 1860 in relation to the matters involved in the construction of said will were in force among us. The testator died in May, 1863. The will seems to have been made on the 28th day of August, 1857. The same statutory provisions were in force among us at the time the will was made, as at the death of the testator and the probate of his said will, and continued in force till the Code of this State took effect, 1st April, 1869, and I believe the same provisions are contained
“18. When any joint-tenant shall die, whether the estate be real or personal, or whether partition could have been compelled or not, his part shall descend to his heirs, or pass by devise or go to his personal representative, subject to debts, curtesy, dower or distribution, as if he had been a tenant in common. And if hereafter an estate of inheritance be conveyed or devised to a husband and his wife, one moiety of such estate shall, on the death of either, descend to his or her heirs, subject to debts, curtesy or dower, as the case may be.
“19. The preceding section shall not apply to any estate which joint-tenants have as executors or trustees nor to an estate conveyed or devised to persons in their own right, when it manifestly appears from the tenor of the instrument that it was intended the part of the one dying should then belong to the other. Neither shall it affect the mode of proceeding on any joint judgment or decree in favor of, or on anyjcontract with two or more, one of whom dies.”
The 13th and 14th section of chapter 122 of the Code of 1860, which are also contained in said Code of 1849, are as follows, viz:
“ 13. If a devisee or legatee die before the testator, leaving issue who survive the testator, such issue shall take the estate devised or bequeathed, as the devisee or legatee would have done, if he had survived the testator, unless a different disposition thereof be made or required by the will.
“ 14. Unless a contrary intention shall appear by the will, such real estate or interest therein as shall be comprised in any devise in such will, which shall fail or be*466 void or otherwise incapable of taking effect, shall be in- ; eluded in the residuary devise (if any) contained in such will.”
The 1st section of chapter 124 of the Code of 1860, provides that “ tenants in common, joint-tenants and co-parceners shall be compellable to make partition, and the court of equity of the county or corporation wherein the estate, or any part thereof, may be, shall have jurisdiction in cases of partition,” &c. See 1 Revised Code of 1819, chapter 98 and sections 1 and 2, and section 18 of chapter 116 of the Code of 1860, and section 1 of chapter 124 of same Code. The devise to Christopher Hoke and Anderson R. Hoke by the 5th clause of said will was a devise to them jointly in express words, or in other words, it was a devise to them as joint-tenants. By the common law “when two or more persons are seized of a joint-estate of inheritance, for their own lives, or per auter vie, or are jointly possessed of any chattel interest the entire tenancy upon the decease of any of them remains to the survivors, and at length to the last survivor; and he shall be entitled to the whole estate, whatever it be, -whether an inheritance or common free-hold only, or even a less estate.” 1st vol. Tucker’s Commentaries on Blackstone of 1836, book 2, p. 172. The object of the said 18th section of chapter 116 of Code of 1860, was to abolish survivorship among joint-tenants, whose estates in joint-tenancy were vested. The object of the 19th section of same chapter, was manifestly to qualify the operation and effect of said section 18. By the common law, “all the joint-tenants might agree to make partition of the lands, yet one of them could not compel the others to do so.” 1st vol. Tucker’s Commentaries book 2, 174. The statute law authorizing a joint-tenant to compel partition of the lands also operated a change of the common law as to the rightto compel partition. By the common law, unless the will order it otherwise: 1. Where a testamentary gift of either real or personal estate is made to several as tenants in common, whether mention
It seems to me, that said 13th section of chapter 122 of the Code of Virginia, 1860, was intended to have and operate a broader purpose than the mere prevention of the lapsing of legacies. True, it was intended to prevent the lapsing of legacies in certain cases, but in my judgment, it was intended in part to modify the said common law rule, so that if a devise is to two persons jointly, one of the devisees or legatees dies before the testator, leaving issue who survive the testator, such issue of the pre-deceased devisee or legatee, shall take the estate as that devisee or legatee would have done if he had survived the testator, unless a different disposition thereof be made or required by the will. Lomax on Ex’ors, 2d ed., vol. 2, p. 108, note 2; Wythe’s R. 364, 365, notes 15 and 17. Upon this subject and in support of the construction here given to said 13th section of chapter 122 of the Code of Virginia, I adopt the language and reasoning of Mr. Lomax in his valuable work on Executors, 2d ed. p. 108, note 2.
