Blake v. . Respass

*195 ByNüm, J. (After stating the facts as above.) Tbe ground of the' motion is, that supplementary proceedings do not lie against a lunatic in aid of an execution. That is the question before us. The argument of the defendants is, that original jurisdiction over lunatics and their estates is conferred by our law upon the Courts of Probate, and it was not competent therefore for the Superior Court to lake jurisdiction. See Bat. Rev. ch. 57. By the common law as well as by statute 17 Edward II, ch. 10, which was only declaratory of the common law, the King as parens patries .took charge of the effects of a lunatic and held them, first, for the maintenance of him and his family, and second, for the benefit of his creditors, as the Court of Chancery might order from time to time. Shelford on Lunatics, pp. 12, 356, 498; Bac. Abr. Title, Luna tics, c Thus in England by the grant of the King, the Court of Chancery acquired exclusive, original, and final jurisdiction. over the person and property of lunatics. Our Courts of Equity in this State succeed to these Chancery powers and still retain them, except in so far as, and to the extent only as, they have been given to other Courts by statute. Prior to the Code of Civil Procedure, a part of this jurisdiction over lunatics, was conferred upon the County Courts, Rev. Code, ch. 57, § § 1-5 ; and the residue was still retained by the Court of Equity. Same chapter section' 5 et seq. By the C. C. P. and acts subsequent thereto, the former County Court jurisdiction and a farther part of the Equity j urisdiction are conferred upon the Court of Probate established by the new Constitution of 1868, Bat. Rev. ch. 57. But the Court of Probate being a Court of special and limited jurisdiction, all- powers not specially conferred upon it, are retained by the Superior Courts, which are Courts of general jurisdiction. "While very extensive powers over lunatics and their *196 estates as to the sale of their personal effects for their support and for the payment of debts necessarily incurred for their ‘maintenance, (Bat. Rev. eh.-57 §7,) are vested in the Court of Probate, the power is nowhere conferred upon it to provide for the payment of debts incurred prior to the lunacy, nor is any jurisdiction given to entertain an action original ■or supplementary, by such creditor. Yet it is too plain for question that the fact of luuacj7 of itself does not discharge the debts incurred prior thereto, it makes n@ difference how contracted. The only effect that the lunacy of the party has upon Ms then existing debts is, that his estate and no part of it can be applied to their discharge until a sufficiency for his present and future support, and that of his family, if minors, &c., shall be ascertained and set apart for that purpose and there is a residue left. In the matter of Latham, 4 Ire. Eq. 231. There being no power vested in the Court of Probate, to sell property for, or order the payment ®f, debts contracted antecedent to the lunacy, or to entertain a suit at the instance of such cieditor, the jurisdiction necessarily remains in the Superior Courts where it was always lodged, on the 'equity side at least. The present action was originally begun in this Court, which acquired jurisdiction; the judgment was obtained -there, and it is fit and' proper that the action should be prosecuted there, by these equitable proceedings until the judgment is satisfied, or the estate ascertained to be insolvent. The allegation of the plaintiff in these supplementary proceedings is, that the debtor has property which he unjustly refuses to apply to the satisfaction of the judgment, and the prayer is that the judgment debtor shall appear at a specified time and place, and answer the same. This is in conformity to C. C. P. § § 264-274, and there seems no valid ■objection to granting the order. If, upon such examination, it turns out that the lunatic has ■ no estate or effects, that will be an end of the matter. *197 But if he has property which cannot be reached by execution, the Court will ascertain its character and value, and then proceed in one of two ways:— ■ It may direct the guardian to apply to the Court of Probate, to ascertain and set apart a sufficiency for the support of the lunatic, out of the fund, and in the meantime, stay further ¡proceedings; or it may, perhaps, ascertain and set apart an adequate support for the lunatic, according to law, by a reference to its own Clerk, who is also the Judge of Probate, and then apply the excess, if any, in satisfaction of the judgment. Whether both, or which, of these two ways may be in conformity to law, we are not now called upon to decide. Neither course seems ope'n to serious objection. We are now to decide only the question, whether these supplementary proceedings have been instituted in the Court having the jurisdiction. We hold that the Superior Court has the jurisdiction to hear and determine the case. See McAden v. Hooker, 74 N. C., 24. There is error. PeR Curiam; Judgment reversed.