5 Ga. 29 | Ga. | 1848
By t7ie Court.
delivering the opinion.
This question appears to have been viewed differently, in the different States of the Union. In Maryland, where the question appears to have been well considered, a decree, in the Orphan’s Court, settling an account, washeld to b oprima facie only. Hackett, adm’r vs. Glenn. 7 Har. & John, 23. Gist’s adm’r vs. Cockey, Ibid, 134. 139. By the Act of 1810, executors, administors, and guardians, are required to render a full, and correct account of the estate, and the condition of the estate, which they may have in their possession, annually to the Inferior Court, while sitting for Ordinary purposes, on oath, together with the necessary vouchers, relating thereto, and it is made the duty of the Court, after examining such accounts, to approbate or reject the same. Prince, 240. The argument for the defendant in error, is, that the Court of Ordinary, having received and allowed the accounts of the administrator, that judgment is conclusive, and the fraudulent character of such accounts, cannot be inquired into, in this collateral manner. Now, these accounts, are made out by the administrator, himself, and the vouchers procured by him, and submitted to the Court, upon his ex parte statement, and it is upon his ex parte statement alone, that the Court receives, and allows them to be entered, to his credit. The testimony offered, was to show, that this account of the administrator, so offered, and allowed by the Court, was fraudulent. Although, when offered to the Court of Ordinary, upon the ex parte statement of the administrator, it appeared fair, and just, yet in point of fact, the administrator practised a fraud, not only upon the Court, but upon the distributees of the estate; and now, when their rights are to be prejudiced by it, they propose to establish the fraud, by proving that the account, prepared and pre
Let the judgment of the Court below be reversed, and anew trial granted.