Case ID: nys_30/html/0455-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "MAYHAM, P. J. PUTNAM, J. HERRICK, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

(80 Hun, 459.)
    In re RYALLS.
    (Supreme Court, General Term, Third Department.
    September 27, 1894.)
    1. Executors and Administrators—Accounting—Burden of Proof.
    On an accounting by the administrator of a life tenant of property, who had an absolute power of disposal, the burden of showing the amount of property which came into the hands of the life tenant, and the amount remaining in his hands at his death undisposed of, is on the persons seeking to surcharge the account.
    9. Same—Receipt of Assets.
    Evidence that a testator had some time before his death received money is not sufficient to charge his executor with such money on his final accounting.
    On reargument. For order granting reargument, see 27 FT. Y. Supp. 1116. For decision on appeal, see 26 FT. Y. Supp. 815.
   MAYHAM, P. J.

I see no reason for changing the conclusion reached in this case when it was before us on the former argument, as reported in 74 Hun, 205,26 N. Y. Supp. 815.

1. The liability of William H. Ryalls, as executor of the will of his mother, Elizabeth Haney, could only be determined by an examination of her will. The provisions of that will were therefore before the court for a judicial determination, for the purpose of ascertaining whether his estate was chargeable with all of her estate which came into his hands, or with so much of the same only as remained in his hands at the time of his death. By the terms of the will he was permitted to use the estate for his own benefit, and the amount not so used was bequeathed to the contestants.

2. The burden was on the contestants of showing by competent proof the amount of the estate of Elizabeth Haney remaining in his hands at the time of his death, and his administratrix was chargeable in this accounting for that amount only; and the contestants failed to show the sum left over at the time of his death.

We still adhere to our views as expressed on the former hearing in reference to the error committed by the surrogate in the receipt of improper evidence offered by contestants, and received by the surrogate under the exceptions of the appellant; also to our views expressed as to the effect of the proof tending to show the amount of property owned by Elizabeth Haney some years previous to her death, and hold that that proof did not cast upon the appellant the onus of proving the negative proposition,—that she did not die the owner and possessor of that amount, or that that amount did not come to the hands of her executor. We therefore reiterate our former conclusion that the surrogate’s decree is erroneous, and must be set aside, and a new trial or hearing be had before the surrogate, under section 2587 of the Code of Civil Procedure, with cost of this. appeal against the contestants, to be paid out of their shares of the estate of Elizabeth Haney, bequeathed to them in and by her will.

PUTNAM, J.

(concurring). It is apparent from the findings of the surrogate that he placed no reliance on the testimony of the witness Mary Hunter as to the admission of William H. Ryalls that “he had already realized $15,000” from the estate of Elizabeth Haney, deceased. Had he credited the statement of that witness, his findings of fact would have been different from those actually made. I think the surrogate was justified in disbelieving the statement of the witness. All the other testimony in the case tends to show that she was mistaken. The surrogate, therefore, in finding that Elizabeth Haney, at the time of her death, was possessed of $8,392.47 of property which came to the hands of William H. Ryalls as her executor, must have based such finding principally upon the testimony of William F. Lighthall, the agent, of said Elizabeth Haney, showing the payment to her of the sums mentioned in Lighthall’s account during the four or five years prior to her death. The surrogate assumed that the sums of money so paid to Mrs. Haney by Lighthall during the time in question, or the proceeds thereof, remained in her possession at the time of her death, and were received by Ryalls as her executor; and that the evidence of the receipt by Haney from Lighthall of the property in question, and the presumption that said property continued in her possession at the time of her death, called on the administratrix of William H. Ryalls to account therefor. I think that the surrogate, in so holding, erred, for the reasons stated by Mayham, P. J., in Re Ryalls, 74 Hun, 205, 26 N. Y. Supp. 815.

It is to be presumed from the evidence in the case that Mrs. Haney deposited the greater portion of the various sums received by her from Lighthall in the Union Savings Bank at Saratoga Springs. All the sums so deposited by her, except a small balance, were drawn out by her, during her lifetime, by checks. No proof was given on the trial below that the money so drawn out by Mrs. Haney from the Union Savings Bank ever came into the possession of William H. Byalls, or the proceeds thereof, no evidence was given whatever as to the disposition of the greater part of the money so drawn by Mrs. Haney from said bank. I think it was mere speculation to assume that Byalls received the money so drawn out by deceased, in the absence of all proof showing that it came into his hands. In _fhe absence of other evidence showing that the property in question was received by Byalls, I think the surrogate should have charged his estate only with the amount admitted by William H. Byalls in his account made and filed in 1881, together with the value of the stock of the Provident Loan Company. For the reasons above stated, and also on account of the reception in evidence by the surrogate of the memorandum referred to in the opinion of Mayham, P. J. (74 Hun, 209, 26 N. T. Supp. 815), I think there should be a new trial before the surrogate. I have not considered the question as to whether the will of Elizabeth Haney, deceased, gave to her son a mere life estate. in the property in question, or the use of such property, with a right to expend the principal thereof. In the view I have taken of the case, it is unnecessary to pass upon that question.

HERRICK, J.

(concurring). I do not think that, under the provisions of the will of Elizabeth Haney, her executor and devisee, William H. Byalls, was entitled to use any portion of the principal of the estate, so as to diminish its amount. It seems to me that all he was entitled to was the use and enjoyment thereof by the receipt of its rent, income, and profits during his lifetime.

Upon the other questions discussed I concur with my associates, and concur in reversing the decree of the surrogate, and directing a new trial.