Simmons v. Barns

263 Mass. 472 | Mass. | 1928

Sanderson, J.

In this case a verdict was returned for the plaintiff upon a count for money had and received. Subject to the plaintiff’s exception, the court directed a verdict for the defendant on counts two and three, based upon a conversion of the bonds by the deceased, Augustus Wheeler. The evidence would not justify a finding that demand for the bonds was made upon Wheeler or that he converted them. No error appears in the ruling of the court on these counts.

The jury were warranted in finding that in the summer of 1913, the defendant’s testator, Augustus Wheeler, delivered to the plaintiff five $1,000 bonds of the New York Central Railroad Company, bearing interest at five per cent payable May 1 and November 1 of each year; that thereupon she accepted his offer to place them in an envelope with her name upon it in his safe deposit box for safekeeping, giving her the interest twice a year, and to renew them at maturity or invest their proceeds in something equally good which would give the plaintiff an equivalent return. The evidence justified the finding that there was a-valid gift of the bonds to the plaintiff. Grover v. Grover, 24 Pick. 261. Bone v. Holmes, 195 Mass. 495, 505. Although she examined the bonds, she was unable to state of what issue they were, but testified that Wheeler told her they would mature between 1916 and 1919. Interest was paid by Wheeler to the plaintiff, or to some one in her behalf, from November, 1913, to May, 1922. Thereafter she received no income from him except $50 and never received any payment on account of principal. When he died, in 1924, no bonds of the New York Central Railroad Company were found among his assets. The plaintiff wrote the executor in regard to the bonds and he informed her that he could find no record of such bonds in Wheeler’s papers. There was evidence from which it could have been found that only two issues of New York Central five per cent bonds were outstanding in August and September of 1913, on which coupons became due and payable May 1 and November 1; one of these maturing November 1, 1922, the other May 1, 1918. - The jury could have found that the bonds were a part of one of these issues; that both issues were paid at par at maturity; and that Wheeler, having undertaken to collect them at maturity, then received their proceeds. There was testimony tending to show that in 1920 Wheeler burned all his personal books of account and records, making it impossible to determine what he might have done with the proceeds of any bonds.

The jury could have found that a valid trust in these bonds and in their proceeds was proved. Jenkins v. Bacon, 111 Mass. 373, 377. Chase v. Perley, 148 Mass. 289, 294. It is the trustee’s duty to account for money held by him in trust. Ashley v. Winkley, 209 Mass. 509, 525. Chamberlain v. Henry, ante, 63, 66. The trust could have been terminated by the plaintiff at any time as matter of right. Nothing would remain for the trustee to do but to pay over the money. Farrelly v. Ladd, 10 Allen, 127. Chase v. Perley, supra. Gannon v. Ruffin, 151 Mass. 204, 207. “When trust money becomes so mixed up with the trustee’s individual funds that it is impossible to trace and identify it as entering into some specific property, the trust ceases.” Little v. Chadwick, 151 Mass. 109, 110. Lowe v. Jones, 192 Mass. 94, 100. The defendant offered no evidence tending to prove that Wheeler reinvested or expended for the plaintiff the money received for the bonds at maturity, and in the absence of such evidence the inference was justified that it was in his estate at the time of his death or had been used or expended by him. “Where there is or has been a trust, and it is the duty of the trustee to pay to his cestui que trust a definite sum of money on demand, and nothing else remains to be done, an action at law can be maintained by the cestui que trust.” Henchey v. Henchey, 167 Mass. 77, 79. “Where property belonging to the plaintiff has been reduced to money after it was received by the defendant but before the action is brought, money had and received lies.” Devlin v. Houghton, 202 Mass. 75, 78. On the evidence such an action could have been maintained against Wheeler during his fife. Arms v. Ashley, 4 Pick. 71, 73. Flye v. Hall, 224 Mass. 528, 529. An action so begun would have survived and it may, therefore, be prosecuted against his executor. G. L. c. 230, § 1. To maintain the action it is not necessary to trace the specific proceeds of the bonds or to prove that the money came into the hands of the executor. Attorney General v. Brigham, 142 Mass. 248,250,251. Minchin v. Minchin, 157 Mass. 265, 266. Henchey v. Henchey, supra. Hewitt v. Hayes, 205 Mass. 356,363. The plaintiff is not seeking to establish a trust in any specific property in the hands of the defendant. See Lowe v. Jones, supra. Hewitt v. Hayes, supra; Stadmiller v. Schirmer, 248 Mass. 244, 248. No previous demand for the money was necessary as the foundation for an action; on the count for money had and received the writ was a sufficient demand. See Dill v. Wareham, 7 Met. 438, 448.

Inasmuch as the motion for a directed verdict on the first count was based upon the pleadings and the evidence, it should have been granted, because the evidence would not justify a finding that the money was received by the executor. But the issue, whether the money was received by the testator, was fully tried, and, for this reason, if within thirty days after rescript the Superior Court shall permit the plaintiff to amend count one by substituting for the word “defendant” the words “the deceased Augustus Wheeler,” then the defendant’s exceptions are to be overruled; otherwise they are to be sustained. Plaintiff’s exceptions overruled.

So ordered.