450
FEDERAL REPORTER;
vol,. 65.
in and about said negotiations and purchase were such as are ordinarily rendered by an attorney for his clients' under like circum· stances. Third. McKee and Verner had no knowledge, during the pendency of said negotiations, nor until the latter part of May, 1893, that there was any claim on the part of cross complainant, Mason, that there was, or was claimed to be, a secret agreement and understanding between himself and said Shaffer by which he was to have and receive a fair and equitable share of the commission which McKee and Verner had contracted and agreed to pay to said Shaffer; but it was the belief and understanding of said McKee and Verner that said Mason was in their employ as their attorney and legal adviser, and not otherwise. Fourth. McKee and Verner understood at and before they entered into the contract of November 17, 1892, that the entire amount of the' commission mentioned therein had been earned by said Shaffer alone; and they contracted and agreed to pay him said sum on the distinct understanding on their part that he alone was entitled to receive the same for his sole use and benefit. Fifth. McKee and Verner are justly indebted to said cross com· plainant, Mason, for the reasonable value of his services as their attorney in and about said negotiations and purchase. Sixth. It is not proved by a preponderance of the evidence that the cross complainant, Mason, is entitled to receive any part of the commission agreed to be paid to said Shaffer by the contract of November 17, 1892; and the court therefore finds that the whole amount of the commission mentioned in said contract belongs and is due and payable to said Shaffer. Seventh. Said sum of $100,000, by the terms of said contract, became due and payable March 9, 1893; and said Shaffer is entitled to receive the sum of $25,000, remaining unpaid, together with six per cent. interest thereon from March 9, 1893, to this time, amounting, in principal and interest, to the sum of $26,933.80. Eighth. The costs in this case ought to be paid by the complain· ants, McKee and Verner, and cross complainant, Mason. Ninth. Let a decree be entered in conformity to the above findings.
BOLTON et al. v. GUINN. (Circuit Court, W. D. MissourI, W. D. January 21, 1895.) 1. 2. EQUITy-PLEADING-SIGNING ANSWER.
The court may allow defendant to sign his answer where objected to be· cause not signed. Objection that an answer is not verified may be obviated by the court's allowing its verification.
SAME-VERIFICATION.
8.
SAME-JOINDER OF DEFENSES TN ANSWER.
, Under equity rule 39 defendant may join in his answer all matters ot defense in bar or to the merits ot the bill.
V. GUINN.
451
4.
!SAME-DENIALS.
In equity pleadings, denials Or admissions should be specific direct, and it is not enough to allege that. every allegation of the bill, p.ot expressly admitted, is denied. A surviving partner has, for the purpose of administering and winding up the partnership affairs, the right of possession of partnership real estate, exclusive of ,the deceased partner's heirs, and therefore they cannot, pending the administration, maintain against him an action for partition thereof. The dower of a deceased partner's widow does not attach to his interest in partnership real estate till the partnership debts are paid. ESTATE-RIGHTS OF SUHVIVING PARTNER-PARTITION.
5.
PARTNERSHIP
6.
DOWER-IN PARTNERSHIP REAIJ ESTATE.
'1.
PARTITION-ADJUSTMENT OF PARTNERSHIP ESTATE.
A bill framed for partition and aecounting as between tenants in common cannot be maintained as a bill for adjustment of a partnership estate, it appearing that the land is part of an unadministered partnership estate, defendant being the surviving partner, and plaintiffs, heirs of the deceased partner.
