Newberry v. Winlock's

168 Ky. 822 | Ky. Ct. App. | 1916

Opinion op the Court by

William Rogers Clay, Commissioner

— Affirming.

This is a suit by Willie Winlock Newberry to enforce a trust against the estate of her father, Doctor J. T. Winlock. Being denied the relief prayed for, she appeals.

Doctor.Winlock first married Josie Simmons. Willie Winlock, now Willie Winlock Newberry, was their only child. Josie’ Simmons Winlock inherited from her father personalty of the value of $433.65, which, on December 15th, 1890, she loaned to her two brothers, S. S. and W. .E. Simmons. She also sold to them her interest in her father’s land for $1,133.60 and took therefor their note, dated February 1st, 1891, and payable to her. S. S. Simmons, one of the borrowers, testified that Mrs. Winlock was anxious for him and his brother to keep the money if they needed it, but they paid off the notes as fast as they could and Mrs. Winlock said that Doctor Winlock could lend it down there as well. Mrs. Winlock also said that she wanted it held for Willie, who was then a child in school; that the doctor had plenty to educate her and she wanted it kept for her, because in the course of time it might possibly be of benefit to her. To this Doctor Winlock agreed, and stated that he would hold the money for Willie and would have no trouble in lending it out. Mrs. Minnie Simmons, wife of S. S. Simmons, testified that when Willie was married, she and her husband went to the' wedding, and in the evening after Willie and her husband were gone, Doctor Winlock said tliat now that Willie was married be wonld tnrn over to ber ber mother’s money; that-he bad always kept it for ber and would bave to tnrn it over to ber. This was in 1899. Sbe also stated that Mrs. Winloek was at ber house several days before sbe died and, in the doctor’s presence, spoke of the money and of ber desire that it should go to Willie. Mrs. Docia Hodges testified that, about seven years before sbe gave her deposition in 1913, the doctor was at ber house and remarked that be would bave to get up some money for Ivy, a niece for whom be was gnardian, but that be would not bave to get up Willie’s, as sbe did not need hers and could do without it for a while. Sbe further testified that sbe was present when Mrs. Winloek was building ber home in 1888 and beard Mrs. Winloek say that sbe wanted things convenient but not expensive; that sbe wanted to save ber money for Willie, who was then a little girl about ten or twelve years old.

It further appears that E. T. Winloek, a brother of Doctor Winloek, died in the year 1901, leaving a last will and testament, by which be devised all of bis property to bis niece, Willie Winloek, with the provision that it should go to the heirs of ber body if sbe should bave heirs, but if sbe should die without heirs, to bis brothers, J. T. and J. R. Winloek. Doctor Winloek was appointed executor of bis brother’s estate. The personal property was appraised at $867.11, which was turned over to Willie Winloek. At that time E. T. Winloek was indebted to Doctor Winloek in the sum of $7,315.37, and possibly more. Evidently for the purpose of investing Willie Winloek with absolute title to the land which the testator owned, the doctor, instead of cancelling bis debts, permitted the land to be sold. It was purchased by Mrs. Newberry for the sum of $6,428.26 and bond executed for the purchase price. Doctor Winloek and Mrs. Newberry, through ber husband, bad some kind of a settlement, and the doctor wrote the commissioner as follows:

“You will mark the sale bond in the above styled action satisfied by agreement between myself and T. P. Newberry and wife.”

There was found among the doctor’s papers a note for $2,448.87, signed by T. P. Newbérry and wife, dated May 8th, 1909, and credited by payment of $500.00, paid February 28th, 1913, and $350.00, paid September 17tb, 1913. There, is further evidence to the effect that the doctor held a prior note for the same sum executed in 1906. It is also shown that plaintiff’s husband, who transacted plaintiff’s business, and Doctor Winlock frequently had business transactions. The relations between plaintiff and her father were very cordial and her father occasionally made her presents.

Some time after his first wife’s death Doctor Winlock married a second time. Of this marriage there were born five children. The doctor died in December, 1912, leaving a will by which he devised his property to his second wife and her children. His will contains the following provision:

“My oldest daughter, Willie Bell Newberry, has already been provided for out of my estate as the settlement of the estate of E". T. Winlock will show, and it is my desire that she shall not share any further in my estate.”

At the time of the doctor’s death his estate was worth between $25,000.00 and $35,000.00. It also appears that Mrs. Newberry and her husband were worth between $20,000.00 and $25,000.00.

The argument for plaintiff is as follows: The evidence is sufficient to establish a trust. Being an express and continuing trust, the statute of limitation does not apply. The plea of accord and satisfaction is not sustained because Doctor Winlock’s will very clearly shows that the property which he gave to his daughter in settlement of E. T. Winlock’s estate was not paid in settlement of the trust, but was an advancement out of his own estate. In support of this contention the point is made that Mrs. Newberry in that settlement received only $6,428.26, less a $2,400.00 note, and as the trust fund at that time amounted to about $3,000.00, she, in fact, received from her father’s estate only $700.00 or $1,000.00, when her father said in his will that she had already been provided for out of his estate. As a matter of fact, however, the doctor’s claims against E. T. Winlock’s estate amounted to $7,315.37. The personal property amounted to $867.11. The doctor could have purchased the land himself and have not been out a single dollar. He does not state in his will that Mrs. Newberry had received her portion of the estate. He merely states that she had been provided for. As a matter of fact, she was enabled by tbe doctor’s assistance to secure a farm, which, at the time of the doctor’s death, was worth at least one-half, and possibly two-thirds, of the doctor’s whole estate. Looking at the matter in this light, he had reason to feel that she had been provided for. Furthermore, as Mrs. Newberry and her husband had gone off together for the purpose of establishing their own home, Mrs. Newberry needed the trust fund then. She was paid a sum very much in excess of the trust fund, even if estimated at its value when paid. It is also clear that this arrangement was made pursuant to an agreement between Doctor Win-lock and Mr. Newberry, who acted as agent for his wife. After that time Mr. and Mrs. Newberry executed their note to the doctor for $2,400.00 and made certain payments thereon. There is no direct testimony as to what items were embraced in the settlement, but the subsequent execution of the note for $2,400.00 was either inconsistent with the existence of the trust, or persuasive evidence that the trust had been fully settled. While it may be true that the statute of limitation does not apply to express and continuing trusts, courts of equity will deny relief upon old and stale claims, where the acts of the parties authorize a presumption unfavorable to the continuance of the trust. Taylor v. Fox’s Executors, et al., 162 Ky., 804; Helm’s Executor v. Rogers, 81 Ky., 568. In the present case, we have a trust alleged to have been created between 1891 and 1894. The beneficiary lived with her father until 1899, when she became of age. A few months later she married. In 1906 the trustee enables her to get the benefit of a large estate by waiving his claims against the devisor. Though claiming that her father was then indebted to her in a sum in excess of that amount, she and her husband executed to her father in settlement a note amounting to $2,400.00. The father dies in December, 1912. The note is found among his papers with certain credits thereon. Not until after his death and his lips are closed is any attempt made to enforce the trust, which it is alleged was created eighteen or nineteen years prior to the time the suit was brought. Considering the lapse of time, the death of the trustee and the inability of the court to ascertain the whole truth in connection with the acts of the parties and other circumstances tending to raise the presumption either that the trust never existed or was fully settled during the life of the trustee, we conclude that plaintiff’s claim is too stale and uncertain to authorize its enforcement .against her father’s estate.

Judgment affirmed.