Case ID: ohio_5/html/0182-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "*By the Court:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Treasurer of Franklin County v. John McElvain and others.
    Where a removed administrator has settled with the court, and the balance in his hands is ascertained, suit may be sustained against his sureties, without obtaining a separate judgment against him. In such suit, there is no-necessity to aver, that the removed administrator had notice of his successor’s appointment.
    
      This was an action of debt upon an administrator’s bond, and was adjourned here for decision from the county of Franklin, on a demurrer to the declaration.
    The declaration set forth a bond, wherein it was recited that Robert W. Riley had been appointed administrator of James Downs, deceased, and that on December 8,1824, the other defendants, with Robert W. Riley, made the bond in due form of law. It then averred that Riley, as administrator, settled his accounts with the court in September, 1828, when a balance was found in his hands of one hundred and eighty dollars; that debts were due from the es.tate of Downs which Riley had neglected to pay, whereupon the court removed him from the office of administrator, and appointed George Raridon, for whose use this suit was prosecuted. It further avers that Riley refused to pay the balance to Raridon, etc.
    The defendants demurred generally.
    G. R. Swan, for plaintiff.
    Parish and Boal, for defendants.
   *By the Court:

In support of their demurrer to the declaration, the defendants take two exceptions:

First. That there is no averment that Raridon, the administrator, de bonis non, had obtained a judgment against Riley, the removed admistrator, for the money alleged to remain in his hands.

Second. That there is no averment of the notice to Riley of theappoinment of Raridon to supersede him.

The averment of a settlement, by the court, with Riley, before his removal, and that the sum claimed was, by that settlement, ascertained to be in his hands, is sufficient to sustain the action.. The court so decided, when the action was for the use of the heir. Treasurer of Pickaway Co. v. Hall, 2 Ohio, 225. If there had been no settlement by Riley, with the court, an action by Raridon, against Riley would have been necessary. To compel the removed administrator to give special bail to his successor, and so far secure a recovery for the injury done to the assets in his hands, by carelessness or otherwise, was, most probably, the reason for enacting section 14 of the act. defining the duties of executors and administrators. 22 Ohio L. 128. Without this provision, the administrator de bonis non could have sustained an action against the removed administrator. ¡

There is no force in the second objection. The removal of one administrator, and the appointment of another to succeed him, is a judicial proceeding of such notoriety that all parties connected with the transaction are bound to take notice of it. The averment supposed necessary is not found in any precedents of declaration, by the administrator de bonis non, against the removed administrator. Upon principle, we see no necessity for it.

The defendants having asked leave to withdraw the demurrer, and plead, in case the opinion of the court was against them, that leave was accordingly given.