Johnston v. Humphreys
Johnston v. Humphreys
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
It has been ruled by the Chancellor of New York, (3 Johns. Ch. R. 190,) that no lapse of time is a bar to a direct trust, between the trustee and cestui que trust. Upon this principle, it has been decided that an administrator, being a trustee, cannot set up the act of limitations in bar of the next of kin, or person entitled to the distribution of the assets. The distinction is between a direct or express trust, and those eases where a person comes into possession in his own right, and is afterwards, by matter of evidence, or construction, changed into a trustee. T^e same Chancellor has also ruled, (in 7 Johns. Ch. R. 90,) that, as long as there is a continuing ahd subsisting trust, acknowledged or acted on by the parties, the statute of limitations does not apply. The application of these principles to the facts of the cause, will decide the question raised, on the defendant’s plea of the act of limitation. The money was not paid over to Johnston, nor received by him with the view of being used by him; but it was a deposit made for a particular and special purpose, on the express trust and understanding of all the parties, that he would transmit the money to Ireland, for the benefit, as I understand it, of the legal representatives of Charles Porter, who alone were entitled to receive it. There was a special confidence reposed in him, and, upon the receipt of the money, he becomes a trustee for the benefit of those who were legally entitled to the money. If this case be embraced within the act, when, it may be asked, does the statute begin to run? Surely not from the receipt of the money, but from the time there was some person in this country who had a right to demand payment, which was not until the 8th of September, 1819, when letters of administration were granted to Thomas Humphreys, and less than six years before the commencer ment of the suit. The case in 7 Johns. Ch. R. 90, establishes the principle, that it must cease to be a continuing and subsisting trust, otherwise the remedy is not barred by lapse of time. In
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- JOHNSTON against HUMPHREYS, Administrator of PORTER
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published