In re the Estate of Van Valkenburgh , 128 Misc. 819 ( 1927 )

Foley, S.

The decedent died intestate on December 20, 1921. He left surviving, as distributees of his estate, his widow, Florence B. Van Valkenburgh, who is the administratrix, and his daughter by a former marriage, Mrs. Susie V. Huntington, who is the objectant to the account. The value of the estate, excluding the property in dispute, is approximately $1,300,000.

The issues before the referee involved the claim of the widow of title, by gifts from her husband, to certain securities of the value of approximately $200,000, and the ownership of certain personal property consisting of the furnishings and other contents of the decedent’s residences in New York city and his country home at Woodstock, Vt. The daughter, on the other hand, claimed that all this property should be included in the account as part of the estate and that the administratrix should be surcharged with the specific items or their value. Numerous hearings were had before the referee on these issues and in his report he finds that the administratrix has established valid gifts of most of the property in dispute.

The questions presented upon this motion involve, first, the sufficiency of the proof supporting the gifts; secondly, the propriety of certain rulings of the referee in the admission of evidence, and particularly whether he improperly received certain testimony of the administratrix in violation of section 347 of the Civil Practice Act (formerly section 829 of the Code of Civil Procedure) as personal transactions with the decedent. Save for his findings and conclusions as to the ownership of Liberty bonds valued at $200, hereinafter discussed, the report of the learned referee is confirmed, and the exceptions thereto are overruled.

First. I hold that the evidence sustained the referee’s findings and conclusions of valid gifts of the securities and other property by the decedent to the administratrix. I hold further that entirely aside from the competency of the testimony of the widow there was sufficient independent proof before the referee to sustain each and every one of such gifts. The entire record strongly indicates the wide financial knowledge and legal experience of the decedent, his appreciation of his acts, and his great affection for his wife, which found expression in the frequent donations made to her. Certain transfers of securities and other property of substantial value, both before and after their marriage, were established by written declarations of the decedent and other irrefutable documentary proof. Other gifts were sustained by independent oral testimony of disinterested witnesses. As to some of these items, when confronted with the supporting evidence, the objectant conceded the title of the widow as donee. There are no elements of proof in the record or reasonable inferences therefrom, which point to any fraud on the part of the widow, or opportunity of access by her to the decedent’s property or other circumstances customarily shown in cases where fraudulent diversions of estate property have been established. The securities in dispute had been kept by her for considerable periods of time, up to the date of her husband’s death, in her individual safe deposit boxes, to which the decedent had no access. Similarly she had no right of access to the property in his safe deposit boxes.

Second. I hold that the referee correctly ruled that the evidence of the widow as to the gifts was competent and not prohibited by section 347 of the Civil Practice Act. It is clear that the door had been opened for all of such testimony by the examination of the widow as administratrix, under section 263 of the Surrogate’s Court Act, in the accounting proceeding by counsel for the daughter. The sequence of procedure on the accounting becomes important in this connection. A proceeding was commenced by the daughter for a compulsory accounting by the administratrix, citation issued, but before the return day the administratrix filed her voluntary account together with the petition for its judicial settlement. The two proceedings were thereupon consolidated by appropriate order. Thereafter the daughter obtained an order, dated June 23, 1924, under the authority of section 263 of the Surrogate’s Court Act, directing the administratrix to submit to an examination as to the property which belonged to the decedent at the time of his death, or at any time prior thereto, and as to the circumstances under which she claimed that the same or any part thereof was given or transferred to her by the decedent, and as to any matter relating to her administration of the estate. The administratrix was sworn by the surrogate and the examination was lengthy and comprehensive.

Counsel for the daughter brought out from the administratrix her version of the various gifts made to her by the decedent. The administratrix claimed on the hearings before the referee that her subsequent testimony as to the gifts was competent because the door was opened on this examination by the objectant. The objectant contends that the examination of the administratrix was a preliminary formality in .the nature of an examination before trial, and that the mere examination before trial of an interested party does not open the door under section 347 to testimony as to the same personal transactions, by the person interested, upon the subsequent trial. (Farmers’ Loan & Trust Co. v. Wagstaff, 194 App. Div. 757; Bambauer v. Schleider, 176 id. 562.) The latter cases hold that there is no waiver of the right to exclude the testimony unless the examination be offered in evidence upon the trial. I hold that the examination of the administratrix in the accounting proceeding, pursuant to section 263 of the Surrogate’s Court Act, is not an examination before trial or similar in nature to it. It is as much a part of the judicial record upon which the determination of the issues by the surrogate is to be made, as the evidence of any of the other witnesses in the proceeding, who have testified either before the surrogate or the referee. Neither the order of the surrogate nor the papers upon which it was granted limited the examination to one before trial. Moreover, in my opinion there is no statutory authority for any examination before trial in such an accounting proceeding.