Suit by Holton and others agaillilt Guinn for partition. Heard on exceptions to the answer. E. W. Pattison and A. E. Spencer, for complainants. Karnes, Holmes & Krauthoff and Thomas & Hackney, for defendant. PHILIPS, District Judge. Complainants have filed exceptions to the answer herein, which, for the purpose of consideration, will be grouped together in respect of their materiality. 1. It is objected that the answer is not signe.d by the defendant. This has been obviated by affixing the signature of defendant by leave of court. 2. It is objected that the answer conjoins matter of defense with matter in the nature of a plea in bar, and the same is not verified by proper certificate of counsel. Under rule 39 of practice in equity, a defendant is entitled in his answer to insist upon all matters of defense in bar, or to the merits of the bill. Waiving the question as to whether- an answer thus containing matter in bar with the merits should be treated as of the nature of a dilatory plea, couns(>l for defendant, by leave of court, have appended to the answer the formal certificate required by rule 31. 3. It is objected that the answer does not specifically deny or admit whether or not the oratrix Sarah H. Lloyd is the widow, aud the orators 'l'yree and William Lloyd are the heirs, of Elijall Lloyd, deceased. The answer denies every allegation of the bill not expressly admitted to be true. This form of pleading is of questionable admLssibility, even in a law action. Long v. Long, 79 Mo. 649. In equity pleading, designed to search out the conscience of the party, and to put him to the very truth of the matter, all semblance of double and evasive pleading should be avoided, so as not to leave the adversary to seek out through the whole body of the pleading, and determine at his peril, precisely what is intended to be admitted and what controverted. Specific and direct denials or admissions not only tend to define and sharpen the issues, but enablp
FEDERAL REPORTER,
vol. 6.5.
the parties to prepare for trial, and save costs and trouble in taking testimony on matters not in good faith controverted. The answer in this' respect should be made more specific, as also the issue tendered in the bill as to the guardianship of the alleged minors, and the action respecting such guardianship taken in the probate court of Jasper county. These are mere formal matters, the evidence of which is readily accessible to the pleader, and he should take the pains to ascertain such facts before taking issue thereon in the forum of conscience. 4. The remaining exceptions, stripped of all specialty and technicality, depend for their disposition upon the single question whether or not the matters and things pleaded over in the answer constitute any bar to complainants' right to the relief sought in the bill. The theory and gravamen of the bill is that one Elijah Lloyd, late husband of the oratrix and father of the orators Tyree and William Lloyd, died intestate in 1892, seised of the undivided one-half interest in certain lands situate in Jasper county, this state, and that the respondent, Guinn, is the owner of the other undivided one-half interest in said lands. After alleging the occupancy and use of said lands, and the reception of the rents and profits thereof, by the respondent, the bill seeks to have the lands partitioned, and the widow's dower assigned, and for an accounting against the respondent. The answer denies generally these averments of the bill, and then pleads affirmatively the substantive facts following, to wit: That in 1874, and prior thereto, the respondent was the owner in fee of said land. That at said time said lands were believed by respondent and said Elijah Lloyd to be mineral lands of great value; and that thereupon they formed a copartnership, under the firm name of Guinn & Lloyd, for the purpose of prospecting for mineral ores, and developing the same, and conducting mining operations thereon; and to that end entered into articles of copartnership, the principal provisions whereof are that the lands should be examined and prospected, and, in case valuable minerals were found, the same should be mined, and the product marketed. That said Lloyd was to make such examination, and give his personal attention thereto, the expenses, losses, and profits connected therewith to be equally shared between them, and securing to said Lloyd the right to purchase of respondent the one-half interest thereunder at any time during the existence of the partnership, by paying therefor such portion of the sum of $6,000 (the original price paid therefor by respondent) as should be equal to the portion of the interest in said land purchased by Lloyd, the sum so to be paid by Lloyd to draw interest at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum from the date of respondent's purchase of said land until the same should be paid by said Lloyd. It is further provided that whenever the profits arising from mining operations and the sale of part of the land should amount to the sum of $6,000, and be received by Guinn, together with 10 per cent. interest as aforesaid, then the said Lloyd should become owner of an undivided onehalf interest in the lands remaining unSOld; whereby it is averred the land became partnership property, respondent putting the land into the partnership, and the said Lloyd putting in his personal serv-
HOLTON tI. GUINN.
