Case Name: Tuohay v. Public Administrator. In the matter of the estate of John D. Grady, deceased
Court: New York Surrogate's Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1884-03
Citations: 2 Dem. Sur. 412
Docket Number: 
Parties: Tuohay v. Public Administrator. In the matter of the estate of John D. Grady, deceased.
Judges: 
Reporter: Demarest's Surrogate's Reports
Volume: 2
Pages: 412–414

Head Matter:
New York County.—Surrogate.
Hon. D. G. ROLLINS,
March, 1884.
Tuohay v. Public Administrator. In the matter of the estate of John D. Grady, deceased.
Under B. S., part 3, ch. 6, tit. 6, §§ 31, 33, the power and authority of a public administrator cannot be superseded upon application of a relative of decedent, unless made within three months after the former becomes vested therewith.
Petition by Anne Tuohay, a sister of decedent, to be substituted, in the place and stead of the public ad ministrator, Algernon S. Sullivan, as administratrix of decedent’s estate.
James M. Lyddy, for petitioner.
L. H. Arnold, for public administrator.

Opinion:
The Surrogate.
Letters of administration on this estate were, in December, 1880, granted to the public administrator. A sister of decedent now asks that that officer be superseded, and that she herself be substituted in his place.
Several persons claiming as creditors oppose her application upon the ground that she has not sufficient capacity to manage the affairs of the estate. Section 32, tit. 2, ch 6., of the Revised Statutes (3 Banks, 7tJi ed., 2291), provides that "no letters of administration shall be granted.......to any person who shall be judged incompetent by the Surrogate to execute the duties of such trust by reason of drunkenness, improvidence or want of understanding."
It is also provided by chapter 782 of the laws of 1867 (§5), that "any Surrogate may in his discretion, refuse the application for letters testamentary, or letters of administration, of any person unable to read and write the English language" (3 Banks, 7th ed., 2293). That this petitioner cannot write is conceded. In view of all the evidence, I feel bound to deny her application. Aside from the grounds already suggested there is still another ground for such denial.
She has not been duly diligent in making Ler application. Sections 31 and 32 of tit. 6, ch. 6, part 2 of the Revised Statutes (3 Banks, 7th ed., 2314), as re-enacted by L. 1882, ch. 410, enumerate the cases in which, and the circumstances under which a public administrator's authority may be superseded.
It would seem from the latter section that this may not be done in favor of a relative after the lapse of three months from the grant of letters.
Petition denied.