Ralph v. George
Ralph v. George
Opinion of the Court
— This is an action by which appellant seeks to. have appellee account to her for the sum of $1,200, and the profits accrued thereon, by reason of the following instrument addressed to the former and signed by the latter:
“I have this day purchased the personal property including machinery and buildings, of the Decatur Ice Company, located at Vandyke and Wabash Railroad, Decatur, Illinois, pay therefore the sum of $4800.00, as shown by a bill of sale in my name, said money being furnished as follows: $1200.00 by yourself per Wm. E. Ralph, Agent, $3200.00 by the Vigo Ice & Cold Storage Company and $400.00 by myself. I promise as soon as the proposed Company is organized to take over the above property, to transfer, and now order my successors, heirs and assigns to transfer, the title in and to the said property, and also interest in a lease on the ground occupied by said building, to said Company, for which I am to receive stock which I shall cause, and*493 hereby promise and agree to cause to be issued as follows: 40/60 of said issue of stock to the Vigo Ice & Cold Storage Co., 14/60 of said issue of stock to Mrs. William E. Ralph and 6/60 to myself. All of the foregoing promised to be carried out by me in the fulfillment of a trust imposed in me, by yourself and the Vigo Ice and Cold Storage Co.”
After the formation of issues, the cause was submitted to the court for trial, resulting in a judgment in favor of appellee. Appellant filed a motion for a new trial, which was overruled, and this action of the court constitutes the only error assigned on appeal.
One of the reasons on which appellant bases her motion for a new trial is, that the decision of the court is not sustained by sufficient evidence. While the uncontradicted evidence shows that appellant never received the stock mentioned in said agreement, and that appellee had never accounted to her for said sum of $1,200, or any profits thereon, there is evidence from which the court may have concluded, that appellant never furnished said sum, or any amount, in payment of the purchase price of the property described therein, but that the other parties mentioned in said agreement furnished all of the money paid therefor; and that appellee was induced to make said agreement by the fraudulent representations of appellant’s agent, who secured its execution. In support of this statement we cite the evidence which tends to prove, that one William E. Ralph was the husband of appellant, and represented her in the transactions involved in said agreement; that he had the property mentioned therein for sale, and induced appellee to purchase the same, with the understanding that the purchase price would be $4,800, of which amount appellant would furnish $1,200, and appellee and the Vigo Ice and Cold Storage Company should furnish the remainder; that appellant drew a check for $1,200, which was delivered to the
Appellant asserts, in effect, that appellee, having made himself the trustee of a trust in her favor, by executing the agreement in suit, cannot deny its validity, and cites Brunson v. Henry (1894), 140 Ind. 455, 39 N. E. 256, wherein it is said: “The rule is elementary that a trust once created and . accepted cannot be altered or changed, either by the donor or trustee, without the consent of the beneficiary.” If it could be said that the execution of the agreement in suit created
The only other reason for a new trial, contained in appellant’s motion therefor is, that the decision of the court is contrary to law, but no question is presented in that regard which requires our consideration.
Judgment affirmed.
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