“ The language in both sections 32 and 33 of the statute of Victoria, in case of the devisee dying in the testator’s life, leaving issue that is alive at the testator’s death, is, that such devise or bequest shall not lapse, but shall take effect as if the death of such person (the devi-see or legatee) had happened immediately after the death of the testator, unless a contrary intention shall appear by the will. It will be observed in comparing the clause which has been cited in the Virginia statute with the two clauses of the English statute which have been referred to, the language in the latter, in both instances, is, that*471 the devise or bequest ‘ shall not lapse, but shall take effect/ &C. ^ .
^ . “In the "Virginia statute, these words are omitted, and there is no purpose expressed to prevent a lapse, nor any reference to the doctrine of lapse. It accomplishes its end by a direct and positive [enactment, that the issue shall take the estate devised or bequeathed, as the devisee or legatee would have done, had he survived the testator. It, in every such case, operates substantially, by making the issue the object of the devise or bequest. Supposing then, the case of a devise or bequest to a plurality of persons, and one of them dying in the testator’s life-time, is not a case which prevents the right of survivorship, under the Virginia statute, as to joint rights and obligations. The clause of the statute of wills now under consideration, presents a question wholly different from the matters relating to survivor-ship. The issue of the pre-deceased joint-tenant will take the estate as that devisee or legatee would have done. By this statutory substitution, the issue becomes entitled to the estate. His title is the same as if the will had expressly given the estate to him substantially for the deceased devisee or legatee.
“It would seem therefore that the Virginia statute would apply to such cases, where the gift was made to joint-tenants, and one of them dies before the testator, that it would defeat the survivorship to the other joint-tenants, (supposing such survivorship still in such cases to exist in Virginia) and would vest the same interest in the issue, that the deceased joint-tenant would have taken. If so the case is directly within the operation of' our statute, which Jarman considers is not touched by the clauses of the English statute.”
If then there be a devise to two or more persons jointly and one of them dies before the testator, leaving issue who survive the testator his share will not in that event go to the surviving joint-tenant, but will by virtue of said 13th section of the Code of 1860 go to such issue of the pre
For the foregoing reasons, I am of opinion that the appellant’s said first exception is well grounded, and that under and by virtue of the said 5th clause of the
And therefore, I am further of opinion that the circuit court erred in its decree rendered in this cause on the 26th day ot November, 1873, in so far as it adjudged, ordered and decreed, therein, “that by the death of Anderson R. Hoke without children or descendants in the life-time of the testator, the devise to him in the 5th clause of the will of C. Hoke, deceased, lapsed and did not go to C. Hoke, Jr., as the surviving devisee, but that C. Hoke, Jr., took only one undivided half of the entire devise under said 5th clause, and the other half passed to the residuary legatees in the 10th clause of the will, except the part of Anderson R. Hoke, who was also named as one of the residuary legatees which passed to the heirs generally of the testator, including said residuary legatees as a part of said heirs.”
