Hinckley v. Harriman

Cooley, J. This suit was brought in the name of the judge of probate for the use of Ella A. Dodsworth, upon the bond of McCard, who was her guardian while she was a minor. The breach relied upon is the failure to pay over a certain sum of two hundred dollars, which the guardian received for his ward from the executors of the last will and testament of George B. Dennis deceased. The will of Dennis under which this payment is claimed1 to have been made, gave to Ella A. Dodsworth, then McCard, the sum of two hundred dollars, and to other persons, also minors, other specified sums, but with provision that “ the amount I bequeath [to them] is to be kept for them until they are of the age of twenty-one years.” The legacies were charged upon real estate which was devised to one of the executors. Eor some unexplained reason the executors, instead of waiting until Ella became of age, paid over the sum bequeathed to her, to her guardian. This they had no authority to do. It was in plain disregard of the testator’s intent, which was that the legatee herself should receive the money when she came of age, and that it should not be for her use or be subject to contingencies before that time, but should remain secured by the real estate. The payment to the guardian was not, therefore, a payment which discharged the executors. ' Their duty was to pay to the legatee herself. If the guardian paid the money to her after she came of age, such payment would be a good payment by the executors, but if he withheld it, or even used it for the support or education of the ward, the executors would still remain liable. Paying over thus without authority they assumed all risks. [345] It follows that this suit cannot be maintained. The'moneys were not received by McCard as guardian, because as guardian he had no business with them. The moneys in his hands were moneys belonging to the Dennis estate, and were held for the executors. It is the business of the executors to account to Mrs. Dodsworth. . The judgment must be reversed with costs of all the courts. The other Justices concurred.