Glendenning v. McNutt

1 Idaho 592 | Idaho | 1875

Whitson J.,

delivered tbe opinion.

Hollister, J., concurred.

This is an action brought by James Glendenning, claiming to be administrator of the estate of William Smith, deceased, against David McNutt and Fred Phillips, to recover a balance due upon a promissory note by them to said Smith during his life-time. The complaint alleges the appointment of Glendenning and the performance of the duties of administrator at the time of the commencement of the action by him. The answer puts in issue only the legal and due appointment of Glendenning, and that he ever has had any legal authority to act as such administrator. Judgment was rendered for the plaintiff in the district court in and for Lemhi county; sitting without a jury and from such judgment defendant appeals to this court.

It is claimed by the appellants’ counsel that no legal appointment of Glendenning was ever made: 1. Because the precedent steps, required by the statute, were never taken; and, 2. Because the appointment was made on Christmas, a non-judicial day.

In support of both propositions it is urged, that nothing will be presumed in favor of the jurisdiction of an inferior court. The appointment of the administrator may have been irregular, but an attack upon his authority can only be made in cases of this kind, where the appointment is absolutely void. If the appointment is only voidable, in no collateral proceeding can the authority of an administrator to act within the sphere of his prescribed duties be questioned. If the court had such authority and only exercised it irregularly, it can be a matter of no importance to these defendants, as a payment of the amount in controversy to the plaintiff would be a bar to any future liability against them for the same amount. The law can only protect them against the payment of this note in case they might be liable to pay the same a second time.

In the case of Emery v. Hildreth, 2 Gray (Mass.) 228, the supreme court decided that “the regularity and sufficiency of the appointment of an administrator by a probate court having jurisdiction to appoint one on the estate, can not be drawn in question in an action brought by the administrator against a stranger, to recover a debt due to the intestate.” This authority would seem to be conclusive of the whole subject, supported, as it is, by numerous others of as high a character, did not the appellants claim that the appointment was not only irregular, but void — irregular and void because of the want of many of the steps required by statute in the appointment of an administrator, and absolutely void because the appointment was made on anon-judicial day.

Appellants claim that the court erred in refusing to allow the introduction of the probate record by which they expected to show that all the. steps required to be taken by the probate court in the appointment of an administrator were not followed, and that the appointment was therefore void for want of jurisdiction of the probate court. Jurisdiction of the subject-matter does not depend upon the manner of its exercise. The probate court, in the appointment of this administrator, did not want for jurisdiction, for the reason that it might have exercised such jurisdiction irregularly or erroneously, and therefore its proceedings were not void for want of jurisdiction.

In the esse of Cheeps v. Durdon et al., in 1 Smith’s Leading Cases, the court says, the strictness with which the proceedings of inferior tribunals are scrutinized only applies to the question of jurisdiction, and when the existence of jurisdiction is proved or conceded, the maxim omnia rite acta applies to them as well as to courts of general jurisdiction. If, said Tindall, C. J., in Demster v. Purnell, it appear on the face of the proceedings ’ that the inferior courts haye jurisdiction, every intendment will be made in order to support them, but if it do not so appear, if the point be left in doubt, no such intendment will be made. Can there be any doubt in this case that the probate court had jurisdiction to appoint an administrator of the estate of a deceased person?

Most of the cases cited by appellants’ counsel are those in which inferior courts had gone beyond the jurisdiction conferred upon them; in other words, had done too much; while in tbe case at bar tbe probate court bad done too little.

Tbe only remaining question is, Was tbe appointment of Glendenning made on a non-judicial day ? If sucb was tbe case, there would be'no question but that it would be void. Tbe letters appear to have been issued December 25, 1871, and tbe court refused tbe introduction of any further evidence upon tbe subject of tbe appointment. Had tbe court allowed tbe introduction of tbe probate record, it would have shown that tbe administrator was not appointed on Christmas, but on tbe day following.

Tbe act of appointing was a judicial act; tbe act of issuing letters merely ministerial. Tbe statute does not prohibit a ministerial act on a non-judicial day, but only judicial acts. Tbe record presents tbe strange anomaly of tbe letters having been issued tbe day before tbe appointment was made, or before tbe letters were granted. In this respect, tbe error complained of by appellants is one which, if committed, was in their favor, because tbe record would have shown tbe letters to have been granted on tbe twenty-sixth, and not on tbe twenty-fifth, of December; and it is well settled that no error can be taken advantage of by a party not injured thereby.

In support of tbe right of this administrator to bring this action, tbe only question is, was bis appointment void ? If not, but only voidable, then bis authority can not be attacked collaterally, but only by direct proceedings by some one beneficially interested in tbe estate.

Judgment of tbe court below is affirmed.