Ridgway v. Kerfoot

Ellisoit, J. This proceeding, is based on sections 282, 285, Revised Statutes, and the question is, can it be maintained under the facts as stated ? It is enacted by [664] section 98, Revised Statutes, that “all debts due by an administrator to his testator or intestate shall be considered as assets in his hands.” At common law, making the debtor executor, forgave or released the debt. This has been changed in this state by section 99, Revised Statutes. In case of administration, the debt was not released, but only suspended during the office of the debtor administrator. This, for the reason that a release must be the voluntary act of the creditor, whereas the administrator, unlike an executor holds by act of the law. Compton v. McMahan, 19 Mo. App. 494, 504. These sections of the statute are, however, not applicable to this case, for, at common law, the executor or administrator was always held, at the suit of the creditor, to account for his debt. The object of sections 282, 285, Revised Statutes, was to prevent or provide a remedy for a devastavit. And when the term “waste,” is used in sections 284, 285, it is unquestionably not used in its technical sense and as it is defined in the books ; for waste, technically, has reference to spoil or destruction, done or permitted to lands, houses, or other corporeal hereditaments, etc. The question, then, in this case is, was the administrator guilty of a devastavit, in not including in his inventory, or otherwise accounting for the balance of nineteen hundred dollars, which, according to the petition, remains in his hands after discharging all the obligations for which he was bound as his intestate’s surety. A devastavit is defined to be, “a mismanagement of the estate and effects of the deceased, in squandering and misapplying the assets, contrary to the duty imposed on them, for which executors or administrators shall answer out of their own pockets, as far as they had, or-might have had, assets of the deceased.” Williams Ex’rs, 1796 (bottom page). The same author quoting from Lord Holt says that, “ if H. be bound to J. S. in a bond of one hundred pounds, and then J. S. [665] makes H. Ms executor, H. has actually received so much money and is answerable for it; and if he does not administer so much of it, it is a devastavit.” A debt due from the administrator is considered assets, de facto, to be accounted for in probate account. “ Such presumption would arise from the mere taking of administration.” Ipswich v. Story, Ex. 5 Met. 313. Having voluntarily assumed the trust (of administration) which prevents any other from receiving, and being unable to sue himself, he shall be considered as having paid the debt, and holding the amount in Ms hands as administrator. Ih. ; Winship v. Bass et al., 62 Mo. 203. I am not unmindful of the fact that it had been decided in this state in the case of McCarthy adrm'r v. Frazer et al. (62 Mo. 263), that the debt of the executor is not to be treated as so much money on hands, and that such debt is to be placed on the same footing as other debts due the estate. But that case in no way militates against the position we take in this. The effect of that decision is, that the mere fact of the administrator owing the debt to the estate does not make the debt actual money, but it remains a debt like any other, good or bad, as the case may be. And, being like any other debt, it must be inventoried and accounted for as other debts. Not to account for it in administration is a devastamt, and renders the administrator liable to the proceedings provided for in the sections of the statute above noticed. Our attention has been called to the case of McManus v. McDowell (11 Mo. App. 436), where it is said that unless the. administrator admits the debt, it must be established by a regular suit in the circuit court. While this is said in that case, yet the point decided there was, simply, that the probate court has no jurisdiction to try an action against the former executor for a debt due by him to the testator before the latter’s death. The statute bearing on the subject is quoted at length by Thompson, J., and the conclusion is, that it did not confer jurisdiction in such case. [666] Section 98, Revised Statutes, which, so far as concerns creditors, as we'have seen, is but an enactment of the common law, says, u all debts due’by an administrator to his testator or intestate shall be considered as assets in his hands.” The statute does not limit it to confessed debts nor judgment debts, or such as shall be established in the circuit court by a suit against the administrator. It is difficult to see how the matter could get into the circuit court as an ordinary action, for, as the administrator himself is the only one authorized to institute the action, he could not bring it against himself, and if he could, being a debt denied by him, he would not. The distinguished judge writing that opinion, did not rely wholly on the ground, above stated, for his conclusion in that case. He found other ample reason supporting the judgment of the court, as is set out in the latter portion of the report of the case. That this proceeding is justified by the statute is apparent from its reading. Section 98, says the debt owing by him “shall be considered as assets in his hands.” Section 282, says that if he “has not made just accounts of the assets in his hands,” proceedings may be had against him. Failing to inventory or report any portion of the assets of the estate in his hands is certainly not making a just account thereof. That this species of assets does not necessarily consist of debts confessed, is apparent from section 284, providing for issues to be made up and tried as demands against an estate are tried, which would include a jury trial, if demanded, and permit an appeal. The New York statute is of similar import to ours. And it was held in the case of Ewarts v. Evarts (62 Barbour, 577, 583), that “the reason why the debt was held, before the passage of the act, to be released by appointing the debtor, or one of several joint debtors, executors, was, that there was no person to bring the suit upon it, and such result being brought about by the voluntary act of the testator, the debt was held to be released. * * * The executor is [667] prima facie chargeable, but it is competent for him to-show the claim unfounded and unjust. The validity or justice of the claim must, when denied, be in some way determined, and as the executor cannot- sue himself, and as the question must be settled before the estate can be finally settled, it must be tried in the surrogate’s court, in the same way, and for the same reason, that claims-against the estate in favor of the executor must be tried in that court.” I think that the probate court had jurisdiction to try this cause as presented. It is so empowered by the-constitution. Const. Mo., art. 6, sect. 34. Its jurisdiction pertains to all matters connected with the administration of the estate. French v. Stratton, 79 Mo. 560; Ensworth v. Curd, 68 Mo. 282. The foregoing are my views regarding this case; but, on consideration, the other members of the court are of tbe opinion that, even conceding that the statute is applicable to this case, this proceeding cannot be invoked under sections 282, 285, until after the final settlement.' The result, therefore, is, that the judgment is-affirmed.