McDougall v. Dixon

The question submitted is as to the sufficiency of the title tendered to the defendant by the plaintiffs in pursuance of a contract of sale of a house and lot on West Twenty-Ninth street in the city of New York. The premises in question were owned in fee by one Susanna McDougall, who died July 20, 1893, leaving, as her heirs at law and next of kin, four children, all of whom are plaintiffs in this action, as are also the executors offher last will and testament. Susanna McDougall left a last will and testament, by which all the remainder of her estate, after the legacy of a specific house and lot, was to be divided into four equal shares. “One share each to be given absolutely to my two sons John Wilson McDougall and Sidney Mc-Dougall, and my daughter, Laura K. McDougall.” As to these three shares, there can seem to be no doubt but that they vested at once in the devisees, who thereby became tenants in common of all the real estate of the testator, together owning three undivided fourths of it. The provision as to the fourth share is as follows:

“Tlie remaining one-fourth share is to be invested and held in trust for the benefit of my son Addison MeDougall, and the income from said share to be paid him semiannually or annually, as he may desire it; but he (Addison) is to have the right to bequeath his share at his death to whomsoever or whatsoever he pleases, should he survive me."

The general scheme of the will is quite clear, though inartiñcially drawn; and the intention of the testatrix is not expressed in the terms usually used by the profession in instruments of this character. Three undivided shares of the estate, both real and personal, Were to vest absolutely in the three children named. The remaining share was to be held in trust for the son Addison; the income of such share to be paid to him semiannually. The inexperience of the draftsman of this instrument evidently made him oblivious to the necessity of a trustee to cany the intention of the testatrix into effect, or, from inadvertence, omit to name a trustee. The rule is quite familiar that a court will never allow a trust to fail for want of a competent trustee, and thus it would become the duty of the court to name a trustee to carry the trust into effect. It is quite apparent, I think, that the direction to divide was equivalent to a direction to separate this share to be held in trust from that which was to vest in the other children. The division directed by the will was evidently not intended to accomplish a physical separation of the property by operation of the will itself, but that each of the four shares should be distinct, as to their vesting in four different individuals. The provision that the remainder of the estate “is to be divided into four equal shares” does not contain a direction to any individual to make such a division or partition among the legatees or devisees. No direction to any one to make such partition is given. No direction is expressed as to the physical partition or division before the vesting of the estate. The will says-that “my residuary estate is to be divided into four shares”; that is, “I, by this will, direct it to be divided into four shares, one of which I give to each of the three children named. As, however, to the fourth sliare, it is my wish to create a trust, the income of which is to be paid to the son named during his life; such son to have a right to dispose of the share at his death.” It is quite clear that this is an express trust, within section 55 of the statute of uses and trusts, and is-in all respects valid; the only difficulty about it being the failure to> name a trustee. That defect a court of equity will supply, and upon the designation by the court of equity of a trustee the title to an undivided fourth interest in the estate would vest in such trustee. Now, it seems to me quite clear that this proposed conveyance would not convey such undivided fourth part of this estate as vested in this trustee. Certainly the legal title vested in such trustee when appointed could not be devested by the conveyance of all the plaintiffs in the action. Under the power of disposition contained in this will, Addison, by disposing of his interest in this property upon his death, could create an estate in one not a party to this conveyance or to this action, whose title would pass under the will, and would be superior to that of the grantee of the deed tendered by the plaintiffs. In all events, a question is presented which would be quite serious, and which, in the absence of the person who would then be entitled to the

There should be judgment for the defendant, therefore; but, as the ■parties expressly waived costs on the submission, it should be without ■costs.

WILLIAMS, PATTERSON, and O’BRIEN, JJ., concur. VAN BRUNT, P. J., concurs in result.