Peters v. Peters — 52 N.Y. St. Rep. 169

Majority

p. 169

Nicholas Peters et al., Resp'ts, v. Stephen Peters, App'lt.

(New York Common Pleas, General Term,

Filed April 3, 1893.)

Headnote

1. Bailment.

The children of defendant’s mother, with the exception of himself, deposited their earnings with her under an agreement by which she was to give each a marriage portion on their marriage, and pay the funeral expenses of any that died, and after giving herself and her husband a decent burial, the money was to belong to the depositors. The mother becoming insane, and the money being found on her, it was given by the commissioners to defendant to keep for the mother’s benefit. Held, that the depositors have no right to any part of the money, except the balance left after paying, at least, the funeral expenses of the father and mother, and that only on the death of both parents; that the mother has an interest in the fund, and defendant, as bailee, could avail of such interest as a defense to an action by them for the fund.

2. Same—Evidence.

. -As defendant derives his title to the money by or through his mother, an insane person, evidence as to personal transactions with her was inadmissible against him.

3. Lunacy—Presumption op continuance.

A derangement of mind, proved or admitted to exist at any particular period, is presumed to continue until disproved, unless the derangement was accidental, being caused by the violence of a disease.

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of this court, entered upon the verdict of a jury, for $483.99, with costs, and from the order denying the motion for a new trial.

Thomas F. Byrne, for app'lt; August F. Wagener, for resp'ts.

The plaintiff Nicholas is the husband, and the plaintiffs, John and Peter, two of the children of Catharine Peters,

p. 170

who, on FTovember 13, 1887, being of unsound mind, was committed to the City Asylum for the Insane, on Blackwell’s Island. She had, at that time, in her possession the sum of $545.37, which the commissioners of charities and corrections took into their' custody upon receiving her into the asylum under their charge, and which they subsequently delivered to the defendant, another of her children, upon his agreement with them to keep the money for the benefit of his mother. He immediately expended for her previous expenses at Bloomingdale Asylum, and other necessary charges, $146.91.

This action was subsequently brought to recover the balance in his hands, upon the ground that it was the property of the plaintiffs, and the evidence to sustain their claim of title was substantially as follows: That some ten years before the trial all the children of Mrs. Peters, with the exception of the defendant, agreed to deposit their earnings with her, and that she was to pay out of the fund a marriage portion to each child upon marriage, and to pay the funeral expenses of any child who died, and after giving her and her husband a decent burial, the money was to belong to the depositors. This account of the agreement is given by John Peters, one of the plaintiffs, and is not contradicted or denied by the others, and stands unquestioned as the terms of the trust under which his mother received the fund.

It appears, therefore, from the plaintiffs' own case, that the children of Mrs. Peters, who deposited the money with her, are not entitled to it, and have no right to any part thereof except the balance left after paying, at least, the funeral expenses of their father and mother, and to which balance they will have no claim until after the death of their parents. It also appears that Mrs. Peters, the mother, has an interest in the fund, which this action seems to wholly overlook; for, if the judgment were permitted to stand, the provision for .the payment of her funeral expenses would be completely avoided.

It .is said, however, that the defendant, Stephen Peters, has no right to set up such a defense to this action, but this position is untenable. He received the fund from the bailees of his mother, and can defend in her right. As she was insane when committed to Blackwell’s Island she could not make a valid agreement of bailment, but the commissioners of charities and corrections, as public officers, coming into possession of the fund as custodians of her person and of the property found upon it, have all the obligations of bailees, and the defendant, Stephen, stands in a posi-sition somewhat resembling that of a receiptor and is entitled to the same defenses against claimants of the fund as are available to the public officers from whom he received it. Edwards on Bailments, title, Beceiptors.

His title to the money is derived by or through or from his mother, an insane person, and the evidence of the plaintiffs as to personal transactions with her should not have been received against him. Code, § 829. For this error alone the judgment would have to be reversed. It is urged by the plaintiffs that there was no proof that the mother was insane at the time of the trial

p. 171

The complaint expressly alleged that she was committed to the city asylum for the insane, on Blackwell's Island, being of unsound mind and so far deprived of her reason and understanding as to be altogether unfit and unable to govern herself or to manage her affairs, and that at that time the money in question was found in her possession. A derangement of mind proved or admitted to exist at any particular period is presumed to continue until disproved, unless the derangement was accidental, being caused with the violence of a disease. 1 Greenl., 42. But there was no question of her insanity at the time of the trial. It seemed to be conceded on all sides, and the only apparent reason why the evidence of transactions with her was admitted against the defendant was that he did not have any right or title to the money and, therefore, could not derive his interest or title from or through her.

It would seem that the proper course for plaintiffs to pursue would be to have a new trustee of the fund appointed, in place of the mother, who has become incapacitated from acting; but, without discussing this question further, it is enough to say that upon the proofs, and for the errors appearing in the record, this judg merit cannot possibly be sustained.

Judgment reversed, and a new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide the event.

Bischoff and Pryor, JJ., concur.