Arthur v. Master in Equity
Arthur v. Master in Equity
Concurring Opinion
I concur in all the points in this case, except the allowance of one per cent on the transferred bonds.
Opinion of the Court
delivered the decfee of the Court.
This cause comes on upon exceptions to the commissioner’s report:
1st. Exception — That the master while acting as receiver for the estate of Thomas Simmons and wife, had suffered $ 11,500 to lie idle and unproductive of interest for three months and twenty days, which might have been vested at any time during that period in stock. Mr. Cochran certified that United,
2nd. Exception — That the master paid ‡860 arising from the sale of a slave, part of the capital trust estate, to the tenant for life, and he is not reported as liable to make it up to the trust fund. The master was wrong to break in on the capital of the trust fund, as the case cited from 11 Ves. 604, as well as many others shew. But still the complainant may have an easy remedy without making the master liable in the first instance. He is the trustee, bound to pay the dividends to Mrs. Simmons, and let him retain the amount, with interest from the time of the payment, out of that fund. But if that fund should fail, the master must be liable.
3rd. Exception — That a commission of one per cent waá allowed to the master for delivering up certain bonds taken in part payment for the property sold by him. The master in this case acted as a receiver, in a new and distinct character from that of his general official duties, and in one not contera-
4th. Exception — That the master sold a negro woman and her two children for ‡ 100 less than it is admitted could have been got for her. The,commissioner reported the master as liable for the difference, but the circuit court overruled that part of the report, and the decree of the circuit court is now appealed from. Complainant wished her sold in Columbia, where he states in a letter to the master that he could get $800 for her. But the auctioneer, Mr. Toomer, says she refused to go to Columbia and ran away, and afterwards came in under an express promise that she should be sold in Charleston, where herhusb and and children lived. She was besides sickly and was not worth more than the money she brought. Under these circumstances, and upon every principle of humanity to slaves, the decree of the circuit court, both on this exception and all the others depending on the points above stated, must be affirmed Therefore, the decree of the circuit court is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.