Haudenschilt v. Haudenschilt , 129 W. Va. 92 ( 1946 )

This is a suit in equity, instituted in the Circuit Court of Wetzel County, in which the plaintiff seeks to surcharge and falsify a settlement of the accounts of James S. Haudenschilt, guardian for the plaintiff. In substance and effect, the settlement under attack was made in the lifetime of the guardian, who is now deceased, although, technically, only a report of a commissioner of accounts, made after the death of the guardian is involved. The devisees and legatees under the will of James S. Haudenschilt, other than plaintiff, are made defendants, as are the executor under said will and the surety on his bond as such. Lola M. Boothby is also made a party defendant by reason of an allowance to her of a claim against the estate of James S. Haudenschilt, which is sought to be reconsidered and disallowed. The circuit court, for reasons stated by it in writing, made a part of the record, dismissed the plaintiff's bill, and from the decree of dismissal, entered on July 25, 1944, we granted this appeal. The suit, being one in which the substantial issues are between the plaintiff and the executor of James S. Haudenschilt, these parties will be referred to as "plaintiff" and "defendant", the positions they occupied in the court below, and James S. Haudenschilt will be referred to as "guardian".

The nature of the issues of law and fact presented on this record requires a summary of developments concerning three trusts and over a long period of time. These are the estate of James F. Haudenschilt, father of plaintiff; the account of the administratrix of such estate, who was the mother of plaintiff; and the estate of James S. Haudenschilt, plaintiff's grandfather, who, until plaintiff reached his majority on March 1, 1934, acted as his "guardian".

On October 31, 1918, plaintiff's father, James F. Haudenschilt, died intestate, seised and possessed of certain real and personal property. The value of the personal property appears to have aggregated approximately $18,382.24; and the real estate was sold for $2,500.00. The appraisement of this estate does not appear in the record and is not available. The figures mentioned above are obtained from the settlement of the accounts of the administratrix, and from court records of the sale of the real estate made by the guardian. It should be stated here that shortly after the death of James F. Haudenschilt, his wife, Auttie Haudenschilt, now deceased, qualified as administratrix of his personal estate; and on May 24, 1919, James S. Haudenschilt was appointed and qualified as guardian for plaintiff.

The record discloses, without serious question, the amount of money which went into the hands of the guardian. This is shown first by reference to the settlement of the accounts of Auttie Haudenschilt, administratrix, admitted to record on January 21, 1922. In that settlement, made before E. O. Keifer, commissioner of accounts, the administratrix charges herself with the sum of $18,382.24, made up of goods and fixtures sold for $6,362.00; bank account, cash and book account, $5,381.24; household goods and stock $1,071.00; war savings stamps, at face value, $1,068.00; and liberty bonds, at face value, $4,500.00. The administratrix established the payment of certain items of account, and, taking into consideration her compensation, she paid out of said estate the sum of $1,245.66, leaving to be accounted for the sum of $17,136.58. She retained $5,712.20, as her share of her husband's estate. On June 25, 1920, the guardian executed to Auttie Haudenschilt a receipt in the words and figures following: "Received from Auttie Haudenschilt, administratrix of the estate of J. F. Haudenschilt, deceased, the sum of $11,512.29 in cash, liberty bonds, notes, etc. in full settlement of the amount from her to Paul Haudenschilt, as heir and only child of J. F. Haudenschilt, deceased."

On June 14, 1919, the guardian filed his petition against his ward, in the Circuit Court of Wetzel County, praying for authority to sell and convey four certain parcels of real estate, of which the father of his ward died seised, and such proceedings were had in the case that a sale of the property was made for the sum of $2,500.00, which sale was confirmed. Auttie Haudenschilt, as the widow of James F. Haudenschilt, was decreed the sum of $486.70, as her dower interest in said real estate, leaving a remainder of the purchase price, $2,013.30, which went into the hands of the guardian. It clearly appears, therefore, according to the receipt which the guardian gave to Auttie Haudenschilt, administratrix, and the record of the circuit court, showing the sale of the real estate aforesaid, that there passed into the hands of the guardian the sum of $13,525.59.

The first settlement by the guardian is dated August 1, 1932, and was made before A. C. Chapman, commissioner of accounts. In that settlement the guardian is charged with the sum of $10,880.29, which, it will be observed, was less than the $11,512.29 for which the guardian receipted to the administratrix. In the report of the commissioner it is stated that there is still due the guardian from Auttie Haudenschilt, administratrix, the sum of $544.09, which, it is said, the guardian had not then been able to collect. The $10,880.29, with which the guardian was charged was made up of certificates of deposits and checks, $5,312.29; war savings stamps, $1,068.00; liberty bonds at face value, $4,500.00. Added to that were various items of interest on liberty bonds and the Pyle and Mason notes; and credit was taken for various sums paid by the guardian for the maintenance of his ward and other expenses, and a final balance was struck, as of July 1, 1932, showing the guardian as then indebted to his ward in the sum of $11,061.95. In other words, over the long period of time since he became guardian in 1919 to the date of his settlement in 1932, the estate had increased in value.

