Hahn v. Ironbound Trust Co.

CHURCH, V. C.

Suit by Mary Allen Hahn against the Ironbound Trust Company and others. Judgment for complainant.

M. M. Stallman, of Newark, for complainant.

Ralph E. Lum, of Newark, for defendants.

CHURCH, V. C. Albert J. Hahn and Mary Allen Hahn opened two accounts in the name of Albert J. Hahn and Mary Allen Hahn, one in the Ironbound Trust Company, the other in the North Ward National Bank. The signature cards contain the following clauses:

"Ironbound Trust Company funds payable to either or the survivor * * * such moneys are to be drawn * * * by either of us, or in the event of death of cither to belong to the survivor."

"North Ward National Bank. This account is subject to the order of either of the undersigned depositors, the balance at the death of either to belong to the survivor."

Albert J. Hahn died, and by his will, after leaving a life interest in his property to his widow, left the remainder to his executors. During his lifetime he and his wife drew from the savings account sufficient money to buy 20 shares of the New Brunswick Heat, Light & Power Company, the certificate reading: "Albert J. Hahn and Mary Allen Hahn."

I am called upon to decide whether the bank accounts and the stock belonged absolutely to the widow, or whether they go into the residuary estate. It was admitted on argument that the complainant is entitled to the Ironbound Trust Company account Considering the signature cards and the admission, I am of the opinion that it was clearly the intention of Albeit J. Hahn to vest in his wife the right of survivorship in these bank accounts, and I so find. Kaufman v. Edwards, 92 N. J. Eq. 554, 113 Atl. 598.

The question as to whether the money withdrawn from these bank accounts to purchase the abovementioned stock destroyed the right of survivorship has also been raised.

It appears that $800 was withdrawn from one account and $700 from another, the difference for the purchase of stock being made up by cash on hand. I cannot find in this state any case directly in point, but counsel for the complainant has called my attention to the English case of Williams v. Hensman (English Court of Chancery) 30 L. J. Ch. 878. 7 Jur. (N. S.) 771, 5 L. T. 203, 70 English Reports, Reprint 862. In this case a testatrix devised a sum of money to a life tenant, with the remainder to her eight children. The Vice Chancellor found that, under the terms of the will, the eight children took the remainder as joint tenants. The estate was in money. Subsequently the five children who were of age entered into an agreement directing the trustee to invest their interests in a bond and mortgage. The Vice Chancellor held that the five children who were of age continued to be joint tenants among themselves with respect to the security in which their joint moneys were invested by their direction; and he held further that to convert a joint estate into an estate in common requires an express agreement or such an act as will clearly raise the inference of severance, and that the burden of proof is upon him who asserts the severance.

No proof has been submitted to me in this case that there was ever any severance intended when the money was withdrawn from the bank accounts to invest in this stock. From the evidence it appears that Hahn and his wife desired a higher rate of interest than they could secure from the savings banks, and that there was no idea of changing the condition of the funds in the savings banks or of destroying the right of survivorship. See, also, 23 Cyc. p. 487, note, which says:

"Employing part of the property in trade for mutual benefit does not sever a joint tenancy. Hall v. Digby, 4 Bro. P. C. 577, 2 English Reprint, 393."

I will therefore advise a decree that the right of survivorship in the two bank accounts, and also in the stock certificate, is in Mary Allen Hahn, and she is entitled to the amount on deposit in these two banks, and also to the certificate of stock of the New Brunswick Heat, Light & Power Company.