Weston v. Stuart

| Me. | Jun 15, 1834

JYIeulen C. 3.

Several objections have been urged against the plaintiff’s right to recover in this action; two against the legality of the submission, and one against the legality of the award. Without pausing to inquire how far either of the parties is entitled ,io contend against the formality of the submission to which both have solemnly assented, or object to the right so to assent and contract, we proceed at once to the consideration of the objections. To understand them clearly, it may be useful to state in a summary manner, some of the facts which led the parties to ¡enter into the submission. It appears, that on the 15th of February, 1830., one Joseph Comings conveyed to one Zilpha Stuart, the wife of the defendant, a certain parcel of real estate in fee. That afterwards, the said Comings was duly placed under the guardianship of the plaintiff being then a lunatic. It seems that the guardian apprehended that an adequate price was not paid or secured for such real estate, and thereupon the plaintiff and the defendant with his wife, executed the bond of submission, bearing date April 9, 1832, oh which the proceedings in question are founded. The first objection is, that the plaintiff as guardian of Comings, had no legal authority to enter into the submission. That a guardian has a general authority to submit to arbitrators or referees questions and controversies respecting the property and interests of his ward, seems to be well established by the authorities cited by the counsel for the plaintiff. There does not appear any good reason why he should not possess this legal authority as well as an executor or administrator. It is .said, that as the plaintiff in his capacity of guardian had no right to dispose of the real estate of his ward by deed, without a license from the appropriate tribunal, be surely could have no right in an indirect mode to effect the same object. Be it so. But if we look to the terms of the submission, we find that no such object was in contemplation. The arbitrators were to enquire and decide “ whether a full and adequate consideration or price has been paid to Joseph Comings for the real estate conveyed to Zilpha Stuart,” and if they should decide that there had been, then they were to award that she “shall hold said real estate forever acquitted and discharged from any further claim upon her or her husband, for or on account of said real estate, to be made by raid Comings or his guardian or legal representatives.” But if they should be of opinion that said Comings had not received a just, full and adequate consideration and price for the real estate abovementioned, then they were empowered to decide “ what further sum shall be paid to the said Comings ; in what manner, and at what time; or whether the said Weston shall pay to said Stuart the amount that has been -paid to said Comings and interest; how he shall ¡ray it, whether in land by appraisal by them made, or any other way, and at what time the payment shall be made, and award proper deeds of conveyance, according to their determination.” — By the award it appears that there was awarded to be paid by the defendant to the plaintiff the sum of $2070,48, “ to make a full and adequate compensation or price for the real estate covered or conveyed to Zilpha Stuart by the said Comings.” In the above transaction the plaintiff seems to have promoted and protected the interests of his ward, in the discharge of what he considered his duty.

The second objection to the submission is, that the wife of the defendant joined with him in the submission, and executed the same. It is contended that she had no legal capacity to do this, and that it vitiates the submission. Whatever the common law may be as to the power of a wife in such a ease, it is clear that in this State she may join with her husband in a deed of conveyance of her land, and the estate will pass. We do not at present perceive why she might not with her husband, by a submission of a question as to the title of her land, to the decision of arbitrators, make a contingent disposition of the land in this indirect manner: on this point we need not give any opinion. Her joinder with her husband could do no injury, as none of the particulars in the condition of the bond could bind her or affect her legal rights; the defendant only is bound by them. He and his estate only are liable for the sum awarded. Besides, several of the author»ties which have been cited by the counsel for the plaintiff shew that a wife may legally join with her husband in a submission to arbitration, where her own property is concerned.

The third objection is, that the arbitrators have exceeded their authority. They have designated the mode in which the sum awarded was to be paid, partly in money and partly in delivering up to the plaintiff certain evidences of debt, particularly described in the awardthis they had, by the terms of the submission, express authority to do. They have also awarded that the defendant shall release to Comings, or his guardian, a part of the land which Comings conveyed to him, as before mentioned, on which certain executions had been extended, for which Comings or his guardian shall allow him four hundred and sixty-two dollars and sixty-five cents. This is awarded, as the mode of doing justice to all concerned ; the land having been taken on execution as the property of Comings, it was proper that on Stuarfs releasing all his claim to those parts, by the levy on which debts due from Comings had been paid, he or his guardian ought to pay or rather allow the sum mentioned to Stuart: we are to presume that it was the fair value of the same. We perceive no excess of authority in all this. It is a part of the manner of payment, which the arbitrators were expressly empowered to prescribe. No title of real estate belonging to Comings is thereby affected, but only a right of action against Comings extinguished by the release ordered to be given by Stuart. The remainder of the award has reference merely to the time of payment of the sum due.

One further objection has been made against the ruling of the Judge, by which certain evidence, which was offered by the defendant, was rejected. It is said, that there was a mistake committed by the arbitrators in their estimate of the value of the land conveyed. We need not here inquire whether this could be shewn as an objection in this action ; because no such intimation was made when the rejected evidence was offered. On this point the report states, that the defendant “ offered proof that the actual value of said farm at the time of said conveyance was less than $2000 ; viz. from $1500 to $1700, which proof was rejected.” In the offer of the proof nothing is said or pretended about any mistake of any kind, but merely that he could prove, that in the opinion of his witnesses, the value of the land was less than the arbitrators considered it to be. By the submission, they were to settle the question of value — and settle it finally and conclusively. On this ground the evidence was very properly rejected. On a view of all the objections, we are of opinion that there, must be

Judgment on the verdict.