860 value of the notes, and it was doubtless intended to have that effect. It imparted additional value to the security by giving to the holder of the notes the right to collect the entire debt by foreclosure, whenever the makersfailed to pay any installment of interest. One of the notes, by its terms, would not become due for six years, and meantime the security might become inadequate, and the makers insolvent. The covenant is not to be treated as an independent, non-negotiable contract. It is an important element of the security, which the complainants, as innocent holders of the notes, are entitled to enforce, according to its terms. It cannot be disputed that if the complainant saw fit to wait until 1891, he could then foreclose the mortgage for the full amount of the notes, regardless of equities between the original parties; and yet we are told, because the suit is brought before the last note is due by its terms,but not before it is due by virtue of the covenant in the mortgage, that the complainant should be treated as if he were not a bona fide holder, or as if he were seeking to foreclose a:mortgage to secure a non-negotiable contract. The mere statement of the proposition shows its unsoundness; The mortgage, as an incident to the notes, is inseparable from them. It has no separate existence, and it cannot be treated as an independent chose in action. Carpenter v. Longan, supra. The plaintiff bought the notes in good faith, before maturity, on the faith of the security, including the covenant in question; and it would be inequitable and unjust to hold that it was the intention of the makers and the payee that this covenant should not be enforced without destroying the negotiable character' of the notes. The exceptions to the answer are 'sustained.
STANLEY and others '11. MATHER
and others.
(Oircuit (Jourt, N: D. Illi'[toiB. July 30,1887;) MORTGAGE-RIGHT OF HEIRS TO FORE'CLOSE-ESTATE OF DECEDENTS.
An administrator having paid all debts and expenses of administration, and distributed the surplus to the heirs designated as the onl;}' persons entitled, under the order of the court, after approval of the distribution, and without further direction of the court, handed over to such heirs certain mortgage notes, which, being deemed of little value, had not been brought to the attention of the, probate court. The distribution was approved by the court, but it did not appear that the administrator was ever discharged. Held, in a suit to foreclose the mortgages by the heirs, that a demurrer to the complaint could not be sustained on the ground that, the notes being part of the personal estate, and never delivered to the heirs by the administrator, under the direc-. tioD of the probate court, suit to foreclose the mortgages could only be brought by the personal representatives of the mortgagee, but the heirs, being the equitableo:wners, could sue.
Isham, Lincoln « Beale, for complainants. Roberts, Hutchinson & Thomas, for defendants.
STANLEY
v.
MATHER.
861
GRESIlAM, J. This is a suit brought to foreclose three mortgages executed by Thomas S. Mather on real estate in Chicago, to secure the payment of notes given by him to John Stanley, on which there is now due $15,000. The mortgagee was a citizen of Hartford county, Connecticut, where he died in 1871, leaving the three complainants his only children and heirs. The mortgagor owned only an undivided one-sixth of the premises.. Letters of administration were granted to Levi O. Smith and Levi Wells by the court having probate jurisdiction at the domicile of the mortgagee; and they proceeded to administer upon the personal estate of the decedent, under the direction of the court. They paid the costs of administration, 'and all claims against the estate, except a small debt which was secured by a mortgage executed by the decedent, in his life-time, upop part of his real estate. This debt was small, compared with the value of the property mortgaged to secure its payment, and one of the complainants, under an arrangement between him and his two cocomplainants, paid this debt. After paying all the other debts and expenses of administration, a large surplus, exclusive of the notes and mortgages in suit, remained in the hands of the administrators, which, by order of the court, they distributed among the complainants as the only persqns entitled to it. The distribution was reported to the court, and approved; but it does not appear that the administrators were formally and finally discharged. The notes and mortgages in suit were not brought to the attention of the probate court, for the reason that the notes were deemed to be of little or no value; and after the distribution, and without further direction from the court, the administrators delivered to the complainants these notes and the mortgages. These facts are all admitted by the demurrer to the bill; and the sole question is,can the complainants maintain this suit to foreclose the mortgages?' It is ·urged by the defendantr; that the notes are part of the personal estate; that they were never delivered to the complainants by the administrators,under the direction of the probate court; and that only the personal representatives canaue to foreclose the mortgages. An administrator takes the personal estate of the decedent, in trust, first, for creditors, and, next, for the heirs. He is a mere trustee, with no beneficial intel'estin the property upon which he is appointed to administer. After all debts and expenses of administration are paid, any surplus remaining in his hands goes to the heirs. It is admitted in this case that all creditors, and an expenses of administration have been paid, and that the complainants are the sole heirs and distributees. In fact, it was judicially determined by the probate court in Connecticut that the three complainants were the sole children and heirs of the decedent. The only thing that a personal representative could now do would be to obtain an order from the probate court to deliver the notes and mortgages to the complainants, or collect the notes, and pay over the money. The law will·not require the heirs, who are the equitable owners of the notes and mortgage, to deliver them to Hoyt, the remaining administrator, if he is still such, and, if he is not, to go to the trouble and expense of having another personal representative appointed ill order tllat a suit of
:-862
,FEPERAlJ R;EPOR'rER.
foreclosure may be maintained. It doe!! not follow ,beC!1use,. the administrator is the proper party.to collect the debts due a decedent, and pay creditors, and for that purpose bring suits, that under no can the heirs at law maintain a suit to collect a debt which has not been collected by the personal representative. Having paid all creditors, and all expenses of administration, the administrators delivered the notes aud mortgages to the complainants, the only persons entitled to them in equity; and there is no reason why their ,possession should now be disturbed. The demurrer is overruled.
MISSOURI PAC.
Ry. Co.
'lI.
TEXAS & P. Ry. Co.l
(Oircuit Court, E. D. Louisiana. June 21, 1887.) 1. RECEIVERS-'-ADVICE OF COURT.
Receivers can have &,eneral'advice and instructions, and, in particular eases, particular advice .and Instructions on application to the court. If there are parties in interest, and they have their day in couri, the advice may be decisive; but, if the matter is 6(Il part6, such advice is biilding only on the receivers, for the judge may change his mind on hearing full argument.
1!.
INTERSTATE OOMMERCE
Under section.4 of the interstate commerce law, relating to the charges for the 16ng and shQrt haul, it seems that where the circumstances and conditions are dissimilar there is no prohibition; where the circumstances and conditions are similar the prohibition attaches; and that where it is difficult to point out clearly the circumstance or condition which produces dissimilarity, the doubt should go in favor of the object of the law, and the circumstances and conditions should be taken as substantially similar. Where the circumstances and conditions are similar, or substantially similar, and the result to the carrier is injurious, relief can be had. only through the commission.
In the Matter of the Petition Of Receivers for advice in relation to the <lOnstruction of the fourth section of the interstate commerce act. W. W. H(JIJ)6, for receivers. PARDEE, J. The petition of the receivers of May 23d, the evidence and report of the special master, and the arguments have been carefully oonsidered. The nature of the matters presented precludes anything beyond ex pa.rte consideration. The receivers of the Texas & Pacific Railway, operating its lines of railway under the general direction of the . court, can have general advice and instructions, and, in particular cases, particular advice and instructions on application to the court. The value of such advice depends: If there are parties in interest, and they. have their day in court, the advice may be decisive. But, if the matter is ex parte, the value of tbe advice depends largely upon the information and ability of the judge, and is probably binding only on the receivers, for the judge may change his mind on hearing full argument. IReported by Joseph P. Hornor, Esq., of the New Orleaus bar.