In re Will's Estate

Charles Will, in or about 1870, married Rebecca Anderson. Rebecca died in 1880, and at the time of her death resided in Canada. She left her surviving Alexander, David, Arthur, John, and Elizabeth T., the only issues of such marriage, all of whom were, at the time of her death, under the age of 14 years. Shortly after her death, the father, Charles WUl, made application, and was appointed, under the Canadian statutes, tutor (corresponding under our statute to general guardian) of all the infants, and as such tutor, in September, 1881, he made and filed an inventory of the property left by his wife, Rebecca, and belonging to his wards. This inventory shows that at the time of her death she was possessed of personal property of various kinds and an interest in certain real estate in Canada, the possession of which, at the time the inventory was made, was passed over to the tutor. By this inventory the tutor agreed “to represent the same when and where duly required.” Shortly after the filing of the inventory, and during the same year, Will married the petitioner herein, and removed with her and the children above named from Canada to Essex county, this state. Two children were born of the second marriage,—Mary B. and James R. Will. Charles Will died about January 1,1888, and left him surviving his widow, Mary B., the petitioner herein, and all the above-named children. At the time of his death he was the owner and in possession of certain real estate situate in the county of Essex, hi. Y., and which real estate is now sought to be sold for the payment of his debts, his personal property being insufficient for that purpose. After the death of Will his last will and testament was admitted to probate by the surrogate of this county, and letters testamentary thereon issued to the petitioner herein, on the 20th of February, 1888. She immediately entered upon the discharge of her duties, filed an inventory of his estate, and on September 7, 1888, commenced the publication of a notice for the creditors to present claims, which notice was published as required by law. In pursuance of such notice a large number of claims were presented. The personal property was disposed of, and some time during the year 1890 she made applica

Assuming that all the evidence offered in support of such claim is admissible, which is by no means clear, I am of the opinion that the claim cannot be allowed. It is unquestionably the law that an action on the bond of a guardian or administrator will not lie against the sureties until there has been an accounting by the guardian or administrator, or, in case of death, by the personal representatives. Hood v. Hood, 85 N. Y. 561 ; Girvin v. Hickman, 58 How. Pr. 244 . In other words no action will lie against the sureties until there has been some judicial determination, in a direct proceeding taken for that purpose, fixing default on the part of the principal. I see no reason why this rule is not applicable to the case at bar. There is here no proof that any accounting has ever been had, either by Charles Will, as tutor, or, after his death, by his personal representative or successor, James Will. There is no presumption that the property mentioned in the inventory signed by Charles was converted by Charles to his own use, or that the proceeds of that property went into the real estate subsequently purchased by him, and now sought to be sold. On the contrary, the presumption is that Charles did his duty as tutor, and- did not convert such property to his own use, and at the time of his death held such property as tutor, or had previously accounted therefor. There seems to me to be an insurmountable objection to the allowance of this claim until there has been some judicial determination, fixing default on the part of Charles, as tutor, either under the Canadian jurisdiction or in our own courts. The inventory itself, relied on by the claimant as showing the receipt by Charles, as tutor, of property belonging to the infants, would seem to indicate that such course was absolutely necessary before proceeding against the decedent’s estate. The condition upon which he received the property as tutor was that he would “represent the same when and where duly required.” • Has he been required to represent [return] it? If so, when? Where? To whom? The present tutor, James, was appointed in 1888. Has he, as tutor, received this property, or any part of it? Although present in

The wisdom of the rule requiring the principal to account before proceeding against a surety, or before proceeding against a principal’s estate, in case of death, is well illustrated in the case at bar. All of the evidence given in favor of this claim may be true, and yet all of the property mentioned in the inventory filed by Charles Will, deceased, may have been turned over to his successor, James Will, immediately upon James’ appointment. James may still have all of that property, or all of it may stand to the credit of or in the name of the infants. It will not do to permit claims to be established against a decedent’s estate by such evidence. The mere fact that a guardian in a foreign country had several years 'before possession of property of his wards is not of itself sufficient to establish a claim in favor of the wards against a guardian’s estate in a proceeding taken by creditors to sell real estate for the payment of debts. Before such a claim can be established, either the property or proceeds thereof must be traced to the specific property sought to be sold, or else the liability of the guardian must be fixed by an accounting had in some court having jurisdiction. In Hood v. Hood, 85 N. Y. 561 , it appeared that the executor had received certain property, but the court held that that fact alone was not of itself sufficient to establish liability without an accounting. See, also, Matter of O’Brien, 45 Hun, 284 . The evidence fails to ■satisfy me that the claim presented by James Will, as tutor, is a valid claim against the estate of Charles Will, deceased,1 and an order can be entered to that effect, and directing a sale of the premises in question for payment of claims allowed; order to be settled on notice. On settlement of order, question of costs will be considered. Order accordingly.