Boughton v. Flint

Smith, J.: On tbe accounting before tbe surrogate, tbe respondent and executrix, Mary Flint, presented a claim against tbe estate of tbe testator, in ber own behalf, to tbe amount of $800, with interest from April 15, 1859, for moneys alleged to have been placed in tbe bands of tbe testator, on deposit for tbe said respondent, who was tbe testator’s wife. She also claimed .to be credited in ber account as executrix, with tbe sum of $l,/T56-$y°-tr, alleged to have been paid by her in full of a promissory note of tbe testator, held, at tbe time of bis death, by Mary Brown, who, as appeared from tbe evidence, was tbe mother of Mrs. Flint. These claims were allowed by tbe surrogate, after having been contested by Mr. Bougbton, tbe executor and tbe other parties, who now appeal. Tbe claim for tbe alleged deposit was beard before tbe surrogate. Tbe claim for tbe alleged payment to the creditor, Mrs. Brown, was referred by tbe surrogate [207] to an auditor, who reported, in favor of the executrix, and his report was confirmed by tbe surrogate. After some controversy in tbe courts on the subject, it seems now to be settled tbat a surrogate has not jurisdiction upon a final accounting to bear and determine tbe validity of a disputed claim against tbe estate of a deceased person. Tbe Court of Appeals is understood to have so held in the case of Tucker v. Tucker (4 Abb. Ct. App. Dec., 428; S. C., 4 Keyes, 136; see, also, The Matter of the Estate of John Shaw, 1 Tucker, 352, and the cases there cited in the opinion of the surrogate of New York; Shakespeare v. Markham, 10 Hun, 311; Magee v. Vedder, 6 Barb., 352; Wilson v. The Baptist Education Society, 10 id., 308; Disosway v. The Bank of Washington, 24 id., 60; Curtis v. Stilwell, 32 id., 354.) The debts and claims against the estate, which the surrogate is authorized to settle and determine (2 R. S., 95, § 71), are those only which are undisputed. (Id.) The question whether the surrogate bad jurisdiction of the claim presented by the executrix as such, for money paid for her, upon the demand of the creditor, Mrs. Brown, which was disjauted by Boughton, the co-executor, is not so clear. Had the claim been disputed by both executors on being presented by the creditor, the surrogate would not have had jurisdiction to try it. Does tbe fact tbat the claim was admitted and paid by one of the executors, without the consent and knowledge of tbe other (he objecting to the claim and disputing it, when informed of it), confer jurisdiction upon the surrogate to investigate, settle and allow it, as a charge in favor of the executor so paying, on the final account; it being then contested by the co-executor, and by some of the parties entitled to distribution. I am not aware of any case in which the precise question has been considered. The presentation of a claim against the estate to one of several executors, or administrators, is undoubtedly sufficient on the part of the creditor, without presenting it to the others. (Knapp v. Curtiss, 6 Hill, 388, per Bronson, J.) And one of several executors or administrators may pay claims presented against the estate, without the knowledge and concurrence, and even against the will of his co-executor or co-administrator. The general rule is, tbat several co-administrators or co-executors are. in law. [208] but oue person representing the testator, and acts done by one in reference to the delivery, sale, gift or release of the testator’s goods, are deemed the acts of all. (Murray v. Blatchford, 1 Wend., 583; Wheeler v. Wheeler, 9 Cow., 34; Stuyvesant v. Hall, 2 Barb. Ch., 151; Jackson v. Robinson, 4 Wend., 136.) But one administrator or executor acting without the concurrence of his associates, so acts at his peril, and if he pays a claim that is not a valid obligation against the estate, or if he pays more than is due, or to become due, he does it at the risk of being adjudged guilty of a devastavit, and of being obliged to account for what he has improperly paid out. (Murray v. Blatchford, supra) That there are cases in which the person entitled to the personal estate may be relieved against the acts of the executor, and a debtor or creditor, is shown by numerous authorities, some of which are cited by Emott, Circuit Judge, sitting for the Chancellor, in Murray v. Blatchford (supra). Among them is the case of Alsager v. Johnson (4 Ves., 217; Alsager v. Rowley, 6 id., 718), in which it appeared that an action at 'law was commenced against executors by an alleged creditor of the testator, the residuary legatees applied to the executors to be permitted to defend, which was refused, a verdict was had, and under it the prothonotory awarded a large sum as due. The legatees filed their bill against the plaintiff in the action, and the executors, impeaching the demand and charging collusion, the legatees were relieved, although there does not appear to have been proof of a fraudulent collusion. Lord Eldon, not passing upon the question of collusion, said, he was inclined to think a decree might be made against the creditor, on the ground that, whether there was a debt due, and to what extent, had never been tried with that searching attention which the legatees had aright to expect from the executors. Now, in the present case, the co-executor and some of the legatees objected to the allowance of the claim of the executrix before the surrogate, on the ground that a considerable part of the debt had been paid by the testator in his life-time. The issue thus made, the surrogate assumed jurisdiction to try, and he ordered it to an auditor, whose report he confirmed. I cannot resist the conclusion that in so doing the surrogate exceeded his jurisdiction. If he had jurisdiction'his decree bars the legatees from proceeding in any other court, and their right to [209] an action in equity against the executrix and creditor is cut off. I cannot think such a result was intended by the statute which makes the final settlement of the accounts of the executor or administrator conclusive evidence that the charges made in such account, for moneys paid to creditors, etc., are correct. (2 R. S., 94, § 65.) The statute relates, in my judgment, to charges for payment of undisputed debts, and no others. In this respect, sections 65 and Y1 are to receive a like construction. The case of Shakespeare v. Markham (supra) seems to be an authority for this conclusion. There a question arose as to the jurisdiction of the surrogate to try a claim which was held originally by the executor and three others, who subsequently assigned their interest to the executor. The claim was disputed by some of the persons entitled to share in the distribution of the estate, and this court held that the surrogate had not jurisdiction to try the claim. The executrix must resort to her action for this claim, when the defendants may avail themselves of such defense as they may have. This question of jurisdiction does not appear to have been raised before the surrogate; it is, nevertheless, available on appeal, but as it is now; presented for the first time, the appellants are not entitled to costs. We also think the surrogate erred in excluding testimony as to the amount actually paid by the executrix upon the note held by Mrs. Brown. The executrix was only entitled to recover what she actually paid. Decree reversed and proceeding remitted to the surrogate of Erie county, without costs of appeal to either party. Mullin, P. J., and Talcott, J., concurred. Decree reversed and proceedings remitted to the surrogate of Erie, without costs of appeal to either party.