I am further of opinion from all the facts and circumstances that the court did not err in its said last named decree in its opinion therein stated, that “ the testator in the 8th clause of said will, used the terms fifty-one acres of land,” &c., as descriptive of the tract or parcel of land sold, and not as a designation of the exact quantity of acres sold-; and that it was not the intention of the testator if the said tract did not actually contain fifty-one acres to make up the deficiency in quantity from the adjoining lands, which had been specifically devised to John M. Hoke in the 6th clause of said will, but not having before it sufficient evidence to determine with certainty that the fifty-one acres heretofore sold in this suit to
The circuit court being further of opinion, as expressed in said last named decree that the said report should be re-committed, gave eight instructions to the commissioner which are contained in said decree as disposing of the material questions raised’ by the exceptions to said report. The said instructions are numbered respectively in the decree from one to eight inclusive. From the facts and evidence in the cause and the peculiar circumstances appearing therein which are too numerous to incorporate into this opinion, I am of opinion that said instructions so far as they go are substantially correct; unless it be the seventh instruction and the clause of the decree at the close of the eighth instruction in these words: “ In all respects wherein said report of commissioner Withrow is not changed, modified and corrected in the foregoing direction, the same is approved, and all exceptions thereto by both plaintiffs and defendants inconsistent with said report so modified and corrected, are overruled; and so far
But I am of opinion, as the lands which were devised in the said 5th clause, in said will to Anderson R». Hoke andjChristopher Hoke, jointly, upon the death of the testator passed under said will to the said Christopher Hoke (the plaintifi) by survivorship, for the reasons here-inbefore stated, that the court erred in directing the said commissioner, “that in taking said legatee accounts, he shall charge C. Hoke, Jr., with 26.72 of the rents and profits of the estate devised in the 5th clause of the will of C. Hoke, Sr., and such damages as he may have committed in regard thereto since the death of the testator, subject to all proper credits against said rents, profits and damages, for taxes and permanent improvments, sub-cjuent to the death of C. Hoke, Sr.” This last named portion of said decree is erroneous, as said lands devised by said 5th clause of said will to said Anderson R. Hoke and Christopher Hoke, jointly, passed at the death of the testator to said Christopher Hoke, under and by virtue of said will as hereinbefore ascertained. I do not think the circuit court erred in its said decree of the 26th of November, 1873, in sustaining so much of the defendant’s exceptions to the depositions of Christopher Hoke, as relates to conversations had personally with the testator C. Hoke, deceased, and in overruling the plaintiff’s exceptions to the depositions of William Campbell and others, before Alexander Walker, at his office in Lewisburg on the 12th, 13th and 14th days of March, 1873. The third error assigned by the appellant in his said petition, is as follows :
“By reference to the report of commissioner Withrow who was directed to take and report an account of the administration of your petitioner upon the estate of his testator, with the exceptions thereto, it will be seen that your petitioner had a large account against the estate for*476 improvements made, money advanced, services rendered, &c., which the commissioner compromised by setting off against it the rents of the mill which accrued before the death of the testator. The evidence showed that these íents had been settled with the testator just before his death, and showed your petitioner’s account to be just, and ought to be allowed.”
Commissioner "Withrow in his supplemental report to the court, dated at the commencement thereof, April 10, 1874, in the list of debts reported by him as due from Christopher Hoke, Sr., deceased, to the plaintiff (C. Hoke, Jr.,) in his own right' allows the plaintiff, in his own right a debt of $3,393.20, and interest thereon $121.57, as of June 1, 1874. (See last printed record in this cause p. 150). And the same commissioner in his report made to the court, which is mentioned and considered in the said decree of the court, rendered on the 26th day of November, 1873, shows the items of which said sum of $3,393.20 is composed as allowed by him to Christopher. Hoke, Jr., (the plaintiff). And the last named amount he ascertained to exist on the 25th of October, 1873. (See last printed record pp. 30, 31 and 32). The same commissioner in the report last mentioned, at pages 32 and 33 of same printed record makes what is called therein an “alternate statement” of claims of said C. Hoke, (the plaintiff) against C. Hoke, Sr., deceased, and of credits. The last named claims of C. Hoke, (the plaintiff) against his father seem to be contained in accounts A. No. 62, B. No. 63, C. No. 67,1). No. 64, and Y. No. 66.
These last named accounts of C. Hoke, Jr., claimed by him against his father’s estate before the commissioner, and in this cause, as I understand the report, are not embraced in, and do not compose any part of the said sum of $3,393.20 which the said commissioner ascertained to be due to C. Hoke, Jr., (plaintiff), in his own right, on the 25th of October, 1873. And the commissioner in his report, does not report any amount as being due
After a careful examination and review of all the'Jevi-dence, facts and circumstances appearing in the cause, proper to be considered, touching the matters involved in considering the appellant’s said third assignment of error, I do not feel satisfied that the circuit court erred in its said seventh instruction to its commissioner con- .
