In re the Judicial Settlement of the Account of Garrabrant

176 A.D. 186 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1916

Dowling, J.:

The surviving executor, and the executrix of the deceased executrix, of the estate of Henry E. Klugh, deceased, appeal from a decree of- the Surrogate’s Court, dated March 20, 1916, settling their accounts. The record is voluminous and it is unnecessary to discuss the evidence, but only to indicate the issues on which we disagree with the conclusions reached by the referee. For the reasons indicated in the opinion in the accompanying appeal (Matter of Klugh, 176 App. Div. 187), the accounting executors are entitled to a further credit of $269.76, and the decree appealed from- should be modified in accordance therewith, by giving the accountants credit for such sum. Furthermore, whatever mistakes of judgment may have been made by the accountants, their good faith has not been successfully attacked nor does it appear that any act of theirs was done with the deliberate intention of injuring the estate committed to their charge or of depleting its funds, nor have their acts had such results. After a careful examination of the whole record we are convinced that the executors should not be punished by being deprived of their costs.

The decree appealed from will, therefore, be modified by giving the executors a further credit of $269.76, the result of the correction made in the prior account, and by allowing them the sum of $277.80 as their costs as originally taxed by the surrogate, and the decree as thus modified will be affirmed, with costs of the appeal to all parties payable out of the estate.

Clarke, P. J., McLaughlin, Laughlin and Davis, JJ., concurred.

Decree modified as stated in opinion, and as modified affirmed, with costs of appeal to all parties payable out of the estate. Order to be settled on notice.