In Matter of Britsch (128 Misc. 219) I pointed out that the provisions of the Civil Practice Act relating to an examination of a party before trial have no application to the examination of a representative under section 263 of the Surrogate’s Court Act, because the Surrogate’s Court Act furnishes complete authority for such an examination. (Surrogate’s Court Act, § 316; People ex rel. Lewis v. Fowler, 229 N. Y. 84; Matter of Hodgman, 113 Misc. 215.) Moreover, under the section there is no requirement as to the order of procedure. Objections may be filed after the examination or the examination may follow the filing of objections. No matter when the examination may be had in the course of the proceeding, the testimony given by the representative is before the surrogate or the referee for all purposes. Such appears to have been the long-established practice of this court: For in 1882 Surrogate Rollins of this court in Geer v. Ransom (5 Redf. 578) held that the testimony taken pursuant to the order of examination before the filing of objections should “ be regarded as testimony taken in the proceedings upon the contested accounting.” Moreover the scope of the examination is at the peril of the party who conducts it. He may retain the advantage given by section 347 of the Civil Practice Act and keep the mouth of the survivor sealed. But if he inquires as to personal transactions, he waives the incompetency of the interested party. The door is then open to further testimony by the witness as to the specific transactions which have been the subject of interrogation.

The manner in which the examination here was conducted was by consent of the parties and the* objectant is now estopped to question its regularity, or to change its true legal form and effect. Section 263 of the Surrogate’s Court Act, which relates to voluntary accounting proceedings, provides as follows: “ On the return of a citation, issued as prescribed in the last section, the surrogate must take the account, and hear the allegations and proofs of the parties, respecting the same and make such order or decree as justice requires. The executor, administrator, guardian or trustee may be examined under oath by any party to the proceeding as to any matter relating to his administration of the estate or fund. If any party interested shall demand in writing that a voucher be produced and filed for any payment alleged by the account to have been made, the accounting party shall produce and file such voucher or make satisfactory proof of such payment.” Support for the conclusion that the examination is part of the judicial record is found in the language of section 263 of the Surrogate’s Court Act itself, for it is there directed that the surrogate “ must take the account, and hear the allegations and proofs of the parties.” Then follows the second sentence which grants the right of examination of the representative and by reasonable inference includes the testimony upon such examination as part of the taking of the account and the “ proofs of the parties ” submitted for consideration on the merits to the surrogate. The purpose of the italicized sentence is to allow any interested party to fully and completely examine the accounting party as to his management of the estate. It has been the experience of the Surrogate’s Court that such examinations are a most effective aid in judicially settling accounts. (2 Heaton Surr. [4th ed.] 1760, 1761.)

