Case Name: Francis, Adm'r, v. Northcote
Court: Supreme Court of Texas
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1851
Citations: 6 Tex. 185
Docket Number: 
Parties: Francis, Adm’r, v. Northcote.
Judges: 
Reporter: Texas Reports
Volume: 6
Pages: 93–94

Head Matter:
Francis, Adm’r, v. Northcote.
The powers of the County Court as a court of probate are defined and limited by the Constitution and the laws enacted in pursuance thereof, and it possesses no powers except those enumerated.
The County Court has no authority to cite an administrator who has rendered his account and been discharged to come into court for the purpose of restating his account; after an administrator has been discharged, the jurisdiction of the County Court as to him is terminated. (Note 29.)
It is not necessary, before suing an administrator and his sureties in the District Court, to establish the fact and amount of his indebtedness by a proceeding against him for that purpose in the County Court, bub the proper mode of proceeding is to sue on the b.ond in the District Court in the first instance. (Note 30.)
Appeal from Austin. This was a suit brought by the appellant as administrator de bonis nan of the estate of John D. Ilarvey, deceased,,in the County Court against the appellee as former administrator of the estate. The petition alleged that the defendant, Northcote, had long since gone beyond the jurisdiction of the court; that lie did not account truly for the effects of the óslate in his hands as administrator, but that lie squandered and wasted the same, and “ is now liable to the estate for a large amount as for a devastavit. It a«kecl the court to re-examine and restate his account as administrator, and to give judgment against him lor the amount which might be found to be due the estate. The petition did not state, nor did it appear from the record, in what manner the administration of the defendant was terminated; but it appeared that it was terminated before the commencement of this suit.
The defendant objected to the jurisdiction of the County Court, but the court overruled the objection, and after hearing the case gave judgment for the plaintiff for six thousand nine hundred and fifty-five dollars, with interest, &c. From this judgment the defendant appealed to the District Court. That Court sustained the objection to the jurisdiction of the County Court, and gave judgment. for the defendant upon his demurrer to the petition, and the plaintiff appealed.
N. Holland, for appellant.
N. H. Hunger, for appellee.

Opinion:
Wheeler, J.
The jurisdiction of the County Court as a court of probates is conferred under the 15lh section of article IY of the Constitution, which constitutes it an "inferior tribunal," with a jurisdiction limited to certain enumerated subjects. These are : "The appointing of guardians, granting of letters testamentary and of administration, settling (he accounts of executors, administrators, anti guardians, and the transaction of business appertaining to estates." The act of 1348 to organize County Courts (Hart. Dig., art. 308) confers on them the exercise of the powers here enumerated. By this act an administrator is not permitted to resign, and the court retains its jurisdiction and authority over him until he, shall have accounted for and delivered the estale to the party entitled to receive it. (Id., art. 1140.) But we are not aware of any provision which gives that court authority to call to account an administrator whoso office lias' terminated. Being a court whose powers are defined and limited by express law, its authority is restricted to the enumerated subjects. It cannot transcend the powers conferred by the Constituí ion and laws enacted in pursuance of it. The adjudication of matters in controversy between the estate- and the former administrator, whose office as such lias been finally determined, is not within the powers conferred. As respects the jurisdiction of the County Court, the present cannot be distinguished in principle from the case of Maynard, Administrator, v. Ingram, decided at the present term.
Note 29.—Newson v. Chrisman, 9 T., 113.
•Note 80.—Murphy v. Menard, 11 T., 673; Martel v. Martel 17 T., 391; Ponton v. Bellows, 22 T., 681; Johnson v. Hogan. 37 T., 77.
This proceeding was doubtless instituted under the belief that before suing the administrator and his sureties on their bond it was necessary to obtain a judgment of the Probate Court establishing the fact that he had wasted the goods oE the deceased or converted them to his own use, and the amount of his consequent liability in analogy to the writ of devastavit at common law. This, however, It is conceived, was not necessary; but the plaintiff might, have sited in the District Court upon the bond, in the first instance, and upon proper averments and proof the powers of that court are ample toailordlhe appropriate redress. The law discountenances circuity of action and multiplicity of suits, and when (lie entire matters in controversy can be litigated and settled in one suit it will not drive the parties to others. If the plaintiff must have sued, in die first instance, in the County Court to establish the defendant's indebtedness, (lie adjudication of his rights might have been subjected to almost interminable delays. From the Comity Court an appeal may be taken to the District Court, where the trial is de novo, and the whole subject might be again contested (here. If successful in (hat court the plaintiff may be further delayed by an appeal (o the Supreme Court. If the judgment be (here affirmed lie must then resort to another suit in the District Court before lie can enforce his demand. The law does not require this circuity of action. (1 Tex. R., 605; 2 Id., 57.)
The powers of the District Court are better adapted to the investigation and just decision of controversies like the present than those of the County Court. And the section of Che Constitution we have quoted lias conferred a jurisdiction commensurate with that object. It declares that "the District Court shall have original and appellate jurisdiction and general control over the said inferior tribunals, and original jurisdiction and control over executors, administrators, guardians, and minors, under such regulations as may be prescribed by law."
. If proceedings were required to be first instituted in the County Court they would be merely initiatory. Practically they would amount to no more than a process (o bring the case into the District Court. Such a requisition would tend needlessly'to protract litigation, and would he in contravention of the policy and spirit of tile law.
We are of opinion that the suit was improperly brought in the County Court.; that the court did not err in its judgment dismissing the case, and that it he affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.