Shute v. Wilkins

Field, C. J. It is conceded that this action is barred by the special statute of limitations, Pub. Sts. c. 136, § 9, unless the money received from mortgaging the land in Newton is new assets, within the meaning of Pub. Sts. c. 136, § 11. Cassandér S. Wilkins died on April 21, 1881, intestatethe defendant was appointed administrator, and filed his bond on May 2, 1881. He must have given due notice of his appointment, for the agreed facts find that on April 14, 1884, he filed an affidavit of notice of his appointment, by leave of court. Pub. Sts. c. 132, §§ 1, 2, 3. The estate consisted of real and personal property. In February, 1891, the heirs at law, of whom the defendant was one, made a mortgage of certain land in Newton, of which the intestate died seised, and which was included in the inventory. On this mortgage they obtained a loan of $2,500, which was included in the account which the defendant rendered as said administrator as an item with which he charged himself. At the time when they made this mortgage this land could not have been sold by the defendant as administrator by license of court to pay debts, and there is nothing to indicate that the personal estate of the deceased was not more than sufficient to pay all debts and charges of administration. The mortgage was not made by leave of court. The proceeds of this mortgage are not assets of the estate at all, and are not liable to be taken or used to satisfy the debts of the deceased. The proceeds of the mortgage belong to the heirs personally. The fact that the defendant erroneously included these proceeds in his final account, which seems to have included a great many items relating to real estate of which he may have been the agent of the heirs, does not enlarge the rights of the plaintiff. Alden v. Stebbins, 99 Mass. 616. Judgment for the defendant affirmed.