In re the Estate of Raine

1 Balt. C. Rep. 468

• Court: Baltimore City Orphans' Court
• Decided: October 6, 1894
• Status: Published

Opinions

EDWARDS, J.,

Opinion by in which

GANS, J., concurs. EDWARDS, J., and LINDSAY, O. J. dissent—

This matter is brought before the court by petition of Pamelia B. Raine, an executrix and legatee under the will of Frederick Raine, deceased, praying the revocation of the letters testamentary heretofore granted to George Savage, a co-executor under said will, on the ground of failure and refusal on the part of said Savage to comply with orders of this court passed July 14th and September 22d, respectively, the former being an order to pay certain legatees specific legacies under said will, and the latter dismissing a petition of said George Savage for a rehearing, and affirming the former order.

These orders were passed by the court because it was satisfied that the assets of the estate were amply sufficient to disehage the debts and pay the legacies made by' the testator’s will, the question 'of jurisdiction not having been either raised or considered.

The answer of said George Savage to the petition now under consideration distinctly and positively denies the jurisdiction of the Orphans’ Court to compel distribution or to revoke his letters, except for strictly legal cause.

The court having heard the arguments of the respective counsel, and consulted the numerous authorities cited by them, as well as the statutory provisions of the Code of Public General Laws, and after having carefully considered the same, is clearly of the opinion that the point raised is true and valid.

The power and authority of the Orphans’ Court is derived solely from the express provisions of the statutes relating thereto, and is entirely confined within those limits, and expressly forbidden to go beyond them.

There is no statute which expressly clothes it with the power to compel distribution unless the administrator chooses to invoke its direction and control, as provided in Section 143, Article 93. Sections 118 and 119 of Article 93 make it the duty of an administrator to distribute the surplus in his hands after discharging the debts, to distribute the same according to the scheme laid down in Sections 120 to 135 inclusive of Article 93, but fails to give the Orphans’ Court power to compel the same. The provisions of the testamentary statutes confers ample power as to rendering inventories, returning accounts and the like, but ceases at those points. The general powers of the Court as expressed in Sections 230 and 231 of Article 93, when carefully examined, evidently refers to accounts, claims and demands between legatees and persons entitled to distributive shares of estates, and executors and administrators (intervivos) in so far as the account itself, and the statement thereof may be concerned, and nothing beyond. Then to clinch more firmly the restrained, restricted and limited power of the Court, Section 256, of the same article states, “The Orphans’ Court shall not, under pretext of incidental power or constructive authority exercise any jurisdiction not expressly conferred by law.” The Court, of Appeals, in the case of Biays vs. Roberts, in 68th Maryland, expressly decides that the passage of a final account by an administrator showing a balance in his hands for distribution is a complete settlement so far as the Orphans’ Court is concerned. He is not bound to make distibution under its supervision, unless he chooses so to do. The only remedy left for the legatees and distributees is an action at, law against the administrator individually or to institute suit upon his administration bond. So that it is conclusive that the Orphans’ Court has no powTer to compel distribution, and therefore its order requiring it would be nugatory.

In this case there is another point involved, namely, as to who would be liable for the payment of the suit for the claim of Clara Heyen against the estate now on trial in one of the law Courts, .under the will of Frederick Raine, should it be decided in her favor, involving a partial construction of said will, which is also clearly beyond the jurisdiction of the Orphans’ Court.

It is therefore the opinion of the Court that the petition should be dismissed for want of jurisdiction.

It is therefore this 6th day of October, 1894, ordered by the Orphans’ Court for Baltimore City, that the petition be and the same is hereby dismissed, the costs to be paid out of the estate.