In re the Estate of Manice — 38 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 119

Majority

p. 119

In the Matter of the Estate of CATHARINE MARIA MANICE, Deceased.

Headnote

Will — in case of inevitable repugnancy the latest beguest prevails — one of several executors who takes no part in the management of the estate is not entitled to share in the commissions — 2 H. 8 ., 93, sec. 58, as amended by chap. 362 of 1863.

A testatrix gave and "bequeathed to her son "William “ the china dinner set marked T. Q. M., the bedstead and wardrobe in the second story front room” in her house in Madison avenue, in New York. She then gave and bequeathed to her daughter Caroline her “ mosaic and pearl .pin, also the furniture in my second story front room, namely, bureau, wcvrdrobe, chairs, table, sofa, carpet and curtains.”

Held, that as the wardrobe was specifically mentioned in each bequest, and as there was no ambiguity in the language employed, there was an invincible repugnancy between the two claims, and that force and effect should for that reason be given to the last bequest to the exclusion of the first.

Under section 58 of 2 Itevised Statutes, 93, as amended by chapter 362 of the Laws of 1863, providing that “ on the settlement of the account of an executor or administrator the surrogate shall allow him for his services, and if there be more than one shall apportion among them, according to the services rendered by them respectively,” certain commissions, the surrogate has no power to give any portion of the commissions to one of the executors who has taken no part in the management and settlement of the estate.

Appeal from portions of a decree made by tlie surrogate of Queens county upon the final settlement of tlie accounts o.f the executors of Catharine Maria Manice, deceased.

p. 120

Frederick W. Ad'ee, for W. De Forest Manice, individually and as executor, appellant.

John U. Henshaw, for Caroline A. Grant individually and as executrix, respondent.

This is an appeal from a portion of the decree of the surrogate of Queens county, on the final accounting of the executors of Catharine Mai’ia Manice, deceased.

The first question has relation to the ownership of a wardrobe specifically bequeathed by the testator. The first part of the will is as follows: “ I give and bequeath to my son William De Forest Manice the china dinner set marked I. F. M., the bedstead and wardrobe in the second story front room * * * in my house in Madison Avenue in the city of New York.” Then follows this clause: “I give and bequeath to my daughter Cai’oline Amelia Grant my mosaic and pearl pin, * * * also the furniture in my second stoxy front room, namely: bureau, wax-drobe, chaii’S, table, sofa, cax’pet, and curtains.”

The wardrobe is thus specifically mentioned in both of these clauses, and there is no ambiguity in the language employed. The wox’ding of the two bequests forbids the inference that the article was bequeathed to the two jointly, and there is an invincible repugnancy between the two clauses, and both cannot stand. Under these circumstances the rule must be applied which gives force and effect to the last clause to the exclusion of the first, (Jar. on Wills, 472.) We are aware that this is considei’ed a desperate remedy, tut we find no reasonable intei’pretation that will.give force and effect to both clauses of this will x-especting the wardrobe.

Our conclusion is, that the decree of the surrogate should be affirmed on this point.

The next question has refei’ence to the commissions of the executors. There were tlix-ee named in the will, William De Forest Manice, a son, and Caroline A. Grant and Fraxices Isabella Smith, two dauglxtex’s of the testatrix. The will was proven June 3, 1878. Letters testamentaxy were issued to the son on the same day and to Mrs. Smith, June 21, 1878. Mrs. Gi’ant did not qualify until March 11, 1879, but she never took any part in the administration of

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the estate. The statute is this: “ Ou the settlement of the account of an executor or administrator, the surrogate shall allow to him for his services, and if there shall be more than ene, shall apportion among them according to the services rendered by them, respectively, over and above his or their expenses,” commissions at certain rates. (3 R. S. [5th ed.), 179, § 64 [58].) The statute, therefore, furnishes the rule of apportionment and requires the surrogate to apportion the commissions among the executors according to the services rendered by them respectively. No discretion is bestowed on the surrogate, and it seéms to follow necessarily that where no services have been rendered by one of several executors the surrogate can apportion to him no commissions. Such we understand to be the case of Mrs. Grant; she rendered no services and took no part in the settlement of the estate, she cannot therefore receive commissions.

This portion of the surrogate’s decree should, therefore, be reversed and the case sent back to him to apportion the commissions between William De Forest Manice and Frances Isabella Smith.

There should be no costs of this appeal

Present — Barnard, P. J., Dykman and Pratt, JJ.

Surrogate’s decree modified by reversing that part thereof which grants commissions to Mrs. Grant, and the proceedings are remitted to surrogate to apportion commissions between executors Manice and Smith. '