In re Blewitt

We agree with the learned justice, before whom this matter was heard at special term, that the omission to give the alleged lunatic notice of the presentation of the petition to the court was a very grave irregularity. Code Civil Proc. § 2325. But we do not agree with the counsel for the appellant that the failure to give such notice deprived the court of jurisdiction. Under the Code of Civil Procedure, the jurisdiction of the supreme court extends to the custody of a person, and the care of the property of a person, incompetent to manage himself, or his affairs, in consequence of lunacy, idiocy, or habitual drunkenness. Code, § 2320. We think that it presumptively appeared, from the allegations contained in the petition, that James Blewitt, at the time of its presentation, was a person in whose case the. court, in the exercise of its discretion, could appoint a committee; and that, therefore, under the provisions of section 2327 of the Code, it acquired jurisdiction to make the order that a commission issue. While, therefore, the failure to notify Blewitt of the presentation of the petition was, as already observed, an irregularity of a very grave character, we think that the jurisdiction of this court in the matter cannot be successfully questioned, and, if the whole record now before the court shows that the alleged lunatic has been given every opportunity to be heard which he could have had in the first instance, that the irregularity is not of such a character as to require the court to vacate and set aside all the proceedings heretofore taken. It appears from the record that James Blewitt, on or about the 23d of January, 1891, presented a petition to this court, in which, after reciting that on the 12th of June, 1890, a commission in the nature of a writ de lunático inquirendo was issued out of this court against your petitioner, and that on the 23d of J une, 1890, an inquisition was taken under the same, whereby “ the petitioner was found a lunatic, and Julia Blewitt, wife of your petitioner, was on June 25, 1890, appointed by this court a committee of his person and estate,” the petitioner goes on to aver that “he is now of sound mind and understanding, and has been so for several months, and he believes that said commission of lunacy should now be superseded, because unnecessary.” The petitioner therefore prays “ that an order be granted requiring his committee to show cause, if any there be, to this court, on a day certain, *306why the said commission, inquisition, and the proceedings therein, should not be superseded and annulled forthwith, and that a writ in the nature of a supersedeas may issue for that purpose. ” The hearing upon that order to show cause took place before Mr. Justice Ingraham, and, after hearing counsel and perusing voluminous affidavits, the petition was in all respects denied, and the proceeding dismissed. It may well be argued that, by taking that proceeding, James Blewitt cured the irregularity of which he now complains. The present proceeding came before the court on a motion to vacate and set aside the commission and return thereof, the inquisition, the order appointing the committee, and all other proceedings, for irregularity, because the said proceedings were without notice to Blewitt, and also because the said inquisition never received the confirmation of this court, and this court had no jurisdiction to appoint the committee. Upon the hearing of that motion, Mr. Justice Beach denied the motion to vacate and set aside the commission and the return thereof, the inquisition, and the order appointing the committee, but gave leave to the petitioner to traverse the allegations of the original petition, by an answer to be served upon the attorney for the committee within five days from the entry of this order, and directing the issue so formed to be tried before the commissioners originally appointed by the court and a sheriff’s jury. The order further required that 10 days’ notice of the time and place of said hearing be given to the said James Blewitt, and that he appear before the said commissioners and jury for examination before them. It was further ordered that the committee pay to the s¡ud James Blewitt the sum of $250 to defray his expenses of defense. We are of opinion that by this order all the rights of Blewitt were preserved, and that as the court, notwithstanding the irregularity heretofore referred to, had obtained jurisdiction of the matter, the whole proceeding should not be vacated and set aside. The order below will therefore be affirmed, but with liberty to James Blewitt to serve the answer provided for in the order, and also alleging Iiis restoration to health, within 10 days after notice of the order to be entered on this decision.