Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

50 Mass. 180

Cushing v. Field

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1845-03-15

This was an action of assumpsit for goods sold and delivered, and money had and received, brought against George Field, the defendant’s intestate, and entered in the court of common pleas in his life time.

Decided 1845-03-15

Shaw, C. J.

¶1This case comes before us irregularly, bio appeal lies from a judgment dismissing a suit. Perhaps the party might obtain a revision of the grounds upon which the dismissal is founded, by a bill of exceptions.

¶2The plea of pleno administravit should not have been admitted. By St. 1836, c. 273, “ no other plea in bar,” besides the general issue, can be pleaded in the court of common pleas, or in this court. The defendant should have pleaded the general issue and filed a statement in writing, setting forth, as the matter of her defence, the facts which, by the Rev. Sts. c. 66, §§ 12-14, entitle her to be discharged. If she has settled an administration account in the probate court, from which it appears that the whole estate and effects of the intestate, which have come to her hands, have been exhausted in paying charges of administration, &c., then she has a good defence. But if she has rendered no such account, and especially if she has not returned an inventory, then her only defence will be a representation of insolvency. It is only by an inventory and an account, and by regular proceedings in the probate court, that an administrator can defend a suit on the ground of the insolvency of the estate of his intestate. Rev. Sts. c. 68; c. 64, §5; c. 65, § 1.

¶3*182A judgment of assets quando acciderint could never be entered in this case, because a preference would thereby be given to the plaintiffs, contrary to the Rev. Sts. c. 68, § 1, which require that all the debts shall be paid ratably. See 6 Dane Ab. 144.

¶4Appeal dismissed

/50/mass/180 · .json · Public domain