The next settlement by the guardian, which is claimed to be final settlement, being made one day after plaintiff attained his majority, charges the guardian with the sum of $11,061.95, the total found to be due on the first settlement, to which was added certain interest received on liberty bonds and certain notes, making the total chargeable to the guardian $11,476.95. Against this amount he was allowed credit for expenditures, principally for the ward's education, and including an allowance of one hundred dollars to the guardian, and costs of the commissioner's report, all aggregating $2,252.04, leaving a balance due from the guardian to plaintiff of $9,224.91. The report of the commissioner contains a statement that the estate of Auttie Haudenschilt was indebted to the guardian in the sum of $619.35, and that plaintiff, being the only heir and distributee of said estate, desired that said debt be discharged by allowing the same as a credit to James S. Haudenschilt, guardian, in his settlement, which was done, and that was included in the guardian's credit aggregating $2,252.04, aforesaid. Presumably, this is the $544.00 which the guardian mentioned as not having been paid to him by the administratrix. The report also contains this language: "Your commissioner further finds and reports that said guardian, J. S. Haudenschilt, has this 1st day of March, 1934, turned over Liberty Bonds, cash and securities, to the said James Paul Haudenschilt, amounting to the sum of $9,224.91; that the said J. S. Haudenschilt Guardian, having fully accounted and paid over all funds in his hands as such Guardian, should be discharged from all liability as such, together with the surety on his bond."

Assuming the correctness of the above report of settlement, it would appear to be a final settlement of the account between plaintiff and his guardian; but plaintiff denies that he understood it to be a final settlement; avers that it was not such settlement; and that from time to time thereafter he sought a final settlement with his guardian, but was unable to obtain it.

Nothing further developed in the matter prior to the death of James S. Haudenschilt on April 25, 1937, after which the defendant, W. Pearl Haudenschilt, qualified as executor under his last will and testament. The settlement of the estate of the said James S. Haudenschilt was referred to A. C. Chapman, the same person who had made the guardian's settlement aforesaid. Chapman later retired from the case, and the matter was referred to L. S. Hall, a commissioner of accounts, before whom plaintiff filed a claim against the estate of his guardian, in which he seeks to charge such estate with the sum of $19,706.36, made up of the sum of $11,512.29 covered by the guardian's receipt to Auttie Haudenschilt, administratrix, and divers sums alleged to have been received by the guardian, as interest on bonds, certificates of deposit, notes, etc. In this claim no mention is made of the item of $2,013.30, derived from the sale of the real estate aforesaid, although the guardian is charged with various sums of interest accruing on the note given for this real estate. Apparently, at that time, it was assumed that the $2,013.30 was included in the item of $11,512.29, for which the guardian gave his receipt to the administratrix. In the claim filed before commissioner Hall, it was admitted that the guardian was entitled to credit for the sum of $13,721.16, which, deducted from the amount chargeable, left a balance of $5,995.20, as of March 1, 1934, the date of the last settlement. Among the credits included in the admission aforesaid, is an allowance to the guardian of one hundred dollars; the item of $619.35, which was supposed to represent indebtedness of Auttie Haudenschilt's estate to the guardian; and the sum of $6,406.91, representing government bonds and cash paid by the guardian to plaintiff on March 1, 1934.

As a defense to this claim on the part of the plaintiff, the defendant executor of the guardian's estate, filed what is termed a plea of res adjudicata, in which plea he refers to the whole record then before the commissioner. The substance of this plea is that the settlement made by the guardian before A. C. Chapman, commissioner, on March 1, 1934, confirmed by the County Court of Wetzel County on April 4, 1934, was conclusive and binding. We understand this plea to be based upon Code,44-4-20, which will be hereinafter referred to. Another plea was filed concerning a note of L. C. Parsons, given for money loaned from the guardian's funds, for which, it is claimed, the guardian failed to account. There was a demurrer to the plea ofres adjudicata, and the issue of the finality, validity and force of the settlement of March 1, 1934, aforesaid, was plainly presented. On this issue the commissioner of accounts, on January 11, 1939, made the following holding: "Therefore, your Commissioner is of the opinion and doth find and report that the said final settlement of the fiduciary accounts of James S. Haudenschilt, Guardian of James Paul Haudenschilt, infant, shall be taken to be correct, and binding and conclusive upon the beneficiary of said estate, being the said James Paul Haudenschilt, as provided by Chapter 44, Article 4, Section 20, of the Code of West Virginia. And your Commissioner further finds and reports that the claim of James Paul Haudenschilt against the Estate of James S. Haudenschilt, deceased, should not be allowed, and your Commissioner therefore does not allow said claim as a valid claim against the Estate of James S. Haudenschilt, deceased." In this report the commissioner found indebtedness against the James S. Haudenschilt estate, aggregating $3,954.50, included in which was a claim of $2500.00 in favor of the defendant, Lola M. Boothby. This report was approved and confirmed by the County Court of Wetzel County.

