State v. Executors of Baskin
State v. Executors of Baskin
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court.
In these cases it is necessary in addition to the facts stated in the first case, to add the state of the pleadings in the second. In it, the breach of the Ordinary’s official bond, assigned by the replication, is, that he did not take the bond from the purchaser (the executor,) as required by law. This is met by a double rejoinder, to wit: 1st., a traverse. 2d., that the plaintiff has not been damnified by it. Issue has been taken on both these rejoinders. It is wrong pleading thus to rejoin; but as the parties have waived the objection, the Court will not notice it further. The pleading in this case was not brought to my view on the circuit, and hence it was not before stated.
The first question which arises in both cases, is, whether the money bond and mortgage taken by the Ordinary from the ex. ecutor (the purchaser at his own sale) is a compliance with the Act of ’39. The 1st section of that Act, (Acts of ’39, p. 62,) provides, “that it shall be lawful for any executor or executrix, administrator or administratrix, to become a purchaser, at the sales of the estate of his or her testator or intestate, under whatsoever authority the said sales may be made, and the property so purchased shall be vested in him or her; but he or she shall be liable to the parties interested, for the actual value of the property at the time of sale, in cases where it shall have been sold at an under price.” This legalized what was before perhaps doubtful, the purchase by an executor or administrator at his own sale; but at the same time declared such purchaser’s liability for the actual value, where the property sold for less.
It is now necessary to inquire, in Baskin’s case, who was one of the securities of the Ordinary, and in whose case the pleadings rest the right to recover on the Ordinary’s receipt of the money, whether he is liable on the pleadings as they stand? The Court is of opinion that he is not. They think, and to their judgment 1 yield my circuit opinion, that his receipt of the money was unlawful: and that therefore his sureties are not liable for money so received by him.
In Patterson’s case, there is no doubt he is liable for the Ordinary’s failure to take the proper bond. For in that respect, he did not “well and truly perform the duties of his said office:” and the breach of the bond is plain and palpable. In Boggs v. Hamilton, 2 Con. Rep. 382, it was held that an Ordinary, who took no administration bond, was liable to the parties in interest, and became, as the case expresses it, surety for the administrator. That may be true in that case, and still I do not perceive that the Ordinary here may not be primarily liable. He made such an order and took such a bond, as enabled him to receive
This case was heard before Withers J. took his seat.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
The Ordinary should have taken a bond conditioned that the executor would account for the purchase money of the property bought by him. This bond would have been for the benefit of the persons entitled to have the account: without it the executor would have been liable to them, but it would have served to secure his accountability. The neglect to take the bond was an omission of duty for which the Ordinary was liable to the persons injured thereby; and upon his official bond his sureties are liable to the same extent as the Ordinary would have been for this omission. Now, who were injured by the Ordinary’s neglect, and to what extent? In considering this, we must lay out of view the payment made by the executor to the Ordinary— for in that transaction the Ordinary was not acting virtute officii. All reference to the bond for payment of money which the Ordinary took and gave up, must also be avoided: for if by giving up that bond the ordinary has committed a breach of official duty, it is not the breach which is assigned, but the omission to take any bond. By omitting to take a bond, no injury was done to the executor: of that he cannot complain—and if he have in his own wrong paid his money to the Ordinary, his action to recover back the money lies against the man who received it, not against the officer who had no right to demand or receive it.
I concur, that upon the issue made in the case against the executors of Baskin, there could be no recovery against them. In the case against Patterson, I think the verdict should have been,
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.