Williams v. Sims , 8 Port. 579 ( 1839 )

COLLIER, C. J.

— Th¿ questions for our decision, are presented by the pleadings, and are—

1. Was it incumbent on the defendants in error, to join all who had qualified as executors 1 or,

2. Did the non-residence of Cavat relieve them from the necessity of joining him as a party to the action, with his co-executors ?

1. If a man appoint several persons his executors, and. dies, at common law, they were esteemed as but one person, in representing the ’ testator—(Wheeler, et al. vs. Wheeler, 9 Cow. R. 34;) and where there were several executors named in the will, all must have joined in the prosecution of an action, as the representatives of their testator—(2 Williams on Ex'ors, 1147.) Thus, in Bodle vs. Hulse, (5 Wend. R. 313,) it was held, that an action at the suit of one styling himself an acting executor, could' not be maintained, as it appeared there were others, though they did not act. In such a case, the court say, the correct practice, where one renounces the execu-torship, is to prosecute the action in the name of all the executors named in the will, if living, and on summons to those who will not join, there will be judgment of severance, and then those who have taken upon themselves to act, may proceed in their own names—(Wentw. Off. Ex. 212; 14 edition, 212, 225; 2 Williams on Ex. 1188, note s.) The law, in this respect, has been modified by the operation of our statutes, 'in regard to the qualification of executors.

The precise question came before this court, in Cleveland et al. ex’ors, vs. Chandler, (3 Stew. Rep. 489.) The court say, that, “at common law, the executor derived the authority to administer the testator’s estate, from the will exclusively; probate was required, that its genuineness might be ascertained, and its registration was intended as evidence to the -world of who was executor. It would therefore follow, that*as all persons named as executors in the will derived a joint interest, they should join in the prosecution of actions in regard to the estate.”

The court then briefly considers our statutes in regard to the probate of wills, and conclude : “ Prom thence if is obvious, that executors here derive not their authority entirely from the will; and that they are not entitled to exercise any power as such, until they have given .bond, and taken the oath prescribed.”

Thus, we discover that several joint executors, are to be considered as but one person in law. At common law, all who were appointed by the will, were considered as executors, for the purpose of prosecuting suits, while under the influence of our statutes, those alone are esteemed as such, who are qualified according to the requirements.

According to the English common law, it is regarded as settled, that in actions against executors, all who are named as such in the will, whether they have proved or not, may be made defendants — but if they have proved the will, they must be joined—(Lev. Rep. 161; 2 Saund. P. & E. 505.) The plea of the plaintiffs in error, strictly conforms to the authorities and course of practice prevailing in England; it contains the two allegations deemed essential there, viz., that the eo-cxeculor not sued, has administered, and is still alive —(2 Williams on Ex. 1188, 1189.) This brings us to consider the remaining question.

2. Now, it will follow, from what we have said, that the non-amenability of a co-executor to the jurisdiction of an English court,-affords no legal excuse for the omission to join him as a party defendant to an action ; if he be liying, and has taken upon himself to execute the will. There, the law authorises the plaintiff, (though he may be unable to effect the personal service of a writ, by means of what is there called process of outlawry,) to prosecute his suit to judgment. Our laws, in this respect, (as it regards executors and administrators,) are defective, in not providing a mode of proceeding, where a co-executor resides without the Slate, since it is clear, that our statutes relating to joint obligors, &c. do not embrace joint-executors, who conjointly represent the interests committed to them by the will. And the question now presented for our consideration is, Does the American. décisions sustain the English rule, and should we not, in view of the deficiency of our laws, be inclined to depart from it. '

A most industrious examination has enabled us to find two, and but two, cases, in. which the point came directly in judgment. The first is the case of Tappan vs. Bruen, (5 Mass. R. 195,) in which Sir. Chief Justice Parsons remarked,' it had been the immemorial practice, in the service of a writ sued on contract, against two or more defendants, if some of the defendants are without."the jurisdiction of the commonwealth, so that they could not be arrested, or have no place of abode within the same, at which a summons might be left to cause the writ to be served on the defendants within the State, and to proceed only against them for the breach of the contract by all the defendants; and if the plaintiff recover judgment, it is entered against the defendants only who were served with process. This practice has been found convenient ; and no injustice is done, because, if judgment had- been recovered against all -the joint debtors, the plaintiff might have satisfied it out of the defendants against .whom'it is in fact recovered. The practice had its origin in necessity, as the law of Massachusetts provided no mode of service upon a debtor without the State, who has no place of abode or property within it. And the court say further, that it has been extended to actions against executors or administrators living in different States, as the judgment is against the estate of the deceased.

The other case is Beach vs. Baldwin, (9 Conn. R. 437.) In this case, the defendant pleaded, that the testator appointed three other persons, together with the plaintiff,, his executors, who proved the will and accepted the trust; and are still living. The court held, that the plea' was not good, because it did not show where the co-execu-. tors resided: and because it did uot allege that they were such, at the time when the suit was commenced. The court remarked further,.that the jurisdiction of the courts in Connecticut, depends on the residence of the parties; the principle of the common law in that State, therefore, was, that this fact must be shewn in the plea, however the forms might bo. If the non-rcsidcncc of an executor should excuse the omission to join him as a plaintiff, much more should it dispense with the necessity of making him a co-defcndaut. The cases cited, we think, furnish ample authority for us to sustain the judgment of the Circuit court.

The fact, that process issued against but two of the executors, can make no difference. There is no authority for discontinuing as to the executor not served, -which would not warrant tito omission to proceed against him in the first instance. In fact, such a distinction would not harmonise with the analogies-of our statutory regulations, in respect to suits against joint obligors, &c.

In every view in which this case has presented itself to us, we think the rule, as modified in Massachusetts and Connecticut, far better calculated to promote the ends of justice,-than the rule which prevails in England; and hence, we arc disposed to depart from the latter, and recognise the forqier. The conséqucnce-is, that the judgment of the Circuit court is affirmed.