There was no appeal to the circuit court from the finding of the commissioner of accounts, approved by the county court. The plaintiff, being dissatisfied with that report, promptly instituted this suit, and filed his bill at March rules, 1939. The bill is lengthy and contains allegations concerning all of the various items hereinbefore mentioned, and others not mentioned. There are specific charges as to various items which appear to have been considered in the alleged settlements made by the guardian. It is charged that there went into the hands of the guardian on June 20, 1920, the sum of $11,512.29 paid to him by Auttie Haudenschilt, admininstratrix. There is a further allegation that there went into his hands the additional sum of $2,013.30, derived from the sale of real estate of which plaintiff's father died seised and possessed, and which the guardian sold under decree of the Circuit Court of Wetzel County. It is charged that the guardian accounted for only $10,880.29, of the sum which went into his hands as such guardian, as paid to him by the administratrix, and that no accounting was made for the $2,013.30 aforesaid. It is alleged that the guardian failed to account for certain money belonging to his ward, loaned to one Parsons. It is charged that money belonging to plaintiff's estate was invested by the guardian in the stock of Jackson Building Loan Association, an investment alleged to have been unauthorized and improper, and which proved to be, practically, a total loss; and the guardian's estate is alleged to be under obligation to account therefor. Many other matters and things appear in the bill, to which we do not consider it necessary to refer.

The bill contains the following allegation: "Plaintiff alleges that his said Guardian and the Commissioner of Accounts, taking advantage of his age, lack of knowledge of his business affairs, and his relationship with his said Guardian, fraudulently connived and conspired together for the purpose of defeating and defrauding Plaintiff out of his said estate or money and other properties, which came into the hands of his Guardian as such; and Plaintiff had no reason to believe that said pretended report, under date March 1, 1934, was to be a final report."; and the further allegation: "Plaintiff alleges that the pretended final report, under date March 1, 1934, is not a final report as indicated and stated therein; that said report fails to list all of the assets which came into the hands of James S. Haudenschilt belonging to Plaintiff, before said Commissioner in either of said reports filed herewith, as 'Exhibits B and D'; that the said Commissioner failed and neglected to return with said pretended final report, the vouchers and other evidence as Plaintiff is advised the statute required; that said pretended report on its face thereof, shows fraud and misrepresentation and utterly fails to include therein a complete itemization of all of the funds which actually came into the hands of Plaintiff's Guardian; * * *". These allegations are the only direct allegations of fraud contained in the bill. There are allegations with respect to the failure to account, and of unwise and unauthorized expenditures and investments of the ward's estate, which, if true, would amount to legal or constructive fraud. Whether there was any purpose to commit actual fraud, we are of the opinion that these allegations sufficiently allege fraud. It is our understanding of equity practice that allegations of facts which the law treats as creating fraud, either actual or constructive, are sufficient to constitute a charge of either actual or constructive fraud, depending on the nature of the facts alleged.,

The executor of the estate of James S. Haudenschilt appeared and filed his demurrer to plaintiff's bill. The principal ground of demurrer was that Section 20 of Article 4, Chapter 44 of the Code, abolished the previously existing remedy in equity to surcharge and falsify the settlement of the accounts here under attack. The bill was also attacked on the ground that it was multifarious, and that relief was barred by laches. This demurrer was overruled for reasons given by the Court in a written opinion, in which the court based its decision upon the jurisdiction of courts of equity to entertain suits to correct settlements of accounts of this nature, particularly where fraud in connection therewith was charged. The executor then filed his answer, which goes into the matter at great length, and in which he attempts to explain and defend against the various charges contained in plaintiff's bill. There was also an answer to the bill filed on the part of Lola M. Boothby, the allowance of her note as a claim against James S. Haudenschilt having been attacked therein.

By orders dated July 27, 1940, and September 27, 1940, the case was referred to Henry P. Snyder, commissioner in chancery, to whom were submitted the questions raised by plaintiff's bill and the answers thereto. A large volume of testimony was taken before him, various items hereinbefore discussed were considered, statements were produced and admitted as evidence, and his report was made and filed.

