Court Opinion

ID: 5195079
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-06 15:42:03.967339+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:27:03.195018
License: Public Domain

Jenks, J.:
The testator directs that one-half of the rest, residue and remainder of his estate tie held in trust, tie invested, and that the income and so much of the principal as shall he deemed necessary tie applied to the education, maintenance and support of his grandnieces and grandnephews. There is no other disposition of such moiety. I thinlc that there is á gift of the principal of that one-half to the said beneficiaries. (Earl v. Grim, 1 Johns. Ch. 494; Paterson v. Ellis, 11 Wend. 260, 298; Smith v. Post, 2 Edw. Ch. 523, 526; Hatch v. Bassett, 52 N. Y. 359, 362; Bishop v. McClelland, 44 N. J. Eq. 450; Matter of Smith, 131 N. Y. 239.) In Bishop v. McClelland (supra) the vice-chancellor says: “ There can be no doubt that a gift of the interest, income or produce of a fund, without limitation as to continuance, or without limit as to time, will, according to a settled rule of construction, be held to pass the fund itself, and this will be the effect given to a gift made in this form, whether the gift be made directly to the legatee or through the intervention- of a trustee,” citing authorities.
I think that the executor should not have been deprived of his commissions. In Matter of Rutledge (162 N. Y. 31) it was held by a closely divided court that a surrogate might, in his discretion, refuse the statutory commissions, But there was no.t such misconduct, negligence or wrongdoing as warranted the deprivation in this case. On the contrary, it appears that the executor has rendered services and has been faithful. Ho objections were filed to his account, and the special guardian reported, approving the accounts as stated. It did appear that one of the grandnieces wrote twice in 1903 to the executor, once saying that she was in need, and stating that she could use her “ portion,” and, again, inquiring whether she could get the money left to her, without receiving answers. On the hearing, the counsel for the executor stated that he claimed that the lady was married, and that her husband was able to support her, and .should do so. And when this was stated as “one of the grounds,” the learned surrogate said : “ Then I shall not allow any commissions to this executor on the statement of the counsel that he takes the position that this lady' is a married woman, and that her husband ought to support her.” The silence of the executor was discourteous. His position may have been wrong, but it was *213plausible in view of the reading of the will that the entire sum was to be held in sólido for the support and maintenance of five persons, and there is some authority in Woodruff v. Woodruff (54 App. Div. 414, 418) for such position. I think that the omission to seek a construction of the will is not a ground for withholding commissions otherwise earned. The imposition of costs for opening the default should not be disturbed.
The decree of the surrogate should be modified in accord with this opinion, and as modified affirmed, with costs to the special guardian out of the estate.
All concurred.
Decree of the Surrogate’s Court of Kings county modified in accordance with the opinion of Junes, J., and as modified affirmed, with costs to the special guardian out of the estate.