Case Name: Gabriel Paul, Executor of Eward Coursault, v. Elias Kane
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1839-03
Citations: 5 Cranch 549
Docket Number: 
Parties: Gabriel Paul, Executor of Eward Coursault, v. Elias Kane.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 5
Pages: 549–550

Head Matter:
Gabriel Paul, Executor of Eward Coursault, v. Elias Kane.
Letters of administration, with, the will annexed, granted in the District of Columbia while there was an executor acting under letters testamentary granted in Maryland, are void.
Assumpsit for money had and received by the defendant for the use of the plaintiff, as executor of Edward Coursault, to recover from the defendant the sum of $7,864.32 principal, and $304.72 interest, received by the defendant from the Treasury of the United States, for indemnity for French spoliation of the testator’s brig “ Good Friends ” and cargo, confiscated by the French government in 1810. This money was received by the defendant under letters of administration with the will annexed of the said Edward Coursault, granted by the Orphans’ Court of the county of Washington in the District of Columbia, on the 28th of March, 1837. Edward Coursault died in August, 1814. His will was proved, and letters testamentary were granted to the plaintiff by the Orphans’ Court of Baltimore county, in Maryland, on the 27th of August, 1814.
The memorial to the commissioners under the French treaty was presented by Madame Aglae Coursault in her own name, as executrix of the testator, stating that letters testamentary had been granted to her and to Gabriel Paul, (the plaintiff,) who were named executors in the will, and that whatever might be awarded would belong solely and exclusively to her, as executor of the testator.
Upon affidavit that she died in 1835, the Orphans’ Court of Washington county granted the letters of administration to the defendant; the executor, Gabriel Paul, being still alive, and under the Act of Congress of the 24th of June, 1812, § 11, [2 Stat. at Large, 755,) competent to sue for and recover any claim in the District of Columbia, in the same manner as if the letters testamentary had been granted by the proper authority of the district.
Mr. Goxe, for the plaintiff,
cited Griffith v. Frazier, 8 Cranch, 9, and CMldres v. Emory, 8 Wheat. 671.
Mr. Key, for the defendant,
cited 1 Petersdorf, 250; 1 Saund. 274, n. 3 ; 1 Chitty, PI. 484; 2 Starkie, Ev. 548,549, part 4 ; Mansfield v. Marsh, 2 Ld. Raym. 824 ; Tones v. Jones, 1 Bing. 249 ; Hunt v. Stevens, 3 Taunt. 113^; Story’s Conflict of Laws, 421,430; 3 Bac. Ab. 38 ; Stevens v. Gaylord, 11 Mass. 256; Langdon v. Potter, Id. 313; 1 Wheeler, 236, 243; Hughes v. McKinsley, 5 Munroe, 40 ; Henderson v. Glarlce, 4 Littell, Kentucky Rep. 277.

Opinion:
The Court was of opinion that as there was an executor qualified and competent to sue, when the Orphans' Court of the county of Washington granted the letters of administration to the defendant, the latter were void.
Verdict for plaintiff. Judgment affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States, at January term, 1840.