It is unfortunate that we do not have the record of the appraisement of the estate of James F. Haudenschilt, father of plaintiff. The inability to have the advantage of this paper may have given rise to this litigation. We think, however, that sufficient evidence was produced before the commissioner in chancery from which we can fairly well determine the amount of the estate of James F. Haudenschilt, which finally went into the hands of his administratrix, and from her to the guardian of his son. Among these assets was a stock of merchandise and fixtures. These were sold to Pyle and Mason for $6,362.00, for a portion of which they gave notes of $2,000.00 and $500.00. We think it quite clear that, at the date of the settlement between Auttie Haudenschilt, administratrix, and James S. Haudenschilt, guardian, there was intended to be turned over to the guardian by the administratrix, liberty bonds of the face value of $4,500.00; war savings stamps of the face value of $1,200.00; Pyle and Mason note of $2,000.00; Pyle and Mason note of $500.00; Pyle and Mason note on realty $486.70; certificate of deposit, $2,000.00; check of August 13, 1923, $325.59; check of October 7, 1919, $300.00; check of June 20, 1920, $200.00, making a total of $11,512.29. It may be that, in fact, only $10,880.29 was so paid, but at least that sum was transferred from the administratrix to the guardian. It will be observed that in this transfer and accounting no mention is made of the $2,013.30, which the guardian received from the sale of the real estate, but the $486.70 derived from that sale, belonging to the widow of James F. Haudenschilt, is taken into account. Then, James S. Haudenschilt, guardian, made a memorandum of the amount of money which he received from the administratrix, and one item in that memorandum is $2,986.70. It is contended by plaintiff that this item represents the two Pyle and Mason notes, one for $2,000.00 and the other for $500.00, and the amount due Auttie Haudenschilt from the sale of the real estate, $486.70, which makes up the total of $2,986.70. This on the theory that the consideration for the real estate sold by the guardian was the $2,500.00 note, which the guardian retained and collected, some of which was collected as late as 1928, and that having this note in his possession he accounted to Auttie Haudenschilt for the money due her from the sale of the estate, and that at that time she had the two Pyle and Mason notes, aforesaid, and these sums aggregate $2,986.70. At another point in the record is a statement, purporting to be in the handwriting of James S. Haudenschilt, and purporting to be a copy of the invoice of James Paul Haudenschilt's property, as turned over to the guardian by Auttie Haudenschilt, administratrix of James F. Haudenschilt, which reads:

"Sept. 1920 Reg Bonds 4500.00 Oct. 16 twelve 'bok' stamps sold 1068.00 Pyles Mason Note 2000.00 Pyles Mason Note Pyles Mason on Reality 486.70 Certificate on First N. B. 2000.00 Check on First N. B. 325.59 --------- 10880.29 Note on Pyles Mason on Reality 2013.30"

Unquestionably all of these sums went into the hands of the guardian, and he should have been required to account therefor.

Another question before the commissioner related to the investment of $2,000.00 in stock of the Jackson Building Loan Association. This purchase was made in 1928, and that organization went into liquidation and its business was closed by State authorities late in 1929. There is nothing in the record to indicate that there was bad faith on the part of the guardian in making this investment, but, in the light of later developments, it was not a wise one.

Another matter laid before the commissioner was the question of the Parsons notes, which represented money loaned by the guardian from his ward's funds to a man named Parsons. Undoubtedly, the guardian should have been required to account for this money, but it is contended that he did so in the settlement made March 1, 1934, and the plaintiff, after reaching his majority, and after March 1, 1934, executed a writing by which he vested title to these notes in his guardian; he claims, however, that this was done to place the guardian in a position to facilitate a loan by which the notes could be collected.

The commissioner properly declined to pass upon the question of the so-called plea of res adjudicata. He found that there was no evidence of actual fraud; but found that the guardian had made some minor illegal disbursements, and further found that the guardian had not fully accounted to plaintiff for the funds in his hands as guardian at the date of his death, and that there had not been such showing of laches as to bar plaintiff's claim. The commissioner specifically found that the guardian had not accounted to plaintiff for his portion of the $2,500.00 Pyle and Mason real estate note, the principal sum of which is $2,013.30. He found that in the guardian's first settlement on August 1, 1932, he was charged with $10,880.29, which did not include the $2,013.30 aforesaid, and that the amount should have been accounted for at that time. He also held that the guardian had not accounted in full for interest on the $2,013.30 aforesaid, but apparently lost sight of the fact, as appears from the first Chapman settlement, that interest on the Pyle and Mason note of $2,500.00 was paid for the years 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, and 1927, and accounted for by the guardian. The commissioner found that the guardian was not liable for the amount of the Jackson Building Loan Association investment, and that he should not be held liable for the L. C. Parsons note, the J. H. Riggenbach note, the L. H. Schrader note, the F. W. Schrader note, and the J. O. Newman note, he having accounted therefor. He found that the guardian had paid to plaintiff the sum of $9,224.91 on March 1, 1934; that the correct amount chargeable to the guardian, as paid to him from the personal estate involved was $10,880.29; and altogether the substance of the findings of the commissioner in chancery was that the guardian should be required to account for the $2,013.30, realized from the sale of the real estate made by the guardian, with proper interest. Other inconsequential items are held chargeable to the guardian, but it is not deemed necessary to mention them at this time.