As to the appellant’s fourth assignment of error contained in his printed brief or argument filed in the cause, and which is not set out specifically in his petition. It seems to me from the evidence and facts in the cause, that the circuit court did not err in holding the executor, Christopher Hoke, Jr., chargeable for the whole of the assets which are properly chargeable to an executor in this case, without charging jointly with him therefor his co-executor, Fleshman, deceased. It may become proper hereafter on proper proceedings for the purpose, to proceed' against the estate of Fleshman, deceased, as one of the sureties of executor Hoke, Jr., as to this, however, I do not now determine, as the question is not properly before us. One question sought to be raised under this fourth exception is, whether the executor, C. Hoke, Jr., should be credited in the settlement of his execu-torial accounts, with several judgments on bonds given for personal property sold at the executorial sale, after the death of the testator, the most prominent among which
Judge Lee, in said opinion, cites 2 Story’s Eq. Jur. §1268 and §1272; Ex parte Belchier, Am. B. 219; Knight v. Plymouth, 3 Atk. 480; S. C. 1 Dickens 126; Thompson v. Brown, 4 John. Ch. 619, 628 ; Wilkinson v. Stafford, 1 Ves. Jr. 32; Vez v. Emery, 5 Ves. 141.
In the case of Estill & Echlke v. McClintic etal. before cited, Judge Green in delivering the opinion of the Court said : “It is true a court of equity under peculiar circumstances, will relieve a personal representative from responsibility for the full amount of a sale of the property which has come into his possession.” In the case before us I do not think there appears to be ground on which to impute mala fides to executor, Hoke, in the sale of the property for which said debts were contracted and the taking of the bonds. Erom the evidence in the case, I conclude that the persons who became security on each of the bonds, were at the time solvent and good for the amount^ ¡,of 'each of the judgments. Suits were brought according to the proofs on each of the bonds as
The commissioner in his report says that from what he can see in the papers he is of opinion that the debts can be made out of the lands of the debtors, but that they
The court therefore erred in said last named decree in so far as it decreed that James W. Davis and A. C. Snyder who were appointed special receivers in the cause, recover from the plaintiff, as executor of C. Hoke, deceased, de bonis propriis, the sum of $2,569.23. I think under the circumstances the executor, Hoke, should be credited in the settlement of his executorial account
As to appellant’s seventh assignment of error, in his eoumsel’s said brief in relation to the court by its last named decree, not crediting the appellant with the debt on Ed. J. Nichell, I deem it sufficient to say, that I do not perceive error in said decree in this respect, regarding the Niekell debt as occupying a different position under the proofs and facts of the case, from that of the said two Hoke debts, for which judgments were obtained.
As to the appellant’s eighth assignment of error, contained in his counsel’s brief in relation to the court, refusing to allow the appellant credit for certain taxes paid by him on lands therein mentioned. I see no error in the decrees in this respect, as the case now stands.
As to the appellant’s ninth assignment of error in his counsel’s said brief, in relation to the court refusing to suppress the depositions of D. 8. Hern and others. This alleged error has been hereinbefore disposed of, and held not to be well taken.
As to the appellant’s tenth and fourteenth assignments of error in said brief, in relation to the court directing the commissioner to take am account of the damages committed by 0. HoJce on the property devised by the fifth clause of the will of the testator, and of the rents and profits thereof,
As to the appellant’s eleventh assignment of error contained in said brief, in relation to the court directing that the $881.16 found due to John M. Holee, should be paid by the receivers to him. It seems to me that in so far as said decree directs said sum of $881.16 to be paid by the special receivers appointed by the decree to John M. Hoke, it is premature and erroneous. This fund belonging to John M. Hoke, is the proceeds of sale of twenty-one acres of land devised to him by the testator, as has been before seen, and should have been retained by the court under its control, until it is seen whether it will be needed for the payment of any part of the debts of the testator, and if it should not be so needed, then the court may make such disposition of it as may to them appear proper.
As to the appellant’s twelfth assignment of error in said brief, that the court erred in decreeing against executor Holee EE BONIS PROPJRlis/or the said sum o/$2,569.23. I have already ascertained that said decree awas erroneous in that respect.
