Case Name: Matter of the Estate of Alinda Haniman, Deceased
Court: New York Surrogate's Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1906-04
Citations: 50 Misc. 245
Docket Number: 
Parties: Matter of the Estate of Alinda Haniman, Deceased.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 50
Pages: 245–250

Head Matter:
Matter of the Estate of Alinda Haniman, Deceased.
(Surrogate’s Court, Saratoga County,
April, 1906.)
Executors and administrators — Collection and reduction to possession of property — Remedies and procedure — Discovery and surrender of assets.
In a proceeding by an administrator for the discovery and delivery of the personal property of a deceased person, under section 2707 of the Code of Civil Procedure, where it appears that the decedent had received certain property under the will of her husband which gave to her his estate for life; that the person now in possession of the property had filed a claim against his estate and the claimant, the administratrix and the remainderman had agreed upon a settlement whereby the administratrix was to have the whole estate for life and whatever remained at her death should be divided between the claimant and the remainderman; that the claimant had bought out the interest of the remainderman and that the administratrix had, during her life, disposed of some of the property and turned over to the claimant, who is also the respondent in this proceeding and the brother of the administratrix with whom - she lived, all the rest of the assets she had received from her husband’s estate including the money deposited in bank most of which he had subsequently applied to her support and expenses of her last sickness and funeral expenses; and it not appearing that there are any creditors to whom she was indebted for her support and maintenance, held, that the administrator has failed to establish any right to the possession of the property in respondent’s possession and his application therefor must be denied.
Proceeding by the administrator of deceased, under section 2707 ei seq. of the Code of Civil Procedure, to obtain a discovery and delivery of personal property of deceased, alleged to be in the possession of one Pike.
Charles E. Patterson, for petitioner, Engene Eace.'
Chambers & Finn, for respondent, Byron Pike.

Opinion:
Ostrander, S.
This is a proceeding by Eugene Eace, the administrator of the deceased, under section 2707 et seq. of the Code to obtain from Byron Pike a discovery and delivery of personal property of deceased alleged to be'in his possession.
Alinda Haniman died February 7, 1905, and the petitioner was duly appointed and qualified as administrator of her estate on December 9, 1905. The petitioner gave due notice, including notice to Byron Pike, of an appraisal of the property of the deceased, which was appointed .to be held at the late dwelling bouse of the deceased, on January 9, 1906.
The petitioner alleged that the late dwelling house of the deceased where she died, in the town of Moreau, was owned by her at the time of her decease, and alleged, upon information and belief, reasonable grounds of which were given, that, at her death, she owned or had in her possession there certain live stock, farming implements, furniture 'and other personalty worth several hundred dollars and that upon her death said Pike took possession of said property and had since continued in possession thereof; that said Pike had shortly before her death induced the deceased to withdraw from bank several hundred dollars which she owned and which said Pike then deposited in his own name. The petitioner also alleged that said Pike had occupied the dwelling and premises of the deceased since her death and had taken possession of the said personal property of the deceased and refused to disclose any information as to said chattels; and that, upon the day fixed for the appraisal of the effects of the deceased, said Pike accompanied by a deputy sheriff of the county met petitioner and the appraisers at the late dwelling of deceased, and refused to allow them to be or remain on the premises, and threatened to have the officer remove them by force unless they retired at once; and that, in consequence,. petitioner could not inventory and appraise said personalty.
The answer of said Pike alleged that he had been the owner of said real estate since July 10,1905, and that Alinda Haniman never had any ownership thereof except a life estate which terminated on her death in February, 1905. The answer also denied that Alinda Haniman ever owned the personalty described in the petition and alleged that she was in possession thereof under a life estate created by the will of Aaron Haniman, her husband, which terminated on her death, and that said Pike was the owner of all the personalty in her possession.
The testimony of Byron Pike upon the examination showed that petitioner's decedent was the widow of Aaron Haniman, who died April, 1902, leaving a will, which was thereafter probated, by which he gave his property, real and personal, to his wife, Alinda Haniman, for life and the remainder to Alzina Jackson. Byron Pike presented a claim against Aaron Haniman's estate and on September 9, 1902, an agreement was entered into between Alzina Jackson, Alinda Haniman and Byron Pike to settle all differences between them regarding said estate. By this agreement it was provided that after the debts against the estate of Aaron Haniman had been paid and a cemetery lot paid for and headstone erected Alinda Haniman should u receive and enjoy all the property of the said Aaron Haniman during her natural life, and that all of said property remaining shall be applied to her support and maintenance during her life-—that at her death whatever remains of the property of the said Aaron Haniman shall be divided," one-half to Alzina Jackson and one-half to Byron Pike.
