Catherwood v. Guarantee Trust & Safe Deposit Co.

97 A. 703, 252 Pa. 466, 1916 Pa. LEXIS 640

• Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: March 6, 1916
• Docket: Appeal, No. 340
• Status: Published

Opinion

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Walling,

This is a proceeding by mandamus to compel a transfer agent to deliver stock to a legatee.

Caroline Tucker of Philadelphia died testate May 21, 1915, and in her last will plaintiff is named as residuary legatee. Among the assets of Mrs. Tucker’s estate, not specifically bequeathed, are ten shares of stock of the Frankford and Southwark Passenger Railway Company, of which defendant is the transfer agent, or holding company. As a distribution under said will the executor duly endorsed and delivered the certificates for such stock to plaintiff, by whom they were presented to defendant with a demand for a transfer thereof to her name, which was refused. Thereupon plaintiff presented her petition to the court below, praying for an alternative writ of mandamus to compel such transfer. Defendant demurred to the petition because it did not allege that all debts of said estate and legacies had been paid; and because a year had not elapsed since the decedent’s death; and that such distribution was without an order of court or refunding bond, and at the risk of the executor and also of the defendant should it permit such transfer. The court made an order overruling the demurrer and directing that a peremptory mandamus issue, from which this appeal was taken.

There is no allegation that the executor is insolvent, or that such transfer will prejudice creditors or legatees, or that defendant has any notice to that effect. Under such circumstances it is its duty to make the transfer as requested. True, an executor or administrator cannot be compelled to make distribution within a year, and may require an order of court and refunding bond, but is not bound to do so: Section 58 of the Act of February 24, 1834, P. L. 70, provides:

“Executors and administrators may make distribution, and pay or deliver legacies without application as aforesaid, to the Orphans’ Court, upon such security as may be satisfactory to them, nevertheless at their own risk.”

Their right so to do is recognized by this court in Schaeffer’s App., 119 Pa. 640.

The mere fact that an executor is doing what the statute says he may do at Ms own risk does not of itself convict him of a breach of trust or devastavit; and does not justify a holding company, in refusing to transfer stock of an estate on his endorsement, in the absence of notice of other facts rendering such transfer improper. The legal title to the personal estate vests in the executor for the purposes of administration; and he has the prima facie right to make disposition thereof to a stranger or legatee. He is presumed to be solvent and acting within the line of his duty. Admittedly an executor can transfer stock to a stranger and thereby indirectly to a legatee, so the refusal of a holding company to make such transfer directly is of donbtful value to creditors and tends to embarrass the settlement of estates, and to place an unnecessary burden on transfer companies. In Williams v. Penna. R. R. Co., 9 Philadelphia 298, Justice Sharswood says:

“The primary duty of an executor or administrator is administration. He is to pay debts and. may use specific legacies for that purpose, if necessary. The corporation has no means of ascertaining whether it is needed for that purpose. To require evidence would greatly delay and embarrass the executor or administrator in the discharge of his duties. This is the doctrine of Bayard v. The Bank, (52 Pa. 232), and however it may be when distinct notice of a breach of trust is given to the corporation, in the absence of such notice, I am quite clear in the opinion that the corporation is bound to permit the transfer.”

In Bohlen’s Est., 75 Pa. 304, it is stated by Mr. Justice Paxson, (page 313) :

“It may therefore safely be assumed that where stock stands upon the books of a corporation in the name of a trustee, the said corporation is bound to inquire as to the authority of the trustee to transfer said stock before they permit such transfer to be made. This rule does not apply, however, to the case of executors and administrators transferring stock standing in the name of a decedent, for the reason that the law casts upon them the legal ownership of the personal property of such decedent. It is their duty to pay debts and make distribution amongst heirs or legatees. To do so, they must convert the personalty into cash, and a transfer of stock, therefore,, would be in due course of administration. It would be unreasonable to hold that a corporation in such case should be held to inquire whether in point of fact the particular stock was needed for the payment of debts or legacies.”

And to like effect is the opinion of Mr. Justice Trunkey in Wood’s App., 92 Pa. 379.

The opinions above cited indicate the executor’s legal ownership and control of.the personal estate and are entirely consistent with our conclusions in this case.

The assignments of error are overruled and the judgment is affirmed.