Martin v. Greer, 1 Georgia Decisions 109

Martin v. Greer

1 Georgia Decisions 109 | Coweta Cty. Super. Ct. | 1842

Upon the trial, most of the material allegations in the bill were sup" ported by testimony: there was some conflict however between the testimony of complainants and defendants, with regard to the identity of the money with which Buckley paid for the land which he exchanged for Jinny and her children. The Jury found a verdict in favour of complainants, for the sum of seven thousand dollars, to be discharged by the delivery of the negroes, and also for the sum of #2557, as hire.

The defendant’s counsel moved for a new trial, on the following grounds;

*1121st. Because the complainants on the trial of said cause, offered parole evidence to prove the trust set forth in their bill of complaint, which was objected to by defendants, on the ground that an express trust could not be proved by parole under the law, which objection was over-ruled by the Court, and the parole evidence admitted, on the ground that the trust alleged in the bill was an implied or result, ing trust, and not an express trust.

2nd. Because the Court charged the Jury, that the statute of limitations did not commence running against the complainants, in favour of defendants, until the death of Buckley, which took place 15th July, 15:51.

3rd. Because the Court charged the Jury, that the statute of limitations did not commence running against the complainants, in fa-vour of defendants, until the time of the probate of the will of Buckley, by defendants.

4th. Because the Jury have returned a verdict in favor of Joseph Frost and wife, who have been made parties by amendment, who claim to be entitled to one-fifth of the property in controversy, without there being any evidence going to shew he had commenced any suit for his share of said property, against the defendants, until after the expiration of four years from the time of the probate of the will of said Buckley, so as to take the case out of the statute of limitations as to him.

5th. Because the defendants are sued by complainants as (be ex. ecutors of Hiram Buckley, deceased, and required to account for property held and possessed in their representative capacity, and the Jury have refused to allow them credit for their disbursements as rendered in their answer, which disbursements had been allowed' and sanctioned by the Court of Ordinary of De Kalb County, and wore not contradicted by any testimony.

6th. Because the Jury found contrary to Law and evidence.

These grounds will be considered in their order. As to the first, it is true that a motion was made at the trial, by defendants’ counsel, *113to reject the evidence offered by complainants, upon the ground that according to the allegations in the bill, an express trust was created, and that an express trust could not be proved by parole evidence. — » The Court overruled the motion, and stated that it was of opinion, from the facts stated in the bill, that tile trust was a resulting trust, and not an express trust, but the Court is now of opinion, that so fat* as this motion was concerned, it is not material whether this be con* sidered as an express or implied trust, or a resulting trust, as the tes* timony would properly have been admitted to support either, that section of the Statute of Frauds and the other authorities relied on, not being considered as applicable to personal property. — See 2d VoL Story’s Equity 235, and the case of Benbow vs. Townsend, 7th vol. Eng. Ch. Rep’ts 143. The Court is therefore of opinion, that it did not err in overruling this motion, whether this be considered as an express or resulting trust.

As to the second ground, the Court will remark, that it has been furnished by both of defendants’ counsel with very able written arguments, in one of which the counsel has bestoived much labour on this branch of the case, for the purpose of establishing the position that Buckley did not have a life estate in the negro woman Jinny and her children, and that complainants could have commenced ail action at Common Law against Buckley, for the recovery of the four hundred dollars, for his breach of trust, in not applying it m the manner directed, immediately upon their coming of age, and that having the right to sue for the four hundred dollars, and having failed to do so, their right to sue for the property purchased with the money was barred by the statute of limitations.

The counsel remarks in his argument, “ that if the position assumed by the Court be true, that Buckley had a life estate in Jinny and her increase, and that the Martin children were seized of the property, as remainder men according to the rules of Law creating estates in remainder, then we admit, the statute did not commence running until the death of Buckley.” Let us then examine this question. An estate in remainder is defined to be “ an estate limited to take effect and be enjoyed after another estate is determined.”— 2nd Blk. Com. 164. There then must be a particular estate to support the estate in remainder, the remainder must commence or pass out of the grantor at the time of the creation of the particu*114lar estate, and the remainder must vest in the grantee during tie continuance of the particular estate, or eo instanti that it determines.” And an estate in remainder may be created in personal chattels as well as real.” — Same authority 198.