Exceptions to the commissioner's report were filed by interested parties. In view of the action of the circuit court by its final decree, it is not necessary for us to enter into a detailed discussion of these exceptions.

On July 25, 1944, the circuit court entered a decree dismissing the plaintiff's bill. The trial judge filed a written memorandum, which is made a part of the record. He made no specific finding upon any of the exceptions to the report of the commissioner in chancery, but announced only his general conclusion, and then sustained or overruled the commissioner's findings to the extent necessary to make consistent his ruling on the main proposition involved in the case. His holding was that: "It is the opinion and finding of this court that the claim or claims of the plaintiff which are presented here were adjudicated before the County Court of Wetzel County, West Virginia, in a proceeding originated by the filing of these claims before Mr. Hall, Commissioner of Accounts; that such adjudication was final and binding upon the plaintiff and in the absence of any fraud in the procurement of that final settlement, equity, even though broad in its remedial scope, cannot extend its aid to one who has had his day in court, merely because he is dissatisfied with the results he obtained in the forum he elected to hear his complaint". He declined to pass upon the question of whether there was sufficient laches to bar the plaintiff's claim. In said decree the court makes findings of fact: that the guardian of plaintiff had not been guilty of any actual fraud in the handling of plaintiff's funds; nor guilty of any false or dishonest conduct; that plaintiff had failed to prove that the guardian and commissioner had fraudulently connived and conspired together for the purpose of defeating and defrauding plaintiff of his estate, which went into the hands of his guardian; and then decreed that the claim of the plaintiff, set forth in his bill, had been adjudicated before Hall, commissioner of accounts, and that such adjudication was final and binding upon plaintiff. The court then dismissed the bill and assessed costs against plaintiff.

From the foregoing it will appear that the decision of this cause depends upon the construction, force and effect to be given to Section 20, Article 4, Chapter 44 of the Code, which reads as follows:

"The report, to the extent to which it may be so confirmed by the county court, or confirmed on appeal by the circuit court, shall be taken to be correct, and shall be binding and conclusive upon creditors of a decedent's estate, and binding and conclusive upon every beneficiary of the estate or trust who has had notice that the report has been laid before the commissioner for settlement, or upon completion of the report was notified by the commissioner of its completion and that the same would remain in his office ten days subject to inspection and exception. Such notices to any creditor or beneficiary who is under disability shall be given by personal service on the guardian or committee of such person; and, where the report is that of a guardian, committee, or curator, the notice shall be served personally on the infant, ward or beneficiary and on the person or persons having his custody, or upon the guardian ad litem of such infant, ward or beneficiary that may be appointed for the purpose by the county court."

As bearing on the construction of this statute, reference is made to Code, 44-4-22, in which it is provided that when the county court shall have confirmed the accounts of a fiduciary, it may order payment of what shall appear due on such account, to such persons as would be entitled to recover the same. It then provides that if such order be not complied with, any person interested may bring a suit in equity in the circuit court of the county wherein the order was made to compel compliance therewith; and that in such suit such order shall be taken as prima facie correct, and there shall be a decree according to such order, except so far as it may appear upon proper pleadings and proof to be erroneous. It appears, therefore, that while under Section 20 quoted above a commissioner's finding will, in certain circumstances, be held to be binding and conclusive, it is, under said Section 22, only prima facie evidence of the correctness in a suit in equity, where a beneficiary seeks to enforce the provisions of such report.

There can be no question that some change in the law was intended to be made when Code, 44-4-20, was enacted. It is a new section of the Code, and was intended to take the place of Section 22, Chapter 87, Barnes' Code, 1923, which, referring to the report of a commissioner of accounts provides: "The report, to the extent to which it may be so confirmed, shall be taken to be correct, except so far as the same may in a suit in proper time, be surcharged or falsified." The revisers' note makes clear the purpose of the change in the statute. Under the statute as it was before the enactment of 1931, the right to surcharge and falsify an account was recognized by statute. Clearly that statutory recognition was withdrawn, except in the particular instance covered by Code, 44-4-22. But, in our opinion, it was not intended to, and does not, take away from courts of equity the jurisdiction which they have always had, independent of any statute, to surcharge and falsify the settlement of accounts of fiduciaries, where equitable ground therefor exists.

