delivered the opinion of the Court:
On the 28th day of November, 1870, James S. Waterman executed his last will and testament, by which he gave his wife one-third of all his estate, and a specific, legacy of $5000, in trust for the use of one Nellie Farnhdon. The rest of his estate was disposed of by the following residuary clause : “ I give, devise and bequeath all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, to the said Philander M. Alden and George S. Robinson, * * * the executors of this my last will and testament, hereinafter nominated and appointed, in trust for the use and benefit of my brothers and sisters, to-wit (naming them): to have and hold, manage, and control the same for such purpose, for and during the term of twenty-one years, from and after the date of my decease and during the continuance of said trust estate as aforesaid, to receive, collect and pay over to my said brothers and sisters above named, the net income and profits thereof, in equal portions to each, annually, the child or children of a deceased brother or sister to take the same portion the father or mother would have taken if living. And at the expiration of said twenty-one years after my decease, I give, devise and bequeath to my said brothers and sisters, their heirs and assigns forever, the said rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, to be equally divided between them, share and share alike, the child or children of any deceased brother or sister to take the same share the father or mother would have taken if living, and in case of the death of any of my said brothers or sisters, leaving no issue, the share such brother or sister would have taken, if living, to be equally divided among my surviving brothers and sisters.”
The testator died July 19, 1883, and on the 24th of the same month, said will was duly admitted to probate, in the County Court of DeKalb county, whereupon said Alden and Robinson were qualified, and took upon themselves the duties of executors and trustees as in and by the will provided. The estate was very large, being inventoried at about $531,000, consisting of farm lands and other real estate to the value of $127,512.70, and the balance in cash, notes and accounts, stocks, etc. The widow declined to take under the will, and her husband having left no child, or children, or descendants of such, one-half of the entire estate, real and personal, was partitioned and set off to her, as provided by the statute in such case. The administration was still pending and undetermined in said County Court at the filing of this bill. Said Alden and Robinson had reduced a part of the trust property to possession and made a partial distribution of the proceeds thereof to the beneficiaries, when, on the 9th of June, 1887, Robert W. and Charles Waterman, surviving brothers of the testator, and certain children of deceased brothers and sisters, claiming under said residuary clause, begun this action in the Circuit Court of said DeKalb county, against Alden and Robinson, to compel them to render an account of their trusteeship, to charge them with certain losses to the trust estate by reason of their negligent and wrongful conduct in and about the management of the same, and to have them removed as such trustees, and others appointed in their stead.
After protracted litigation, a final decree was rendered in the cause by the Circuit Court of Lee county, to which it had been removed. The complainants carried the record to the Appellate Court for the Second District by appeal. There both parties assigned errors, and an extended statement of the case, with a very carefully prepared opinion by Cartwright, J., was filed, affirming the decree of the Circuit Court in all respects. This appeal is from that judgment of affirmance.
The record is unusually voluminous, and the argument of counsel on behalf of appellants has taken an almost unlimited range. It would be impossible to even casually notice all the points made, without extending this opinion to an unreasonable length. For a full statement of the facts of the case we refer to the opinion of the Appellate Court. We also concur in the conclusions reached by that court, as set forth in said opinion, except as hereinafter indicated.
The points more particularly pressed upon our attention are,
First. The Circuit Court erred in refusing to remove appellees as trustees.
Second. The Circuit Court erred in refusing to hold said trustees personally liable for the loss of the “ Marsh indebtedness.”
Third. The Circuit Court erred in its division of the costs and expenses of the litigation. The parts of the final decree relating to these assignments of error are as follows: “ It is further ordered, adjudged and decreed that the motion of complainants, filed herein on the 17th of July, 1890, for the removal of Alden and Robinson, as trustees, be overruled.”
“And it is further ordered, adjudged and decreed that this court has no jurisdiction to investigate the charge against said Alden and Robinson, or either, on account of any alleged loss, growing out of the failure of the Sycamore Marsh Harvester Man’fg Co., the Marsh Binder Man’fg Co., C. W. Marsh and W. W. Marsh, or either, or two or more of them, or the alleged neglect of the said Alden and Robinson to collect or secure the payment of obligations owing by them, or some of them, to the estate of James S. Waterman, deceased.”
