New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-24
SURROGATE RANSOM TO ENFORCE 4 Law
EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS AND TRUSTEES
CALLED TO ACCOUNT.
fBy CABLE TO THE TRTBUSE.i

Surrogate Ransom having come to the conclusion,
after a careful examination Of the law that he has
full power to compel delinquent executors admins
traitors and trustees Of estates 10 render account
of their trusts at any time after eighteen months
from the granting of their letters of authority and
enforce such accounting by commitment to tal
for contempt in his order IS disobeyed directed
Probate Clerk Charles H. Beckett and four assistants
TO prepare a list of dellnquents Of this character
For reasons of convenience, Surrogate Ransom
instructed the searchers to begin with January 1,
1880. and proceed TO the present time During this
period between IL 900 and $4,000 wills have been
admitted to probate and nearly 10000 intestate es-
tates have been brought into the Surrogates office
for settlement OF these the Investigations, so far as
made indicate that the proportion Of executors who
have accounted is not more than Ia in 400, and OF
administrators not than II in 100 And OF
the administrators who have settled, in about one
fifth of the cases. the public administrator was the
legal representative; that Of the private admin
strators not more than out Of 100 have settled up
and been discharged Another diatory department
of his Office has also attracted the attention of the
surrogate-unprobated wills. He has caused searches
to be made and has found o21 wills which were flied
between 1876 and 1856 still unprotected. OF course
In many Of these cases no harm has been done TO
anybody. great many of these wis were simply
left with the Probate Clerk by nonnterestcd parties
into whose custody they had come. and WHO felt
that 1t their duty to leave them, but that they
we're not called upon to do anything further
Others were left by the executors who init atcd the
probate proceedings, and then for some reason-per
baps from lack of funds, or from inability to procure
the necessary proof required by the statutes for the
MEDIATION of a wil-ceased to carry the proceed
lngs One thing is certain however; In none OF
these cases the terms of the will been carried
out as far as the Surrogate has any official informa-
ton The object IN making the searches has been TO be
Interested parties under the
wills TO their rights. great many of the legaces
are deposits In savings banks OF which the existence
would never be known but for the wills, since the
banks give no Information whatever.
When asked yesterday what course he should take
in regard to these unaccounted estates. Surrogate
Ransom said 81 have resolved 10 have these delin-
ouent executors and administrators served forthwith
with orders show before me why they should
not file their accounts OF course, shall go carefully
over each case and my own discretion to
whether or not 1 shall have such an order served
in any particular and call the legal represent
alive therein TO account. For example, many admin
stration show that the personal property does
not exceed $500 and several cases disclose that the
esator left everything to his wife, or that the tes
tatrx left all her husband. and infant children
survived in snch I may be disposed 10 take
no action at present unless II is requested by parties
ln interest Such cases are, however, but small
number compared TO the total OF delinquent cases
which am determined to see properly administered.
To this end shall put large force in my Office
this work. and shall urge II on In every way In my
power. AL executors and adm nlstrators who know
their duty, as we'll all heirs, legatees and people
who should receive money that Is justly due them,
I am convinced, will heartily approve OF my deter
mination to compel these account ngs and the legal
representatives who refuse 10 do their duty must be
made 10 do IT, An executor administrator who
fails 10 show any good cause why he should not account
will be ordered to do az once; and If he neglects
or refuses to obey the direction OF the court, shall
not hesitate a moment to commit HIM for contempt"