Tenbrook v. M'Colm
Tenbrook v. M'Colm
Opinion of the Court
We are moved in this case to quash a writ of eertiorari, which has brought here a decree of tho Orphans’ Court of the county of Somerset, revoking, so far as related to the person of the ward, letters of guardianship of the person and estate of David Voorhecs. granted by that court in the year 1819$ because, as stated by the court in their decree, “the custody of the person of the said infant had until lately been committed by the said guardian to the mother of the said infant, and the said mother was desirous of retaining the possession of tho person of the said infant, and had always treated him with the kindness and affection of a mother, and was together with her present husband, Henry M'Coim, perfectly competent to the proper bringing up of the said infant, and the said John D. W. Tenbrook, the guardian, had without any good or proper causo shewn, taken the said ward from his mother, and refused to re store him.”
The ground on which the motion is rested, is, that a writ oí •uertiotari will not lie, to remove here such decree of revocation, and that an appeal should have been taken to the Prerogative Court,
The Prerogative Court and the Orphans’ Court, are tribunals created by statute;, and their jurisdiction, so far at least as respects the subjects of it, is special and limited. We are then to look into the statute to learn their jurisdiction, and, especially in consequence of the phraseology of the section just cited, to ascertain whether in any specified case an appeal is given.
The first section declares that “ the authority of the Ordinary shall extend only to the granting of probates of wills, letters of administration, letters of guardianship, and to the hearing, and finally determining of all disputes that may arise thereon.” The second section directs him to hold a Prerogative Court at stated times, “ when he shall hear and finally determine all causes that shall come before hitn, either directly, or by appeal from any of his surrogates, or the Orphans’ Court.” The 6th section, declaring the jurisdiction of the Orphans’ Court, gives them “ full power and authority to hear and determine all disputes and controversies whatsoever, respecting the existence of wills, the fairness of inventories, the right of administration and guardianship, and the allowance of the accounts of executors, administrators, guardians, or trustees, audited and stated by the surrogate, and all other waiters and things hereinafter submitted to their determination.” The general terms of these sections have never been supposed or construed to give jurisdiction of appeal from«/¿ decrees of the Orphans’ Court; and among other reasons it may be presumed, because an appeal is not in either section expressly given or recognised ; because in the subsequent sections, in some specified cases, the appeal is given in express terms; and because from the language of the whole act, it is abundantly manifest, that the legislature did not design to subject all decrees of the Orphans’ Courts to appeal, but to give the appeal from some, and to subject others to removal by certiorari, Agree
The-7th section of the act of 1820, Rev. Laws 777, authorizes the Orphans’ Court, if a guardian has embezzled, wasted or misapplied the estate, or shall neglect or refuse to give further security when required, to revoke or repeal the letters of guardianship j but nothing is said in respect to an appeal from the sentence or decree of revocation. Again, in the 9th section, the Orphans’ Court are authorized to revoke letters of guardianship, where, at the instance of a surety in the bond, it is made to appear that the guardian has embezzled, wasted, misapplied or mismanaged the estate; and as in the former section no appeal is, in terms, given.
The 27th section transfers to the Orphans3 Courts, “ the powers and duties formerly exercised and performed by the Ordinary relative to the admission of guardians,” or more correctly speaking gives them concurrent jurisdiction in such cases with the Ordinary. In this section an appeal is expressly given from the Orphans’ Court to the Prerogative Court. And it has been strenuously insisted, in the argument at the bar, that under this section, the general power of revocation of guardianship is vested in the Orphans’ Courts. I have been disposed to exercise great latitude in the construction of this section and to find here, if possible, the power of revocation, for the sake of the appeal. I am, however, compelled to believe, that the power of revocation of letters of guardianship is not given directly or impliedly by that section. The powers and duties there spoken of are “ relative to the admission of guardians.” Now the term, admission, is of plain and certain import, and can justly, by no means bo made to comprehend a revocation, Moreover, these powers and duties stay he exercised in she county whore the minor t ©sides.
On the argument at the bar, it was earnestly insisted and forcibly argued, that the Orphans’ Court have a general jurisdiction to revoke letters of guardianship, not confined merely to the cases expressly specified in the act, but embracing all cases where a revocation is legal and proper. For the occasion, without intimating any opinion of the correctness of the position, let it be admitted. The conclusion by no means follows, that because a power to pronounce a-decree of revocation exists in the court, such decree is subject to an appeal. If, indeed, this power were derived from the 27th section, the conclusion would be sound. But, if from other parts of the statute, from the language of the general sections, or from inference that as the power is not elsewhere expressly vested, it must be held by the body which has the authority to create or admit the guardian, then the appeal does not. necessarily attach 5 for we have already seen that all sentences or decrees are not subject to appeal, and such only are, as have the appeal expressly given or attached to thejm.
In the course of the argument the case of Little’s will was mentioned. The surrogate having proceeded to prove the will within ten days from the decease of the testator, an appeal was made to the Prerogative Court, and the letters testamentary were set aside. It may suffice in reference to this case, to remark that all proceedings of surrogates, not brought before the Orphans9 Court, are expressly made subject to an appeal to the Prerogative Court. Rev. Laws 783, sect. 21.
Inasmuch, then, as 1 do not any where find in the statute an appeal given from a decree of revocation of letters of guardianship, I am irresistibly led to the conclusion that such decree is subject to removal by certiorari.
In the notes to the article “New-Jersey” in Griffith’s Register, 098, the opinion of the editor is expressed in the following
Finding tho certiorari, in this ease, sustained by the act of the legislature to which, at the outset of my opinion, 1. have referred, I have not examined how far it may he supported, independent of that act, by tho general jurisdiction of this court over inferior' tribunals of statutory erection.
The other Justices concurred.
Motion to quash overruled.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- JOHN D. W. TENBROOK, GUARDIAN, against HENRY M'COLM AND WIFE
- Status
- Published