The counsel asks “ from whom, or by whom, has such an estate been created by Jinny and her increase in the Martin children ? What grantor has conveyed Jinny and her increase to Buckley and wife during their lives, with remainder in fee to the Marlin children 7 From what legal premises does the Court arrive at the conclusion (hat Buckley had a life estate only in Jinny and her increase ?*’ The Court will endeavor to answer these interrogatories. In the first place, it will be recollected that it is alleged in the bill, rvhich allegation is supported by proof, that in the year 1802, upon the intermarriage of Buckley with the widow Martin, John Langdon, the father of Mrs, Marlin, delivered to Buckley and wife, the negro woman Nance, which was to remain in their possession during the life of the survivor, at whose death said negro and increase, was to become the property of the Martin children, that said negro remained in the possession of Buckley and wife, until the year 1807, when she was returned to Langdon, who furnished said Buckley with $400 in lieu thereof, which was to be vested in another negro woman in the place and stead of Nance, that the $400 was vested in a tract of land, and that in 1812, the land was exchanged for the negro woman Jinny and her two children, and placed in the place and stead of the said negro woman Nance and her increase, and to follow the conditions and stipulations made and entered into in relation to her. Now, it is a principle both of Law and Equity, “ that whenever the property of a party has been wrongfully misapplied, or a trust fund has been wrongfully converted into another s’pecies of property, if its identity can be traced, it will be held in its new form liable to the rights of the original owner, or cestui que trust.” — 2d Story’s Equity 502-3. The general proposition both at Law and in Equity upon this subject, is, that if any property in its original state and form, is-converted with a trust in favour of the principal, no change of that state and form can divest it of such trust, or give the agent or trustee converting it, or those who represent him in right, (not being bona fide purchasers for a valuable consideration without notice) any more valid claim in respect to it, than they respectively had be*115fore such change. An abuse of a trust can confer no fights on the party abusing it, or on those who claim in privity with him.' — Idem. 50A, Now, if the money had remained vested in the land for which it was first given, this would not have divested the Martin children of their interest in it, and if so, does not the doctrine apply much more forcibly when the land is exchanged for a negro woman, in accordance with the terms of the original agreement, and when that negro was, by Buckley himself, placed in the room and stead of tile negro woman Nance, to be held and enjoyed upon the same terms and conditions ? Then, in order to ascertain what kind of estate Buckley and complainants respectively had in the negro woman Jinny and her increase, we must not look to the conveyance from Pollard, (the person from whom Buckley bought her,) to Buckley, but we must look to the conveyance of the negro woman Nance, from Lang don to Buckley and his wife, for it will be recollected that when Nance was returned, the $400 were advanced in lieu of her to purchase another negro woman, to be held upon the same conditions, and after the negro woman Jinny was purchased by Buckley, it is in proof that she was placed by him in the room and stead of Nance, and to be held in the same way. Then, what kind of estate did Buckley have in Nance ? Was it not a life estate, and did not the Marlin children have an estate in remainder, limited to take effect and bo enjoyed after the determination of such life estate? Did it not pass out of the grantor, Langdon, at the time of the creation of the particular estate ? and did it not vest in the grantees, the Martin children, upon the very instant that Buckley's life estate determined ? If so, according to the allegations in the bill, they had the same kind of estate in Jinny and her increase, for she was purchased with the money advanced in lieu of Nance, and placed in her room and stead. But it is contended, that whenever Buckley was guilty of a breach of his trust, by a misapplication of the trust money in the purchase of the land with it, instead of the negro woman, that he was liable to be sued for the money, and that not having commenced said suit within the time prescribed after they arrived at full ago, that their right to do so was barred by the statute of limitations, and that not having sued for the money at that time, they cannot now maintain a suit for the property purchased with the money. Perhaps this may be true if the money had remained vested in the land and a suit had been commenced for the recovery of the money ; *116but there is very groat doubt in my mind, whether if a suit had been commenced for the recovery of the money, under those circumstances, the statute would have been a bar until after demand made of the money. In the case of Lever vs. Lever, 1 vol. Hill’s Ch. Repts. I find this doctrine laid down by Judge Harper : “ We concur with the,Chancellor that when there is a concurrent remedy in Law and Equity upon the case made, the limitation is the same in both Courts, and the present ease is to be considered as at Law, but at Law the statute does not begin to run until there is some usurpation of the claimant’s right and a cause of action has arisen. The possession of an agent or bailee (and a bailment is a trust) is the possession of the bailor or principal and is not adverse till demand made. In the case of a simple deposit of money, to be left for the depositer or to be paid according to his direction, there is no cause of action till a demand be made or an account stated, and the statute does not begin to run till then.” And even if the money had remained vested in the land until after the cestui que trusts came of age, they had the right to make their election and sue for the money, or to claim the land as having been purchased with their money. “ If the trustee be guilty of wrongful conduct, he does not cease thereby to be trustee, and of the same kind of trust as before such conduct, but it is at the election of the cestui que trust, to consider the trust at an end if he chooses, and treat the trustee as a wrong doer.” — 2d vol. Barbour & Harrington’s Eq. Digest 496, which cites the case of Falls vs. Torrence, 4th Hawk. 413. But it roust be recollected in this case, that before the complainants arrived at full age, and before any suit was brought for the money, that Buckley, in 1812, exchanged the land for a negro woman, in accordance with the original agreement, there was then no cause of complaint against him at the time the children came of age, and therefore no necessity for commencing a suit, but if a suit had been commenced, Buckley could have replied, I have complied with my contract, 1 have purchased a negro woman and placed her in the room and stead of Nance, and by the terms of the agreement, I am entitled to her during my life, and at my death, and not till then, will your right accrue. He might have added farther, it is true I did not do it immediately, nor was I required to do so by the contract, I have done it as soon perhaps as was convenient, and in ample time to secure all of your rights under the agreement, therefore you have no cause of *117action against me. Would not this have been a full and complete answer and defence to such suit ? I am therefore clearly of opinion, that according to the original agreement, Buckley had a life estate, and a life estate only, in Nance, and that when Jinny was purchased and placed in her stead, he had the same estate in her and no more, and that the fact of his having taken the title in his own name, cannot alter or affect the rights of the parties in any manner, except so far as the remedy is concerned, or the course proper to be pursued to obtain those rights. Buckley being tenant for life, must be, and is considered by the authorities, as a trustee. See McCord’s Ch. Rep’ts. 1 vol. 227. “Tenant for life and his privies are trustees for the remainder man.” Also Fearne 414, and as above quoted from Story’s Equity, an abuse of a trust by taking the title in his own name, can confer no rights on the party abusing it, or those who claim in privity with him. This disposes of the second ground.

