46 A. 681 | R.I. | 1900
This is assumpsit for flowers furnished for the funeral of James Monaghan, the defendants intestate, upon the order of Charlotte Campbell, who was a sister-in-law of the intestate, and who had lived with him as his housekeeper for eighteen years previous to his death. The case shows that the deceased left no widow or children, and the deceased left real estate valued at about $4,000 and life insurance of the value of $2,000. It does not appear that he left any debts. The value of the flowers furnished for the funeral was $15. At the trial of the case in the District Court of the *152
Tenth Judicial District, the plaintiff was nonsuited on the ground that as matter of law the estate could not be held to pay for the flowers which were furnished, as they were not necessary. The plaintiff excepted to the ruling, and has brought the case here on a bill of exceptions to have said ruling reviewed. We think the ruling was erroneous. As she deceased left no widow or children, and, so far as appears, no relatives who were disposed to take upon themselves the duty of making the necessary arrangements for the funeral, it became the duty of the sister-in-law, as housekeeper for the deceased and the only person left in charge of the body, to make such arrangements and see to it that the deceased was decently interred. What expense may properly be incurred in such circumstances depends largely upon the custom of people of like rank and condition in society, and the condition of the estate left by the deceased. 2 Woerner, §§ 357-8; 7 Am. Eng. Ency. Law, 301, note 3. The demands of common propriety and decency should always be observed in connection with the burial of the dead, and the law pledges the credit of the estate for the payment of such expenses as are reasonably incurred for this purpose after the death and before the appointment of an administrator. Phillips v. Phillips,
It is common knowledge that an administrator is almost never appointed until after the burial of the intestate. Somebody other than he, therefore, must necessarily make the arrangements for the funeral, and, in connection therewith, incur, either personally or as informally representing the estate, the necessary indebtedness therefor. And such acts do not make the person performing them an executor de son tort. 3 Younge
Jervis, 37, note A. If an undertaker is employed, somebody must employ him; and if it is understood that the person employing him is thereby to be rendered personally liable for the services to be rendered, it might sometimes happen that the funeral would be unduly, delayed, and the divine injunction to "let the dead bury their dead" be literally heeded. In Samuel v. Thomas,
In Tugwell v. Heyman et al., Exrs., 3 Campb. 298, the defendants were sued as executors for the funeral expenses of the testator, who left considerable property. The reasonableness of the plaintiff's bill was not denied, but it appeared that the defendants had given no orders whatever respecting the funeral. The question therefore arose whether, under these circumstance, they were liable upon an implied promise to the plaintiff. Lord Ellenborough said: "I think the defendants are liable in this action. It is allowed that the funeral was conducted in a manner suitable to the testator's degree and circumstances, and that the plaintiff's charge is fair and reasonable. The defendants do not deny that they have assets. Then will not the law imply a promise on their part to satisfy this demand? It was their duty to see that to deceased was decently buried; and the law allows them to defray the reasonable expense of doing so before all other debts and charges. It is not pretended that they ordered anyone else to furnish the funeral, and the dead body could not remain on the surface of the earth. It became necessary that some one should see it consigned to the grave; and I think the executors, having sufficient assets, are liable for the expense thus incurred."
In Rogers v. Price, Ex., 3 Younge Jer. 27, it was held that an executor who has assets sufficient for that purpose is liable, upon an implied promise, to pay for a funeral suitable to the degree of his testator, furnished by the direction of a third person. In delivering his opinion in the case Garrow, B., used the following forcible illustration in support of his *155 position: "Suppose a person to be killed by accident at a distance from his home; what, in such a case, ought to be done? The common principles of decency and humanity, the common impulses of our nature, would direct every one, as a preliminary step, to provide a decent funeral at the expense of the estate, and to do that which is immediately necessary upon the subject in order to avoid what, if not provided against, may become an inconvenience to the public. Is it necessary in that or in any other case to wait until it can be ascertained whether the deceased has left a will or appointed an executor; or, even if the executor be known, can it, where the distance is great, be necessary to have communication with that executor before any step is taken in the performance of those last offices which require immediate attention?" He then added: "It is admitted here that the funeral was suitable to the degree of the deceased, and upon this record it must be taken that the defendant is executor with assets sufficient to defray this demand; I therefore think that, if the case had gone to the jury, they would have found for the plaintiff, and that therefore this rule should be made absolute."
In Luscomb v. Ballard, 5 Gray, 403, which was cited by Durfee, C.J., in support of the position taken by this court inTucker v. Whaley, which will be referred to later on, the court held that for the funeral expenses of the deceased the executor was chargeable in his representative character, and that judgment therefor should be rendered de bonis testatoris.
Sweeney v. Muldoon, Admr.,
In Hapgood v. Houghton, 10 Pick. 154, Putnam, J., said: "The estate in the hands of the executor is bound by law for the payment of the expenses of the decent interment of the deceased. It is just is liable for the coffin and other necessary charges of the funeral as for necessary supplies in the lifetime. We are all clearly of the opinion that the law raises a promise on the part of the executor or administrator to pay the funeral expenses so far as he has assets."
There are certain expressions in the opinion of this court in the case of Tucker v. Whaley,
Exceptions sustained, and case remitted to the District Court of the Tenth Judicial District for a new trial.