Ristine v. Kurtz
Ristine v. Kurtz
Opinion of the Court
We experience little difficulty in reaching a satisfactory conclusion in this case. Counsel for appellants, by their brief, evidence a commendable effort to trace and present the doctrine of trusts, and the extent to which a trust, when once impressed upon a fund, will follow it, even into the hands of innocent third parties. On this appeal there is no claim of a liability, except as to defendant, Charles E. Beam; and such claim is because of his sale to Bowdle, and the receipt of the two thousand six hundred dollars. The thought is that the trust created by the law, as to the property of the estate for the payment of claims, constructively attaches to this money, in the hands of Beam, as a legatee under the will. Now, let it be conceded that if Beam had received any part of the estate of his mother, to the prejudice of any claimant, that a constructive trust would be created, and the funds in his hands be liable to the full extent for their payment, and we are in a position to inquire if that is Beam’s relation to the case. Beam’s interest in the estate of his mother was not a definite amount, in dollars and cents, but a proportionate amount of any balance, after the satisfaction of all claims preferred by operation of law. He sold to Bowdle his interest in the estate, which gave to Bowdle, at the time of distribution to legatees, the right to take what, but for the sale, would be Beam’s right. The transaction in no way disturbed the estate, or affected a claimant. It was a substitution of one person for
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.