The third ground is: because the Court charged the Jury, that the statute of limitations did not commence running against the complainants, in favour of defendants, until the time of the probate of the will of Buckley by defendants. In order to determine whether the Court erred upon this point, it will become necessary to go into the examination of the various kinds of trusts, the nature of the trust estate which Buckley held, and the rights conferred upon his executors by reason of their having acquired such estate as executors. Trusts are first divided into express and implied trusts. “ Express trusts” (says Judge Story, 2 vol. 243) “are those which are created by the direct and positive acts of the parties, by some writing, or deed, or will,” and he defines implied trusts to be “those which are deducihle from the nature of the transaction as matter of clear intention, although not found in the words of the parties,” “or which are superinduced upon the transaction by operation of Law, as matter of Equity independent of the particular intention of the parties.” The latter of which, he says, comprehends all those trusts which are called constructive and resulting trusts. Trusts are again spoken of in many of the authorities as direct trusts, as contradistinguished from possible or eventual trusts. In Fonblanque’s Equity, I find this authority *. “ Direct trusts are such as are created and acknowledged by the act of the parties. Possible or eventual trusts occur where a party who took possession originally in his own right, and was prima *118facie the owner, is afterwards converted into a trustee, by evidence.” A «rain, in the case oí Kane vs. Bloodgood, the Chancellor says; “Every deposit is a direct trust ; every person who receives money to be paid to another, or to be applied to a particular purpose, to which he does not apply it, is a trustee, and suable either in Law or Equity. The several contracts of bailments which, according to Sir William Jones, “ arc amongst the principal springs and wheels of civil society,” are cases of express and direct trusts. It will be perceived then, from these authorities, that it is not essential to the creation of a direct or even an express trust, that it should be in writing, except it be in relation to real estate, where it is made so by the sin tuto of frauds. Then what kind of trust is the trust made by the complainants in this bill ? Direct trusts are such as are created and acknowledged by the act of the parties. Then, most clearly, the contract of the parties in relation to the negro woman, Name, and also in relation to the $400, advanced in lieu of her, constituted a direct trust; then according to the doctrine already referred to in Story’s Equity, “ that if any property in its original form is converted with a trust in favour of the principal, no change of that state and form can divest it of such trust.” The same position will hold good as to Jinny and her increase. The only thing that would give it the appearance of resulting trust, being the circumstance of the titles having been taken in the name of Buckley. It is true, that upon the execution of the title to Buckley for Jinny and her children, a trust did result to the complainants ; but it may more properly he considered the tracing or following out the trust estate, previously created by the act of the parties. But perhaps it is not necessary to examine this question further, the main question being not whether this be a direct or implied trust — but whether it be such a case of trust as may be barred by the statute of limitations ; and this is not the proper criterion by which to distinguish as to this matter, for executors and administrators are only constituted trustees by implication. Yet it is laid down in all the authorities, that no lapse of time will bar a legacy. What then is the rule by which we are to distinguish between cases in which the statute is a bar, and in which it is not 1 Upon a careful examination of the authorities, I think the rule will be found to be this : that the trusts which are not within the statute, are those which are creatures of the Court of Equity, and not within the cognizance of a Court of Law. It is laid down by *119many authorities, as a general rule, that no lapse of time will bar a direct trust, as between a trustee and a cestui que trust; and this is the doctrine laid down as a general proposition, in the ease of Decouche vs. Savitier, 3d Johns, Ch. Rep’ts. 190. But in the, case of Kane vs, Blooclgood, (7th Johns. Ch. Rep’ts. 110, where all the cases on the subject are reviewed,) Chancellor Kent, when speaking of the various cases of trusts, and of the propriety of withdrawing all such cases from the operation of the statute, says : “A review of the decisions will enable us, as I apprehend, to deduce from them a safer and sounder doctrine, and to establish upon the solid foundations of authority and policy, this rule that the trusts intended by the Courts of Equity not tobe reached or effected by the statute of limitations, are those technical and continuing trusts which are not at all cognizable at Law, but fall within the proper, peculiar and exclusive jurisdiction of this Court.” And Chief Justice Si’eivcer, when delivering his opinion in the case of Murray vs. Cosier, 20th Johns. Rep’ts. 375, speaking upon the same subject, says: “I have, therefore, no hesitation in saying, that in a case where there is a concurrent jurisdiction in the Courts of Common Law and Equity, the rule must be the same, and the statute of limitations may be pleaded with the same effect in the one Court as the other, in cases of trusts and fraud, peculiarly, appropriately and exclusively, the objects of Equity jurisdiction, and according to the established doctrine the statute cannot be pleaded,” I would, then, ask, is not the case before the Court such a case i It must be obvious to the most superficial observer, that a common Law Court could have no jurisdiction in this case. In fact I have been informed that this bill was demurred to, for the want of Equity, and upon the ground that the complainants had a Common Law remedy, and my predecessor, as I think, very properly overruled the demurrer, thereby establishing the position, that, according to the allegations contained in the bill, the complainants had no Common Law remedy. In the case of Decouche vs. Savitier, (3 Johns. Ch. Rep’ts. 216.) the Chancellor says: “There is a class of cases which admits a reasonable time to be a bar, but these are cases in which a party is turned into a trustee by matter of evidence merely, and took possession originally in Ms own right, and was prima facie the owner.” But, I would ask, is this a case falling within this class of cases? Is Buckleyturned into a trustee, by matter of evidence merely? or was he so constituted by the con*120tract and agreement of the parties, under which he received the negro Woman, Nance 7 — and it must be borne in mind that Jinny was placed in her stead. Did he take possession of Nance, originally, in his own right?