The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-04
NOT FIT TO BE SURROGATE.
CALVIS's INCOMPETENCY TO FILL
TEIS RESPONSIBLE OFFICE.

How. at the Instance of One Of his Fevorites.
he Decreed n Greater Fee than One Hone
est New York LAWYER would Accept.
The evidences of Delano G.. Calvin's ut
tor unntness for any position OF trust are accu-
muIating.
William Browning, iron mouder, died In
this city In 1853, leaving properly valued az be
tween 10000 nj t8D.O00. His widow died
year ago, and then the executors moved for
a. al accounting through their attorney, Mr.. A.
g. Farnham, before the Surrogate. The SO
was sent TO an auditor, ana the executors nled
their accounts In January last. One OF the heirs
being In law an infant " became necessary TO
appoint special guardian.
Surrogate Calvin has made prac Ice Of ap.
pointing Henry p. Wood, a son OF Ben W God. as
special guardian In such cases. lie was appoint
ed guardian OF the infant In this case, and on
the nth Of January he demanded an examine
tion Of the nnal accounts. MIR. Faruham SAYS
that, although the accounts were voluninOus,
thsy were made out so plainl, and ciesrly thlt
any man OF ordinary ability could 90
through II In two hours; but when Wood
undertook to MAKE hts report. he showed such
absolute ignorance II the subject that he was
ported. 1t IL the usual practice to APPLY for an
order To connrn, the report; but before the
attorney for the executors had an opportunity
TO do sp Wood, who represented the infant
aloDe-there were twenty-nve other heirs
sctNeu uPcn tue attorney notice VI hn appiica-
tinn 10 the Surrogate to have the report con-
Timed. This was on the 2Sth Of May. Wood
also gave notice to the attorney that he would
eppiY To the Surrogate for allowance for his ser
wees Ten DAYS before the time set for tue
hearing, ne gave Mr. Farnham notice that sur
roy t. llvin had agreed that the COMPENSATION
for his tWouds) services should be $40; tn Il
Mir. Farnham should have sL200. and that two
other lawyers IN the case should receive SlOO
each.
Upon being applied to, Surrogate Calvin said
that 80 Wood hao represented TO him that h Q
m thaR hnd IL
tasis. he hau entered "A decree to that effect.
Mr.. Fnnnam repudiated the atrangeme nj. and
movou TO vacate the decrea a. having been oh.
self well paid u he got $3.50 for mis- services, in
stead Of $lDD The other LAWYERS sdd they
would be satisfied with $50 each. Now, the
auditor says that Wood did not give mvre N n
an hours Time 10 the case all told, and for a. at
be CHARGED t4CD.
The situation was evidently distasteful to Mr..
Calvin. Tie Kind Of protection he mad been
giving to the Interests OF tho orphans IN rust ed
to his oIre old not seem, waen cOntrastei with
the moderation OF the lawyers. to promise a
very natteting contrast. Mr.. Calvin twisted
around In his CHAIR impatiently for a n,inu O,
anu tEen sal /. IN an insulting tone, " How do /
know. cir. but that YOU h We arrsng d with tie
executors To lake this $50 for the purpose Of
prevent itIa the guardian IRON getting MS 500.
and them wnen the case IA all settled, getting Il
la ge fee for yourselfT'
lis here any evidence before you that such 10
the casrf asked Mr. Farnnar. Indignantly.
" have no evidence that such IL not the case
replird the Surrogate lie tuen said tn he
would reserve his decision, ana few weeks
aft,rSard he rendered his decision. giving Mr..
they had agreed t. accept, and cutting Mr.. " God
down - f3O. thus giving MA favoTite n fer $50
higher than that OF the attorney whose services
had been estinat'd ny Wood himself al an
amOunt three times larger thln he bad saked lar
his own. rAs attorney did not tniuk " worth
while to appeal from he decree OF AIR. Calvin.