Hs to appellant’s thirteenth assignment of error in said brief in relation to the item of $106.69, for certain costs mentioned in executor Holee’s eleventh exception filed to commissioner Withrow’s last report, which exception the court sustained in its decree of November 21, 1874. The court having sustained said exception should have given said executor credit therefor by deducting the amount thereof from the said sum of $1,048.87, or in ..other words the court should have given the executor credit therefor and decreed for the balance with proper interest, which it failed to do. I am not satisfied that the court erred in sustaining said eleventh exception and therefore do not feel authorized to interfere with the ruling of the
As to the appellant’s sixteenth assignment of error in said brief in relation to the court and thelcommissioner Withrow charging him with the item of $3,301.84 for the property appraised by the appraisers of the estate. See commissioner Withrow’s report in last printed record pages 23 and 140. The action of the commissioner and the court in this respect was in pursuance of the decree of the court rendered in the cause on the 16th day of October, 1871, which was affirmed by the Supreme Court of Appeals of this State, on the 14th day of October, 1872. This court will not now in this case reverse or set aside the said decision of the 16th day of October, 1871, affirmed as aforesaid.
As to the appellant’s seventeenth assignment of error in said brief in relation to the court refusing to allow said executor for extra services. The commissioner and court did,
As to the appellant’s eighteenth assignment of error in ,said brief, as to the court overruling exceptions to the deposition of Wiley Keinbrough, filed by the said executor,
Under the views hereinbefore stated, in relation to the effect of the said 5th clause of the will' of the testator, it was error in the commissioner, Withrow, to charge Christopher Hoke (the plaintiff), with $3,300.00 for eleven years rent of the mills and lands bequeathed to him and said A. E. Hoke, in the 5th clause of said will, from the death of the testator to June, 1874, or any part thereof, and therefore error in the commissioner to charge said Christopher Hoke with any part of said rents in the accounts made up by him between the executor and legatees of the testator; and the court erred in confirming said report in this respect. The court should have disallowed said rent wherever it is charged to said Christopher Hoke, in any statement or account of said commissioner, in any part of his report. But the court, by its decree of 21st of November, 1874, confirmed said report as to said rents. This was error in the court. From this it follows that the court erred in said last named decree, in so far as it ascertains that the plaintiff, C. Hoke, Jr., in his own right, is indebted to the other heirs of his testator for the use and occupation of 26.72 of the mill property, in the sum $1,088.96, as of June 1, 1874; and also erred in so far as it decreed, that the said receivers, James W. Davis and A. C. Snyder, recover from the said C. Hoke, in his own right the said sum of $1,088.96. The court in its
The part of said decree which directs the sale of said “mill-property,” seems to have been made in part at least by the court in consequence of its erroneous construction of said 5th clause ot said will hereinbefore stated, and because of the decree it made against the said executor, C. Hoke, de bonis propriis for the sum of $2,569.23. And it seems to me, that but for these facts said decree of sale would have been modified or different from what it was in material respects. I do not see why the land of the executor should have been decreed to be sold in this cause, to pay his “devastavit” whatever it was, as the cause then stood before the court. But I do not no w definitely decide this question. So much of said decree of the 21st of November, 1874, as appoints commissioners to sell said mill-property, and directs said commissioners to sell it, must therefore be reversed, but when the case gets back to said circuit court for further proceedings and the circuit court has before it the action and views of this court, upon its decrees in this cause it
The first of these errors assigned claims in effect that the court erred in not charging the said executor, Hoke, with the slaves sold and purchased by the appellant. The matters contained and involved in this assignment of error have already been considered and determined in this opinion as not constituting error in the court under the peculiar circumstances appearing in the cause. This assignment of error is therefore overruled.
The second assignment of error of appellees is substantially that the court erred in allowing fees to counsel of appellant as executor. I do not think this assignment of error is well taken. It seems to me that it was proper and prudent for the appellant to employ counsel in this cause which involved the construction of the testator’s will and the sale and disposition of the testator’s property for the payment of debts and legacies and the settlement of the whole' estate. I think it was in this aspect to the interest of the estate that he should do so. The amount allowed by the court for counsel’s fees seems to be reasonable and proper from the evidence, and it seems to have been proper to employ counsel. I do not think the court erred in sustaining the third exception of defendants below to the last report of commissioner Withrow to the extent of $300.00, part of the item of $1,040.00 and in reducing said item to $740.00 and in overruling the residue of said third exception. Said second assignment of error of appellees is therefore overruled.
The third assignment of error of appellees is, “that the amount decreed against the appellant for the use and occupation of the ‘ mill-property,’ devised to' Anderson E. Hoke, is much too small.” For reasons hereinbe-fore stated, I have ascertained and determined that the appellant was not properly chargeable with any rent for the said mill-property after the death of the testator. This last assignment of error is therefore overruled.
