Brown v. Weatherby

71 Mo. 152 | Mo. | 1879

Lead Opinion

Sherwood, O. J.

This was a proceeding under section 67, page 81, 1 Wagner’s Statutes, originating in the probate court of DeKalb county. One Weatherby, as public administrator, had formerly in his charge the estate of Hardwick. He failed, on ceasing to act in that capacity, to deliver to his successor, Brown, the assets of the estate, and the latter, therefore, issued a notice to Weatherby, and his official sureties, informing them that he, at the next term, would move for a judgment against them, for the rendition of the assets of the estate to him, the said administrator de bonis non. Three of the sureties were, hut the former public administrator was not, served with notice. The sureties who were served appeared and made defense. The circuit court, on appeal had, found that Weatherby had in his hands unaccounted for, $2,040.10 belonging to said estate, and gave judgment against both the former public administrator and bis sureties, for that sum.

I.

i. proceedings by ADMINISTRATOR de bonis non to COMPEL FORMER administrator tice: notice. The chief question in this case is, whether the court had any authority to render judgment against the sureties when their principal was not sued, and did . not appear. It is amone: the fundamentals A A ° of the law that a personal iudgment rendered without opportunity to the party sued of being heard, should not be permitted to stand. It was expressly held in Wickham v. Page, 49 Mo. 526, that though no notice is in terms required by section 67, yet the law will of itself, and of necessity, imply that notice he given to the party against whom judgment is asked, and this ruling is in accord not only with first principles, and the case just cited, but with the earlier one of Laughlin v. Fairbanks, 8 Mo. 370. This point, so plain, both upon reason and authority, would scarcely seem to need elaboration. The proceeding in question is summary, and, therefore, to be strictly construed in accordance with a familiar principle.

The section being considered evidently contemplates the personal presence of the late administrator in order that he may obey the order of the court and deliver to his successor the assets of the estate. He cannot be deemed disobedient to the order of the court, unless notified that such an order will be made, and opportunity be thus afforded him to either yield obedience to that order, or else show lawful excuse, why the order should not go., And the liability of the sureties is dependent upon that of their principal; if he is not liable in consequence of no assets of the estate being in his hands, or because he has already, without being so ordered, delivered such assets to his successor, then they are not liable. In order that it may be adjudicated whether he be.thus liable, it is of first necessity that opportunity be given him, touching the things alleged against him. In illustration of this the case of Caldwell v. Lockridge, 9 Mo. 362, may be cited. There the'administrator having given notice, and made final séttlement, was discharged. After such discharge and in the absence of the administrator, but before the close of the term, the matter of the settlement was opened, and a different settlement was made, and held, that such settlement thus made was a nullity. This ruling evidently proceeds upon the theory that notice is a conspicuous and indispensable element of jurisdiction, and that the principle is applicable as well to administration proceedings as to any other whatsoever. In the case at bar, either through resignation, or else expiration of his term of office, all connection of the public administrator with the estate of Hardwick had as obviously ceased as if he had made final settlement and been discharged, as in Caldwell’s case.

If Weatherby had, conformably to the provisions of section 47 of the same chapter, given notice, of his intended resignation, and of making final settlement, and at such settlement, the amount of money in his hands, as public administrator, had been computed, ascertained and declared, perhaps the present proceeding against his sureties would not be objectionable, for the sureties would have been answerable for the ascertained default — a default computed while the public administrator was present and the jurisdiction of the court over him had not ceased. Here, however, the record discloses a different case — a case for which the statute has provided two remedies — one summary, to ■which we have been adverting — the other consisting in a suit on the bond; in which suit, by express statutory permission, one or more of the obligors might be held liable for any default or breach of the conditions of the official bond. In a word, we hold that, under the provisions of section 67, you cannot render a judgment against the sureties and their principal, when that principal has not been summoned, and when, as here, no steps were taken while the administrator remained in office, to have the amount of money in his hands judicially ascertained, and an rrder for its rendition made while the administrator was before the court. Perhaps service may yet be had on the former public administrator. If not, resort must be had to his bond.

II.

2, administraTOR’S BOND. As to that bond, there was no necessity that it should have been approved in order to its validity. State v. Farmer, 54 Mo. 439, and cases cited.

3.-: delivery: of sureties. And, in reference to its delivery, the evidence shows that it, after being signed, was placed by the principal therein in a pigeon-hole of the desk, where other probate papers were kept, and at which business of a probate nature was done. This desk was in the office of the judge of probate, and under his control and that of his clerk. These facts, taken in connection with the one that, after filing the bond, Weatherby entered on the discharge of his duties as public administrator, sufficiently establish the delivery and acceptance of the bond. Of course, after the bond was thus delivered, it was entirely out. of the power of Weatherby, or, indeed, any one else, to release the bondsmen by merely erasing their names from the bond. For the error committed in entering judgment, as above indicated, the judgment will be reversed and the cause remanded.

All concur.

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Rehearing

On Rehearing.

Sherwood, O. J.

Our former opinion as to the chief point involved in this case was based upon the failure to serve Weatherby, the 'first administrator, with notice. Since delivering that opinion, however, our attention has been called to the overlooked fact that, though Weatherby was not served with notice, and did not appear in the probate court, yet that the record shows his appearance in the circuit court when the case went there on appeal, for trial de novo. This recital of the record, which must be regarded as true, obviates any objections heretofore taken because of non-service of notice on the administrator, or of his non-appearance in the probate court, and results in the affirmance of the judgment.

All concur.