Martin v. Davis

82 Ind. 38 | Ind. | 1882

Black, C.

Among the provisions of the will of Eli Davis, deceased, was the following:

“First. I will and direct that forty thousand dollars beset apart and held by my administrator, or such trustee or trustees as may be appointed by the court having probate jurisdiction, to be held in trust under the direction and supervision of said -court, for the use of my sons Harvey Davis and Clinton Davis, in equal amounts, during their natural lives, the interest thereon to be paid to them semi-annually, by said trustee or trustees, and after their deaths or the death of either one, the principal to go to their heirs, in equal amounts. In the event, however, that either one of my said sons should become unable to labor in support of themselves, and should be without ■other means of support, then so much of the principal of the above sum as may be necessary for their support, or the support of either one, to be paid to them by said trustee or trustees, under the direction of said court, it being my will and intention that my said sons and their heirs shall have an equal amount of the above sum-in the manner above set forth. But it is my express will and direction that neither of my said sons shall have any portion of the principal of the above sum except in case of absolute necessity for their support, as above stated.”

Simon Martin, one of the appellants, having been appointed trustee, and having taken upon himself the duties of the trust, holds the sum of $20,000 for the use of Harvey Davis, under the above testamentary provision.

The question, whether a portion of the income of the fund so held could be assigned in anticipation by said Harvey, is raised by demurrer to the answer of the trustee, and by demurrers to the cross complaints of the other appellants, by which answer and cross complaints various assignments of said income by said Harvey were alleged. The will directs that the income of the fund be paid semi-annually by the trustee to the cestui que trust alone. Ho discretion is given to the trustee. The “ direction and supervision ” of the court are prescribed by the testator for the purpose of securing the use to the beneficiary, and not extended to depriving him thereof, or regulating his disposition of the income. The control of the court over the income of the fund invoked by these words is such as the court which appointed the trustee would have without such words in the will.

No particular use of the income is enjoined. No condition is attached to the gift. There is no limitation over to another person during the life of Harvey. There is no prohibition of alienation to a particular person or until a certain time. No restraint whatever is placed upon the beneficiary concerning the use of the income.

We need, not decide in this cause whether the owner of personal property, in a testamentary disposition thereof, may or may not give in trust its income, free from the debts of the beneficiary, or restrain him from the alienation thereof. This will gave the beneficiary an unrestricted interest in the income of the fund during his life, which, where there is no statutory prohibition, as in this case, he may. alienate as a whole or in part. Perry Trusts, sec. 386; Story Eq. Jur., secs. 974, 1044, 1047; Wood v. Wallace, 24 Ind. 226; Farmers’ and Mechanics’ Savings Bank v. Brewer, 27 Conn. 600.

The New York decisions, which have been urged upon us as sustaining a contrary conclusion, proceed upon statutory construction. Graff v. Bonnett, 31 N. Y. 9; Campbell v. Foster, 35 N. Y. 361.

This interpretation of the will requires us to hold that the court erred in sustaining the demurrer of the appellees to the second paragraph of the answer of the appellant Simon Martin, and in sustaining the several demurrers to the cross complaints of the other appellants.

It is assigned as error by each of the appellants, that the complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, and by some of the appellants that the court erred in overruling their demurrers, specifying the same ground of objection to the complaint. The plaintiffs were the beneficiary and his wife. It is alleged in the complaint that the court in which this suit was brought, having assumed supervision of the trust, had made an order, upon the motion of the appellees, that the trustee should accept no orders from the cestui que trust, but should pay out of the income a certain monthly alio Avance to his wife, and should pay the remainder of the income to the cestui que trust in person. It is not alleged that any of the appellants Avere parties, or had any notice of this motion. It is alleged that no money had been paid'by the trustee in pursuance of this order, and that a certain amount of income had accumulated, and remained in his hands. The complaint asked that the trustee be required to pay a certain portion of this accumulation to the Avife, and the remainder to the cestui que trust.

The trustee was made a defendant, with others, as to whom it was alleged that they claimed an interest in the accrued and accruing income, but, in fact, had no interest.

To entitle two or more persons to join as plaintiffs, it is not sufficient that they each have a cause of action, arising out of the same transaction or matter, if the relief sought by each be distinct and unconnected. The plaintiffs must have a common interest in the subject of the action, and in the relief. Each must be interested in the relief sought by the other. Tate v. Ohio, etc., R. R. Co., 10 Ind. 174; Goodnight v. Goar, 30 Ind. 418; Lipperd v. Edwards, 39 Ind. 165; Bliss Code Pl., section 76; Moak’s Van Santvoord’s Pl. 68.

The interest of each of the appellees was adverse to that of the other, and the complaint was therefore insufficient.

The judgment should be reversed.

Per Curiam. — It is therefore ordered, upon the foregoing opinion, that the judgment be and it is hereby reversed, with costs, and the cause remanded.