“ It is further ordered, adjudged and decreed that the expenses of this litigation paid up to October 15, 1889, as found by said master’s report, to-wit: $3,869.71, and the attorney’s fees and attorney’s expenses in this cause paid or incurred since October 15, 1889, as enumerated and shown by the testimony of D. J. Carnes and William Lathrop, heard in open court, up to July 19,-1890, to-wit: $1,348.27, be allowed said trustees in their accounts, when they shall have actually paid the same, and shall be charged to the principal fund, less one-fourth part of the gross attorney’s fees therein included, which one-fourth part is found by the court to be $988.62, and which one-fourth part said trustees are ordered to bear personally, leaving $4,229.36 to be charged to the principal fund. This decree shall not be construed as allowing or disallowing any other expense of this litigation paid or incurred by said trustees since October 15, 1889. And it is further ordered and decreed that the costs of this proceeding be taxed as follows: That is to say, that two-thirds thereof be paid by the trustees, as such, out of the principal fund in their hands, and one-third of said costs out of the distributable income going to the complainants, and that in taxing the costs the cleric allow $500, paid by stipulation on file herein to Mason B. Loomis, and $360, paid by said trustees to Sherwood Dixon, as special masters. Also payment by them of $15.40 for witness fees, and $312.80 for depositions, which sums so far as paid by them, except that paid Master Dixon, are shown by his report to have been paid and are embraced in the items of $3,869.71, costs of this litigation. The clerk will also tax as part of the complainant’s costs herein the sum of $392.86, paid by complainant for taking depositions. Also $47.40 for certified copies of record, $2.50 for service of subpoenas, $8 witness fees paid by complainant’s solicitor. The clerk will also tax the usual taxable costs incurred by either party.”
We will consider the foregoing questions in the order named, referring to the facts appearing in the record especially applicable thereto.
There is no difficulty in finding the legal measure of care and diligence required at the hands of trustees in the management of a trust estate. Cases may be found holding that inasmuch as no compensation can be allowed them, when not expressly provided for, they can only be held liable for losses which result from their gross negligence or willful misconduct, but the rule undoubtedly is, that they must discharge the duties of their trust to the best of their skill and ability, “ with such care and diligence as men fit to be entrusted with such matters may fairly be expected to put forth in their own business of equal importance.” Story’s Eq. J ur., vol. 2, sec. 1268b; Pomeroy’s Eq. Jur., vol. 2, sec. 1070.
The evidence in this case clearly shows, and in fact it is admitted, that appellees were, prior to the filing of this bill, guilty of some negligence, in and about the management of the trust property. First, they wholly failed to keep proper accounts of the trust funds and of their dealings with the same, as will more fully appear hereafter. In the second place, Robinson gave little or no attention to the business, being much of the time absent from the State. It will not do to say, as is attempted, that his personal attention was not necessary to the proper ‘management of the business, in view of the fact that numerous letters were written him by Alden, complaining of his continued absence and demanding his presence and attention to the estate. Finally, general negligence was shown in failing to promptly collect or secure claims due the estate, especially those owing by the “ Marsh Manufacturing Companies.”
It does not follow necessarily that, because of these acts of negligence, a court of chancery should remove them. Courts of equity have a very broad jurisdiction over trust estates and trustees, and will remove the latter for a failure through neglect, or from willfulness, to perform their duties, or will compel them to carry out the trust which they have been appointed to, and have accepted, as shall appear under all the circumstances, of a given ease, for the best interest of the estate, and all parties interested in the same. In Story on Equity Jurisprudence, vol. 2, sec. 1289, it is said : “It is not, indeed, every mistake or neglect of duty, or inaccuracy of conduct of trustees, which will induce courts of equity to adopt such a course (remove the trustees). But the act or omission must be such as to endanger the trust property, or to show a want of honesty, or a want of proper capacity to execute the duties, or want of reasonable fidelity.”
The dereliction of duty on the part of these trustees seems to have resulted from mere negligence rather than willfulness, and we are of the opinion that the chancellor was justified on the whole record in refusing to remove them.