We assume that it will not be questioned that courts of equity have jurisdiction, under their general powers, to inquire into the accounts of executors or administrators. "A court of equity, under its general powers, has the power to inquire into the account of an executor or administrator, where some ground for the exercise of equitable jurisdiction, such as fraud, misrepresentation, or mistake, is clearly established, provided the complaining party has exercised diligence, and is not guilty of laches." 21 Am. Jur. 685. Seabright v. Seabright,28 W. Va. 412, is the leading case in this State on the question of the surcharge and falsification of ex parte settlements of the accounts of fiduciaries. It was there stated: "There was no statute in Virginia prior to the Code of 1849 declaring the effect and weight of such ex parte settlement of an executor, though from a very early day there were statutes in Virginia which declared that such ex parte settlements of a guardian, and also inventories and appraisements returned by executors should be regarded as primafacie correct but subject to be surcharged and falsified. For these acts see R. C. of 1819, ch. 104, sec. 45, vol. 1, p. 387 and ch. 108, sec. 7, p. 407." The opinion then goes on to say that the rules governing the surcharge and falsification of such a settlement of accounts are the same as those where it is sought to avoid a stated account which is defined "as an account which has been examined by the parties and the balance admitted as the true balance without having been paid"; and further that "The mode of surcharging and falsifying ex parte settlements of executors is not prescribed by statute, and it is, as it always has been, the same as the mode of surcharging and falsifying stated accounts." The surcharge and falsification of the settlement of an account of a fiduciary has always been one of the important functions of a court of equity, and, so far as we know, has never been effected in any other way. The jurisdiction of a court of equity in such matters is, fundamentally, based upon its jurisdiction to enforce trusts, inasmuch as every fiduciary occupies a trust relation to his estate, or to the beneficiaries thereof, and, in case of a guardian, his ward. We find this jurisdiction referred to as within the general powers of courts of equity by reference to such authorities as 2 Story's Equity Jurisprudence, 105; 2 Lomax on Executors, 520; 2 Tucker's Commentaries, Ed. 1846, 407; Minor's Institutes, Vol. IV, Part II, page 1232; 4 Pomeroy's Equity Jurisprudence (5th ed.) 408, and covered by Sections 1152-1154(b), page 456. For a discussion of settlements of estates in connection with the powers of probate courts, see 1 Pomeroy's Equity Jurisprudence (5th ed.), 776, Sections 347-351, inclusive. The jurisdiction of a court of equity to surcharge and falsify the settlement of a fiduciary clearly exists under its general powers, and a statute which merely deals with procedure, outside of a court of equity, in the settlement of such accounts should not be held to deprive a court of equity of its jurisdiction in the same matter, where equitable grounds for its intervention exist. Generally speaking, the jurisdiction of a court of equity is not affected by a change in a statute under which some other body, even one having judicial powers such as a county court in some instances, and under which it may be provided its findings are binding and conclusive. 1 Barton's Chancery Practice, 9. "Courts of equity having once acquired jurisdiction never lose it because jurisdiction of the same matter is given to courts of law, unless the statute conferring such jurisdiction uses prohibitory or restrictive words." Filler v. Tyler, 91 Va. 458,22 S.E. 235; Beverly v. Rhodes, 86 Va. 415, 10 S.E. 572; Hoge v. Fidelity Loan Trust Co., 103 Va. 1, 48 S.E. 494;Shield v. Brown, 166 Va. 596, 186 S.E. 33. There is nothing in Code, 44-4-20, which indicates any intent on the part of the Legislature to interfere, in any manner whatsoever, with the jurisdiction of courts of equity in the settlement of estates; and under prevalent standards of construction we do not think this Court should read into that section a purpose and intent which the Legislature itself did not choose to state. As stated above, the jurisdiction of courts of equity extends to all cases of fraud, accident, misconduct, misrepresentation, or other matters which equity, under its general power, will correct. We can scarcely conceive that the Legislature meant, by its action in adopting the changed statute, to close forever the door to the correction of any wrong which might develop from the settlement of the estate of a fiduciary. The right to surcharge and falsify accounts, especially where there has been wrongdoing on the part of a fiduciary, is so much a part of the equity system, under which estates are managed and accounted for, that we are of the opinion that only an express provision of the Legislature should be construed to limit the power of courts of equity in respect to such conduct. We are of the opinion, therefore, that Code, 44-4-20, should not be construed to deprive courts of equity of their jurisdiction, under their general powers to surcharge and falsify settlements in a suit in equity, where equitable grounds exist, independent of any statute. In the case at bar, the decisive question to be considered is whether there was fraud, either actual or constructive, on the part of the guardian. For that reason other possible grounds of equitable jurisdiction will not be considered.

