Case Name: In the Matter of the Application of Lizzie Riede, Respondent, for Letters Testamentary on the Last Will and Testament of Mary E. Donnelly, Deceased. Elizabeth McGowan, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1910-04-22
Citations: 138 A.D. 83
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of the Application of Lizzie Riede, Respondent, for Letters Testamentary on the Last Will and Testament of Mary E. Donnelly, Deceased. Elizabeth McGowan, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 138
Pages: 83–84

Head Matter:
In the Matter of the Application of Lizzie Riede, Respondent, for Letters Testamentary on the Last Will and Testament of Mary E. Donnelly, Deceased. Elizabeth McGowan, Appellant.
Second Department,
April 22, 1910.
Decedent’s xestate—letters testamentary—poverty of executrix—appeal from decree admitting will to probate.
An executrix named in a will should not be refused letters testamentary merely because she is not wealthy, if her character, honesty,- thrift and integrity are not challenged.
An appeal from a decree admitting a will to probate does not deprive the surrogate of power to issue letters testamentary if, in his opinion,.it be necessary to preserve the estate.
Arpead by Elizabeth McGowan from an order of the Surrogate’s Court of the county of Kings, entered in said Surrogate’s Court on the 11th day of February, 1910, directing that letters testamentary be issued to the respondent herein.
Thomas J. Farrell, for the appellant.
Monte London [Samuel G. Worthen with him on the brief], for the respondent.

Opinion:
Rich, J.:
Elizabeth McGowan, one of four heirs at law and next of kin of Mary E. Donnelly, deceased, appeals from an order of the Surrogate's Court of Kings county, which directed that letters testamen tary issue to the respondent as executrix under the will of the testatrix. The record does not show the contents of the will, or who was entitled to take thereunder. It appears, however, that after a contest the will was admitted to probate, and from the decree accordingly entered Elizabeth McGowan has appealed to this court. Upon the application for letters it appeared that the appellant took possession of the decedent's property upon her death and now retains it; that the petitioner did not know the value of.the estate, and desired an accounting and possession of the property of her testatrix. The affidavit of the appellant states that the estate consisted of money in several savings banks, stock of the Ninth Avenue Railroad Company, jewelry and household furniture. It also alleged " that said Lizzie Riede's circumstances aré such that they do not afiord adequate security to the creditors or persons interested in said estate. • . Deponent. further says that said Lizzie Riede is a person of absolutely no financial responsibility." -These allegations are both conclusions, and no facts are alleged to sustain them. Mrs. Riede's character, honesty, thrift, integrity and business capacity were not challenged, and there is only the suggestion of financial irresponsibility.. The absence of worldly wealth is not of itself a controlling ground for denying letters. The intention to appeal, or appeal itself, did not deprive the surrogate of the power to issue letters. Section'2582 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides: " An appeal- from a decree of a surrogate, admitting a will to probate,- '* does not stay the issuing of letters where, in the opinion of surrogate, manifested by an order, the preservation of the estate requires that the letters should issue."
It follows, therefore, that the order of the Surrogate's Court must be affirmed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements.
Hirsohberg, P. J., Burr and Carr, JJ., concurred. '
Order of the Surrogate's Court of Kings county affirmed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements.