244
FEDERAL REPORTER.
numerous coJifiicting decisions of courts, we think no two courts could differ as to the clear intention of the testator. By lawful heirs of their own, he evidently means lineal heirs or issue." See, also, the opinion of Lord MANSFIELD in Davie v. Stev£m8, 1 Doug. 321. This would seem the only intelligent view which will give effect to every effective word·in the clause, and this, the court must do if possible. Had the testatrix reference to any heirs who were not to be the issue of Abigail's? If so, why use the defining word "issue," and the alternative phrase, "in default of BUch Had she perceived the future husband of Abigail in the horizon of her benefaction, she would not have used the phrase" heirs," because by the law as it then stood the husband,hyvirtue of hiemaritlilrights,',wasthe sole 4eir, no matter how many children may have been born to Abigail. The bequest was to Abigail's "heirs,"and ill default ofsuch issue, th,en over to the sister, with remainder to the'sons ofabrother; blftno fair or reasonable of this clause can compass within it as one of the heirs of A,.big/lil a hmband of ",hom ,had probably never heard. Such a. conjecture isdistinctlyJ.at varian,ee,wit4t4e entire testamentary scheme of Mrs. Murray. Had she designed a benefit for the husband, t4e issue of the marriage would. not have. been considered or over to her sister, with remainmentioned, and certainly the der in fee to her nephews, would I hold, therefore, that the term" heirs," as used in this clause; is'not used in that technical sehee which would cast the estate upon the husband of Abiliving gail, but thatit is a mere descriptio personarum of Abigail's at the time her death. This will not tend to create a perpetuity, but simply the root of a new inheritance. It is tantamount to heirs of the body, and indicates the persons intended to take the estate. 4 Kent, Comm. 221. This construction will exclud,e the husband of Abigail, and will, in the opinion of the court, cast the title on the plaintiff, her only child living at Abigail's death. The motion to direct a verdict for the defendant is therefore denied.
or
COLLINS v. WELLINGTON and others. ' (Oi"cuit Oourt, D. Oonnecucut. Mpv 20, lBe7,) 1. REMOVAL OF CAUSES-SHAM DEFENDANT-MUNlV"IPAL CORPORATIONS.
Plaintiff, a citizen of Connecticut. brought in R state conrt' of Connecticut an action of assumpsit against several non·resiuents, and the borough of Danburf' a municipal corporation of Connecticut. A motion to remand will bit dellled where the corporation defendant has been made'such without, according to the testhnony of the plaintiff. and each of the defendants, so far as they have testified, any legal claim against it in such action, and where it appears that the corporation is in fact a sham defendant, though not made so for fraudulent purposes.
COLLINS V.WELLINGTON.
245
S.
SAME-SECTION 5, ACT MARCH 3. 1875. If it should thereafter appear in such case that the finding, which is based
on the testimony Of the plaintiff. is unwarranted. and that there is any ground for making the corporation a defendant. the cause can be remanded under section 5 of the act of March 3. 1875.
