Case ID: ad_5/html/0527-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Pratt, J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In the Matter of the Application of Alice McGee, as Executrix, etc., of Thomas McGee, Deceased, for a Decree to Sell Certain Real Estate. John J. McGee and Others, Appellants; Alice McGee, as Executrix, etc., of Thomas McGee, Deceased, and Others, Respondents.
    
      ■Surrogate’s Gourt ■— sale of lands to pay debts — valuation of each distinct pan-cel, not necessary — effect of admitting improper evidence to prove a claim — the petitioner need not be cited to appear.
    
    Where a proceeding is taken in a Surrogate’s Court to sell a decedent’s lands for the payment of debts, it is not a violation of section 2752 of the Code of Civil Procedure, requiring that a valuation of each distinct parcel of real estate shall be given, that one valuation is given of five lots of land which lie together and form a single parcel; it is not necessary to give a separate valuation of each lot.
    Such proceedings are equitable in their nature, and the fact that improper evidence has been admitted to prove the claim of a creditor is not fatal to the proceeding where other competent evidence is given which sustains the decree.
    Where a widow is herself the petitioner in such a proceeding it is not necessary that her name should appear in the citation.
    Appeal by John J. McGee and others from an order of the Surrogate’s Court of the county of Kings, entered in said court on the 31st day of May, 1895, denying their motion to set aside the sale of certain real estate under a decree of the Surrogate’s Court.
    
      Towrs & McCrossin, for the appellants.
    
      Stephen B. Jacobs, William W. Butcher and George W. Pearsall, for the respondents.
   Pratt, J.:

We do not think it can be said that the petition fails to state facts ■which give the surrogate jurisdiction of the proceeding. It is ■objected that a valuation of each distinct parcel of real estate is not given as required by section 2752 of the Code of Civil Procedure. We do not think the objection is well founded. The first parcel ■described consists of five lots of land, and the description shows that they lie together, forming one parcel, and the valuation thereof is given at about $4,000. That is sufficient. It is not required, that -the value of each lot be specified separately.

The next parcel consists of two lots of land on which are three buildings, the aggregate value being given at $4,500. We see no error in this.

It appears that the total personalty is $1,700, while the debts set out in the petition amount to $5,975. It is sufficiently manifest that recourse must be had to the real estate in order to pay the debts, and the proceeding was proper and appropriate for the purpose.

It is also objected that before the referee incompetent evidence was admitted in support of one of the claims. If that objection is well taken, it does not follow that the order will be reversed.

Proceedings before a surrogate are equitable in their nature, and in courts of equity the admission of improper evidence is not fatal. (Clapp v. Fullerton, 34 N. Y. 190 ; Evans v. Sims, 82 Hun, 396 ; Richardson v. Eveland, 126 Ill. 38, 47.)

It is sufficient if the decree is sustained by sufficient competent evidence.

We do not see that the special guardian was guilty of neglect prejudicial to the infants. On the contrary, by his efforts, coinciding with the favorable disposition of the creditors, a material reduction of the creditors’ demands took place of which the infants get the benefit.

It is objected that the widow was not, by the petition, cited to appear, etc. But the widow was herself the petitioner, and the whole proceeding was at her instance.

We find no error requiring us to interfere with the order of the surrogate, which is affirmed, with costs.

All concurred.

Order affirmed, with ton dollars costs and disbursements.