{ "id": 1485139, "name": "Blocker, Executor, v. Scherer", "name_abbreviation": "Blocker v. Scherer", "decision_date": "1943-06-28", "docket_number": "4-7111", "first_page": "28", "last_page": "35", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "206 Ark. 28" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "174 S.W.2d 371" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark.", "id": 8808, "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "90 S. W. 2d 965", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "192 Ark. 302", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1415057 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/192/0302-01" ] }, { "cite": "96 S. W. 356", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "79 Ark. 357", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1495638 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/79/0357-01" ] }, { "cite": "30 A. L. R. 775", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "194 N. W. 953", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "196 Ia. 544", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Iowa", "case_ids": [ 2283321 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/iowa/196/0544-01" ] }, { "cite": "7 S. W. 2d 780", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "177 Ark. 703", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8724346 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/177/0703-01" ] }, { "cite": "7 S. W. 2d 770", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "177 Ark. 518", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8723009 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/177/0518-01" ] }, { "cite": "206 S. W. 46", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "136 Ark. 95", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1569934 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/136/0095-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 768, "char_count": 14226, "ocr_confidence": 0.495, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.1489820259994585e-08, "percentile": 0.2670588130813804 }, "sha256": "92f6982814f43f4a777871c603cf557eae40d4955c4fb18244e6fcfef79a1926", "simhash": "1:a3e521606d80b896", "word_count": 2410 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T15:20:24.664732+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "Blocker, Executor, v. Scherer." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Griffin Smith, Chief Justice.\nC. M. Blocker owed Adolph Scherer $10,000 in 1929, evidenced by the debtor\u2019s unsecured note upon which a balance of $8,566.77 was due when Scherer died in June, 1929. Scherer devised to Blocker, conditionally, 120 acres in Miller county near the Louisiana line, and an undivided half interest in 120 acres owned jointly with. G. W. Bishop, situated on Sulphur river in Miller county. Blocker was named executor, to serve without bond. Chief beneficiaries were the testator\u2019s two sisters, Ruth Scherer and -Fannie Sanders.\nApril 22, 1935, Blocker filed his annual settlement and account current. They were not presented to the court.\nOctober 15, 1941, appellees petitioned the court for an order requiring Blocker to file his' final settlement, and for judgment. Irregularities in the 1935 account \u2022were alleged. In a response of October, 1941, appellant claimed credit for certain payments made subsequent to the 1935 report. There was the defensive allegation that the indebtedness he owed was not money or cash on hand, \u201cbut is an asset only of the estate . . . uncollectible at this time. \u2019 \u2019\nAppellees amended their petition and excepted to .the 1935 and 1941 settlements, denying they had concurred in or agreed to Blocker\u2019s failure to close his administration. The court found that Blocker AVas not entitled to take the land bequeathed to him until his personal indebtedness had been discharged, \u201cand if said indebtedness is greater than the value of the devise said executor is not entitled to take under the will, other than the value of the property devised.\u201d\nThe settlement of 1935 and supplemental settlement of 1941 were found to be correct. The executor was allowed a minor credit; also a fee of $250 for his service. These items were offset against Blocker\u2019s individual indebtedness to the estate, leaving a balance of $6,622.80. IT. M. Barney as attorney was allowed a fee of $1,000. This was made a charge upon assets, with directions that it should not affect the real estate.\nIt is stated in one of the briefs that Blocker had been discharged as executor and Ruth Scherer appointed administratrix in succession. It is also said that the administratrix sued Blocker in chancery, offering the probate judgment, and praying that the-lien the probate court sought to impress upon the land be established in chancery and foreclosed.\nForty acres of the 120 in which Sanderson was conditionally interested forfeited for state and county taxes in T 928. Blocker, in 1934, conveyed his interest in this forty to Sanderson. Sanderson successfully attacked the forfeiture. ITe sold this tract to F. W. Burford, reserving an oil payment of $3,000. Half of the oil transaction was transferred by Sanderson to Blocker, who still owns the interest. The remaining eighty acres near Louisiana (less an undivided half interest in oil and gas) are owned by Blocker and Sanderson.\nBlocker testified that his. salary as county judge was $3,600 per year, and that \u201cover the past years\u201d he had received about $3,500 from oil leases on the lands devised to him by Scherer. He has not disposed of the half interest in the 120 acres of Sulphur river bottom lands.