In re Underhill's Estate

The learned counsel have submitted briefs in this matter. On the part of the administrator it is assumed that the case is to be decided on the petition and answer, while on behalf of the petition it is claimed that the court is not in a position to pass upon thequestion¡as to the effect of the statute of limitations, for the reason that the petitioner has a right to offer evidence of facts which might avoid that present apparent effect. This latter position is

At a subsequent day the parties appeared, and the petitioner offered evidence with a view to show that the administrator was—First, a trustee of Isaac Underhill in his life-time; and, second, that he fraudulently concealed the fact of his having had funds in his hands which belonged to Isaac Underhill at the time of his death; and, third, that the petitioner did not obtain knowledge of the facts until within six years. The evidence tends to show that said Isaac Underhill received, under the will of his wife, who died in 1859, some $8,000 in cash, and about $24,000 in Manhattan Bank stock; that Isaac Underhill died in I860, and left a will of which Philip R. Underhill became administrator with the will annexed; that Isaac, in his lifetime, conveyed the bank-stock through the president of the bank to Philip R., who held it in his individual name, drew the dividends thereon, and after-wards parted with it; that Philip It. kept a kind of account on paper headed, “Dr., P. R. Underhill, executor, in account with Isaac Underhill, Or.,” running from February 10, 1859, to December 20, 1860, the date of the death of Isaac. The debit side consists of items of interest and dividends on that bank-stock received, and the credit side of cash “paid him” and items of cash paid for various purposes. On the same paper, underneath the above, is another similar account, headed, “Dr., P. R. Underhill, administrator, ” with the credit side in blank as to name. The debtor side extends, in dates, from January 5, 1861, to October 22, 1866, and contains items for rent received, dividends on the same stocks, money received for wharfage, sloop sold, etc.; and the credit side extends over about the same period, and contains a multitude of items for cash paid for various purposes, chiefly for taxes, insurance, and repairs to the Hep tune House and other property. All of the items appear to have been written on two occasions only. Philip R. Underhill testified that the account was in his hand-writing, but was unable to recall the fact of having kept it, but said that he frequently made memoranda. It did not appear wiience the paper was procured for production.

. Do any of these facts tend to obviate the objection that the petitioner’s claim is barred by the statute of limitations? Of course, if Philip R. Underhill were a trustee in all these transactions, then the plea of the statute would not avail him. If he were a trustee for his father, and the proof is insufficient to warrant the finding that he was, then the office terminated at the father’s death, and was not such a trust as this court had jurisdiction over. After that, he was simply administrator with the will annexed, and can be made liable only as such, and may avail himself of the defense of the statute of limitations. The wisdom of the statute is exemplified in this very case. The administrator is asked to testify in regard to transactions that occurred between 25 and 30 years ago. It cannot be expected that the memory of an aged man can extend to or recall occurrences at so distant a period with any degree of reliable accuracy. Well is it characterized as a statute of repose. The mother of this petitioner was a sister of the administrator. She died about 1883. She had an interest under her father’s will, and it was competent for her, in her lifetime, to have called upon the administrator to render his account. She permitted the matter to run on until she lost, by lapse of time, the right so to do, and her executrix or assignee, the present petitioner, is in no better position. It must be assumed that Mrs. Guión, the daughter of Isaac and Eliza