27 A.D. 438 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1898
Lead Opinion
At the time of the conversation between William Bolton, deceased, and Samuel Bolton, Jr., in regard to a gift of $15,000 to Mary Dugdale, the former was a member of the firm of S. Bolton’s Sons, his property consisting of an undivided interest therein. This conversation did not have the effect of constituting a gift to, or a trust in favor of, Mrs. Dugdale. It was not a gift, because there was no delivery, and it depended on the will of Samuel Bolton, Jr., to be exercised in the future, whether the $15,000 should or should not - be paid. For the same reason it did not create a trust in favor of Mrs. Dugdale. If a trust had been created, the title to the fund.
There being no gift to or trust in favor of Mrs. Dugdale, created by William Bolton—the conversation referred to only having the effect of the expression of a wish by William that Samuel should, if he elected, give her in the future $15,000 •— does the evidence in the case, which is in substance above detailed, show such a gift by the latter after the death of his brother ?
It certainly shows an intent on the part of Samuel to carry out the suggestion of his brother. He intended to give his sister $15,000, but unless a trust was created by him in her favor, clearly there was no consummated gift. He' did give her $3,000 to purchase a house, and also the annual interest, first on the $15,000, and, after the payment of $3,000, on the $12,000 remaining of the fund. But the $12,000, the balance of the fund, was never delivered. It was not separated from his other property. It remained under his control in the firm of S. Bolton’s Sons, composed of the respondent and Joseph 'Bolton. Hor was it separated from the assets of said firm.
Do the facts proved in the case justify the conclusion that Samuel Bolton, Jr., intended to, and did, become a trustee for his sister as to the $12,000 in cpiestion ?
In 8 American and English Encyclojjgedia of Law, 1323, it is said : “ It is also possible' for the donor to constitute himself a trustee for the donee. In order to do this it is- only necessary for the owner, in clear and unequivocal language, or by acts amounting to the same thing, to declare that he henceforth holds the chose in
It will be seen that the facts in this case differ from those considered in the cases of Martin v. Funk, Mabie v. Bailey and People v. State Bank of Fort Edward (supra). In-those cases the donor separated a fund from his other property and deposited it in a bank in the name of the donee, and it was held that such separation and deposit, together with other circumstances shown in those cases, operated as a present- transfer of the fund from the donor as an individual to himself as the trustee for the donee, and that such deposit had the effect of a delivery of .the subject of the gift.
In this case the fund of $12,000, claimed to have been given to Mrs. Dngdale, was not separated from the other property of the said respondent. His property was invested in the assets óf $. Bolton’s Sons, and has remained as a part of said assets, a portion of the undivided property of said copartnership to which the said respondent was entitled as a member thereof. There was no change whatever made as to the said fund in consequence of „any transaction between him and his sister.
It is clear that the conversations above detailed between Samuel Bolton,-Jr., and his sister did not create aiiy trust in her favor. These conversations only had the effect of a declaration on his part that he gave her the $12,000. They do not establish a delivery oían actual consummated transfer of the fund. If there was any
If it had been shown that Samuel Bolton, Jr., had actually withdrawn the $12,000 in question from the firm assets of S. Bolton’s Sons; had been charged on the firm books with that amount, and had thereupon deposited that sum with the firm to himself as trustee for his sister, a different conclusion might be arrived at. In such supposed case, it might be said that the circumstances showed beyond a reasonable doubt that a trust was intended to be created in favor of Mrs. Dugdale. But under the circumstances shown in this case, there was no express declaration of trust, and the circumstances are consistent with another construction than that of an intent to create a trust. The statement of the said respondent to his sister, and his entry on the firm books, evince an intent to give, but not a present intent to pass the title to the fund. If a trust had been created, the title to the $12,000 would have at once passed from said Samuel Bolton, Jr., or the firm, to him as a trustee for the donee.
The credit in the books of $12,000 to Mrs. Dugdale did not transfer to her or to the said respondent, as trustee for her, any of the assets of the firm, or of Samuel Bolton, Jr., as a member thereof ; nor was there any fact or circumstance shown evincing an.intent on the part of the said respondent that the title to the fund should pass from him. The facts shown- are consistent with an intent on his part to retain- the title and control of the fund and give the same to his sister from time to time thereafter as he might elect.
We think the doctrine stated in Beaver v. Beaver (117 N. Y. 421); Wadd v. Hazelton (137 id. 215); Jackson v. Twenty-third St. Ry. Co. (88 id. 520), and. Young v. Young (80 id. 422), applies to this case, that the gift that Samuel Bolton, Jr., intended to make to his sister was not consummated, and hence that the order should be affirmed, with costs.
All concurred, except Landon and Herrick., JJ., dissenting.
Dissenting Opinion
I think that this case falls within .a different line of cases from those considered by Mr. Justice Putnam. This was, in effect, an .application to be heard, not for a final decree. If the evidence offered made a primafacie case, I think the application should have been granted unless theprirma facie case was clearly overcome, and I do not think it was. The evidence tends to support the inference that William Bolton, having previously made.the will of which his brother, Samuel Bolton, Jr., is now the executor, in which Samuel
Order affirmed, with costs.