Pillow v. Pillow's Heirs
Pillow v. Pillow's Heirs
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
In March, 1830, Gideon J. and Granville A. Pillow, two of the defendants to the present bill of complainant, administered upon the estate of their deceased father, Gideon Pillow. Abner Pillow the complainant was indebted to the deceased Gideon, in a large amount, for a part of which the said Gideon had obtained judgment in his lifetime, and for the balance, his administrators after his death. Upon these judgments executions Were issued to several different counties in the Western divi
The provisions of this agreement never were carried into effect. An attempt was made a short time after its execution to do so, as to the lands in Shelby county, not by the commissioners originally appointed, but by others substituted by mutual consent of the parties, which proved an entire failure, each party endeavoring to cast the blame thereof upon the other’s shoulders. We, however, think that the proof shows satisfactorily that it must rest upon the complainant Abner, and that the solution of the difficulty is to be found in that admission made in his bill, that in as much as lands were rising in value,
This was done in the year 183.2, with the full knowledge of the complainant. The administrators afterwards proceeded to settle up the estate of their deceased father, distributed the effects, and divided the real estate, by decree of court, among his heirs at law. The complainant witnessed all this, and continued to slumber on his rights, until the 12th day of August, 1839, when he for the first time filed this bill of complaint. Upon this statement, is he entitled to relief? We think not; but that monstrous injustice would be done if at this late period, the terms of the agreement of 1832, were specifically enforced.
We think this contract cannot be specifically enforced for two reasons. 1st. Because it is not in the power of the court to carry it into effect; but that an attempt to do so, must be to make a new contract for the parties. By the terms of the agreement, the price at which the lands were to be taken in payment by the administrators, was to be fixed by the commissioners appointed upon oath; this was a special trust reposed, which can only be changed by the parties themselves. This court cannot substitute others in their stead, which it would have to do if it were to undertake to execute the agreement, as it has no power over the appointed commissioners. And so are the authorities. See Mebres vs. Gerry, 14 Ves. 400: Agar vs. McCon, 1 Con. Eng. Ch. Rep. 526: Hofcroft vs. Hickman, same book, 579: 2 Story’s Equity, Interpleader, 680.
2. If this court could have had power originally to execute
But in addition to all this, if the speculation had turned out a losing one, on the part of the administrators, they must have borne the loss. The complainant then might gain, but could not lose, if relief be given to' him. This is no mutuality of justice, but a game of fast and loose, which a court of equity never can permit. Some incidental questions have been argued not affecting this, the main point of the case, which is decisive of it.
The decree of the chancellor will, therefore, be affirmed, and the bill dismissed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Pillow v. Pillow's heirs et adm'rs
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- Published