The fifth assignment of the appellees is, as to the allowance of $248.38 by the court for costs incurred in the Supreme Court of Appeals. I do not feel satisfied that the court erred in allowing the executor said costs under all the circumstances appearing in the cause, and therefore this exception of appellees is overruled.
The sixth error assigned by the appellees is, that the exception of the appellee, John M. Hoke, to the report of commissioner Withrow, in relation to the value of the twenty-one acres of land sold to Coffman should have been sustained.
From the evidence in the cause, being on the value of said twenty-one acres of land, I do not feel authorized to determine that the court erred in overruling said exception of John M. Hoke. It seems to me that from the evidence, the commissioner was authorized to fix the value at $40.00 per acre. From all the evidence, I think it clear, that the said twenty-one acres were worth $40.00 per acre, but as to whether it was more than that amount, the evidence is conflicting. The said sixth exception of appellees is overruled.
The seventh assignment of error of appellees is, that the court erred in not sustaining the exception of the legatee, Susan Hoke, as to the charge against her of $196.50. This charge is made against the said Susan Hoke by the commissioner, in the statement of her account as one of the testator’s legatees, and purports to be for amount of property bought at sale, as ascertained by commissioner Walker, &c. There is also $59.30 of interest on said $196.50, charged to said Susan in said statement. See last report of commissioner, page 155. Commissioner Withrow, in his last report, at page 153
In the said decree of the 21st day November, 1874, the court directs the special receivers to pay out of the sum of $1,868.01, to John M. Hoke the said sum of $881.16, with interest thereon'from this date ; and out of the balance thereof, and the said sum of $2,569.23, they shall pay the costs of this suit and the debts thereinbe-fore decreed to Samuel Price and J. W. Davis ; and after paying said costs and debts in full they shall loan out any balance in their hands till the next term of this court; and that said receivers report their proceedings to this court.
I have hereinbefore ascertained that it was error in the court to direct the said special receiver to pay to John M. Hoke the $881.16 as in said decree directed, but that the court should have retained said last named amount under its control until a future period. Having hereinbefore determined that the court erred in so far as it decreed that said special receivers recover from the plaintiff, as executor of C. Hoke, deceased, de bonis
I see no error in any of the decrees rendered in this cause after the 14th day of October, 1872, and prior to the 26th day of November, 1873, which are covered by the appeal allowed in this cause, and none have been suggested or assigned by counsel. I have considered all errors assigned in this cause, or suggested by counsel, and I see no material error in the said decrees of the 26th day of November, 1873 and the 21st day of No
For the foregoing reasons, parts of the said decrees of November 26,1873, and the 21st day of November, 1874, must be reversed and the order of recommittal to commissioner Withrow contained in said decree of the 21st day of November, 1874, must be modified so far as it applies to this case in accordance with the views herein-before expressed in relation thereto.
Substance of Decree to be Entered.
For reasons stated in the opinion in writing of this Court, filed with the papers of this cause, this Court is of opinion, that there is error in the decrees, and each of them rendered in this cause by the circuit court of the county of Greenbrier, on the 26th day of November, 1873 and the 21st day of November, 1874. It is therefore adjudged, ordered and decreed, that so much of the said decree of said circuit court, rendered on the 26th day of November, 1873, as adjudges, orders and decrees, ‘Ghat by the death of Anderson It. Hoke, without children or descendants in the life-time of the testator, the devise to him in the 5th clause of the will of C. Hoke, deceased, lapsed and did not pass to C. Hoke, .Jr., as the surviving devisee, but that' C. Hoke, Jr., took only one undivided half of the entire devise under said 5th clause, and the other half passed to the residuary legatees, in the 10th clause of the will, except the part of Anderson H. Hoke, who was also named as one of the residuary legatees, which passed to the heirs general of the testator, including said residuary legatees as a part of said heirs,” and also so much of said last named decree as directs, that “in taking said legatees accounts,
And it is further adjudged, ordered and decreed, that so much of said last- named decrees, and of each of them, as is not hereinbefore reversed, set aside and annulled, be, and the same is hereby affirmed so far only
It is further adjudged, ordered and decreed, that the
Cause Remanded.