- — or we might make the same inquiry as to Jinny, whom he admitted he had bought and placed in the room and stead of Nance, But, suppose this to be such a case of trust as is not exempt from the operation of the statute, are the facts such as to protect these defendants from its operation ? I think it has been clearly shewn that Buckley had only a life estate in this property with remainder in fee to the complainants. Then, according to the authority already referred to in the case of Swan vs. Ligón, tenant for life^and his privies are trustees for the remainder man. The executors of Buckley stand in the same relation to the complainants, as to this property, that Buckley did himself, and so long as they hold it, the statute can no more run, than if the property were still in the possession of Buckley. They set up no distinct title to the property, but claim it as his executors ; therefore their possession is referred to his title, and to enable a party to plead the statute of limitations, there must be an adverse possession. Suppose that Buckley, instead of having a life estate in the property, had had an estate for ten years only, with remainder to the Martin children, and at the expiration of the ten years no demand had been made for the property, and he had continued in the peaceable possession of it for ten years longer, and had then refused to give it up, could he have then pleaded the statute of limitations successfully? I think not. This doctrine is fully sustained by the opinion of Lord Mac-clesfield, in the case of hockey vs. hockey, as referred to in the case of Kane vs. Bloodgood, 7th Johns. Ch. Rep’ts. 121, in w'bieh his Lordship says, “ If the trustee is in possession and does not execute his trust, the possession of the trustee is the possession of the cestui que trust, and if the only circumstance be that he does not perform his trust, his possession operates nothing as a bar, because his possession is according to his title. As in the case of lessee for years, though he does not pay his rent for 50 years, his possession is no bar to an ejectment, after the expiration of his term, because his possession is according to the right of the party against whom he seeks to set it up.” If Buckley could not have pleaded the statute, can his executors who represent him, and claim under his title ? No, in the language of Chancellor Kent, in the ease of Decouche vs. *121Savitier, 3 Johns. Ch. Repts. 214, “The person to whom tetters of Administration Were granted, succeeded to the possession of the pros perty not in her own right, but expressly as trustee for the party having right, it would be unjust for the person who takes possession of the property of the intestate Under the authority of Law qua admin* istratrix td be at liberty after six years’ possession, to set up the stat* até of limitations as a bar, to the césttd qiie trust.” This doctrine is fully sustained by the Supreme Court of Alabama, in the case of Maury’s adm’rs vs. Mason’s adm’rs, 8th Porter’s Repts. 211, and iti delivering the opinion of the Court, the Judge quotes the opinion of Judge Story, in the case of Trecothick vs. Austin, 4th Mason 16, where he observes, “ executors are charged with no more in virtue of their office, than the administration of the assets of their testator * if at the time of his death, there is ally specific personal property in his hands belonging to others, which he holds in trust or otherwise, and it can be clearly traced and distinguished from the testator’s own, such property, whether it be goods, securities, stock or other things, is not assets to be applied to the payment of his debts, or to be distributed among his heirs, but it is to be held as the testator himself held it.” And again he remarks, “ if the trust is still sub* sisting in the hands of the executor the lapse of five years (that being the limitation there) does not bar a remedy against him.” And in the case of Lever vs. Lever, Hill's S. C. Rep’ts, 1 vol. 67, before referred to, Judge Harper lays down the doctrine, that where there is a concurrent remedy in Law and Equity, the limitation is the same in both Courts, but that even at Law the statute does not begin to run until there is some usurpation of the claimant’s right, and also that the possession of the bailee is the possession of the bailor, and is not adverse till demand made, and the statute does not begin to run till then. In Barbour & Harrington’s Digest, in which the case of Falls vs. Torrence, 4 Hawk., is referred to, I find this doctrine laid down: “ In cases of direct and pure trusts, time has no influence. The estate of the trustee is that which supports the trust, and without which it could not exist, and his possession operates for the benefit of the cestui que trust. The trustee cannot by any act of his, make his estate and possession adyerse to the cestui que trust. The trust owes its existence to agreement, and it requires the consent of the parties to destroy it.” The case of Collier and Wife vs. Poe, 1 vol. Devereux N. C. Rep’ts. 55, is a very *122strong caso upon this point. In that case, James Paine, the grandfather of Elizabeth Collier, one of plaintiffs, on the intermarriage of Poe, the defendant, with his daughter, put into their possession several negroes, as a loan, during his pleasure, and not as a gift. This was in the year 1804. The wife of the defendant had issue — the plaintiff, Elizabeth — and immediately thereafter died. Paine died about the 4th of December, 1807, having first made his will, and bequeathed the negroes to the defendant for 18 years, and then directed them to be divided between the plaintiff Elizabeth and her father the defendant, the moiety of defendant to be retained by him daring his life, and after his death to vest in her. The bill then set forth the marriage between the plaintiffs, and charged that defendant had denied their title, had sold some of the negroes and had threatened to sell others, that defendant was possessed of but little property, and the plaintiffs believed, would remove all the negroes beyond the State. The plaintiffs prayed a special writ, &c. The answer of defendant denied the loan, and insisted upon the delivery of the negroes as an advancement to defendant’s wife, and alleged that defendant had always held and claimed the negroes as his own property, that when some report was circulated of the claim now set up, he had openly and publicly announced his title, had for more than three years before the death of Paine, and ever since, continued in adverse possession of the slaves, and insisted on the statute of limitations. It appeared in proof, that when the negroes were about being sent to the house of defendant, by Paine, he did declare to his daughter, that they were lent during his pleasure, and were not designed as a gift. But it did not appear that the defendant was pre-sent, and it was also in proof, that defendant always claimed title to the negroes, that he made it known and held them as his own, in opposition to the title now set up, Hendekson, Judge, in delivering the opinion of the Court, says, “As to the statute of limitations relied on, in the answer, there is no pretence for its operation, either in Law or Equity, the possession of the defendant was that of a mere bailee, notwithstanding his declarations that he claimed them as his own, he could not by his own act throw' off his character of bailee,” Upon the application of the foregoing authorities to the case before the Court, I am clearly of opinion that the defendants can not protect themselves by the statute of limitations, even admitting that this is such case as in which the statute might be a bar, *123because their possession is not adverse, being nothing but a continuance of the possession of Buckley, which was in accordance with the agreement, and consistent with the right of complainants, and also because their possession could not be adverse until demand made. The Court is therefore of opinion, that if it erred in charging the Jury that the statute did not commence running until after the probate of the will of BticMey, the error was in this, that it was thereby deciding that the statute did commence running from that time, which the Court does not now believe, and being favorable to the defendants, it is a matter of which they have no right to complain.

