In re Archer

1 Pow. Surr. 292, 23 N.Y.S. 1041
CourtNew York Surrogate's Court
DecidedMarch 10, 1892
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 1 Pow. Surr. 292 (In re Archer) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Surrogate's Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Archer, 1 Pow. Surr. 292, 23 N.Y.S. 1041 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1892).

Opinion

Weiant, S.

The testator’s will was admitted to probate about the year 1881. Charles D. Archer and Allison M. Archer, the contestant, were appointed executors thereof, and authorized to then qualify. George A. Archer was naméd also as an executor, but not to qualify until he arrived at 21 years -of age. Charles and Allison qualified at once, and entered upon their duties. George qualified in about the year 1883, on his arrival at 21 years of age. In a proceeding commenced in January, 1888, Allison was enjoined from acting further as executor, and removed as such later in said year by a decree in such proceeding. Since the commencement of that proceeding the accounting executors have continued to act in the adminis^ .tration of the estate. This proceeding is to settle and adjust their accounts.

In the consideration of the questions submitted to me for my determination I shall follow the order in which the same are presented by the counsel for the contestant, Allison M. Archer, who alone interposes objections. His first claim is that the ' accounting executors should be charged for the half earnings of a barge known as the M. A. Archer for a portion of the year 1885 and the whole of the year 1880. This was a vessel constructed in the year 1883 for the freighting, of bricks from an estate brickyard. The arrangement under which this vessel was to be constructed and paid for seems to have been made [295]*295through one T. W. Johnson, whereby the Archer estate was to become half owner and Johnson the other half owner, and the barge was to be provided with freight from the Archer brickyard. The Archers were to pay in part, and the remaining portion, one-half its cost, was to come from the earnings of the vessel. The barge cost $5,173.16. The Archer estate paid to the builders $1,000, and to Johnson $329.22, on account of their half of such cost, leaving a balance of $1,257.36 to be paid by the earnings of the vessel. It appears from the testimony that about July 5, 1884,.the gross earnings of the barge had reached $5,717.27, which, after deducting the running expenses of $2,633.10, left a net result of $3,084.17, to one-half of which the estate was entitled to credit in reimbursing Johnson. Evidently the whole of one-half of these earnings was not applied towards the payment of the balance due for the purchase price. Some other application of a portion of them must have been made, for it appears without contradiction that about January 6, 1885, Johnson and the executors had a settlement of the barge matters, and there then appeared to be a balance still •owing on the Archer half of the barge of $149.02. It seems to be conceded that for the years 1885 and 1886 following this settlement and the fixing of such balance, Johnson, as the master and part owner of this vessel, continued to operate the same as theretofore, receiving the freights and paying the expenses thereof. While for the preceding years the contestant, as an ■executor, kept the accounts of the barge, thereafter, for some reason undisclosed, he ceased doing so, and consequently the •estate has no account of the earnings of the barge for either of the years 1885 or 1886. Johnson seems to have kept the only accounts, and to have received all the earnings. It is pretty ■clearly shown that in the early part of the season of 1885 the earnings of the vessel were sufficient to pay Johnson in full for the balance found due him in Januarv preceding. The contestant testifies that he received no part of the barge earnings for •either of those years, and the accounting executors deny that [296]*296they ever received the same. They concede the receipt of two-payments of $50 and $160, respectively, arising out of some damage to the barge, and that thereafter there were earnings due the estate, but deny that they ever received any part of the same. Charles says that either his brother Allison or Johnson had these earnings. Allison denies the receipt of them, and thus from the testimony Johnson appears to be the one who has received and retained them. Johnson absconded some years since, and thus wre have no testimony from him disclosing whether or not he ever paid the same over to either executor. The amount'of these earnings thus left unaccounted for by any one is considerable. It seems from the evidence that for the balance of the year 1885 the one-half earnings of the barge approximated $600, and for the year 1886 the approximate sum of $800; thus making an amount of some $1,400 unaccounted for by either executors. Without some proof that the same were received by the accounting executors, or were lost to the estate because of their negligence in the administration of the estate they should not be charged with these earnings, upon the contention of this contestant. He was also an executor during-these years, and also during 1887, and if these earnings were lost to the estate he was at fault also, because of his failure to collect the same. It was as much his duty as that of his, brothers to give this matter his care and' attention. Indeed, from the course of business between the executors in the management of the estate the barge matter had been one under the special supervision of the contestant. He is the only contestant, and his claim comes with less force than if made by one interested in the estate, but who had not participated in its administration. It seems that, as matter of law, he is precluded from charging the other executors. In re Niles, 113 N. Y. 547, 21 N. E. Rep. 687, and cases cited.

As to the balance of the earnings of the barge for the year 1888, of $420.37, the executors concede that the same is correct, and that they should be charged therewith. The counsel for [297]*297the contestant claims tha +he item of credit of $31.50, “freight on wood,” in schedule 1, No. 8, of the accounts, should be disallowed, on the ground that the proof shows it to be a part of the item of $122.19, in the same schedule, “A. M. Archer, Agt.” The testimony of the contestant, Allison M. Archer, is to the effect that but $90 of this latter sum was all that was actually paid; thau the payment was by check, which was produced and put in evidence. He says that this $122.19 was for wood that he had furnished the estate, and that this $90 was paid to him, and the balance of $31.50 to the captain of the vessel that delivered the wood. Neither of the executors denies the truthfulness of this version of the transaction, and I therefore find that the credit of the $122.19 is erroneous, and the same should be disallowed, except to the amount of $90, unless vouchers are produced for both of the payments claimed. The evidence shows, and the executors’ counsel substantially concedes, that certain items of credits in the accounts should be corrected by redxicing the same as follows: Bill of James Osborne, $10.42; bill of Daniel D. Williams, $2.60; bill of Edward J. Peck, $12.69 ; Glassing bill, $1.50; Blauvelt bill, $10.04; also an error of $5.50 in the item of $43.50 for roller, and $4 paid to Dr. Owen. In regard to the payment to William Decker of $73.46, his testimony shows that but $3 of this bill was for work done for the estate, and that the rest was for services at the homestead, for which the contestant was not bound to contribute.. This, then, should be corrected so that the executors receive credit on this accounting for the $3 only. The contestant’s counsel objects to the allowance of any credits for expenditures upon the homestead dwelling and other buildings appertaining-thereto. The particular items objected to are the bills of George Bedner, Gordon & Dutcher, Lewis W. King, all for painting; Springsteen & Gourlev, $8.80, carpentering; O. T.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1 Pow. Surr. 292, 23 N.Y.S. 1041, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-archer-nysurct-1892.