Nelson v. Jaques

1 Me. 139

• Court: Supreme Judicial Court of Maine
• Decided: October 15, 1820
• Status: Published

Opinion

Mellen C. J.

delivered the opinion of the Court as follows. The question is, whether the replication contains a sufficient assignment of any breach of the condition of the bond. The facts disclosed in the replication, all which are admitted by the demurrer, present a case in some degree uncommon, and authorize us to draw conclusions much to the disadvantage of the administrator. For we can perceive no good reason nor apology for his nonacceptance of the purchase-money which was tendered to him, nor for his refusal to execute deeds of the land he had sold. His conduct seems to exhibit him as purposely and unfairly delaying the settlement of the estate, with a view to withhold and enjoy the property, at the expense of the creditors. But our inquiry, at present, is not so much into his motives of action, as into the propriety of the remedy pursued against him.

The counsel for the defendants has e ..n ton dec! that the administrator was under no legal obligation to inventory the real estate of Woodman, according to the condition of the bond ; nor m any manner to account for it; and has cited the cases of Freeman v. Anderson and Henshaw v. Blood. In the former of these cases the question was, whether the administrator had subjected himself to the forfeiture of the penalty of his bond, by neglecting to procure license to sell the reed estate of the deceased for payment of his debts ; and the Court decided that he had not. That case was different from this ; yet the Court proceeded upon the principle that the administration-bond had no relation to the real estate of the deceased. In the latter case the question was, whether by the condition of the bond, the administrator was bound to inventory the real estate ; and they decided that he was not. Chief Justice Dana, in giving his opinion, stated that a case had been decided in Middlesex, in which an administrator had sold the real estate of the intestate, and actually received the money ; yet the Court held that the administrator was not holden, on his bond, to account for it.

Without making any observation, at present, upon this last opinion, it may be remarked that the case at bar presents a different question -, because the purchase-money has not been received by Jaques the administrator.

The counsel for the plaintiff does not deny the principle of law, that the condition of an administration-bond does not extend to real estate ; but he contends that after the administrator has sold it bjr proper authority, and received its value, this sum becomes assets in his hands, for which he is responsible on his bond. But here again we are met by the fact stated by the plaintiff himself, that Jaques has never received the price of the lands sold, nor any part of it. Admitting his principle to be correct, the facts do not bring his case within its operation.

But the counsel has further urged that the administrator is as much answerable on his bond for the purchase-money which he refused to receive, as if he had actually received it; because no man shall be permitted to take advantage of his own wrong. It is true, generally speaking, that a tender and refusal of a sum of money, give to him who made the tender the same rights and advantages which he would acquire by actual payment ; but these rights and advantages belong to him only third persons cannot avail themselves of them. Should any one of the purchasers bring his action against Jaques for not executing and delivering to him a deed of the lands he purchased, a tender of the price of the land and a refusal would avail him as much as payment, in maintaining his action. As it is admitted that the penalty of an administration-bond is not forfeited by his neglecting or refusing to procure a license to sell the estate ; why should it be, by his neglecting or refusing to give deeds after he has sold ? In both cases the estate remains as it was ;—the fee has not been transferred;—no rights have been changed;—the prejudice to creditors is as great in the one case as in the other;—and improper motives may operate in both to produce the delay.

But is there no remedy in such case ? Shall an administrator, by refusing to complete the sale of the real estate, delay and defraud the creditors with impunity,—his sureties not being liable on the bond, and he destitute of property ? The answer to these questions as given by the Chief Justice in pronouncing the opinion of the Court in Wildrage v. Patterson, 15 Mass. 148. “Admit that the administration-bond, furnishes “ none, and that an action of waste would be fruitless, still there “ is no defect of remedy ; for on a representation of a refusal to “ administer such estate, and satisfactory proof thereof to “ the Judge of Probate, he has the authority, and would be “ bound to execute it, to remove such administrator and ap- “ point another, even one of the creditors, whose interest as “ ’well as duty it would be to do justice in this resnect.”

But if it were true that no remedy existed in the case, it. might prove the necessity of legislative interference, but would not authorize us to sustain an action, unless upon legal principles.

If, however, we adopt the principle advanced, and consider the purchase-money, as, in legal contemplation, received by the administrator ; another question arises as to the plaintiff’s right to maintain this action. We presume that the decision of the Court, in the case of Middlesex before mentioned, was founded not only upon the language in the condition of the bond, which language relates exclusively to personal estate ; but also on the intention of the law, and of the parties to the bond ; that is, that the fidelity of the administrator in collecting or appropriating the personal estate of the deceased, according to law, was all which the obligors undertook to insure, or were considered as insuring. This construction seems to be supported by the circumstance that previous to the sale of lands by an administrator, under license of Court to sell the whole, where the sale of a part would be prejudicial, he is required to give a new bond to account for and legally apply the proceeds of such sale ; and also by the usage which has prevailed, to require such bond in all cases. By this it would seem that the bond of administration was not contemplated as furnishing any security as to the proceeds of the sale of real estate, any more than as to its inventory or disposal.

In aid of this construction it is worthy of particular observation that the Stat. 1817. ch. 190, relating to Probate Courts, contains a new form of a bond of administration, which provides expressly for the inventory of real estate, as well as personal; and binds the administrator or executor and their sureties for the faithful administration of all the estate of the deceased. In all cases it is the duty of the Court, in the construction of a contract, to ascertain the meaning and intention of the parties, and give it effect as far as is consistent with legal principles.