453
ices free of charge to the partnership. The answer then avers that in May, 1883, the profits of said mining operations amounted to the sum of $6,000, together with 10 per cent. interest thereon, and said Lloyd thereby acquired an interest in the assets of the partnership equal to the interest of the respondent therein; and thereupon, in pursuance of the articles of copartnership, the respondent made a deed of conveyance to said Lloyd of an undivided one-half interest in said lands, and said Lloyd thereby became interested with respondent in all the partnership property, including said real estate. The answer further avers that thereafter the said partners began prospecting and mining operations further on said lands, and that from time to time respondent advanced to said partnership large sums of money for conducting the said partnership business; which said partnership was so carried on until June, 1892, when said Lloyd departed this life. That during the said copartnership the said Lloyd was the active business manager of said firm, receiving and bursing large sums of money on account thereof, and received and drew out of the partnership assets large sums of money in excess of the amount received by respondent; and that said Lloyd appropriated to his own use a large amount of certain personal property belonging to the partnership, so that at the time of his death he had appropriated partnership property largely in excess of the amount which was received by the respondent. The answer then alleges that the partnership affairs have never been settled, and a full accounting had thereon. That soon after the death of Lloyd respondent was duly appointed by the probate court of Jasper Gounty, Mo., having competent jurisdiction thereof, administrator of the said partnership estate, as surviving partner of said firm. That he executed a bond as such surviving partner, pursuant to the statute of the state, which was duly approved by said probate court; and that he has since been proceeding as such surviving partner and administrator to have charge of and administer said partnership estate; and that said administration has not yet been completed, but is still pending, and that the time for filing claims against said estate has not expired. That he has been and is proceeding with all reasonable dispatch to close up the affairs of said partnership. That owing to the character of the property, and the condition of the affairs of said partnership, it has been impossible for him to close up the affairs of said partnership, ap,d he is unable to state the condition of the affairs thereof. That on a settlement thereof the said partnership will be found to be indebted to respondent in a large sum of money, which he believes will amount to the sum of $20,000, and that said sum so due him constitutes a lien upon the land in question, and that until the closing of said partnership administration the interest of complainants in said real estate cannot be determined. The answer takes direct issue on the averments of the bill that complainants and defendant are tenants in common in the real estate, or that he has recognized that fact since the death of Lloyd, or that he has received any rents or profits of said lands as a tenant in common; but admits that during his administration as surviving partner he has received rents and royalty therefrom, which sums he
454
.
FEDERAL REl'ORTER t
vol. 6.1.
has credited to said partnership estate, and applied to the payment of partnership debts, and that as such administrator he has made and is making annually an accounting to the said probate court. The answer further alleges that upon the death of said Elijah Lloyd letters of administration were granted by the said probate court, of competent jurisdiction, on the estate of said Elijah Lloyd, to one Andrew Donnan, which estate, is yet in process of administration, and that the time is not yet expired for the presentation and allowance of claims against the individual estate of said Lloyd; and it is further averred that, after the settlement of the partnership affairs, the interest of said Elijah Lloyd's heirs will be subject to the payment of the illllividual debts of said Lloyd. The question, therefore, is, conceding these facts as pleaded, are the complainants entitled to proceed in partition of the lands, and for an accounting of the rents and profits thereof, against this respondent? If the lands were partnership property on the death of Lloyd, one of the partners, the right of possession, dominion, and management thereof devolved upon respondent as such surviving partner, for the purpose of administering and winding up the partnership affairs. In contemplation of law, the realty for this purpose is personal property and partnership assets. Its primary liability in his hands is for the debts of the copartnership. To this end respondent is entitled to the usufruct thereof, for the purpose of paying off partnership debts; and he may sell and dispose of such real estate, if necessary to such end. Easton v. Courtwright, 84 Mo. 27; Hollman v. Nance, Id. 674; Duryea v. Burt, 28 Oal. 569. The surviving partner who has advanced moneys for the use and benefit of the partnership, or for the benefit of the estate, is a creditor of the estate therefor, and is entitled to a lien on the partnership property for v. Chouteau, 85 Mo. 398-40'), Willett v. Brown, recompense. 