While the plaintiff's bill asks that the settlement of the account of the executor of the last will and testament of James S. Haudenschilt be surcharged and falsified, as to the matters affecting the same, alleged in the bill, it is clear that such prayer calls for a consideration of and the surcharge and falsification of the settlements made by the guardian before A. C. Chapman in 1932 and 1934. Commissioner of accounts, Hall, refused to reopen the settlement of March 1, 1934, on the ground that Code, 44-4-20, made that settlement binding and conclusive. He did not go into the merits of the claims of the plaintiff, then presented to him, which are the same as those set up in plaintiff's bill. Commissioner in chancery, Snyder, left open for the circuit court's decision the question of the finality and binding force of the settlements theretofore made by the guardian; and the circuit court, in its final decree in this cause held, in effect, that the settlement before Chapman, made on March 1, 1934, was under Code, 44-4-20, binding and conclusive on the plaintiff and denied him any relief. If commissioner of accounts, Hall, was correct in his holding, and if the circuit court was correct in its holding that the statute above mentioned was conclusive and binding against the claims of plaintiff; then, of course, the plaintiff is not entitled to relief. But, if for any reason, equity has jurisdiction on any ground whatever to inquire into, and surcharge and falsify the settlement of the accounts of the guardian, and relief under such theory is not barred by the laches of the plaintiff, then the decree of the circuit court must be reversed and the cause sent back for final decree on its merits.

No one questions the proposition that if there was fraud on the part of the guardian in the procurement of any settlement he made as such, equity has jurisdiction to set aside such settlement and, so far as we know, only a suit in equity to surcharge and falsify that settlement can be used to effect that purpose. As will hereinafter be indicated, this Court is loathe to consider any question not considered by the court below. For that reason we will refrain from expressing any opinion upon certain questions which were considered by the commissioner in chancery, and which the court did not, in fact, pass upon. But there is one question which it seems to be necessary for us to decide, and that is whether the guardian accounted for the sum of $2,013.30 received by him from the sale of real estate, of which the father of plaintiff died seised. In the first place the record is clear that this sum of money went into the hands of the guardian. This being true, the burden is upon his personal representative to show that he accounted therefor. On the record before us, we are of the firm opinion that that sum of money was never accounted for in any settlement which the guardian made. The evidence on that point is too clear for controversy. We are further of the opinion that the failure to account for such sum was a fraud upon the rights of the ward, the plaintiff in this suit. We are aware of the rule that fraud is never presumed but must be proved, and, for that reason, we cannot say, and do not hold, that there was actual fraud on the part of the guardian. That, of course, would depend upon a showing of intent, either directly or by plain implication, and evidence thereof is lacking. But the fact that the guardian had this sum of money in his possession, and failed to account for it, whether intentionally or not, was, in law at the very least, constructive fraud; and such fraud was just as destructive to the interests of plaintiff as if there had been actual fraud. The circuit court, in its decree and memorandum opinion, in effect, indicates that fraud in the procurement of the settlements under attack would give a court of equity jurisdiction; but the court made its holding on the theory that there was no actual fraud shown. With that holding we agree, but we think that the court missed the point that equity will take jurisdiction of, and relieve against, constructive fraud to the same extent as in a case where there has been actual fraud.

The question of res adjudicata is raised in this suit. There was such a plea in the proceeding before Hall, commissioner of accounts. While it may not be necessary to pass upon the commissioner's ruling on that plea, we are inclined to the opinion that the plea was well taken, and that Commissioner Hall was correct in his refusal to consider the claim of plaintiff filed before him on the ground that in doing so it would be necessary to set aside the settlement made before Chapman on March 1, 1934, which he could not do. We think Code, 44-4-20, makes binding and conclusive the report of a commissioner of accounts in a fiduciary matter, when that report is confirmed by the county court, so far as any remedy might exist in a court of law. If the report of commissioner Hall had been appealed to the circuit court, that appeal would still have been heard in a court of law, and we think the same ruling would have been called for. We need not go into a discussion of the application of the rules pertaining to res adjudicata, more than to say that when once a case has been fairly heard, it cannot, in another suit between the same parties, be reopened, and the first decision, unless appealed from and reversed, will stand as final and conclusive. But this is a suit in equity brought for the sole purpose of setting aside a settlement on equitable grounds. "In stating the doctrine of res judicata, the courts frequently refer to the fact that the judgment sought to be used as a basis for the application of the doctrine was rendered without fraud or collusion, since it is generally held that the principles of res judicata may not be invoked to sustain fraud, and that a judgment obtained by fraud or collusion may not be used as a basis for the application of the doctrine of res judicata." 30 Am. Jur. 941. "The doctrine of res judicata generally prevails as to all subsequent actions. However, a direct proceeding for the purpose of reversing or setting aside a judgment forms an exception to the doctrine that a matter which has been adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction must, in any subsequent litigation between the same parties or their privies, where the same question or questions arise, be deemed to have been finally and conclusively settled." Id. 948. We think the suit of plaintiff is a direct attack upon settlements of the guardianship account.

