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6 Thomp. & Cook 57

Holmes v. Smith

New York Supreme Court

Decided January 15, 1875

New York Supreme Court · decided 1875-01-15

APPEAL by Dennis Holmes, administrator of the estate of Ira Dibble, deceased, and another, from an order of the district attorney of Chenango county, acting as surrogate of said county, denying an application of the appellant for an order to sell,real estate for the payment of the debts of the deceased. The order was refused upon the ground that said district attorney had no jurisdiction to entertain the application and make the order. The facts were these.

Decided 1875-01-15

¶1By the Court. We think that the intention of the legislature must have.been that there should, as far as possible, always be some person competent to act as surrogate. The words “ when there is no legal officer authorized to perform,” etc., may, without force, be construed “when there is no officer legally authorized to perform,” etc. It is not desirable in order to defeat the administration of justice to suppose that “legal”'was a mistake for “local.”

¶2The order should be reversed, and the district attorney ordered to proceed in the matter with costs to the appellants, payable out of the estate.

¶3Ordered accordingly

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