Gaskill v. Weeks
Gaskill v. Weeks
Opinion of the Court
The bill of complaint in this cause was filed for an accounting, and for construction of the will of Chester Warriner, deceased. Complainants are the surviving heirs of deceased, entitled under his will to share in the distribution of his estate. The principal defendants, Eugene J. Weeks, Charles C. Bloomfield, and Thomas A. Wilson, were named as executors in the will, and qualified as such. They have administered the estate and are called upon as trustees to account for all assets belonging to said estate which have come into their hands. From an adverse decree of the circuit court of Jackson county, the terms of which will be stated later, complainants have appealed.
The facts necessary to be stated are as follows: Chester Warriner died at Jackson, Mich., October 7, 1886, leaving a widow, but no children. He died testate. His will is as follows:
“I, Chester Warriner of the city of Jackson and State of Michigan, do hereby make and publish this my last will and testament thereby intending to dispose of all my worldly estate of which I shall be possessed at the time of my demise. I direct that all my just debts including funeral expenses and expenses of administration be paid out of my estate. The residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, I devise and bequeath to Eugene J. Weeks, Charles C. Bloomfield, and Thomas A. Wilson, my executors, hereinafter named, in trust for the following purposes:
“First. To my wife, Lucy Jane Warriner, during her natural life the net income of my estate and in case such income shall not be sufficient to suitably support her to use*225 and appropriate sufficient of the principal of my estate for that purpose.
“Second. After the death of my wife and the payment of her funeral expenses to convert my remaining estate into money and divide the same between all the children of my brothers and sisters and Eugene J. Weeks then living share and share alike, and in case any of said children shall die leaving issue living at the time of the distribution of my estate such issue shall take the share of their deceased parent.
“ I hereby appoint Eugene J. Weeks, Charles C. Bloomfield and Thomas A. Wilson, executors of this my last will and testament and revoke all other wills by me at any time made.
“In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand this first day of July, A. D. 1884.
“Chester Warriner.
“Signed by the testator, Chester Warriner, as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us, who, at his request, in his sight and presence and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as attesting witnesses this first day of July, A. D. 1884.
“Eugene J. Weeks, Jackson, Mich.
“Thomas A. Wilson, Jackson, Mich.”
The executors made and filed an inventory of the estate, real and personal, and an appraisement of all the property, amounting to $21,155.53. They proceeded under the will to administer the estate. At the time of his death, testator, among other property, owned a one-third interest in the firm of Weeks, Latimer & Co., conducting a drug business, which interest was appraised at $3,383.47. The partner Latimer had a contract with the firm for a term of years, by which he was entitled to manage the business, and, in case of death of a partner, the business was to continue foriihat period. He continued the business until his death one year later. During this time decedent’s interest remained in the business. After Latimer’s death, the surviving partner Weeks (one of the executors) continued the business as Weeks & Co., keeping the interest of the estate in the business. A corporation was organ
We do not agree with the allowance made to defendant Weeks for services. He drew a salary while managing the business. He was a partner, conducting this business, and had the use of this property without interest. It paid its share of all the expenses of the business, and the services of the executors were perfunctory. Such allowance was not warranted by the' facts. Whether the circuit court had authority to make it we need not determine in this case.
Our construction of the second paragraph of the will of
The decree of the circuit court will be modified in accordance with the foregoing opinion. The costs and solicitor’s fees as fixed by the circuit court are affirmed to complainants, together with costs of this court to be taxed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- GASKILL v. WEEKS
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published