Dewey v. Lindhout, 205 Ill. App. 322 (1917)

April 16, 1917 · Illinois Appellate Court · Gen. No. 22,738
205 Ill. App. 322

A. Delbert Dewey, Appellee, v. J. C. K. Lindhout, Individually and as Trustee, Appellant.

Gen. No. 22,738.

(Not to he reported in full.)

Appeal from the City Court of Chicago Heights; the Hon. Charles H. Bowles,. Judge, presiding. Heard in this court at the October term, 1916.

Reversed and remanded with directions.

Opinion filed April 16, 1917.

Statement of the Case.

Bill by A. Delbert Dewey, complainant, against J. C. K. Lindhout, individually and as trustee, defendant, for injunction to restrain defendant from disposing of a certain fund. From a decree ordering defendant to *323pay $182.03 costs of suit and permanently restraining turn from disposing of said fund, defendant appeals.

Abstract of the Decision.

1. Trusts, § 201 * —when evidence insufficient to warrant finding that trustee was wrongfully in possession of certain money. Evidence held not to warrant a finding that defendant was wrongfully in possession of certain money received by him, as counsel for complainant’s wife in a certain suit for divorce brought by her against complainant, pursuant to an agreement in the nature of an alimony agreement entered into between complainant and his wife, whereby he agreed that all debts of himself and herself should be paid under the supervision of defendant out of a certain fund to be paid in consideration of complainant delivering a deed and bill of sale of his property.

2. Trusts, § 201*—when evidence sufficient to show absence of fraud by trustee. Evidence held sufficient to show that defendant acted without any fraud or improper acts in his dealings with complainant and with diligence, discretion and fidelity to his client, complainant’s wife, in receiving and disposing of a certain fund under a certain agreement between complainant and his wife in the nature of an alimony agreement.

3. Trusts, § 153*—when deposit of funds in bank lies within discretion of trustee. Where an attorney, who had represented a wife in a divorce suit, received money as a trustee, pursuant to an alimony agreement, whereby the husband agreed that all debts of both should be paid under the supervision of the attorney out of a fund created by the payment of a certain sum in consideration of the husband delivering a deed and bill of sale of his property, held that authority of the trustee to deposit the money in a bank might be inferred from his relationship to the parties and the fund, and that such depositing of the money was a matter resting in his discretion.

Francis X. Busch, for appellant.

George A. Brinkman, for appellee.

Mr. Justice Holdom

delivered the opinion of the court.