3 Ind. 392 | Ind. | 1852
Bill on the chancery side of the Ohio Probate Court by William H. Powell, administrator upon the estate of Levi North, deceased, against Joseph T. North et al., complaining, that on the 10th day of May, 1845, said Powell, and said North, deceased, were partners in milling and merchandising, said Powell owning one-third, and said North two-thirds, of the real and personal property invested, and sharing in said proportions in the profits of the concern; and that, on the day aforesaid, said Levi North sold — the plaintiff, Powell, it seems, consenting — to one Thomas J. North, one-half of his two-
A guardian ad litem was appointed for the infants. A part of the defendants made default and a part demurred to the bill. The Court sustained the demurrer, but pro
This proceeding seems to have been treated by the Probate Court as a mixed one, partaking of the character of a bill in chancery and an answer to a citation for a settlement. Whether evidence was produced or not does not appear; but the Court seems to have decided on the demurrer to the bill, that the administrator could not be credited, in his settlement, with said item of 2,533 dollars expended in and about the distillery; and it is manifest from the arguments of counsel that the point of controversy in the cause was upon the right of the administrator to such a credit. That point, therefore, we shall decide, upon the supposition that said sum was so expended.
Death, as a general rule, dissolves a partnership; but a Court of Equity has power to authorize its continuance on behalf of infants. Thompson v. Brown, 4 John. Ch. R. 619. Our Probate Courts possess general equity powers in relation to the administration and guardianship of estates. It was within the power of the Ohio Probate Court, therefore, to permit, as it is alleged in this case that it did, a continuance of the partnership, and to order the completion of the distillery, &c. That order was a protection to the party in a reasonably prudent expenditure of the requisite sum for that purpose. The order in question was to the guardians of the infants; but the money to be expended was in the hands of the administrator, Powell; and, had the guardians required and received it from him, he would have been entitled to a receipt from them which would have been a voucher in his settlement. Instead of calling upon him for the money, they, in connection with the adult heirs, who were competent to consent to the continuance of the partnership and the expenditure of the money in their own behalf, directed said administrator to expend the same, and so far as he did it with reasonable care and judgment, it seems to us, he should receive a credit in his settlement, If the money
The decree is reversed, with costs. Cause remanded, &c.