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27 Mass. 526

Silsbee v. Ingalls

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Decided November 15, 1830

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1830-11-15

Bill in equity. The plaintiff alleges that he was appointed administrator of the estate of Elizabeth Collins ; that on the 1st of January, 1824, Edmund Ingalls was indebted to her in the sum of $600;'that Edmund Ingalls died, not having paid the debt, and in August 1824 the defendant was appoint ed administratrix of his estate ; that in January 1825 the defendant obtained an order .from the judge of probate to sell real estate of Edmund Ingalls, to the amount of $ 365, for…

Decided 1830-11-15

Per Curiam.

¶1To bring this case within the equity jurisdiction of. the Court it must appear that here was a “ trust arising in the settlement of an estate ; ” but this is an ordinary case of a debt, for which there was a plain, adequate remedy at law, and would be now, but for the statute of limitations ; and the question is, whether the intervention of the statute bar, by taking away the remedy at law, makes the demand a subject of equity jurisdiction ;1 and it clearly cannot have that effect.

¶2*539It is alleged however, that there was a promise by the defendant to pay the plaintiff. But such promise, not being in writing, is within the statute of frauds, and if it were in writing, it would only prove that there is an adequate remedy at law.

¶3It is likewise alleged, that the defendant, by charging the estate of Edmund Ingalls with this demand, in her administration account, has made herself a trustee for the plaintiff. We have not the account before us ; but if she has fraudulently attempted- to exonerate herself as to this amount, in does not prove that the money is held by her in trust for the plaintiff; but she may be liable on a new account, for the fund, to those entitled to claim it.

¶4Bill dismissed.

¶5 The statute of limitations is a good plea in equity, as well as at law. Kane v. Bloodgood, 7 Johns. Ch. R. 90; Bangs v. Hally 2 Pick. (2d ed.) 372, note, and cases cited.

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