Brown v. Mays
Brown v. Mays
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The commissioner, in making a settlement of the accounts of Brown as guardian, should first deduct from the purchase price of the land the amount allowed the widow as of the date of the sale, viz., $213, also all the costs and expenses of the suit incurred by and allowed the guardian. On the balance is to be computed'the interest until the maturity of the last note, and this interest added to the principal gives the aggregate amount due’ by the guardian to his ward at the time the last note fell due. From this should be deducted any expenses incurred by the guardian in the clothing, education, etc., up to that time. Interest should then be charged against the guardian, making biennial accounts until his removal as guardian, and the appointment of Rathburn, crediting him by the amounts paid for the ward. In making the settlement the commissioner should be directed to exclude entirely therefrom, any account or items for board charged by or allowed either guardian.
Rathburn intermarried with the mother of Mrs. Mays in a few years after the death of her first husband, and his domestic relations were then such as precluded him from charging or exacting board of the infant child unless his pecuniary condition required it. The mother and stepfather were entitled to her custody and also her services, and, having had both, should have contributed to her support. Valuable services were rendered by the daughter from the age of twelve until her marriage. The petition alleges that Rath-burn owned a farm and had ample means to support the mother and her offspring. The answer only denies that he had any means of supporting her. Upon this subject there is no proof introduced by either party. The relation he assumed towards the child upon his marriage with the mother will prevent the chancellor from making him an allowance for the board of the daughter, when he voluntarily assumed the burden, unless the pecuniary condition of the child authorized it, or the impoverished condition of the stepfather demanded it.
The only witnesses who speak of the services- of Mrs. Mays say that they were worth not only her board, but her clothing also. Brown should not have been credited by any board paid for the ward, without charging Rathburn, who wrongfully received it, with having that amount in his hands belonging to- her. If Brown had paid it to any one else Rathburn could have compelled Brown to account for it, and as he has received it, he should be charged with the amount.
Either of the guardians, however, are liable to- the ward for the amount so wrongfully paid. The two guardians should be allowed to amend their pleadings, with a view of settling their accounts with each other, but not to affect the rights of the appellees.
The settlement made by the commissioner is so confused and. badly copied into the record as to render it difficult to understand it. There is no receipt for $270 paid by Brown to Rathburn on the 4th of July, 1866, for which he seems to- have had no credit. He is, however, credited by $220 in Rathburn’s settlement and this is doubtless intended for the same sum, as there is no receipt for the last amount. It may be that the figures $270 ought to be $220, or
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.