Case ID: stew-p_3/html/0348-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Lipscomb, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

JUDGE OF LIMESTONE CO. COURT, use, &c. versus COALTER et al.
    1.An action will not lie, on the bond of an executor of administrator for failing to pay over a legacy, declared by the county court, where there has been no final settlement; it not appearing that a refunding bond has been given.
    2. Before suit can be maintained against the sureties of an executor or administrator, on the bond, it must appear that assets have been fixed in the hands of the latter; and that the money alleged to be due, cannot be recovered of them.
    3. Under the statutes ,of this State, an order of the.County court, ascertaining a specific sum, in favor of a' distributee; is equivalent to a judgment of devastavit — and establishes the fact, of assets in the hands of an executor or administrator.
    4. Semble — That the return of nulla bona, to an execution against an executor or administrator, will be sufficient to au-thorise a suit against the sureties on the bond.
    This was au action of debt in the Circuit court of Limestone, and was instituted by the plaintiff in error, for the use of the guardian of Martha Chapman, against the defendants, on the bond of Coalter, as executor.
    A distributive share, in the estate of Chapman, had been declared in favor of Martha Chapman; and the non-payment of this amount, was the breach. assigned. It did not appear, from the record, that there had been any final settlement of the estate of Chapman; or, that a refunding bond had been given, on the part of the distributee. Nor was it shewn,' that the executor had been proceeded against.
    On general demurrer; the court below gave'judgment for the defendants.
    
      J. L. Martin, for the plaintiffs — Thornton, contra.
    
   Lipscomb, C. J.

-.This was an action, brought on the bond of James Coalter, executor of James Chapman, for the use of John Smith, guardian of Martha Chapman, one of the infant heirs of James Chapman, on the bond of Coalter, as executor, for the faithful administration of the estate. The breach assigned, is, that the judge of the county court, ordered the sum of seventy-nine dollors and forty-three and three fourths cents, to be paid,-by the executor, to each of the heirs, as their share of the undivided estate of their father; and that this sum has not been paid to the guardian of Martha.

There is no averment, that there had been a final settlement of the estate; or, that a refunding bond had been filed. And, it does not appear, that there had been any efforts, to recover the money from the executor, before, the commencement of this suit.

The judgment in the court below, on general demurrer,' was in favor of the defendants.

It is believed that this judgment can be sustained, on two distinct grounds.

If there has not been a final settlement of the estate, no action can be sustained, on the executor’s bond, for the benefit of a distributee, unIoH« «nob dis-tributee lias tendered a su.3ic.ient refundin'»1 bund.'

Again: before writ can be brought, on the bond, assets must be fixed in the hands of the executor; and the inability to make the money out of him, must be established.

It was formerly holder), that, to fix assets in the hands of an executor or administrator, Ibero musí be •a'judgment of devastavit. It is, however believed, that, under our statute’ the order of the judge of the county court, to pay a specific sum to a distributee, is tantamount to a judgment of devastavit; and sufficiently establishes the fact of assets being in his hands.

But, it is not shown, in this case, that the money could not have been made, from the executor.— Execution could have been issued on the order of the judge, for the-specific sum.

If execution had been sued out, and returned nul-la bona, it would have shown the default, of the executor; and the securities might then have been resorted to, on the bond.

The court below, as we conceive, very properly sustained the demurrer.; and the judgment must be affirmed. ' .