Succession of Kendrick
Succession of Kendrick
Opinion of the Court
William Kendrick died in the early part of the year 1838, and some short time thereafter his widow was appointed administratrix of the estate. Inventories of the properly were made in the months of March and July of that year. The succession was composed of lands near, and town lots in Greens-burg, a number of slaves, stock of horses and cattle, with household furniture, plantation utensils, and other articles, a quantity of cotton, and debts owing by different persons. In the month of July, 1S38, public sales of all the property were made, amounting to about $30,000, but upon what terms of credit the record does not inform us, notes having been taken from the purchasers to secure the price, none of which are exhibited; we, therefore, cannot tell when they became due, nor what rate of interest they bear. About two years after the sale, the administratrix, not having presented any account, proceedings were commenced by some of the heirs, to have her removed from office; which case was before us two years since. 1 Rob. 402. On the 17th August, 1840,
To the homologation of this account, several of the beneficiary heirs who were present, and the attorney for those who are absent, made opposition:
1st. Because the account does not show the amount of the inventory, nor the excess or deficiency of the sale of the property compared with it. .
3d. Because the debts purporting to have been paid, had not previously been placed on a tableau or list according to their rank and privileges, and presented to the Court of Probates for approval and an order to pay them.
4th. The opponents object specially to each item of the account, and to the form and manner in which they are set forth.
5th. Because the amount due to the succession had not been collected, nor any sufficient reason given why the same had not been done and the creditors paid.
In the month of April or May, 1843, (no proceedings having been had on the preceding opposition to the account rendered,) the administratrix presented what is called a supplemental account to that previously filed. She reverses the order of slating her management of the estate in this document, and commences, as she should properly, by charging the estate with the sums she has paid for it, and then giving it credit for the sums she has collected on account. No date for any debt or credit is given, nor any reference to vouchers, by number or otherwise, made. With this paper a petition was presented, praying that it might be homologated and approved. To this prayer opposition was made by the same parties, for reasons almost identical with those assigned for the opposition to the first account; and for the additional one, that no distinction is made between the community property and that which belonged to the deceased previously to his marriage.
On these accounts and oppositions the parties went to trial. A number of notes, accounts, receipts and other vouchers were presented in evidence, all of which were numbered ; but as there are no corresponding numbers in either account, and no date to the items in the second, it is difficult to make an accurate investigation of the application and validity of the documents. A great deal of parol evidence was also received in support of different charges and payments, and as to the disposition made of the property; but it is almost impossible to make it intelligible to any one, except by re-stating the whole account, and appending a
The Judge of Probates, after hearing the parties, decided that the administratrix had acted correctly, and properly accounted for every thing, and therefore homologated and approved her accounts, and dismissed the oppositions at the cost of the estate. The opponents made application for a new trial on various grounds, concluding by alleging, that a just and full account had not been rendered ; wherefore they asked, that the administratrix might be dismissed from office, be condemned to pay ten per cent interest per annum on whatever sum may be owing by her, and that she may be deprived of her commissions on the amount administered. Their application was overruled, and the opponents have appealed-
In this court, the opponents have insisted on all their grounds of opposition taken below ; also on their demand made after judgment, that the administratrix should be removed from the trust she holds, that she be deprived of her commissions, and condemned to pay interest as fixed by law.
As to the first ground of opposition : It is clear that there is no statement of any difference between the inventory and the amount
We think he also erred in overruling the second ground of opposition. The accounts do not exhibit a full and fair account of the administration. A portion of the property is not accounted for on the face of the account; and it has been necessary to resort to parol evidence and written documents, to show what has become of it; and even then, the explanation has not been very satisfactory.
The third ground of objection is met by the production of a tableau or statement of debts, with a supplement thereto, showing the amount of the debts, with their respective privileges, and the accompanying petitions praying for their homologation, and for an order of the court to pay conformably therewith. No opposition appears to have been made to these prayers, and judgments were entered in conformity thereto, the Judge stating in the judgment, that notice had been given in conformity to law, of the petitions and tableau having been filed, and that, after the legal delays, no opposition had been made. In the court below, the objection as to want of notice does not seem to have been raised ; <or, at least, it was considered of very little importance. In view of some of the questions raised in this case, we think it a matter of considerable consequence; and we will not decide finally on several questions, until it can be ascertained whether legal notices were given or not.
Under the fourth objection, the counsel for the opponents have selected various items, to which special exception is taken. The principal of these is an allowance of $ 1800 to two members of the bar, for professional services rendered to the administratrix in various suits, for responsibilities incurred, and for advice upon various subjects. This allowance is about six per cent on the
An examination of the fifth ground of opposition satisfies us, that there has been great delay, if not actual and culpable negligence in administering the estate. The succession has been opened about six years, and is yet not more than half settled. Large debts seem to be due to the estate for purchases of properperty made in 1838, and no diligence or serious effort seems to have been used to collect them. The administratrix represents the debt owing by herself as uncollected, without its appearing that the succession is indebted to her in any sum whatever; and it is averred, that creditors have not been pa’id, in consequence whereof the estate is burdened with interest and costs, and that no satisfactory reason is given for such great delay. Had the application for the removal of the administratrix been made previous to the trial below, and an issue been made on it, we do not well see how we could have retained her. When the case in 1 Rob. 402, was before us, the facts were not nearly so strongly presented as they now are. Such unaccountable delay and apparent negligence will not receive the least countenance from this court.
The application, after judgment, on the motion for a new trial, to remove the administratrix from office, was in our opinion, made too late. No such issue had been made or tried, and it would, on our part, be assuming original jurisdiction, if we were to act on it now.
Justice to all parties will, we think, be best promoted by remanding this />ause for a new; trial. It can then be ascertained
The judgment of the Probate Court is, therefore, annulled and reversed, and it is ordered, that this cause be remanded for a new-trial, with directions to the Judge to proceed in accordance with the directions and principles herein stated, and in other respects according to law ; the appellee paying the costs of this appeal.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Succession of William Kendrick—Rebecca Davis and others
- Cited By
- 2 cases
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- Published