Call v. Ewing

| Ind. | Nov 2, 1824

Holman, J.

Declaration in assumpsit by two executors. Plea in abatement, that but one had proved the will and taken out letters testamentary. General demurrer to the plea, on which the Court were divided. Motion to withdraw the demurrer and reply. Motion overruled, and judgment for the defendant.

We have first to consider the propriety of these two executors joining in this action. All the difficulty on this subject arises from our act of assembly requiring executors to give bond with surety when they obtain letters testamentary, and declaring the letters testamentary void if obtained without such bond. Stat. 1817, p. 152. It is unnecessary to inquire whether the power that executors have, before probate of the will, is restrained by this act, inasmuch as they cannot declare in an action at law before they have proved the will, and taken out letters testamentary; and here the case rests on the .declaration. Then in this case letters testamentary were necessary, and could not be obtained without giving bond. This bond is required for securing a due execution of the will of the testator. Will a bond given by one of several executors answer this purpose? One executor is not answerable for the acts of another; but one who has a right to join in a suit as executor, and recover judgment, has a right to receive the amount of that judgment, and his co-executors would not be accountable for that money. So if there were two executors, as in this case, one gives bond, both join in actions and recover judgments, and the other receives the money and commits a devastavit, for which the one who gave bond is not answerable, in such a case the object of the statute is wholly defeated. Itseems, therefore, that bond and surety should be given for the due execution of the will by each person who acts as executor under that will; and that no person has authority to act as executor until bond and surety be given that he will discharge his duty as such executor. But in order to effect this, it does not seem indispensable that each executor should join in the bond. One of several executors might give such a bond as would not only cover his own acts, but also be an indemnity against any act of his co-executors. Here the probate and letters testamentary to Call are set forth on oyer, but nothing, is said of the bond. From the whole case it would be presumed that a bond was given by Call, but the presumption could not be so extended as to include the conduct of Hart, as executor, in the terms of that bond. Hart resided in Kentucky, he has not proved the will,,nor intimated any intention of acting as an executor under it; so that we cannot suppose the bond given by Call has any reference to the conduct of Hart as executor». If it has not, Hart cannot be considered as an executor under our act of assembly, nor can he be joined in an action as an executor ⁽¹⁾.

On this point it seems the Circuit Court were divided in opinion. The motion there made by the plaintiffs to withdraw their demurrer and reply, should have been granted. We think it a rule not only supported by precedent, but conducive to justice, that a demurrer may be withdrawn at any time before the judgment of the Court on it is recorded, unless the demurrer be frivolous. Here it is not only evident the demurrer was not frivolous, but that it was no,t considered frivolous by the Circuit Court, or they would not have divided in opinion upon it ⁽²⁾.

Judah, for the plaintiffs. Eariden, for the defendant. Per Curiam.

The judgment is reversed, and the proceedings subsequent to the motion for leave to withdraw the demurrer are set aside, with costs. Cause remanded, &c.

(1) The first statute here, requiring security from executors, was enacted in 1814. Stat. 1814, p. 68. Acc. Stat. 1823, p. 314. Were it not for the statute, all the executors would be obliged to join as co-plaintifis, although one or more had not proved the will, or had renounced the office before the ordinary. 1 Chitt. Pl. 13. — Ham. on Part. 272.

(2) The English practice is, to permit the other party to amend after a general or special demurrer — and to permit the party demurring to withdraw his demurrer and plead de novo — at any time before judgment, if the justice of the case require it.. This permission, however, is not given where there are issues both in law and fact, and the latter is tried first, and contingent damages are assessed as to the demurrer. 2 Arch. Pr. 263.

That a party may, after his demurrer is overruled, file a valid plea, replication, &c. vide Bruce v. Mathers, 2 Bibb, 294. — Brown v. Langford, 3 Bibb, 497. — Surlott v. Pratt, 3 Marsh. Ky. R. 174: — Patrick v. Conrad, ibid. 612. If a demurrer be overruled, and the party ’withdraw it and plead over, he waives all objection to the overruling of the demurrer, and cannot assign it for error. Farrow v. Turner, 2 Marsh. Ky. R. 495.