Branch Bank at Montgomery v. Wade

COLLIER, C. J. It is supposed by the plaintiff in error, that the case of Williamson v. The Branch Bank at Mobile, 7 Ala. Rep. 906, is decisive of the present. It was there held, that as between the executor and his immediate creditor, assets of the testator may be seized and sold under execution, whenever there has been a devastavit, or where the executor has so dealt with the assets as to be responsible for a devastavit, or has used them in a manner inconsistent with his trust. But where an executor holds assets in accordance with the trust of the will, he may prevent a sale of them, when levied on for his own debts, by interposing a claim under the statute, and possibly by a bill in equity. It has however been decided, that until an order has been made distributing the estate of an intestate, the legal title must remain in the administrator, no matter where the possession may be. 10 Ala. 630. .The act of 1821, directs that executors and administrators, within three months after their appointment, shall return to the clerk’s office a full inventory of the goods and chattels, &c. which have come to their possession, or knowledge, setting forth the times at which debts are due, &c. Further, “ inventories and accounts of sales shall be subscribed and sworn to by the executor or administrator returning the same, before the judge, clerk, or some justice of the peace.” Clay’s Dig. 225, $ 26. By a statute passed in 1809, it is enacted, that it shall not be lawful for any executor or administrator to take the estate, or any part thereof, of any testator or intestate, at the appraised value, or to dispose of the same at private sale, except where the same is directed by the will of the testator ; but where it shall be necessary to sell the whole or any part of the personal estate, an order shall be obtained from the orphans’ court, and the sale shall be public. Clay’s Dig. 223, § 13. The case of Williamson v. The B. B’k at Mobile, I incline to think is very well supported by English adjudicaions, under the influence of a system which gives to an executor or administrator more enlarged powers and discretion. I however doubted whether those decisions Could be applied in this state, where the authority of the personal representative was defined, and so much restricted by legislation; conse [430] quently I rested my concurrence in the case referred to upon grounds independent of the point noticed. While both of my then learned associates thought the English decisions applicable,one of them delivered an opinioninharmony with mine on other points; so that it may perhaps be questioned whether what was said in respect to the estate of a testator becoming liable to the creditors of the executor upon the devastavit of the latter is res adjudícala. Be this however as it may, we are satisfied that the facts of the case at bar, do not bring it within the principle of that decision. The administrator, we have seen, is prohibited from taking the estate of the intestate, at its appraised value, or selling it otherwise than at public sale, and then only under the order of the orphans’ court. The question might be asked, whether, tinder this modification of the law, the administrator could convert the estate of his intestate for the benefit of himself or creditors, or to the prejudice of the creditors and distributees of the intestate ? But we waive the point, since it is clear that no devastavit which does not amount to an actual conversion, can give to the creditors of the administrator any rights. True, the administrator failed to return the slave in his inventory, yet this omission to do what the statute enjoins, cannot change the status of the property, or impair the tights of creditors or distributees. If any devastavit can have that. effect, it must be one which amounts to an actual conversion. Here there is no predicate from which a conversion can be inferred. The administrator married the widow of his intestate, who was the mother of four or five children of her former marriage, who are still in their minority. If the children have no guardians appointed by law, and no distribution has been made, where else can the possession of their father’s estate so properly remain as with their mother and her present husband. The failure to make a final settlement, and the receipts of the profits of the labor of the slaves, is not a conversion in fact. It may be that the claimant supports and educates the children, and thus they become his debtors; if this be not so, he will be bound to pay them what they are entitled to. In addition to this, it may be asked, if it would not be un [431] just to the sureties of an administrator to allow the estate of the intestate to be appropriated to the payment of the debts of the administrator, where there has not been an actual conversion, though in point of law, there may have been a devastavit. We think the proof very clearly establishes, that the slave was not liable to the execution ; and consequently, the charge of the court is unobjectionable. The judgment is therefore affirmed.