\nAppellant had been a banker, but in 1929 became involved to the extent of one hundred to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Subsequently he was unable to meet his obligations as they matured, but endeavored to distribute assets and income among creditors to the best advantage. He and Scherer were long-time friends. Scherer often placed money with him for investment \u2014 \u25a0 $20,000 on one occasion. The $10,000 note represented loans that failed. These were assumed by appellant. Scherer had borrowed $1,000 from a Texarkana bank, pledging Blocker\u2019s note as security. The Scherer note, with interest, was paid by the executor from estate funds. It is contended by appellees this, in effect, was payment by the executor of his personal obligation through use .of estate assets. While it is true the transaction released Blocker\u2019s note from the pledge, the primary obligation to the bank was Scherer\u2019s, and redemption of Blocker\u2019s note to Scherer was incidental. \u2022\nDid the probate court have power to impress a lien on the land in question?\nA statutory provision is that if any person shall appoint his debtor executor of his last will and testament, such appointment shall not extinguish the debt, \u201cbut shall be assets in his hands.\u201d This is contrary to the common law rule.\nIt should be remembered that Scherer\u2019s will was made more than a year after the debt of $10,000 was evidenced by Blocker\u2019s note. If it had been Scherer\u2019s purpose to require payment of the obligation before benefits of the devise could vest, it is reasonable to assume some expression indicative of such purpose would have been made a part of the will. Since there was no such directive we cannot supply the want of it in order to accomplish what would seem to be an equitable end; hence, it must be held that Blocker took a title he could transfer until legally restrained from doing so. See Wheeler & Motter Mercantile Co. v. Knox, 136 Ark. 95, 206 S. W. 46; Avery Power Machinery Co. v. McAdams, 177 Ark. 518, 7 S. W. 2d 770; Falls v. Driver, 177 Ark. 703, 7 S. W. 2d 780.\nThe Wheeler-Knox case deals witli the right of set-off or retainer where an heir was a debtor. The holding is that the heir\u2019s obligation to the estate must be collected' like any other debt, and that his distributive share is not an asset for an offset. Chief Justice Hart asserted an analogous doctrine in the - Avery-McAdanis decision where McAdams, under his father\u2019s will, was residuary legatee, or devisee.\nIn a note in 1 A. L. R., p. 1027, it is said: \u201cInasmuch as the executor has nothing to do with realty specifically devised, unless it be needed for the purpose , of paying the testator\u2019s debts, there is no opportunity for tbe executor to retain the debt, and, accordingly, it has been held that, -unless the testator has made the indebtedness of the devisee to himself a charge upon the land, it passes, free from any liability for such debt, except as it may be subjected thereto by the ordinary processes of law.\u201d Although the decisions of other jurisdictions are not uniform, this, in effect, seems to be the result of our holdings. See Wood v. Knott, 196 Ia. 544, 194 N. W. 953, 30 A. L. R. 775; Restatement of the Law, \u201cTrusts,\u201d \u00a7 251b; 21 American Jurisprudence, \u201cExecutors and Administrators,\u201d \u00a7 45, et seq.\nBut, say appellees, even though realty devised to Blocker might go to him unencumbered by the note, all property owned by Scherer at the time of -his death became assets in the executor\u2019s hands for payment of debts, and until clebts were paid Blocker could not get an unimpaired title. Therefore, it is argued, those who took from Blocker personally were not innocent purchasers. Pope\u2019s Digest, \u00a7 66. In support of the contention that because of debts title could not pass, appellees point to the probate judgment of October 9,1942, in favor of Barney, for $1,000. However, Judge Barnet has expressly waived any claim against estate assets other than the note, and the judgment, by its terms, excepts real property. It follows that purchasers from Blocker are not affected by the lien created by \u00a7 66 of Pope\u2019s Digest.\nA headnote to Bromley v. Atwood, 79 Ark. 357, 96 S. W. 356, is: \u201cOn the issue whether or not a legacy or devise was intended to forgive a debt from the legatee or devisee, parol evidence is admissible. . . .\u201d\nAlthough in the circumstances of this case (the only claimant treated as a creditor having waived and the judgment by express terms not being collectible from real property: \u2014 -the assumption being that this was- consented to by tbe attorney-creditor) purchasers from Blocker acquired title, it does not follow that Blocker, as executor, discharged his duty to the estate when he failed to subject real property of an insolvent debtor (Blocker personally) to payment of the note. This (except as to possible dower interest) could have been done by deed if other Blocker creditors failed to intervene; or the executor could have applied to court for instructions in lieu of proceeding against himself. Haying-failed to do so, and having by affirmative acts placed the property in other hands, it will be conclusively presumed that he received the equivalent, to be treated as cash once in hand, but converted. As a matter of fact, Blocker admits receipt of $3,500 from oil payments. What the other values are should be determinbd by the probate court on remand. Effect of this presumption of payment' is that no exemption can be sustained if it should be asserted.