Case Name: In the matter of the estate of Charles Duffy, deceased
Court: New York Surrogate's Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1886-03-11
Citations: 3 N.Y. St. Rep. 206
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the matter of the estate of Charles Duffy, deceased.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York State Reporter
Volume: 3
Pages: 206–207

Head Matter:
In the matter of the estate of Charles Duffy, deceased.
(Surrogate's Court, New York County,
Filed March 11, 1886.)
1. Executors and administrators—Compulsory accounting—Applica-
CATION BY GUARDIAN.
The mere appearance of an interest is ordinarily sufficient to justify an order for an accounting. 1 Bradf., 24.
2. Same—Effect of release.
The surrogate has no jurisdiction to determine the validity of a general release, and where its invalidity is sworn to will direct an accounting.
3 Same.
An accounting has been ordered at the instance of a residuary legatee, who had given a release to the executor. 35 IT. Y , 143.
Application by a father and guardian on behalf of infants for the judicial settlement of the accounts of the administratrix of their maternal grandfather’s estate.
Opposed by the administratrix on the ground that the infants were not “persons interested” in the estate, under •section 2514 of the Code, and therefore not entitled to an accounting, under section 2?26 of the Code, and to sustain her opposition the administratrix produced and read a release executed by the mother of the infants in her life-time to the administratrix, as follows:
New York, January 6, 1885.
I, Mary 0. Reilly, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, on this day, for the consideration of one dollar, release and sell whatever claim or title I have in the real or personal estate of my deceased father, Charles Duffy, to my mother, Letitia Duffy.
(Signed) MARY C. REILLY.
This answer the petitioner met by an affidavit that his. wife was induced to execute the paper purporting to be a release during her last sickness, and at a time when she was very ill, by the fraud, coercion and undue influence of the respondent, and that it was not her free act and deed.
Charles G. Cronin, for application; Boyal S. Crane, opposed.

Opinion:
Rollins,
Surrogate.—This is a proceeding wherein the petitioner, as the guardian of the two infant children of Mary C. Reilley, deceased, applies for an order directing the administratrix of this estate to file an aócount. The respondent accedes that prior to January 6, 1885, Mrs. Reilley, who was one of the daughters of this deceased, was a person interested in his estate; but by the answer of the administratrix it appears that on that day she executed and delivered to her a release of her interest therein.
The execution and delivery of this release are not disputed, but the petitioner has filed an affidavit alleging that it was obtained by the fraud, coercion and undue influence of the respondent.
The question whether the release is for this cause invalid the surrogate has no jurisdiction to determine. But, in view of the sworn allegation of its invalidity, I must order an accounting. Harris v. Ely, 25 N. Y., 138; Rieben v. Hicks, 4 Bradf., 136; Estate of Schmidt, Surrogate's Decision, Dec. 23, 1885.