Fraley v. Thomas
Fraley v. Thomas
Opinion of the Court
An execution in favor of William Eraley against George W. Watkins, for $10,000, came into the hands of the plaintiff’s executor. The execution was issued in 1876, and we infer from the record that it came into the executor’s hands soon after that time. It does not appear when the testator •died or the executor qualified. When the execution came into the hands of the executor, Watkins was solvent, and -owned realty worth about $10,000 and personalty worth from $8,000 to $11,000. He had a good credit and his credit continued good until 1882 or 1883. After that lime it was not so good. About 1890 he became diseased physically and mentally, and his credit became very much weakened. In 1891 the executor placed the execution in
1. It was insisted on the part of the executor, that having obtained the consent of the ordinary to the compromise, and having executed the compromise in good faith, he was relieved from any further responsibility to Mrs. Thomas or any other person interested in the estate. The code (§2535) requires an administrator or executor to place in suit every debt due the estate which he may reasonably expect to recover, and declares that “if by his neglect or indulgence the debt is barred by the lapse of time, or is otherwise lost to the estate, he is responsible therefor.” It appears in the present case, from the evidence of the executor himself, that he indulged the debtor when the latter had ample means to pay the debt, and that he continued to indulge him for more than ten years, though he knew for a considerable portion of that time that the debtor was gradually growing “weaker.” It will be seen, therefore, that the failure to
2. It was also contended by tbe executor, tbat tbe receipt by Mrs. Tbomas of tbe fruits of tbe compromise estopped her from claiming tbat there was any further liability o-n bis part on account of tbe debt in question. If, as we have shown, tbe compromise did not protect tbe executor from liability for bis negligence prior to tbe compromise, it follows tbat acceptance of tbe fruits of tbe compromise did not operate to discharge him from such liability; and there was nothing in tbe terms of tbe receipt given by Mrs. Tbomas which indicated tbat it was intended to operate as a discharge in full.
3. Tbe evidence warranted tbe verdict, and none of tbe grounds of tbe motion for a new trial present any valid reason for setting tbe verdict aside. Judgment affirmed.
Reference
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- FRALEY v. THOMAS
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