Cone v. Crum
Cone v. Crum
Opinion of the Court
This is a suit brought by William Cone, administrator of W. It. Crum, deceased, against William H. Crum, to set aside the allowance of a claim in his favor made by the plaintiff as such administrator, and which had been approved by the county judge. Belief was sought on the ground that the claim was allowed and approved through mistake, when the same wras barred by the statute of limitations. The demurrer to the petition was sustained and the cause dismissed.
Although, as a general rule, an administrator cannot revive a claim against an estate which is barred by the statute, yet if his allowance has received the judicial sanction of the approval of the county judge, this, under repeated decisions of this court, will make it such a gimi-judgment that the presumption will be indulged that the holder of the claim was within some of the exceptions which would prevent the bar of the statute. (Authorities cited in Moore v. Hillebrant, 14 Tex., 315.)
To overcome this presumption, the burden of both allegation and proof is upon the administrator, in a direct proceeding for this purpose, to show not only that the claim was barred, hut also that he has some good ground, by reason of fraud, accident, or mistake, for the relief sought. (Eccles v. Daniels, 16 Tex., 140.)
If allowed under such circumstances as would show affirmatively that the administrator intended to commit a fraud upon the estate, or that he was guilty of such gross negligence in the performance of his duty as would amount to such fraud, and that in consequence thereof the claim was approved and thus became a charge upon the estate, then he could not consistently ask relief, but might be made responsible on his bond.
If, however, the allowance was made through mistake, and relief was sought within a reasonable time, and before any just rights of the holder of the claim had been prejudiced, he would be entitled to the equitable interposition of the court. (Jones’ Administrator v. Underwood, 11 Tex., 116.)
This suit was brought within a short time after the allow
Reversed and remanded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- William Cone, administrator v. William H. Crum
- Cited By
- 4 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Claims against estates—Limitation—Presumption.—Wlien a claim against an estate was apparently barred by limitation at the time of its allowance by the administrator and its approval by the county judge, the presumption will be indulged that the holder of the claim was within one of the exceptions which would prevent the bar of the statute. 2. Same—Mistake.—Against such a claim thus allowed through mistake, the administrator will be entitled to equitable relief, if the same is applied for within a reasonable time, and relief can be afforded without prejudice to the just rights of the holder of the claim. 3. Pact case.—See case for facts which authorized the setting aside of an order allowing a claim against an estate, on the ground of mistake.