Fourth ground. Because the Jury have returned a verdict in fa-vour of Joseph Frost and wife, who have been made parties by an amendment, who claim to be entitled to one-fifth of the properly in controversy, without there being any evidence going to shew he had commenced any suit for his share of said property against the defendants, until after the expiration of four years from the time of the probate of the will of said Buckley, so as to take the case out of the statute of limitations as to him The position occupied by defendants’ counsel upon this ground is this, that the bill which was filed in the year 1835 by John L. Marlin, who states that he was the assignee of Frost and others, can not prevent the operation of the statute so far as Frost is concerned, because they say that on the trial Marlin could not shew an assignment of Frost’s interest, and therefore his interest cannot be considered as having been sued for, and that there was no action commenced as to him, or for his interest, until ho was made a party by an amendment to the bill filed in 1839. If this be true that this was no suit as to him, then, there being ho evidence to shew that any demand had ever been made for his interest, and it being necessary that there should be a demand made, to constitute the possession of defendants adverse according to the authorities already cited, it will be perceived, that the authorities relied on as to the third ground, are equally applicable to this — first, that it is a case in which there is no Common Law remedy, and therefore, being a case of trust, falling peculiarly and exclusively within the cognizance of a Court of Equity, the statute of limitations is no bar — secondly, that if it were a case in which the statute could be pleaded, (which can only be done where the Courts o f Law and Equity have concurrent jurisdiction,) that the statute has *124not run against the complainant because there is no adverse possession.