Lewi8 E. Stantan and Aaron T. Bates, for plaintiff. Howard W. Taylor and Morria W. Seymour, for Wellington, Madden &
Coyne. N. D. Brm»8ter, for the Borough of Danbury. SHIPMAN, J. This is a motion to remand to the state court. The facts in the case are that on January 9, 1886, Martin Collins, then and now a citizen of Connecticut, sued, before the superior court for the said state, Charles H.Wellington, then and now a citizen of the state of Massachusetts, Theodore A. Madden,and Andrew Coyne, then and now citizansof the state of New 'York, partners by the name of Wellington, Madden & Coyne, and the borough of Danbury, a municipal corporation, incorporated by the legislature of Connecticut, and located in said state, in an action of general assumpsit. The suit was, about April 22, 1886, and in proper season, removed to this court, upon the petition of Wellington, Madden & Coyne, upon the alleged ground that in said suit there was 8i controversy which was wholly between citizens of ditferent states, and could be fully determined as betw.een them, viz., between the petitioners and the said Collins. The answer to the motion to remand further alleges that the controversy in said suit is wholly between said parties, in which the borough of Danbury has no possible interest, and is a sham defendant. UpOIl the issue as thus made,' Wellington, Madden &. took the affirmative, and testimony both oral and written was heard. It fully appears by the oraHestimony of the plaintiff, corroborated by every witness in the case, as follows: Wellington, Madden & Coyne made a written contract with the borough of Danbury to build for it a dam which was to be a part ofits water-works, and constructed said dam. They made a written subcontract with the plaintiff to perform for them a part of the work, and to furnish a part of the materials upon said dam. This suit is brought to recover from said Wellillgtoh, Madden & Coyne payment for the work done under said subcontract. and for alleged extra work ordered of him by them. Upon the oral testimony of the plaintiff he does not appear to have au actual or colorahle claim in assumpsit against the borough of Danbury, or ground upon which to claim that said borongh is indebted to him by contract, express or implied. Said borough is a defendant without any interest or place in the controversy, and to that extent is a sham defendant, and the whole and entire controversy is exclusively between said Wellingto., Madden & Coyne and said Collins. It was not made a party for the purpose of preventing a to the federal court, and the reason why it was made a defend.ant is not known. The case is not one upon a joint and several contract against several .defendants having separate defenses, and is not a case in which either
246
,l"EDERAL REPORTER.
,one' or the other. of several defendants may perhaps be liable, to which' claim distinct and separate defenses are interposed, and therefore the various decisions which have been made by the supreille conrtupon such a state of facts are not applicable to this case. It is a case in which the borough of Danbury is made a defendant in an action of contract without any legal claim against it insuch action, according to the testimony of the plaintiff, and of each of the defendants, so far as they have testified, and a case in which the corporation is in fact a sham defendant, though not made so for fraudulent purposes. Under the suggestions contained in Plymouth Gold Min. Co. v. Amador Co., 118 U. 264, 6 Sup. Ct. Rep. 1034, I am of opinion that the motion to remand should be denied upon the testimony as now given. If it should hereafter appear that the finding, which is based upon the testimony of the plaintiff, is unwarranted, and that there is any ground for making the corporation a defendant, the cause can be remanded under the fifth section of the act of March 3, 1875.
CENTRAL TRUST Co. OF NEW YORK'll. WABASH, ST. L. & P. Ry. Co. (Intervening Petition of JUSTUS.) .. Ooure, B. D. MiBBOwri, B. D. June 22,1887.)
1.
EQUlTY-FlNDINGS OF. MASTER-(lOlJFLICTING TESTIMONY.
Where the findings of a IUaster that a certaiIi train was moving, w'ithin the limits of a city, at an unlawful rate of speed, that the train-men were not exercising proper vigilance. and that a mishap to a boy occurred in a certain way, are supported by testimonY,the findings will not be interfered with by the court, although tlie testimonY,isconfiicting. A bOY six years old, struck by. train, is not chargeable with contributory . negligence. '
2.
CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE-BoY.
Rassieur & 'l'ijfany, for intervenor. Goo. S. Grooer and H. S. Priest, for defendant. , THAYER, J. t (orally.) The intervenibgpetition'of Richard Justus, 'in the case of the Central Trust CornpaI,l,y against the Wabash, St. Louis, & Pacific Railway Company, is a clai1D for personal injuries. The claim is filed in 'behalf of a boy about six years old, whose foot was crushed in such a way as to necessitate amputation, by.a moving freight train on the crossing of Gano avenue, in the city of St. the Wabash Railroad, Louis, on the third of July last. The intervening petition alleges that the train was moving at an excesSive rate <,>f speed; that the bell as it approached the crossing was not sounded; that the train-men (e';pecially the engineer and fireman) failed to kel=lP a vigilant outlook, as the ordinances of the city require. The master. has found that the train wM
In Equity.