Lewis v. Williams

• Decision Date: 31 October 1873
• Citation: 54 Mo. 200
• Parties: F. R. LEWIS, Plaintiff in Error, v. M. F. WILLIAMS, ADMINISTRATOR OF GEORGE HENRY, deceased, Defendant in Error.
• Court: Missouri Supreme Court

54 Mo. 200

F. R. LEWIS, Plaintiff in Error,

v.M. F. WILLIAMS, ADMINISTRATOR OF GEORGE HENRY, deceased, Defendant in Error.

Supreme Court of Missouri.

October Term, 1873.

Error to Washington Circuit Court.

P. Pipkin, for Plaintiff in Error.

I. In equity an administrator's settlements may be set aside for fraud. It is not necessary that fraud in fact, should be proven. It is sufficient if the act of the administrator operates in law to defraud. (Sto. Eq. Pl., § 187; Clyce vs. Anderson, 49 Mo., 37.)

Reynolds & Relfe, for Defendant in Error.

I. No fraud whatever is shown, either actual or constructive. Without that, plaintiff cannot recover. (Jones vs. Brinker, 20 Mo., 87; Mitchell vs. Williams, 27 Mo., 399; Picot vs. Bates, 47 Mo., 390; Clyce vs. Anderson, 49 Mo., 37.)

WAGNER, Judge, delivered the opinion of the court.

Plaintiff brought his suit against the defendant to falsify and set aside the final and other settlements made by the defendant as administrator of the estate of one Henry, deceased. The charges in the petition were, that the administrator procured false and fraudulent allowances to be made in his favor in his annual and final settlements; that he fraudulently and wrongfully paid, out of the assets of the estate, debts allowed in the fifth class, and left debts which were of the first class unpaid, and that the estate was insolvent. Upon the trial no evidence whatever was given of any actual fraudulent intent or design upon the part of the administrator.

The case showed, that plaintiff had an allowance which was placed in the first class of demands against the estate, that the administrator paid a part of the demand, and that at the final settlement the administrator was credited with two claims which were of the fifth class, and that the estate was insolvent, and that the plaintiff did not receive full payment on his claim. Upon this evidence the court gave judgment for the defendant.

A final settlement, made by an administrator, has the force and effect of a judgment, and can only be set aside or overcome on the ground that it was fraudulently procured. (Jones vs. Brinker, 20 Mo., 87; Mitchell vs. Williams, 27 Mo., 399; Picot vs. Bates, 47 Mo., 390; State vs. Rowland, 23 Mo., 95.) Mere illegal allowances, unless it be found that they were obtained by fraud, will be no ground for impeaching the judgment and setting it aside.

In the present case there was neither omission nor concealment. The court improperly allowed the defendant credits...