But there is another view' of the cause which presents, to our minds, a fatal objection to the action. The suit is brought for the benefit of a creditor, who has proved his claim before commissioners, the estate having been represented insolvent. No decree of distribution has ever been passed. If there had been, the dividend of this creditor must have been demanded of the administrator before commencement of the action. The plaintiff then attempts to support the action on the ground that the administrator has refused or neglected to account upon oath for the property he has received, belonging to the intestate. By Stat. 1786. c. 55. regulating the proceedings in suits on Pro* bate-bonds, it is provided that “ when the administrator shall “ refuse or neglect to account, upon oath, for such property of “the intestate as he has received, especially if he has been cited “ by the Probate Court for that purpose, execution shall be award- “ ed against him for the full value of the personal property of “ the deceased that has come to his hands, without any dis- “ count, abatement, or allowance for charges and expenses of “ administration, or debts paid.’’’’ This provision is highly penal, and, according to the settled rule, should receive a strict construction ; and no man should be considered as liable to its severity, unless he has been cited by the Probate Court to account, upon oath ; and until then, he should not be deemed to have refused or neglected, within the true intent and meaning of the Statute. Unless this construction be given, every executor and administrator may be exposed, not only to unreasonable expense, but to heavy, and in some instances immense losses. According to the known mode of conducting the settlement of an estate, the executor or administrator usually settles several successive accounts on oath in the Probate office; and this is done because property is coming into his hands and possession continually, by colled ion of debts or otherwise ; and it may be frequently necessary also to settle an account, for the purpose of obtaining license to sell all or a part of the real estate ; in which case another account must be rendered, on oath, after the sale shall have been made. But if the doctrine contended for by the counsel for the plaintiff be correct, then it follows that if any property shall come to the hands and possession of the executor or administrator, as by the sale of land, or the receipt of a debt, he is at once liable, wdtliout ary notice, to a suit on his administration-bond, because he had not accounted on oath for the amount thus collected ; and this although he had no intention to misappropriate any portion of the estate &wkey; execution, moreover, is to issue against him for the whole amount of the personal property which has come to his hauds, and he must actually lose all the debts which he has paid-Can such be the law ? We think not.

It may be urged that no action of the kind just mentioned will lie on the administration-bond, unless the administrator has unreasonably refused or neglected to account on oath for the property received ; and that the circumstances of each case must be examined, to ascertain whether the delay or refusal was unreasonable or not. We admit that the refusal or neglect must be unreasonable, to authorize such suit; but we apprehend that this is a fact more immediately within the province of the Judge of Probate, who must know the situation of the estate ; and that the statute has therefore wisely provided that he should originate the inquiry as to the reason of his neglect or refusal, and by his citation summon the administrator before him to perform his duty. If the administrator disobey this citation, or can give no satisfactory explanations, and render no account, then the Judge may authorize a suit on the bond. There is no statute expressly requiring such permission of the Judge of Probate; though a Probate-bond given in the Supreme Court of Probate cannot be put in suit without permission of the Court. But there appears to be the same reason in both cases. Some Judges of Probate do require it; and it is desirable, in all cases, that such permission be obtained.

We have thus far endeavoured to support this construction of the statute by arguments drawn from its reasonableness and expediency, and its tendency to preserve distinct the respective powers and jurisdiction of the Probate Courts and Courts of Common law. But some cases have also been decided in Massachusetts, which recognize the same doctrine and mode of proceeding. In the case of the Selectmen of Boston v. Boylston, 4 Mass. 318. the powers of Probate Courts as to disputed questions, and the propriety of exercising those powers, were considered. Boylston, the administrator, had been cited by the Judge of Probate to account, on oath, for certain property, and had refused. Judge Jackson, then of counsel for Boylston, observed in argument, and the reasoning seems to be sanctioned by the Court, that “ all the Probate Court can do, is to cite the “ party to render an inventory or account. If he comes in vol- “ untarily, and renders a satisfactory inventory or account, it “ is well;—but if he will not come in, or, having come in, will “ not satisfy the Probate Court, the jurisdiction of this latter “ is at an end. It will record his neglect or refusal, and furnish “ the injured party with the means to pursue him on his bond.” The Court, it is true, do not say their jurisdiction is at an end when an account is exhibited by the administrator; but they may then proceed to require an allowance of assets not inventoried or credited ; and in this one point they do not sanction the arguments of the counsel; but when no account is rendered, they admit the law to be as stated in the argument. In that case the Court refused to proceed, and authorized a suit on the administration-bond, the administrator having been already cited as before mentioned. In 11 Mass. 337. we find the action Dawes, Judge, &c. v. Boylston, on the administration-bond, in which there is the general plea of performance. The replication alleges monies received by the defendant, as executor of the will of Moses Gill, and not administered,—“ and that the defendant had not exhibited any account thereof although thereunto cited.” Chief Justice Sewall, in the close of a long and able argument observes,—“ Upon the whole, the defendant’s “ refusal to acknowledge assets in his hands as administrator, “ and to account for the effects received and collected upon the “judgment recovered by him against the executor of the last “will of Moses Gill deceased, confessed by the. pleadings, is a for- “ feiture of the bond declared on.” Here, the same pleadings by which the receipt of the money was acknowledged, shewed that the defendant had been duly cited to render an account, and had refused. In both cases the citation to Boylston, and his refusal thereupon to account, were the foundation of the proceedings.

Upon this view of the cause before us, considered in all its relations, wre are of opinion that upon legal principles it cannot be maintained, and that the

Replication is insvMcienl.