It was further provided that said Alinda Haniman might, whenever she deemed it advisable, transfer or trade the real estate for other real estate of equal or greater value and that said Alzina Jackson and Byron Pike " do hereby release and quit claim all their right, title and interest in and to said estate and do set over and assign all their right, title and interest in said estate to the said Alinda Haniman for the better purpose of carrying out the provisions of this agreement."
It also appeared from the examination that about two months before the death of Alinda Haniman a cow, some furniture and some money in the bank, which were part of the Aaron Haniman estate, remained undisposed of in the hands of Alinda Haniman. At this time Mrs. Haniman and Byron Pike, who was her brother, lived together on the farm late of Aaron Haniman, and one Sylvester Sweet and his wife kept house for them. This personal property was on the place. Mrs. Haniman told Pike that she wanted to turn everything she had into his hands, mentioning the cow, furniture, money, etc. She told Pike that it belonged to him; that was all that took place, no papers were drawn, it was all by word of mouth. With the exception of the money, Pike sold all the property to Sweet, as he says, turned it over to Sweet the same as Mrs. Haniman turned it over to him, and it is all gone from the farm now except the cow. As to the money, Pike says Mrs. Haniman gave him her bank book and he drew it out of the South Glens Palls Bank and deposited it in his name in said bank. After her death he paid out some of it and the balance, $7.25 thereof, is still in the bank in his name. After Mrs. Haniman turned over the property to Pike he supported her til] she died and paid funeral expenses for her and paid for a nurse for her. He thus paid out all of the moneys except seven or eight dollars.
Subsequently to the death of Mrs. Haniman, Byron Pike purchased the rights of Alzina Jackson in all the property.
Section 2710 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides that if the facts admitted by the witness show that he is in the control of property, to whose immediate possession the petitioner is entitled, the surrogate may decree that it be delivered to the petitioner. If the witness admits having the control of the property, but the facts as to the petitioner's right are in dispute, the proceeding shall end, unless the parties consent to its. determination by the surrogate, in which case it shall be so determined.
By the arrangement between Alzina Jackson, Alinda Haniman and Byron Pike, so much of the personal property in question as she might reasonably use for her support and maintenance during her lifetime, vested in Mrs. Haniman and the remainder of said property vested in Alzina Jackson and Byron Pike. Terry v. Wiggins, 47 N. Y. 512; Crozier v. Bray, 120 id. 374.
By the conveyance from Alzina Jackson to Pike after the death of Mrs. Haniman, Pike took whatever Alzina Jackson had in the property.
By the arrangement between Mrs. Haniman and Pike prior to her death there was either a gift or sale of the property to Pike, or else whatever title Mrs. Haniman had therein remained in her until her death. It is not entirely clear whether she sold the property to Pike in consideration of his supporting her during her lifetime, or whether she attempted to make a gift to him of the property. If she transferred it for sufficient consideration by way of support, nursing, etc., she was acting within her rights and Pike acquired a title from her. If she made a gift of it to Pike, sufficient in form, but unauthorized, then the only persons who could complain would be either Alzina Jackson, or, possibly, creditors having a valid claim for support and maintenance of Mrs. Haniman. If the property remained undisposed of at the death of Mrs. Haniman, and there was no outstanding claim for her support, then it became the absolute property of Alzina Jackson and passed to Pike by her conveyance after the death of Mrs. Haniman.
Prima facie everything which remained unexpended at the death of Mrs. Haniman vested, not in her administrator, but in Alzina Jackson. To show any interest in this property it would be incumbent upon Mrs. Haniman's administrator to show, at least, that he represented creditors holding claims against Mrs. Haniman incurred for her support; that there were creditors having claims against her for other matters would be insufficient to give her administrator any standing with reference to this property. And while there was suggestion by the petitioner's counsel that claims for Mrs. Haniman's support were outstanding, there is no evidence or any bint of any such in the record. I think the record fails to disclose any such clear right to the property in question as would justify the order prayed for.
Another fatal objection to the application as to all of the property, except possibly seven dollars and twenty-five cents in the bank, is the fact that it is not now in possession of Pike, but has been disposed of by him. Matter of Stewart 77 Hun. 564.
Whatever remedies the petitioner may have in the premises by action, the case presented fails to disclose facts warranting the summary order for delivery of the property contemplated by the statute under which this proceeding is instituted.
The- application must be denied.
It appearing that the petitioner was acting in good faith in the application, and that Mr. Pike was rather reticent concerning the facts upon which his refusal to permit the appraisal was based, the application is denied without costs.
Application denied, without costs.'