Case Name: James P. Bowers et al., plaintiffs in error, vs. Robert J. Grimes, administrator, et al., defendants in error
Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
Jurisdiction: Georgia
Decision Date: 1872-01
Citations: 45 Ga. 616
Docket Number: 
Parties: James P. Bowers et al., plaintiffs in error, vs. Robert J. Grimes, administrator, et al., defendants in error.
Judges: 
Reporter: Georgia Reports
Volume: 45
Pages: 616–618

Head Matter:
James P. Bowers et al., plaintiffs in error, vs. Robert J. Grimes, administrator, et al., defendants in error.
(Warner, Chief Justice, was prevented by providential cause from presiding in this case.)
While an administrator de bonis non has power to call upon the representatives of his deceased predecessor to account with him, the heirs-at-law and creditors have also the same right upon a proper case made, but if the administrator de bonis non fails so to do, the heirs and creditors of the first intestate cannot sue the administrator de bonis non for this failure, unless they show that he knew of the devastavit, and was guilty of some special neglect, not equally chargeable upon themselves.
Administrator de bonis non. Devastavit. Before Judge Harrell. Stewart Superior Court. October Term, 1871.
James P. Bowers and the other heirs and distributees of Needham Johnson, deceased, filed their bill against Robert J. Grimes, as administrator de bonis non of said Johnson and his securities, and charged that one John Grimes was appointed administrator upon said estate; that said John Grimes died solvent, and having said estate in bis bands; that Robert J. Grimes was appointed administrator de bonis non; that said Robert J. had failed to collect said estate; prayer that he might be required to account. Robert J. Grimes answered said bill, admitting Ihe facts alleged, setting forth the amount of said estate, but denying that he had ever received any part thereof. The case rested upon the bill and answer. Defendants moved the Court to non-suit complainants upon the following grounds, to-wit:
1st. Because the proof failed to show that the defendant, Robert J. Grimes, as administrator de bonis non, had received the estate of Needham Johnson, deceased, info his hands.
2d. Because an administrator de bonis non could not call to account the representatives of the deceased administrator, and is not liable to the complainants for his failure to do so.
The Court sustained the motion and dismissed the bill, whereupon complainants excepted and assign said ruling as error.
Herbert Fielder, for plaintiffs in error.
E. H. Beall; J. S. Wimberly, for defendants.

Opinion:
McCay, Judge.
By the common law an administrator de bonis non could only call the previous administrator or executor or their heirs to turn over all unadministered assets: 1 Kelly, 81. But our Act of 1845, Cobb, 335, authorized the administrator de bonis non to call the previous administrator to account. This Act did not, however, require him to account. This Court, in Shorter et al. vs. Hargroves, 11 Georgia, 659, decided that this right in the administrator de bonis non was not exclusive, but that the persons interested in the estate might sue the estate of the former administrator directly. The Code does not seem to contain any express authority to the administrator de bonis non to compel an account. It is, however, implied by the language of several sections: See sections 2473, 2474, 2475, 2476. We think, therefore, the Act of 1845 is not inconsistent with the Code and is still of force. Section 2476 of the Code authorizes the heirs and creditors to sue the removed administrator, and there is nothing in the Code to alter the ^ld law as to this right against the representatives of a deceased administrator. Without doubt, this right existed at common law, indeed nobody else had it, since the administrator de bonis non had no such right. It results that our law now is as it was before the Code on this subject. The creditors and the heirs may, as they always might, call on the previous administrator or his representatives for an account and settlement. The administrator de bonis non may also do it. Rut we do not think it follows as a matter of course that he must do it. When there is anything in the nature of the estate, or the character of the parties, which specially casts this duty on the administrator de bonis non, he is liable for this neglect. But it must be a case of neglect. Certainly, it must appear that he knew of the devastavit, and that he was guilty of some positive neglect — some negligence not equally chargeable on the creditors themselves or upon the heirs or their guardians. Each case must stand on its own facts.
Judgment affirmed.