The fifth ground is: Because defendants are sued by complainants as the executors of Hiram, Buckley, deceased, and required to account for property held and possessed in their representative capacity, and the Jury have refused to allow them credit for their disbursements as rendered in their answer, which disbursements had been allowed and sanctioned by the Court of Ordinary of De Kalb County, and were not contradicted by any testimony. As to this ground, it must be recollected, that the suit was not brought by the complainants as the legatees of Hiram Buckley, and do not therefore claim the property as belonging to his estate ; if so, there would be no doubt that the returns made by the defendants as executors of said estate, being uncontradicted, ought to be allowed ; but if complainants were entitled to the negroes as their own property immediately on the death of Buckley, they were also entitled to the hire of said negroes, after deducting therefrom the amount expended for the use and on account of said negroes; but there is no reason why the hire of said negroes should be applied to the payment of the debts of said Buckley, they should be paid out of the estate of Buckley proper. It will be found by reference to said returns, that the hire of the negroes, the subject of the suit, amounts to the sum of $3157, and the interest on the same amounts to the sum of #824, making together the sum of #3981, and the Jury found the sum of $2557 for hire, which leaves a balance of $1424 of the hire and interest which they did not find, the presumption is, that the Jury considered this amount sufficient to satisfy all the disbursements which had been made by said defendants, on account of said negroes, and this being a matter proper for the Jury to determine, and the allowance appearing to be sufficiently large, the Court cannot therefore disturb the verdict on this ground.

The sixth and last ground is : Because the Jury found contrary to Law and evidence. The Court has endeavoured to shew, that the verdict is not contrary to Law, and it was the peculiar province of the Jury to determine the facts to which the Law was applicable, and the evidence being conflicting as to some of the important facts of the case, the Court can not take upon itself to say that the ver-*125diet was contrary to evidence. The motion for a new trial is therefore refused.

Warner <fe Foster, for the motion. Colquitt, Ray, Calhoun <& Clarke, contra, WILLIAM EZZARD, j. s. r