\nThe judgment is reversed and the cause is remanded with directions to ascertain the exact amount of oil payments received by Blocker; to determine value of the forty-acre tract disposed of; to treat as a chattel real the item of $3,000 referred to as deferred oil payments, and to evaluate the half interest in 80 acres disposed of by Blocker. When this has been done the aggregate will be treated as cash once received. As to the half interest in 80 acres still owned by Blocker, and his half interest in 120 acres on Sulphur river, such properties are assets in the hands of the debtor. After probate court has fixed the value of properties disposed of by Blocker and judgment has been accordingly rendered, then with failure to pay over to Ruth Scherer as administratrix, ordinary legal remedies are then available for collection in an amount not exceeding- the note and interest. Money due Judge Barney should have preferential consideration.\nOn Rehearing.\nAppellees say the court erred in holding that \u201cThe remaining eighty acres near Louisiana (less an undivided half interest in oil and gas) are owned by Blocker and Sanderson. \u201d It is insisted that by the fourth section of Scherer\u2019s will the devise to Blocker was a conditional gift of the south half of the southeast quarter of section seven, etc., whereas, in the inventory and appraisal the land is referred to as the southwesi quarter. It is true the will listed the southeast quarter; but it is equally true that all parties to this litigation understood that the land was, in fact, the southwesi quarter. As appellees concede, and as the record reflects, Blocker\u2019s inventory of 1935, as executor, lists the south half of the southwesi quarter. This was brought into the controversy by counsel for appellees, who said: \u2018We now desire to introduce in evidence [the] executor\u2019s report and account current, dated April 22, 1935. At page 34 of the transcript the appraisement shows that the southtcesi quarter was the subject before the court. At page 75 of the transcript Blocker, in response to the question, \u201cDo you still own this land that was devised to you in this will of Adolph Scherer\u2019s ? \u201d replied: \u201c I own an interest in it. That south Miller county land that was left in the will jointly to J. D. Sanderson and myself \u2014 we have sold forty acres of it and we own the balance of it.\u201d And again (pp. 75-76): \u201cSection four of the will says: \u2018. . . being 120 acres with the following provisions, etc.\u2019 Now is that the 120 acres you testified about being in the south end of the county?\u201d Answer: \u201cIt is.\u201d\nIt is too clear to admit of serious controversy that Blocker, the Scherers, and the court treated the south half of the soutlncesi quarter of section seven as the property intended by the testator to pass under the will; hence, in the original opinion, no mention was made of an obvious error the parties cured by consent.\nA second contention is that debts were due by the estate, and because of these subsisting obligations administration could not be closed by the waiver entered by -fudge Barney; nor could Barney\u2019s release be retroactive,\nThe executor, in his 1935 report, took credit for $730.15 disbursed June 20, 1931, \u201cPart inheritance tax paid to David A. Gates, Commissioner of Revenues.\u201d In appellees\u2019 petition for rehearing and modification of onr opinion it is stated that Ruth Scherer advanced $770.30, \u201cwhich advancement discharged the state\u2019s inheritance tax lien against the Scherer estate. \u201d It is also alleged that farm rents specifically bequeathed to Rutli Scherer were used by the executor to discharge estate debts, amounting to $195.30; further, that interest on the Blocker note was likewise \u201cso used.\u2019\u2019\nWe do not find that demand was made against the estate for reimbursement, a factual matter the probate court still has jurisdiction to ascertain.\nThe petition for rehearing must be denied.\nFollowing the testator\u2019s death, Blocker paid $5,147.18 on the note. April 20, 1935, the principal balance was $3,982.50, with $915.97 interest.\nThe condition attached to the first devise was that if Blocker should sell for more than $7.50 per acre, \u201call taxes and interest which have accrued . . . since I acquired [the land], then he will share any profit received above the stipulated price with J. D. Sanderson.\u201d [Purpose of the condition was to carry out a verbal agreement Scherer had made with Sanderson.]\nAn additional statement was that the respondent (Blocker), when he qualified as executor, \u201cwas unable to pay the said indebtedness so owing by him to . . . Scherer, and he has not been able at any time since his said appointment to pay said indebtedness. He is not now able to pay the same, [and] respectfully shows that he has heretofore paid on said indebtedness all that he has been able to pay, said payments showing upon the report of April 20, 1935, and that he has no means now available with which to pay and discharge the balance due.\u201d\nSanderson v. Thomas, 192 Ark. 302, 90 S. W. 2d 965.\nPope\u2019s Digest, \u00a7 74.\nThe inventory attached to Blocker\u2019s first report (1935) showed real estate valued at $26,000, and personal property of $\u00cd0,294.38. Since principal and accrued interest on the Blocker note were $8,768.37 as of May 30, 1929, result is that personal property other than the Blocker note amounted to $1,526.01.\nThe claim asserted by Barney was not a debt due by the testator.\nSee transcript pages 21 and 30.", "type": "majority", "author": "Griffin Smith, Chief Justice." } ], "attorneys": [ "Barney S Quinn, for appellant.", "T. B. Vance, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Blocker, Executor, v. Scherer.\n4-7111\n174 S. W. 2d 371\nOpinion delivered June 28, 1943.\nBarney S Quinn, for appellant.\nT. B. Vance, for appellee." }, "file_name": "0028-01", "first_page_order": 48, "last_page_order": 55 }