Case ID: ala_37/html/0691-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "A. J. WALKER, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

WARD vs. CAMERON’S ADM’RS.
    ¿APPLICATION ÍOR REVOCATION 01? LETTERS 03? A3>MINISTRATI0N. 3
    1. Presumption in favor of ruling of primary courtsIn a probate case, where the correctness of the ruling of the primary court depends on the proof, and the record does not purport to set out all the evidence on-which the prohato jitdge acted, the appellate court will presume that his decision was justified by the evidence.
    2. Revocation of letters of administration: — If letters of administration are granted by the probate court, within forty days after the-death of the intostate is known, in contravention of the order of preference pre»’ soribedby the' statute, (Code, Í668--69,) the largest creditor of the estate may proceod to obtain a revocation of such letters; but, to on-- ■ title him to make an application for that purpose, he must show that ho'.is the largest creditor of the-estate; and he cannot complain, on orror, of the refusal of his application, when'the recordidoes not show-that he proved that fact.
    Appeal from tbe Probate Court of Henry.
    Iw the matter of the estate of Angus Cameron, deceased/’, opthe application of John Ward and--Christopher Ward J for the revocation of letters of- administration previously granted to Sarah Cameron and Richard T. Hudspeth, and the grant of letters-to themselves.,- Th.e refusal of theag-plication is assigned as error. ,
    Martin, Baldwin & Sayre, for appellants-.-»-.'.
    BÜ&H-& BULLOGK,*C{WÍra.
   A. J. WALKER, C. J.

rAn application was- made by/the appellants, for-the .repeal of the letters of administra- - tion of the appell'ees. - The parties making the motion filed a petition, -which is set out in the record. In the petition they claim,-to.be the largest creditors of the estate. The entry .of tbe judge, overruling the petition, does not set‘out all tile evidence which was adduced on the trial, and there is. no hill of exceptions. Wé have, .therefore/». presented the case, which has been unfortunately of very frequent occurrence, where the correctness of the ruling of the court below depends .upon the proof, and we do not know what the'proof was. In such case, we must presume in favor of the correctness of the j udgment, and award an affirmance, — Morgan v. Morgan, 35 Ala. 303 ; Taylor v. McElrath, ib. 330 ; Southern Ins. Co. v. Holcombe, ib. 327; Rupert v. Elston, ib. 79.

It is not shown that the appellants proved that they were the largest creditors of the estate, or, indeed, that they were creditors at all. We have decided, that where an administrator was appointed'within forty days, in contravention of the order of preference prescribed by the statute,the.largest creditor of-the estate.might proceed to obtain a revocation of the administration. — Curtis v. Williams, 33 Ala. 570 ; Curtis v. Burt, 34 ib. 729. But, unless the petitioner was a creditor of the estate, he would have no right to move for a revocation of an irregular appointment, and no ground for complaint -.that the court overruled his .motion. As it does not appear that the petitioners were -creditors, we can ..not affirm that there was no sufficient.reason,for.the actiomof the court.

Affirmed.