Judge of Probate v. Quimby , 89 Me. 574 ( 1897 )

Emery, J.

Rufus Prince was executor of the will of one Caleb Blake. As such executor he included in his inventory of personal estate two claims against certain relief associations, amounting to $2500. He afterward collected these claims and receipted for them as executor. He died before settling any account, and his account as such executor was finally settled in the probate court by his own administrator, Mr. Savage. The inventory returned by Mr. Prince in his lifetime was made the basis of this settlement. Mr. Prince was charged with the $2500 received by him and was adjudged by the probate court to owe the estate a balance of nearly $3500. The estate of Mr. Prince was thereupon represented insolvent by his administrator.

After the death of Mr. Prince, Mr. Newell was appointed administrator de bonis non with the will annexed of the estate of Caleb Blake, to which Mr. ■ Prince had been adjudged to be indebted as above stated. The estate of Mr. Prince not being sufficient to pay the full amount adjudged to be due, Mr. Newell, for the Caleb Blake estate, obtained leave from the probate court to bring this action of debt against the sureties upon the bond given to the judge of probate by Mr. Prince as executor. There is no suggestion of any irregularity, fraud or other infirmity in any of the procedure or decrees of the probate court.

These sureties now urge that the money ($2500) received from the relief associations did not belong to the estate of Caleb Blake, but to other parties, and that Mr. Prince in fact and law held the money in trust for such other parties, and hence should not have been charged with it in his account as executor.

The plaintiff contends that the question thus mooted is solely for the probate court and cannot be litigated here. This contention must be sustained. This court is now sitting as a common law court to render a common law judgment in a common law action. The accounts between an executor and the estate he is administering are properly cognizable by the probate court. That court has the power and procedure suitable for determining and adjusting the respective accounts, duties and rights of the executor, heirs, legatees and creditors of an estate. This court (except perhaps in equity) can determine and adjust such matters only when sitting as the Supreme Court of Probate upon appeals from the probate court of the first instance. Thurlough v. Chick, 59 Maine, 395; Hanscom v. Marston, 82 Maine, 288; Woodbridge v. Tilton, 84 Maine, 94; Morris v. Porter, 87 Maine, 510. Any re-examination or re-adjustment of the accounts of Mr. Prince as executor must be in that court.

The sureties further urge, however, that they could not be heard in the probate court, and had no right of appeal, and hence are not bound by tbe judgment, and must be heard here or be condemned unheard. Tbis point must also be overruled. Tbe bond tbey signed was a bond to tbe court, a bond in course of judicial procedure, somewhat like an appeal bond. Tbe sureties were fully and effectually represented in tbe probate court by tbeir principal, or in tbis case by bis representative, bis administrator. Tbey signed tbe bond for tbe protection of tbe estate, and of all persons interested in it, against tbeir principal. In signing it tbey, in effect, stipulated tbat tbeir principal should abide and and perform tbe decrees of the court upon all questions between him and tbe estate within -the court’s jurisdiction. Tbey did not stipulate for any opportunity to object to any proceedings. Tbey intrusted tbe representation of tbeir principal’s rights and interests to tbe principal himself. As well might tbe sureties upon an appeal bond question tbe judgment of the appellate court, as tbe sureties upon a probate bond question tbe decree of tbe probate court in cases within its jurisdiction. Woodbury v. Hammond, 54 Maine, 332; Thurlough v. Chick, 59 Maine, 395; Tuxbury's Appeal, 67 Maine, 267.

In Judge of Probate v. Toothaker, 83 Maine, 195, it was held tbat tbe sureties upon a guardian’s original bond could show, in a common law action against them, tbat tbe money with which tbeir principal bad been charged came into bis bands from sales of real estate upon special licenses for which be bad given other bonds with other sureties. Tbe plaintiff simply sued upon tbe wrong bond. Tbe original bond only covered transactions as to personal estate. The sureties upon it could show, not that tbe decree was erroneous, but tbat it did not concern them. In tbis case tbe transactions sought to be reviewed concerned tbe personal estate solely, and were directly within tbe purview of tbe defendant’s obligation.

The counsel agree tbat tbe amount of tbe adjudged indebtedness (assuming tbat it cannot be re-adjusted here) remaining unpaid January 1, 1895, is $1,246.09. Tbis sum tbe defendants are liable for with interest.

Judgment for the plaintiff.