Suburban Co. v. Turner's Administrator
Suburban Co. v. Turner's Administrator
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
In the year 1867 D. C. Barraud, Sr., died in the city of Norfolk, leaving a will, by which, among other things, he gave to his grandson, D. C. Barraud, Jr., a life estate in a farm containing one hundred acres, known as “Barron’s,” with remainder to his lawful issue, if he should die leaving any, and if he should die without such issue, then the remainder was to pass, under the residuary clause of the will, to the persons named therein.
Upon the death of the testator, the life tenant took possession of the “Barron’s” farm, and subsequently incumbered his estate by deeds of trust and judgments.
In .the year 1874, D. C. Barraud, Jr., and others, united as complainants in a chancery suit against B. C. Marshall and others. The object of the suit, as stated in the bill, was “to eonstrue the said will; to fix'and determine the rights and interests of the various parties interested therein; to protect and provide for the annuities, and to make partition in kind of the
In the year 1875 a decree was entered directing the sale of the “Barron’s” farm, remainder, as well as the life estate. In the year 1878 a consent decree Avas entered confirming a private sale of the farm to William H. Turner. This decree also ascertained the remainder interest in the proceeds of that sale to be $1,150.10, and directed it to be deposited in the Citizens Bank of Norfolk, bearing compound interest, to await the death of the life tenant; and at the same term of the court a final decree was entered striking the case from the docket.
In the year 1885 William H. Turner, the purchaser at the sale mentioned, died, leaving a Avill by which he devised the “Barron’s” farm to his son, Henry L. Turner, during his life, and the remainder in fee to his grandson, William H. Turner, Jr. In the year 1891 the said Henry L. Turner and William. H. Turner, Jr., conveyed to the North East Norfolk Land Company the whole of the “Barron’s” farm, Avith covenants of general warranty, but in the year 1894 the said land company re-conveyed to Henry L. Turner for life and the remainder in fee to William H. Turner, Jr., about thirty acres of the said farm. The residue of the “Barron’s” farm, about seventy acres, is now owned by, or is subject to the liens of the appellants, except the Citizens Bank of Norfolk.
In the year 1901 Henry L. Turner, the life tenant of the thirty acres of the “Barron’s” farm, and the heirs of the remainderman, William H. Turner, Jr., deceased, instituted a
After the affirmance of the decree appealed from in that case, the personal representative of William BL Turner, deceased (the purchaser of the “Barron’s” farm in the case of Barraud, &c., v. Marshall, &c.), instituted his suit in the Circuit Court against the Citizens Bank of the city of Norfolk and others, to compel that hank to pay or turn over to him the said sum of $1,150.10 (and its interest), deposited with that hank under decree of the court in the case of Barraud, &c., v. Marshall, &c., as above stated.
The ground upon which the complainant bases his right to maintain hás suit to recover the said sum is, as stated in his bill, that inasmuch as the said William BE. Turner, under the decrees in the said case of Barraud, &c., v. Marshall, &c., acquired only an estate for and during the life of D. C. Barraud, Jr., in the “Barron’s” farm, a trust immediately arose to pay
At the instance of the Citizens Bank, the stakeholder, all persons in interest were made parties to the suit, and upon a hearing of the cause the Circuit Court granted the relief prayed for in the bill. From that decree the Citizens Bank and the parties who claim title to, or liens upon, the seventy acres of the “Barron’s” farm under Henry L. Turner and William H. Turner, Jr., devisees of William H. Turner, Sr., obtained this appeal.
As above stated, D. C. Barraud, Sr., devised a life estate •in the “Barron’s” farm to D. C. Barraud, Jr., and the remainder to his lawful issue, and, in the event he died without lawful issue, to the testator’s heirs, and the money representing the proceeds of that remainder interest was deposited in the Citizens Bank of Norfolk, carrying compound interest, for the benefit of such person or persons as may be entitled to the same under the will of D. C. Barraud, Sr., at the death of D. C. Barraud, Jr.
It was held in the case of Turner v. Barraud, 102 Va. 324, 46 S. E. 318, that the sale of the remainder, so far as it affected •the rights of the issue of D. C. Barraud, Jr., was null and void as to the thirty acres of the “Barron’s” farm involved in •that case. But the heirs of D. C. Barraud, Sr.,-were not parties lo that suit. Neither were the alienees of'Henry L. Turner
Reversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- The Suburban Company and Others v. Turner's Administrator and Others
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Trusts—Sale of Contingent Interest—Deposit of Funds—Loss of Land—Suit by Purchaser—Case in Judgment.—A testator devised land to B. for life, with remainder in fee to his issue, if any, and if none, to testator’s heirs. Subsequently in a suit by B. to construe the will, determine the interests of the respective parties, and apply B.’s share to the payment of certain liens thereon, the whole fee-simple estate in the land was sold to T., and-B.’s share was paid to his creditors, and the value of the interest in remainder was deposited in bank on compound interest, to be thereafter paid to the parties entitled thereto. The heirs of the testator were parties to this suit and consented to the sale. In a subsequent suit to clear the title to part of the land it was held that the proceedings in the first mentioned suit were void as to the children of B. The heirs of the testator were not parties to the last mentioned suit. An appeal was taken from that decision to this court, which affirmed the decree of the trial court. Thereupon the present suit was instituted by the administrator of T., the purchaser of the land, to recover the money deposited in bank on the ground that a trust attached thereto in consequence of the loss of the remainder in the land, and the trial court so held, although B. is still living. Held: This was error, as it cannot be told during the lifetime of B. who will be entitled to the remainder. in the land. He may leave no issue, and in that event the remainder will go to the testator’s heirs; but they are estopped to claim it, as they were parties to the first mentioned suit and consented to the sale. The fund in bank should be held until the death of B., when it can be known with certainty to whom it should be paid.