Baker v. Halleck's Estate

Long, J. Claimant filed his claim against said estate in the probate court. The claim is upon a note for $57.50. The estate contested it on the ground that the note was never signed by the deceased, and, if it was, it was barred by the statute of limitations. The probate court disallowed. the claim. The cause was heard in the circuit [181] court on appeal before a jury, and verdict found against the estate. The defenses in the circuit court were the same as in the probate court. The execution of the note was denied under oath filed in the probate court. The note bears date and purports to have been signed by deceased September 20, 1887, payable one day after date, with interest at 7 per cent, per annum. Halleck, the maker of the note, died September 25th, or five days after the date of the note. No payments appear to have been made upon it. No application was made for the appointment of an administrator until November 28, 1899, when the claimant here made the petition under which the appointment was made. Thus 12 years, 2 months, and 3 ■days elapsed from the time of decedent’s death to the time of the petition for administration. There were no other -debts against the estate. The deceased left two heirs at law. The estate consisted of two village lots of the value ■of about $300, and no personal property. It is the contention of counsel for defendant that, as the statute of limitations (section 9728, 3 Comp. Laws) began to run before the death of the intestate, his death would mot suspend it, and therefore the note was barred. We think the right of the claimant to bring the action against the estate is governed by section 9737, 3 Comp. Laws, which reads as follows: “ If any person entitled to bring any of the actions before mentioned in this chapter, or liable to any such actions, shall die before the expiration of the time herein limited, or within thirty days after the expiration of the said time, and if the cause of action does by law survive, the action may be commenced by or against the executor •or administrator of the deceased person, or the claim may be proved as a debt against the estate of the deceased person, as the case may be, at any time within two years •after granting letters testamentary or of administration, •and not afterwards, if barred by the provisions of this •chapter.” It was held in Field v. Loveridge, 114 Mich. 227 (72 N. W. 160), that the statute of limitations, under this [182] statute, would be suspended at the death of the intestate, and would not commence to run until after letters of administration were granted. See, also, First Nat. Bank v. Sherman’s Estate, 117 Mich. 602 (76 N. W. 97); MeIntire v. Conrad, 93 Mich. 532 (53 N. W. 829). Some claim is made that the court below was in error in permitting claimant to put in evidence his books of account. They were allowed in evidence as a circumstance to show that the note was for the same amount as. the books showed to be due. We think there was no error in this, as the court charged the jury that that was. the only purpose for which the books could be used. We need not discuss the question of the due execution of the note, as that question was fully and fairly submitted to the jury for their determination. We have examined all the claims made by the defendant, and find no error.. The case was fairly submitted. The judgment must be affirmed. The other Justices concurred.