In re Dubernell's Estate

20 N.Y. St. Rep. 353 | N.Y. Sur. Ct. | 1888

Lott, S.

The bequest in this matter is contained in the fourth clause of decedent’s will, and reads as follows: “I give and bequeath the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars, which is deposited by me partly in the German Savings Bank, corner Broadway and Boerum street, in the city of Brooklyn, E. D., and partly in the Savings Institution No. three (3) Chambers street, -city of New York, to my three children issued with my first husband, John Neder, namely, John, Joseph, and Sebastian Neder; for to have the same divided among them in equal share and share alike, but any of those three, John, Joseph, and Sebastian Neder, by having arrived at the age of twenty-one years, shall draw his share out of said twenty-five hundred dollars.” This is an application by John Neder, one of said legatees, who was a minor at the death of the testatrix, to compel an accounting by the executor based upon a claim that interest has not been paid from the death of testatrix or the time it was of -deposit. It appears that his share of the principal has been paid, and that he is now of age. The petitioner, to sustain the claim for interest, contends that the legacy is specific. It does not appear that the precise sum of $2,500 was on deposit in the banks named; but, whether the legacy is specific, or ■simply demonstrative, I think the petitioner is entitled to the interest claimed, and so interested sufficiently to maintain this proceeding. It is stated in the opinion of the court in Brown v. Knapp, 79 N. Y. 136-141: “When there is a legacy to a minor child, or to an infant as to whom the testator is in loco parentis, and such legatee has no other provision nor any maintenance in the mean time allotted by the will, the legacy, although payable at a future day, -carries interest from the death of the testator. ” This authority leads to my holding that the petitioner is entitled to interest from the date of testatrix’s •death, and so entitled to an account. It will be observed that it is not, as claimed by the executor, essential that the infant legatee has no other property upon which he can be maintained. It is sufficient that there is no other provision nor any maintenance in the mean time allotted by the will. The «executor should account.