Opinion
(August Term, 1855.)
Where a trustee admits the allegation in a bill that he has committed a breach of trust in giving a release, and the releasee does not meet the allegation that he has contrived to obtain such release, but states immaterial matters as his answer, the Court will decree against them both.
CAUSE removed from the Court of Equity of Buncombe County.
N.W. Woodfin for the plaintiff.
Baxter and Gaither for defendants.
The case was treated at the bar, as if standing upon an order setting it for hearing upon bill, answer, exhibits, and replications to the answers. The transcript does not set forth that replication was taken to the answer of the defendant Henry, and indeed, there is no order setting the cause for hearing.
We presume the parties desire the case to be decided, and (185) all proper orders are to be considered "as made." It would relieve us from much perplexity if gentlemen of the bar would take the trouble to look over the transcript, and see that the proper entries are made, before it is sent to this Court. Sometimes clients suffer because counsel neglect this part of their duty, and it always embarrasses the Court if the formal and proper entries are not made.
The bill sets out a clear equity. Poston is considered, in this Court, as a trustee, holding the legal title to the rents and profits for the plaintiff. The defendant Henry contrives to get a release from this trustee; in other words, he, with full knowledge of the plaintiff's equity, induces the defendant Poston to commit a breach of trust, and brings forward, by way of confession and avoidance, charges against one Dean, who had acted as his agent, and makes an averment that one Rebecca Poston was entitled to a life estate, and so "most of the rents and profits, for which the action is brought, belonged to her," and the balance to one William Poston, or his heirs, if he be dead; none of which matters have any bearing upon the allegation of the bill, that the defendant Henry, by fraud and misinformation induced the trustee of the plaintiff to commit a breach of trust, i. e., to execute the release, and discharge Henry from the payment of the rents and profits to which the plaintiff had a clear right.
The other defendant, Poston, admits that he did violate the trust, by releasing the defendant Henry from the payment of rents and profits which the plaintiff, as a purchaser for a full and fair consideration, was entitled to sue for and recover in his name, and avers that he was induced to execute the release by misrepresentation, etc. It is sufficient for us to say, he had no right to execute the release; his confederate Henry, with a knowledge of the facts, had no right to ask him to do so, and cannot, in equity and conscience, make use of it.
Per curiam.
The injunction must be made perpetual.
Cited: Williamston v. Williams, 59 N.C. 61.
(186)