Court Opinion

ID: 3687476
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 06:31:19.950668+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:32:00.093396
License: Public Domain

The issues in these two actions were presented together by counsel for the respective parties, and will likewise be considered and determined by this court.
Peter J. Layman, in his lifetime, executed his will and named his two sons, John and Charles, as executors thereof. After his decease the will was probated and the executors proceeded to administer the estate. Several accounts were filed by them with the probate court of Wood county, and in 1919, after they had filed a final account, they resigned, and the defendant in above-entitled causes, Frank H. Claus, was appointed administrator de bonis non with the will annexed. Subsequent to the filing of an account by the defendant Claus, exceptions were taken by some of the heirs and legatees to the accounts filed by both the executors and the administrator de bonis non. Hearings were had in the probate and common pleas court of said county, and the cases are now in this court on appeal and error to the findings and judgments of the common pleas court.
Numerous questions were presented in argument by counsel in these cases, and a detailed discussion would result in a lengthy opinion, and could be of no value to the parties concerned. Two of the claimed errors assigned are that the findings and judgments were against the weight of the evidence, and that there was error of law in refusing to open up and consider certain accounts filed by the executors and administrators. We have examined the voluminous record very thoroughly, and the issues presented, and we are of the opinion that in the Layman case
substantial justice has been done the parties, and that the judgment in the court below should be affirmed. *Page 57 
In the appeal case, the issues were joined upon the demurrer to the amended petition of Alexander Geisbuhler, as guardian of four minor heirs of Magdalena Helena Geisbuhler, deceased, who was the daughter of the testator, Peter Layman, and upon the demurrer to the cross-petition of Arthur Geisbuhler, as administrator of the estate of said Magdalena Helena Geisbuhler, deceased. The case was terminated in the court below by sustaining the demurrers and entering final judgment.
This court is now asked to construe said will, and to set aside the former judgments with reference to certain accounts filed by the executors and administrators, to which exceptions had been filed. After a complete review of this case we are of the opinion that this action cannot be maintained by the plaintiff herein as guardian, for the reason that whatever interest the heirs and legatees have under the will is in the nature of personal property, and that upon the death of the heir the interest would go to the personal representative of such deceased. In the instant case the minor heirs would receive their respective or distributive shares from their mother's estate through her personal representative, the administrator. We are therefore of the opinion that the judgment of the court below is correct.
The demurrers in this cause will therefore be sustained and judgment rendered for the defendants.
Judgments accordingly.
RICHARDS, J., concurs.
WILLIAMS, J., not participating. *Page 58