65 Mo. 138. Until such administration is closed by discharge of the partnership debts, the possession of the partnership realty by the surviving partner is adverse to and exclusive of the heir at law, and hence suit in partition will not lie. Holmes v. McGee, 27 Mo. 597; Priest v. Chouteau, 85 Mo. 407; 2 Bates, Partn. 971 et seq.; 1 Woerner, Adm'n, § 126. Nor does the widow's dower attach to the deceased husband's interest until after the partnership debts are discharged. Authorities supra. In view of the state of the law, it is not essential that the court should discuss the extent of respondent's interest in the land, or the relative equities of the partners respecting the 'same. That question cannot be determined in a partition suit, if the lands were partnership property, and the partner is holding the same as surviving partner for the purposes of adjusting the partnership liabilities. Nor is it necessary for the court to undertake to deterrtline the question, mooted by counsel, as to whether the fact that respondent, as surviving partner, has given bond to the probate court of the county where the land lies, and is accounting thereon, as surviving partner, administering the partnership estate, to the probate court, has the effect to preclude a court of chancery from entertaining a bill in equity for the adjustment of the partnership estate. The bill in question is not framed on the
LONG ISLAND LOAX <It TRUST CO. V. COLUMBUS, C. '" I. C. RY. CO.
4.55
theory of an unsettled partnership, but is simply for partition and accounting as between tenants in The answer, therefore, in my opinion, pleads matters which, if true, are a bar to the relief sought in the pending bill, and the exceptions thereto are overruled, save in the matters first indicated in this opinion.
LONG ISLA:\'D LOAN & TRUST CO. v. COLUMBUS, C. & t. C. RY. CO. et al. (Circuit Court, D. Indiana. No. 8,867. RAILROAD BONDS--SALE BY PRESIDENT-INNOCENT PURCHASER.
January 28, 1895.)
Where negotiable railroad bonds perfect in form, payable to bearer, and certified by the trustee to evidence that they had become obligatory, are placed by the company in the hands of Its president to sell or exchange for its benefit, they are valid in the hands of a purchaser in good faith 1)('fore maturity, though they were disposed of by the president for his own benefit, after consolidation of the company with other companies, and though at the time of the purchase two of the semiannual interest coupon:; attached to each bond were past due.
Suit by the Long Island Loan & Trust Company against the ColulllbUS, Ohicago & Indiana Central Railway Company. Kittredge, Wilby & Silllmons, for complainant. Lawrence Maxwell, Watson, Burr & Livesay, and S. O. Pickens, for defendants. BAKER, District Judge. On or about the 1st day of November, 1864, pursuant to a resolution of its board of directors, the Oolumbus & Indianapolis Oentral Railway Company made and authorized to be issued its certain series of bonds, numbered consecutively from 1 to 1,000, inclusive, for $1,000 each, payable on the 1st day of November, 1904, with 7 per cent. interest thereon, payable semiannually, evidenced by coupons annexed thereto. All of these bonds' were duly signed by its president, and attested by its secretary, and sealed with its corporate seal. In the body of each bond was contained a provision in these words: "This bond shall not become obligatory until it shall bave been authenticated by a certificate annexed to it, duly signed by the trustee."
Each bond contains on its face, immediately below the signatures of the president and secretary, the following certificate: "I hereb3' certify that this bond is OM of the series of bonds described in and secured by the deed of trust or mortgage above mentioned. "[Signed] A. Parkhurst, Trustee."
At the same time the railway company executed a trust deed or mortgage to secure the bonds to Archibald Parl;:hurst, trustee, which was duly recorded in each county in the states of Ohio and Indiana into or through which the railway ran. On the 11th day of September, 1867, the Oolumbus & Indianapolis Oentral Railway Company was consolidated with other railroads, and became the Oolumbus & Indiana Oentral Railway Compau,}'. On the of