Case Name: The Commonwealth, for the use of Hooper, &c., vs. Henshaw, &c.
Court: Kentucky Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Kentucky
Decision Date: 1867-10-01
Citations: 2 Bush 286
Docket Number: 
Parties: The Commonwealth, for the use of Hooper, &c., vs. Henshaw, &c.
Judges: 
Reporter: Kentucky Reports
Volume: 65
Pages: 286–287

Head Matter:
CASE 73 — PETITION EQUITY
OCTOBER 1.
The Commonwealth, for the use of Hooper, &c., vs. Henshaw, &c.
APPEAL PROM UNION CIRCUIT COURT.
A suit in equity in the circuit court against the first and superseded guardian of the infant relators, to compel him to settle his fiducial accounts, and pay to the present guardian the amount found to be in his hands, is an appropriate remedy. A reference of the accounts of such guardian to a commissioner, by the county court, for settlement and report, will not bar a proceeding against him and his sureties in the .circuit court.
John S. Geiger, and Harvey Yeaman, For Appellants,
CITED—
Civil Code, secs. 520, 521.
1 Metcalfe, 117; Overby’s ex’r vs. Overby’s devisees.
1 Duvall, 396; Haydón and wife vs. Stone and wife.
1 Duvall, 117; Lasley’s ex’rs vs. Lasley.
3 Metcalfe, 548; Clay vs. Clay.
Hughes & Lockett, For Appellees,
CITED—
Civil Code, secs. 3, 120.
1 Slant. Rev. Stat., chap. 43, sec. 13, p. 579.
1 Bacon’s Abridgement, page 29.
4 Dana, 63.
16 Barb., 441; Groshen vs. Lyon.
1 Code Rep. (N. T.), 412; Hunfuger vs. Hunfuger.

Opinion:
JUDGE ROBERTSON
delivered the opinion oe the court:
This suit in equity against the first and superseded guardian of the infant relators, to compel him to settle his fiducial accounts, and pay to the present guardian • the amount which may be found due in his hands, is an appropriate and the only secure remedy for discovery, and for judicial certainty and final justice. The petition alleges all the requisite facts. And the allegation that an ex parte settlement in the county court was set aside and the case referred to a commissioner, who had never acted, does not, as the circuit court seemed to think it does, operate as a bar to this more effectual procedure. A settlement in the county court, if it could be fulty coerced, might be partially unjust, for want of discovery, and would, when made, be only prima facie evidence in an action for the amount found due, and for which the county court could not give judgment against either principal or surety, both of whom should be held responsible, as sought in this case.
We are therefore of the opinion that the circuit court erred in .sustaining the demurrer to, and thereupon dismissing, the petition.
Wherefore, that judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded for answer and further proceedings.