In re the Estate of Mahannah v. Briles
In re the Estate of Mahannah v. Briles
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This proceeding was brought in the probate court by the administrator of the estate of Henry Mahannah, deceased, in which Emma Briles was charged with concealing, embezzling and conveying away property and effects of the estate of the deceased which should have been delivered to the administrator. A citation was issued and upon a hearing in the probate court a decision adverse to the claim of the administrator was rendered. An
The administrator alleged that Henry Mahannah was ninety-one years old when he died; that for thirteen years prior to his death he had been blind and deaf, during which time Emma Briles had been his confidential agent, writing his letters, making deposits for him in a bank, drawing cheeks and transacting most of his business. Plaintiff alleged that after the death of Mahannah, Emma Briles presented a check and drew from the bank $600 belonging to the estate; that he had made demand for the return of that money, which had been refused by the defendant. She answered denying concealment or misappropriation of any money of Henry Mahannah, and that all the property and effects in her possession had been turned over to the administrator. She also denied she had wrongfully withdrawn $600 from the bank that belonged to Henry Mahannah and that the $600 fund was and still is her own property. It was shown that the check drawn in her favor was dated April 29, 1929; that Henry Mahannah died on August 30, 1929. The check was presented to the bank and cashed a few hours after Mahannah’s death. The trial developed that there had been no concealment by the defendant, that defendant took the check which had been issued months before his death and obtained the money out ofMahannah’s account, a few hours after his death, and this money she claims is her own.
The trial court found that there was no concealment or embezzlement and that as she claimed to be entitled to the fund the right to try the controverted question as to its ownership could not be determined in this summary proceeding. The statute under which the proceeding was brought reads:
“Upon complaint made to the probate court by the executor, administrator, creditor, devisee, legatee, heir, or other person interested in the estate of any deceased person, against any person suspected of having concealed, embezzled, or conveyed away any money, goods, chattels, things in action, or effects of such deceased, the said court shall cite the person suspected forthwith to appear before it and to be examined on oath or affirmation touching the matters of the said complaint.” (R. S. 22-1301.)
This statute has been interpreted and it has been held that its purpose was for discovery of concealed assets of an estate and to compel the delivery thereof to the administrator, and that where there was no concealment and there was a question of contested
The judgment is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.