Blake v. Estate of Kimball ( 1850 )

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Bennett, J.

Though this case comes up upon the report of a referee, yet it appears, he intended to decide according to law; and the only question is, was O. H. Smith a competent witness for the plaintiffs ?

He was clearly interested in the event of the suit, unless his interest had been removed by what took place on the day of the reference. The appeal was taken in October, 1846, and the witness, on that occasion, had executed to the probate court a bond, in common form, as surety for the appellants for costs, &c., which should arise from the appeal. Upon the application of the signers of the bond, the probate court, on the seventh of May, 1849, decreed, that this bond should be held for nought. We think this was beyond the powers of that court.

It is the duty of the probate court, before an appeal is allowed, to take a bond to secure the payment of costs and intervening damages ; and when this is done, the case may rightfully pass to the county court. Though the bond may be taken to the adverse party, or to the probate court, yet, if taken to the court, it enures to the use of the party. The bond is to be to the satisfaction of the probate court; and so far the court act judicially. But when the bond has been approved, and the appeal allowed, the duties of the probate court in relation to it are only ministerial, that is, of safe keeping for the use of the party, for whom it was taken ; and the court, upon being indemnified against costs, are bound to permit the bond to be put in suit. When the bond has been approved, and the appeal allowed, the powers of the probate court over it have been spent; and if it become insufficient, pending the appeal, the probate court cannot order a new bond. It might probably be incident to the powers of the county court, in such case, to order additional security.

We think the decree of the probate court, upon the application of the signers of the bond, vacating it, was extra judicial, and of course without effect. The fact, that the probate court on that occasion took a new bond, cannot aid in giving jurisdiction to decree the first bond null and void. It is not necessary to decide, whether this second bond is valid, or not. It is sufficient, that the first bond is still in force.

It has been asked, if this proceeding in the probate court does not restore the competency of the witness, how can it be done! If it cannot be done in the county court, by an order for new bail, under a rule that an exoneretur be entered upon the bond filed in the probate court, or under a rule for substituting another surety in his place, as was done in the case of a replevin bond in Bailey v. Bailey etal., 1 Bing. 92, it is sufficient to say, that the bond was entered into voluntarily by the witness, by the procurement of the party, who wishes to use him; and if his competency cannot be restored, it is but the common case, where a witness becomes interested in the event of a suit by the conjoined act of the witness and the party who wishes to use him; and certainly the party in such case should not complain. It is his own act, that has rendered the witness incompetent.

The judgment of the county court, accepting the report, is reversed, and the case remanded to that court, to be farther proceeded with.