Court Opinion

ID: 6141614
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-05 14:40:34.763139+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:54:40.201940
License: Public Domain

The Surrogate.
By the will of deceased, the executors were directed to make “ safe investments ” of the funds of the estate, and use the interest arising therefrom to support and maintain the petitioners herein. At the time of the taking of the inventory, they were charged with the following property :
One U. S. 7.30 bond of.....$1,000
One first mortgage on real estate, - 800
In Utica pavings Bank, at 6 per cent., - - 600
One promissory note,......32
Cash, ----- 364
Total,.....$2,796
This fund came to their hands in admirable shape. The executors have converted all of these securities into ■cash, as empowered by the will, but their subsequent investments were not at all in conformity to the trust accepted by them.
They lent to one Williams $1200, and for a long time took no security therefor, but in 1878 received a second mortgage on about 140 acres of farming land, *16which it is conceded are worth only $20 per acre, and which were and are now encumbered by another mortgage of about the same amount as the one taken by them in their trust capacity. The proof also shows that the mortgagor is so involved that his indebtedness at least equals his assets. Clearly, such an investment as this was not contemplated by the testator when he cautiously empowered his trustees to make a safe investment of his carefully husbanded fund.
The other investments made by the executors are no better than the one mentioned. One of the executors has $700, and the other $200, and in neither case is there a tittle of security for the amounts thus held by them. There are also two promissory notes, held by them as executors, against different parties, one of which was given to secure the payment of $200 and the other of $250. So that the executors, instead of heeding the cautious direction of the testator, and investing the property he had entrusted to them safely and securely, have placed it in jeopardyi and where it is liable to be dissipated long before the residuary legatees will be entitled to it.
On the question of the authority of a Surrogate to approve or withhold his approval from investments made by executors or testamentary trustees, an examination of the statutes and authorities convinces me that a power of this kind'is within the scope and province of a Surrogate’s court.
The general language of the statute empowering the Surrogate “to direct and control the conduct of executors,” etc., and “ to administer justice in all matters relating to the affairs of deceased persons,” *17has been held applicable to a variety of cases by the courts, until the tendency is to enlarge instead of abridging the jurisdiction of a Surrogate in his control over those entrusted with the management of estates of such persons (Bliss v. Sheldon, 7 Barb., 152; Wood v. Brown, 34 N. Y., 337; Seaman v. Duryea, 11 N. Y., 327). Such being my comprehension of the law, and believing that these investments are not made in accordance with the wishes of the testator, as expressed in Ms last will—that they are not “ safe investments,” I disapprove of each and every of them.