There may be some doubt as to whether the allegations in plaintiff's bill with respect to fraud, and fraud in the procurement of the settlements under attack, are sufficient. They are not as direct and specific as they might be. There is the one specific charge of fraud and collusion between the guardian and the commissioner of accounts, which is not sustained by evidence. That passes out of the picture. But there is an allegation that the report of settlement of March 1, 1934, fails to list the assets which came into the hands of the guardian belonging to plaintiff, and that the report on its face shows fraud and misrepresentation, and generally fails to include a complete itemization of all property and money which came into the hands of plaintiff's guardian. When a court can see that a wrong has been committed, it will not, and should not, indulge in legal niceties, either on the merits or in respect to pleadings and procedure. We think the facts alleged in the bill, taken as a whole, should be construed as alleging a situation from which, if proved, in equity, establishes constructive fraud. Aside from the allegation as to collusion and conspiracy between the guardian and commissioner of accounts, there is no direct allegation that the settlement was procured by fraud; but it is simple reasoning to reach the conclusion that if a guardian lays before a commissioner of accounts a statement of his account, and fails to include therein items in his hands belonging to the ward, and thereby procures a finding by the commissioner of a lesser sum of money against him than would have been reported had he made a full and complete statement of the money in his hands belonging to his ward, that settlement has been procured by fraud, either actual or constructive.

The circuit court, in reaching its decision, strongly relied upon the case of Ritchie v. Armentrout, 124 W. Va. 399,20 S.E.2d 474. That was a case where an alleged creditor of a decedent filed his claim before a commissioner of accounts, before whom the settlement of decedent's estate was pending. His claim was disallowed, and confirmation by the county court followed. The creditor then instituted an action at law by way of notice of motion, and was met by the contention that the action of the commissioner of accounts was binding and conclusive, and that contention was upheld. As we have above stated, we think Code,44-4-20, precludes relief in a court of law because of any mistake or injustice which may have been made or suffered in the settlement of a fiduciary account, or by the allowance or disallowance of a claim against decedent's estate; but that does not reach the proposition presented, where, in a suit in equity, and on equitable grounds, particularly for fraud, such settlement is surcharged and falsified. The right to surcharge and falsify in such a case exists, even though, under Section 24, Article VIII of our Constitution, it is provided that county courts may exercise limited judicial powers. This section, referring to county courts, provides: "They shall have jurisdiction in all matters of probate, the appointment and qualification of personal representatives, guardians, committees, curators, and the settlement of their accounts, and all matters relating to apprentices." This vests in the county court judicial power, within the limits of their probate jurisdiction, and the settlement of the named fiduciary accounts. Steber v. Combs, 121 W. Va. 509, 5 S.E.2d 420; Estateof T. J. Long, 122 W. Va. 473, 10 S.E.2d 791; Boone v. Boone,123 W. Va. 696, 17 S.E.2d 790. That a court of law, such as a county court, may, under the Constitution, have certain judicial power, does not, necessarily, argue that a court of equity may not have the same power. There is such a thing as concurrent jurisdiction. Nor does it follow that if the Legislature chooses to make certain actions of a law court conclusive and binding, it thereby imposes the same rule on a court of equity, one of the functions of which is, and has always been, to correct judgments and decrees of courts of law, where equitable grounds therefor exist, and where there is no remedy at law. The conclusiveness of the judgment of a court of law has never been treated as an impediment to the setting aside of that judgment by a court of equity where equitable grounds therefor are shown to exist.

We are of the opinion that, on the record before us, it has been clearly shown that there was constructive fraud in the procurement of the settlement which is made the basis of the ruling of commissioner of accounts, Hall, and that of the circuit court, which settlement a court of equity can now set aside, in a suit to surcharge and falsify the same. We think the failure of the guardian to account for the sum of $2,013.30, received by him from a sale of the real estate, and to which his ward was entitled was constructive fraud. We do not pass upon the other allegations of the bill, nor upon the finding of the commissioner in chancery respecting the Jackson Building Loan Association stock, the Parsons notes, and other items of account mentioned, for the reason that we are of the opinion that all such matters should be first determined and decreed upon by the circuit court on their merits. We pass upon the one question because, in our opinion, a decision thereon is required to establish the fraud necessary to sustain the jurisdiction of a court of equity to pass upon the merits of the cause as a whole. Upon remand of the cause the circuit court should take such steps as to effect a fair and just settlement of the account in question; and, if deemed necessary and advisable, take further testimony upon any fact involved in such settlement, and then consider the whole case, including all of the settlements made, and the several reports of the commissioners of accounts, and the commissioner in chancery, to determine what, if any, sum may be due plaintiff from the estate of his guardian.

We therefore reverse the decree of the Circuit Court of Wetzel County, and remand the cause for further proceedings not inconsistent with the views herein expressed.

Reversed and remanded.