Whether or not the trustees should be held personally liable for losses sustained by the complainants. on the “ Marsh indebtedness ” is attended with much more difficulty. It is alleged in the bill that among the assets which came into their hands were three judgment notes, payable to said James W. Waterman, one for $5000, dated April 27, 1883, due in ninety days, signed by the Sycamore Marsh Harvester Co., and C. W. and W. W. Marsh. One for the sum of $3000, dated June 13, 1883, due in ninety days, by the same parties, and one for $5350.40, dated January 1, 1878, by C. W. and W. W. Marsh alone. It is then alleged that after said notes came into their hands and were due and payable to them, they knew the makers were embarrassed financially and likely to fail, but took no steps to collect or secure the same until June 30, 1884. That said Alden being cashier, one of the directors, and a large stockholder in the Sycamore National Bank, on October, 1883, the said Alden knowing the financial embarrassment of the said makers of said notes, said bank loaned them about $25,000; that thereafter said Alden pressed said parties for security for said bank indebtedness, which was given, but that he made no effort whatever to obtain security for said indebtedness due the estate, although security therefor could have been obtained that on said June 30, 1884, Alden caused the notes due the estate to be put in judgments in the Circuit Court of Lee county, although the Circuit Court of DeKalb county was at the time in session, the makers of said notes having property in the last-named county subject to lien, and levy, of judgments on said notes; that he employed the same attorney who represented said bank, and he at the same time took judgment in its favor for said $25,000 indebtedness; that through the wrongful and negligent conduct of said trustees, said property in DeKalb county was allowed to be levied upon and taken on executions in favor of said bank, and others, to the exclusion of those in favor of the estate; that, through the negligence of the trustees, property attempted to be levied upon in said county on executions in favor of the estate, was wrongly described and thereby priority of lien in favor of said estate lost; that by reason of such neglect and mismanagement on the part of appellees, the greater part of the said indebtedness was wholly lost to said estate.
The first special" master to whom the case was referred found against the complainants on these allegations, as to negligence and omissions of duty on the part of the trustees, and reported that they should not be held liable for the loss. But the chancellor, before whom the cause was then pending, took a different view of the evidence, and, on exceptions to the master’s report, found “ that said trustees, Alden and Robinson, should have known that said Marsh Harvester Manufacturing Company and Marsh’s were insolvent and in failing condition from the time of the death of the said James S. Waterman until their actual failure about July, 1884, and that said trustees did not.exercise due and proper diligence to collect, or have secured said undisputed indebtedness to said estate; and it appearing, had said trustees diligently pressed said undisputed indebtedness to said estate for payment or security, that security might have been obtained therefor ; so it is ordered that trustees Alden and Robinson be charged with the payment of said undisputed indebtedness to said estate.”
This order only includes the two notes signed by the manufacturing companies and the Marsh’s, the other note being disputed, as hereafter shown. On a re-reference of the case, the master was directed to report the amount of loss on said two notes which he did, finding the amount of loss to the trust estate to be $4328.78, but the Circuit Court of Lee county, as appears from the foregoing extract from its decree, refused to allow the claim for want of jurisdiction.
That a loss to the complainants has been sustained by reason of the failure of appellees to collect the whole amount of those notes is not denied. That they might have been collected by the use of ordinary business management, and diligence, or secured, is clearly established by the evidence. We think it is equally clear that the trustees knew that said parties were heavily indebted, and liable to fail long before any effort was made by them to secure, or collect said indebtedness. The only finding of the court below on the facts is to that effect. While ¡Special Master Loomis, by his report, excuses the conduct of the trustees, he does not do so on the ground that they were not negligent, but rather upon the theory, that, from the relations existing between the testator and the Marsh’s, it is fair to presume that he, if living, would have used no more care and diligence in enforcing those claims than did appellees. It need scarcely be suggested that no such test can properly be applied to the conduct of trustees. There may be abundant reason for believing that Mr. Waterman, though a careful business man, would much rather have lost the indebtedness than to have pressed the collection of it, but that furnishes no excuse for these trustees to neglect or fail to use all reasonable diligence in the matter. Mr. Waterman might do with his own as he pleased, but the duties of these appellees are fixed by the law, and if they have violated those duties they are personally liable.
The question, then, as to whether or not the Circuit Court erred in refusing to hold appellees liable to make good said loss, must be decided upon the admission that upon the facts proved and found by that court, in a proper tribunal, they can be so held, the only question now being, did said court properly hold that it had no jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the matter? That courts of chancery have jurisdiction generally, on the application of beneficiaries of a trust fund, to charge trustees with losses occurring through their negligence or mismanagement, is too clear to call for the citation of authorities. The decree of the Circuit Court seems to have proceeded upon the theory that inasmuch as the trustees were also executors of the will of James S. Waterman, a court of chancery could not compel them to make good the loss sustained by complainants, without interfering with the jurisdiction of the County Court before which the administration of the estate was pending. This we think is a misapprehension. The negligence in failing to secure or collect these claims, it is said, was the negligence of the executors, over whom in the administration of the estate, the County Court has exclusive jurisdiction. The relief sought by this bill is against the trustees and not the executors, and if the relief prayed can not be granted by a court of chancery, it must be because complainants have failed to prove such dereliction of duty on the part of appellees in their capacity as trustees as should make them liable, and not because their bill seeks to remove any part of the administration of the estate from the County Court. It does not follow because Alden and Robinson were guilty of negligence in not collecting said indebtedness as executors, they are not also guilty of neglect of duty in that regard as trustees. Suppose other persons had been executors, and they had been guilty of the conduct charged in this bill, causing the loss here complained of, and these trustees, with full knowledge of that misconduct, had not only consented, but themselves contributed thereto, would there have been any doubt as to the power of a court of chancery to charge the trustees, regardless of the liability of the executors, in their settlement of the estate in the County Court ? The executors and trustees being the same persons, it is impossible that there should be an act of fraud, or breach of duty by the executors, which is not consented to and acquiesced in by the trustees.
