In re Brownell's Estate

The surrogate, in his opinion, says that the claim of Mrs. Brownell to be a creditor of her husband’s estate to the amount of $34,000 may be just, but lie is of opinion that the executor should have interposed the defense of the statute of limitations to defeat the claim, and he disapproves of the conveyance by the executors of the farm, valued at $10,000, in payment of the claim. The proof leaves little, if any, doubt that the deceased had received the money with which his widow sought to charge the estate. If, however, the statute of. limitations had been allowed to attach, it may be that the executors would have no right to recognize and pay the debt; but as to a large portion of the debt we think it plain that the statute had nob run. Among the assets which came to Mrs. Brownell from her father’s estate was a bond and mortgage of her husband for $8,000, upon which $1,458 interest had accrued. This was due upon a sealed instrument. The husband, being executor of the estate of his wife’s father, satisfied the mortgage of record, but he did not pay the bond. The bond was his own debt, due to his .wife, and the satisfaction of the mortgage had no effect upon the bond. That re*476mained in force, and at the time of Mr. Brownell’s death the debt and interest must have exceeded $16,000. That was much in excess of the value of the farm conveyed in payment of the wife’s claim. The amount of the real and personal estate did not exceed $12,700. The debts of the estate .paid and discharged far exceeded that amount. The only contestants are legatees. As no surplus remains "after payment of the debts, it is plain the legatees can take nothing. The surrogate’s decree should be reversed, and the estate settled on these principles. No costs. All concur.