Meek v. Allison

Mr. Justice Thornton delivered the opinion of the Court: In April, 1864, Daniel Allison died, having left a last will and testament. In May following the will was presented for probate and rejected, and no appeal having been taken from the judgment of the court rejecting the will, Isaac M. Allison was, in July, duly appointed administrator, and letters were issued to him. A day for the presentation of claims was fixed upon; debts were allowed and paid; a partial distribution was made to the heirs, and a report submitted to the court and approved. After these acts the executor named in the will presented it for probate, and, after protracted litigation, it was admitted to probate in 1868. Isaac M. Allison contested the probate of the will, and paid $511 as fees to attorneys. He was interested in opposing the will because he was greatly benefited by its rejection. He having died, his estate is charged with the amount paid to the heirs of the testator; and it is contended that there was a misapplication of the funds, as his letters were void ab initio. It is agreed that there is an amount in the hands of appellees, as administrators of Isaac Allison, even if there was no misapplication of the moneys, and interest is claimed upon this amount. On the part of appellees it is insisted that the amount paid for attorneys’ fees in contesting the will should be deducted from the undistributed amount. The letters issued to Isaac M. Allison were not void—only voidable. This is not a direct proceeding to test the validity of the letters; but the acts of the administrator are collaterally questioned. The probate court had jurisdiction of the subject matter, and, upon proper, representations having been made, full authority to issue the letters. They must, under such circumstances, be regarded as a protection to the administrator. We shall not follow the line of argument on the part of counsel, and inquire as to the rule of the common law in such a case. We are of opinion that the question presented is settled by the provisions of our statute and the decisions of this court. When a petition was presented and all the facts required by the statute recited therein, the court obtained jurisdiction to issue letters. The administrator was, then, at least an officer de fado, and appointed to perform certain specified duties. It was his duty to administer the estate according to law; to pay debts and to make distribution of .the remainder of the assets in his hands to the heirs. He was liable upon his bond for the non-performance of the duties imposed upon him. It is alike unreasonable and in violation of every principle of right and justice to hold him liable for acts which were in compliance with the law. No bad faith is imputed to the administrator in making distribution. On the contrary, the will had been presented and its probate refused. No appeal was taken from the refusal, and then the letters were granted. The executor and parties interested in proving the will remained quiescent for fifteen months, and then the will was again offered for probate. The statute certainly never intended that creditors and distributees should be compelled to wait an indefinite time for the executor or legatees to prove the will. Such a construction of the statute would postpone for twenty years any administration upon an estate, if a will existed, under the severe penalty resulting from a misapplication of the assets and a mal-ad ministration. The statute clearly indicates that letters of administration issued under such circumstances are only voidable. Section 71, (R. S. 1845, p. 551,) provides as follows: “If, at any time after letters of administration have been granted, a will of the deceased shall be produced and probate thereof granted according to law, such letters of administration shall be revoked and repealed, and letters testamentary, or of administration, with the will annexed, shall be granted in the same manner as if'the former letters had not been obtained.” According to the last clause of the section there shall not be an administration de bonis non upon the revocation of the first letters, but the person named as executor shall be appointed as such; or, in case of his death or refusal or in competency, letters, with the will-annexed, shall be granted. The object was to maintain and carry out the intention of the testator, so far as it could be done, and thus to secure the rights of the legatees. In á contest between the distributees and the legatees, the rights of the latter, as conferred by the will, would probably prevail. But in a contest between the executor and the administrator as to the bona fide acts of the latter in the discharge of his duties under and by virtue of the letters issued to him, the section, when considered as a whole, must be regarded as protective of the administrator. His letters shall be revoked and repealed. They are not declared void. Their revocation and repeal necessarily imply a previous Existence, and a valid existence, for the purposes of a due administration of the estate. In Wight v. Wallbaum, 39 Ill. 554, a similar view was taken of the statute .of wills. It was held that whether the grant of letters was a judicial or ministerial act, no mistake as to their character should render them void, and that acts performed under them are valid until they should be revoked; and that the contrary construction would be attended with inconvenience, injury and loss to estates ; would deter purchasers at sales of administrators, and hinder and prevent the adjustment of estates. Almost the precise question involved was settled in the case of Shepard v. Rhodes, 60 Ill. 301. We do not think that any interest should be computed upon the amount which, it is agreed, is due to the executor. The validity of the will was in litigation for a number of years, and, so far as appears, the money was always ready to be paid whenever a proper person was appointed to receive it. There was no unreasonable delay of payment, or withholding of the money. The administrator was under no legal obligation to contest the validity of the will. He was not bound to do so by virtue of his office. Hence, the payment of fees to attorneys for such purpose forms no proper deduction from the funds in his hands. He, and those personally interested with him in opposing the probate of the will, so far as any contract was made, must bear the burden of such payment. The legatees can not be compelled to pay any portion of fees for litigation in opposition to their interests. The judgment is affirmed. Judgment affirmed.