The question is not, in which capacity appellees are liable, and hence cases cited by counsel on either side, discussing the question as to whether funds were held, in one capacity or another, have no application. On the allegations of the bill, and the finding of facts by the Circuit Court, the debts in question have been absolutely lost to the estate, and to that extent the complainants have been injured, and the only question which can now or hereafter arise between these parties is, have these trustees, by their negligent conduct, become liable for that loss ? Nothing which may be hereafter done in the settlement of the estate in the County Court can affect this question, and we are unable to see why these complainants should be sent to that court for the settlement of their rights. We are^ therefore, of the opinion that the Circuit Court erred in refusing to take jurisdiction of the question of the liability of appellees for said loss, and that it should have decreed that they make good the same to the trust fund in their hands.
As to the note signed by the Marsh’s alone, the first master reported that the makers claimed to have a defense against it, and when the case was again referred, the master was directed to ascertain whether or not a valid defense did exist to said note, and report the same. He reported that a defense was insisted upon, and that, on the testimony of said C. W. and W. W. Marsh, it was established, the only question being as to the competency of those parties as witnesses, to prove the defense, and on that question he .found in their favor. We think his conclusion as to their competency was correct. Moreover it does not appear that appellees could have secured or collected that note, however prompt and diligent they might have been. The Marsh’s denied that they owed it, and do not say they would have paid or secured it if applied to for that purpose; whereas they admit that the other two notes were undisputed, and could have been secured, if security had been asked for Appellees should not, therefore, be held liable on said personal note. Both parties object to the apportionment of the costs and expenses of the suit, made by the Circuit Court. We think the order in that regard is quite as favorable to appellees as the facts of the case .would justify. They are responsible for the most expensive portion of this litigation, in failing to keep proper accounts of their trusteeship. In the first special master’s report is the significant finding) that they “ made out and exhibited an entirely new book of accounts as executors, also one as trustees, since the filing of the bill,” and that fact, the master well says, “ amounts to an admission that prior books are not what they ought to he.” There is no claim on their part that they attempted to keep accurate separate accounts of the trust estate. The only apology for failing to do so is that they did not know how to classify the two kinds of property. But they were entitled to counsel, at the expense of the trust estate, to assist them, and if' necessary, to the directions of a court of equity in that regard. They certainly had no right to omit a plain, legal duty because they may have been in doubt as to how it should be performed. On that theory they might have neglected that duty during the entire period of their trusteeship. At all events, on the report of the first master, the court found it necessary to again refer the case to a master to make a complete statement of the account, and this, of necessity, greatly increased the costs and expenses of the suit. Appellees can not, therefore, justly complain that they were required to pay a considerable part of the whole expense.
On the other hand, owing to the large amount and variety of assets belonging to the estate, it was a matter of some difficulty at least, as the result of this litigation shows, to deter mine just what property belonged to principal, and what to income. As before said, appellees were entitled to the advice of counsel, and, if necessary, the aid of the court to properly settle that question. The statement of the account, approved by the court below, is, therefore, for the benefit of all parties interested in the trust estate, those who take the income and those who shall finally take the principal, and it can not be said that either should be entirely exempt from liability for costs and expenses in making it. It is conceded that taxing costs in a chancery proceeding is always within the sound, legal discretion of the chancellor, and that his decree in that regard will only be reviewed where it is shown that there has been an abuse of that discretion. We see no reason for interfering in the present ease on that ground.
It is insisted with great earnestness that the account stated by the last special master, and approved by the court, is erroneous in that it fails to charge the trustees with interest on the small amounts which had been charged wrongfully by Alden for railroad fare and commissions on insurance. It is perhaps true that the account is inaccurate in that respect, but the matter is of so little importance that no court ought to entertain the objection as reversible error. We have examined the account, and compared it with the proofs in the case, and are satisfied that it is substantially correct and does justice between the parties, except in the matter of the Marsh indebtedness, as above stated. For that error the decree of the Circuit Court will be reversed, and the cause will be remanded to the Circuit Court, with directions to enter a decree in conformity with the views herein expressed.
Reversed and remanded.