In re Zimmer , 22 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 214 ( 1878 )

Smith, J.:

The counsel for the appellant insists that the committee should be superseded, not only upon the ground that the petitioner is now sane and capable of managing his affairs, but also upon the ground that the proceedings in which the committee was appointed were void for want of jurisdiction, and that the inquisition of the jury was procured by methods which were a fraud upon the court.

The point, as to the lack of jurisdiction, rests upon certain alleged defects in the petition and accompanying affidavits by which the proceedings were instituted. The alleged defects are (1), that neither the petitioner nor either of the applicants was a physician, and consequently neither was competent to express an opinion as to Zimmer’s mental condition; and (2), that the statements in the petition and affidavit respecting Zimmer’s mental condition were not sufficient to bring the case within the statute and to give the court jurisdiction. The petition alleged that Zimmer, by reason of his extreme age (68 years and upwards), “is so far deprived of his reason and understanding, as to be altogether unfit and unable to govern himself or to manage his affairs.” The affidavit alleged that Zimmer “ for the last three years has, at times, been more or less affected by an alienation and imbecility of mind, rendering him unfit for the time being to have the government of himself and management of his affairs.” The usual practice is to require the affidavit of one or more physicians, and the practice ought net to be departed from except for very satisfactory reasons. But as the only object of the petition and the accompanying affidavits is to enable the court to determine whether the case is a proper one in which to direct a writ ele lunático inquirendo to issue, the court may order the writ in its discretion upon a petition supported by the affidavit of laymen. In other words, it is not essential to the jurisdiction of the court that the affidavits should be made by physicians, although it is good practice to require it; and it may be, that where the practice is dbparted from under such circumstances as to amount to an abuse of discretion, the order directing the writ to issue should be vacated on that ground, upon an application made in due time.

The averments in the petition and affidavits respecting the mental condition of Zimmer were not sufficient- to authorize the appointment of a committee; and if the inquisition had found nothing more, it would have been quashed on motion. (In the Matter of Morgan, 7 Paige, 236; In re Holmes,, 4 Russ., 186; In re Mason, 3 Edw. Ch., 380; In re Shaul, 40 How. Pr. R., 204.) But the inquisition found that Zimmer was of unsound mind, and incapable of the government of himself or the management of his estate. That finding brought the case within the statute, and authorized the court to appoint a committee. The appointment, thus made upon a sufficient finding of the jury, cannot be set aside at this late day and in this proceeding, by reason of the alleged insufficiency or irregularity of the petition and affidavits.

The charge of fraud, in procuring the inquisition, is based upon certain testimony which was received by the referee against the objection and exception of the committee, tending to show that the inquisition was rendered upon the consent of Zimmer, and not upon evidence of his mental unsoundness. It is a sufficient answer to the charge, to say that it is not suggested in the petition on which this proceeding is based. On the contrary, the petition impliedly assumes that the inquisition was regular, and the finding sufficient to authorize the appointment of a committee, and that the only ground on which a supersedeas is aslccd for is that Zimmer is restored to his right mind. To have made the charge of fraud available, it should have been set forth in the petition as a ground of the application.

The only question open to the petitioner, in the present proceeding, is the one already suggested, to wit: whether, since the finding of the inquisition, he has been restored to his right mind, and is now capable of the management of his affairs. On that question the burden of proof is with him. A careful reading of the testimony taken by the referee, convinces us that his conduct in permitting sharpers and adventurers to possess themselves of his property, can be accounted for upon no other theory than that he was of unsound mind, and thereby incapable of managing his-affairs, and that there is great reason to apprehend that if the remnant of his estate, which has been regained and preserved by his committee, were placed under his control, he would soon be stripped of it by designing men taking advantage of his weak and disordered understanding. We think it our duty to continue to him the protection afforded by the appointment of the committee, and we therefore affirm the order of the Special Term, and order that the committee retain out of the estate of said Zimmer, in his hands, his costs and disbursements of this appeal, and of the proceedings below; as well those in the County Court and before the referee as those at Special Term to be taxed.

Present — Talcott, P. J,, Smith and Noxon, JJ.

Order appealed from affirmed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements of the appeal, and the costs of the proceedings below; as well those in the County Court and before the referee as those at Special Term to bo taxed, to be retained by the committee out of moneys of Zimmer in his hands.