Hayes v. Seaver

Parris J. delivered the opinion of the Court. It is a familiar principle that specific legatees, although bound, under certain circumstances, to contribute towards the payment of debts, are not bound to contribute towards the payment of other legacies. The real estate, in this case, is all specifically devised, and not being charged with the payment of legacies, nor necessary for the payment of debts, it passed absolutely, by the will, to the de-visees, immediately oil the death of the testator; and there being personal property sufficient for the payment of the debts, the executor lias no authority to sell it, or in any way disturb the devisees’ possession under the will. But it is contended that the defendant is now precluded from availing himself of his defence, inasmuch as a judgment has been rendered against the executors, his principals, for the full amount of the legacy, upon which judgment, one of the executors having deceased, a scire facias was issued against the surviving executors, and a judgment rendered thereon, also, for the whole legacy. As a general preposition, perhaps it may be admitted that if the executor neglect to plead nvlla bona, or plene administravit, hut suffer judgment to he rendered against him, he shall he bound by the judgment, and shall not afterwards be permitted, in avoidance of such judgment, to deny assets, although he might have done it under the proper plea. But to this general proposition there are exceptions. As in the case of insolvent estates, where the insolvency is established subsequent to the rendition of the judgment against the goods and estate of the deceased in the hands of the administrator; on scire facias suggesting waste and praying for execution against the administrator de bonis propriis, the insolvency may be shown in bar of the execution, notwithstanding the judgment. Coleman v. Hall, 12 Mass. 570. In this case, it may be true, as contended, that the executors themselves, having been defaulted in the original suit, would not now be permitted to deny assets. But we do not admit that a judgment thus rendered against the principal is equally binding upon the surety, even if it had been rendered, either originally or on scire facias [240] de bonis propriis. Such, however, is not the case here. The original judgment was against the goods and estate of the intestate in the hands of the executors. At that time a deficiency of assets had not been ascertained. Upon the death of one of the executors scire facias was issued to revive the old judgment, not to obtain an execution de bonis propriis. The old judgment was revived against the goods and estate of the testator in the hands and possession of the defendant’s principals. Although the surviving executors had knowledge previous to the judgment on the scire facias that there was not personal property sufficient to pay. Mrs. Griffen’s legacy, and might have shown that fact in defence, yet their neglecting so to do, however it might prejudice them, ought not to preclude the defendant, their surety, from showing it. He was not a party to any of the previous proceedings, and consequently had no opportunity to show it. He is now, for the first time, a party in court; and claiming the right to prove that the plaintiff in interest has suffered nothing by any neglect of the executors ; that she has received from the estate even more than she was •by law entitled to ; it must be a severe principle that would preclude him from the opportunity of doing so. It is clear that the executors suffered a judgment to be rendered against them, which they might have successfully resisted ; and inasmuch as the defendant, their surety, was not a party, he ought not to be barred by that judgment thus negligently or collusively suffered by his principals, even were it de bonis propriis, but may now be permitted to avail himself of the same matter in his defence which they might have urged against the original suit or the scire facias. Foxcroft v. Nevens, 4 Greenl. 72 ; Dawes v. Shed, 15 Mass. 6; Gookin v. Sanborn, 3 N. Hamp. Rep. 491; Tarbell v. Whiting, 5 New Hamp. Rep. 63. We are all of opinion that the real estate, having been specifically devised, is not holden to contribute to the payment of Mrs. Grif-fen’s legacy; and that the defendant is not precluded, by reason of any of the previous proceedings appearing in the case, from showing that his principals have no assets wherewith to satisfy the legacy which this suit is brought to recover. .