Newbold v. Fenimore

The opinion of the court was delivered by Magie, J. In support of the demurrer, it is first contended, that the decree set up in the plea is no defence to plaintiffs’ action, because, while it is admitted that no claim was exhibited by them to the executors (defendants) within [308] the time limited in the surrogate’s order, yet the record shows-that their action was brought before the expiration of that time. No question is raised as to the mode in which the decree,, made after the commencement of the action, has been pleaded.. The point presented by this contention must be determined! by a construction of the sections of the Orphans’ Gourt act which provide for such a decree. Rev., p. 764, § 59 et seq. The language of these sections, literally taken, lends no-countenance to the contention of demurrant. By section 59 authority is conferred to order a public-notice-to creditors of any deceased person to bring in their- claims under oath to the executor or administrator. By section 60 it is enacted that upon such an order the claims of creditors shall be presented in writing, specifying the amount claimed and the particulars of the claim, and shall" be verified under oath, or “ the bringing in of the same shall! be of no effect.” By section 61 the proceedings are made to- apply to.unmatured claims and .debts payable in the future. By section 62 authority is given to the Orphans’" Court to-decree that all creditors who have not brought in their claims-shall be barred from any action thereon against the executor or administrator, except under the circumstances and' to the-extent set out in the proviso to that section. The bar against claims not “ brought in ” evidently refers-to claims not presented in writing, with the formalities and under the oath required by section 60 to make the- “ bringing; in” of a claim effectual.. The commencement of this action, and even the- filing of" this declaration, was not a claim in writing, verified by oath and presented to the executors, and so it comes within the bar of the decree as a claim not “ brought in.” . Nor do T find anything in the spirit and- intent of these-sections to justify a broader construction, if such construction! were possible. [309] Such enactments have not the same purpose-as'general -statutes of limitation, but are rather designed to facilitate ab' -speedy distribution of. the estate of -a deceased' among his vigilant- creditors and the protection' of the personal repre- - •sentative in making such distribution. Schoul. Ex. & Adm., § 418 et seq. So, by our statute, the neglect of the creditor operates t-o the relief of the executor or administrator only in respect to •assets in due course of administration. As to assets not inventoried, and legacies and distributive shares not paid out ■or attached, the decree will afford no bar to an action after, a •settlement of the estate. §§ 62, 66; O’Neill v. Freeman, 16 Vroom 208. The presentation of claims of creditors within the limited time is, moreover, important to enable the personal representa- ' iti've to determine whether the estate' is to' be settled as a •solvent or insolvent estate, or whether real estate must bé iresorted to for payment of debisr Upon the construction contended for, such' determinations could not be made until after final judgment in every suit brought during the time limited in the rule to bar- creditors. ' ' The precise point presented has not been passed bn in this ■court. In Lewis v. Champion, 13 Stew. Eq. 59, Chancellor Runyon recognized the distinction between this statute'and the ■ordinary statute of limitation, and held that an executor’s ad1mission of a creditor’s claim, and his promise to pay when ■there was enough on hand, would neither excuse the creditor’s ■neglect to bring in his claim nor estop the executor from .•setting up the bar of the decree.' ’ In Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co. v. Howell, 5 Stew. Eq. 146, the identical contention now made.was passed oh by the same Chancellor, and he held that the filing of a bill for foreclosure containing a prayer for a decree for deficiency «gainst an administrator, on an obligation of his intestate, was ■not equivalent to the presentation of the claim so as to obviate ¡the bar of the statute. [310] Eor the reasons given, I conclude that demurrant cannot succeed on this‘ground. • It is further contended, that the plea is unavailable as a defence to the note in suit, because the record shows that one of the payees named therein, and one of the .plaintiffs, is also an executrix of the maker of the note and one of the defendants, and the insistment is, that the provisions regulating the bringing in of claims.of creditors do not apply to the case where the creditor is also a personal representative ,of. the deceased debtor. It is obvious that this contention can only be considered in case the fact on which it rests appears. The declaration shows that Mary D. Fenimore,. one, of the payees named in the note, is one of the plaintiffs in this action against Isaac Fenimore. and Mary D. Fenimore and others-, executors of Allan Fenimore, deceased. The plea is filed by all the defendants. Identity of name will afford an inference of identity of person, unless the circumstances rebut that inference or make it doubtful. 2 Tayl. Ev., § 1860; Sewell v. Evans and Rodeno Ry., &c., 4 Q. B. 626; Hamber v. Roberts, 7 C. B. 861; Whitelock v. Musgrove, 1 Cromp. & M. 511; Greenshield v. Crawford, 9 Mees. & W. 314; Jones v. Jones, Id. 75. But it is equally obvious that, if the inference that these-parties are the same person be drawn, the plaintiffs must fail, for in that casé their declaration discloses a substantial defect, for it thus appears that the action is brought in violation of the rule that one person cannot be both plaintiff and defendant Dic. Part. 79; Ludlow v. Ludlow, 1 South. 189. For this reason, I think it unnecessary to consider this-point raised in support of the demurrer. The demurrer must therefore be overruled-