The history of this right of examination also sustains the conclusion that it is not an examination before trial, but a component part of the record in the proceeding. It was clearly derived from the equitable jurisdiction over an accounting in an administration suit. It was the remedy for the discovery of assets withheld by the representative. The comprehensive and learned opinion of Judge Haight of the Court of Appeals in Malone v. Saints Peter & Paul’s Church (172 N. Y. 269) sets forth the history of accounting proceedings in the Surrogate’s Court, and their equitable derivation and nature. (See, also, Matter of Boyle, 242 N. Y. 342.) I pointed out in Matter of Beare (122 Misc. 519) that the development of equitable jurisdiction over accounts of executors or other representatives of estates grew out of the dissatisfaction and delay in the common-law action for an account, and the necessity for breaking up the determination of disputed claims into separate jury trials. The Court of Chancery assumed jurisdiction in matters of accounts when it was found that that court furnished the parties a more speedy remedy. Moreover, equity developed as a most effective aid, the right of examination or discovery against the representative. (2 Story Eq. Juris. [14th ed.] 7, 309; Bispham Prin. Eq. [5th ed.] 602, 603.) As stated in Malone v. Saints Peter & Paul’s Church (172 N. Y. 269, 277): “ But, however, it is found by experience that the most ready and effectual way to settle these matters of account is by bill in a court of equity, where a discovery may be had upon the defendant’s oath without relying merely upon the evidence which the plaintiff may be able to produce. (3 Blackstone’s Com. 164.)” Under the common-law rule as we adopted it from England, in the Colony, and subsequently in the State of New York, an interested party could not testify either in his own behalf or be called as a witness upon the trial by the adverse party. In 1848 that archaic rule was abolished. One remnant of the rule, however, was retained in the original form of present section 347 of the Civil Practice Act in its first enactment in 1851. The right of an examination of the representative under the equity procedure was expressly continued in accountings in the Surrogates’ Courts in the Revised Statutes of 1830. It is found also in the further revision of 1846 (Vol. II, p. 156, § 58). It existed long before 1847 (Chap. 462) when the right of examination before trial of an adverse party was created (Amplified by the Field Code of Procedure in 1849). It is clear that this provision for examination was expressly granted in an accounting in the Surrogate’s Court in order to except it from the general rule of evidence then in force — that an interested party could not be examined as a witness by an adverse party. Counsel for both sides here state that the determination of the question as to whether the examination of the defendant in an accounting proceeding permits testimony in his own behalf is a novel one and has not been the subject of prior adjudication. But I find that it has been a long-established principle in this court, decided as early as 1850 in Ogilvie v. Ogilvie (1 Bradf. 356) by Surrogate Bradford. In that case likewise a gift from the decedent was claimed by the executor. The surrogate held that the door was opened, by the objectant and he stated in his opinion: “ The evidence upon which the executor is sought to be charged * * * was drawn from him upon his own examination at the instance of the adverse party, and the statement cannot be so dislocated, as to separate the part which bears against him, and thereon establish his inability; and reject that which accompanies and explains it, and operates in his favor.” As authority for his conclusion he cites certain English cases (Blount v. Burrow, 1 Ves. Jr. 546; Hill v. Chapman, 2 Bro. C. C. 612).

Additional support for my_ conclusion may also be found in the recent decision of de Laurent v. Townsend (243 N. Y. 130). The question considered in that case was the effect of an examination under sections 205 and 206 of the Surrogate’s Court Act providing for the discovery of property withheld from the representative of an estate. The respondent was examined in this court and upon her examination claimed title to the assets in question by way of gift from the decedent. No further proceedings were taken in the Surrogate’s Court but an action in replevin was commenced in the Supreme Court against the respondent by the representative of the estate, wherein judgment was for the respondent. In discussing the changes in the Code of Civil Procedure which originally provided that when a witness is examined in discovery proceedings in this court all objections under section 829 of the Code of Civil Procedure (now section 347 of the Civil Practice Act) to his testimony as to the same transactions were waived, the court referred to the elimination of such provision by the revision of Surrogate’s Court practice in 1914 in section 2676 of the Code of Civil Procedure, now section 206 of the Surrogate’s Court Act. The opinion states: “ While we may speculate that this was done because the Surrogate’s Court was then vested with jurisdiction to try the issue of title and that it was anticipated that no other or future litigation would follow, the obdurate fact remains that it was repealed. The rule as to waiver is, therefore, to be found in section 829, Code of Civil Procedure, now section 347, Civil Practice Act, and not elsewhere.” The court, however, in the next sentence of its decision made the following significant statement, which has direct bearing upon the question here: “ If defendant had proceeded to the trial of the issue of title in Surrogate’s Court, she would have been competent to testify in her own behalf after the plaintiff had opened the door by examining her as to the same transactions.” The examination of a representative to bring in additional assets in an accounting proceeding is exactly similar to that of the respondent in a discovery proceeding. The referee properly held, therefore, that the decision in the de Laurent case applied here. Counsel for the objectant also claims that the statement in the opinion of the de Laurent case, that the examination of the respondent was had after an answer was submitted, indicates a distinction between the effect of testimony as to personal transactions brought out upon an examination before answer, as distinguished from an examination after answer. That statement I deem to have no materiality to the conclusion of the Court of Appeals on this point. It is in fact erroneous since an inspection of the papers in the discovery proceeding in this court shows that no answer was ever submitted or filed The assertion of title by the respondent was raised in her testimony on the examination. This often occurs in such proceedings in this court. But in any event the decision of the Court of Appeals must be construed as laying down the rule that section 347 is waived by the examination of the respondent whether before or after the filing of an answer, or where no answer whatsoever is filed. This rule, of course, applies only where the entire proceeding is completed in the Surrogate’s Court.

The statements of the administratrix in the present estate regarding the source of her title to the property were, therefore, admissible after she had been compelled to testify to the same transactions. (Cole v. Sweet, 187 N. Y. 488; Matter of Sherman, 227 id. 350; Nay v. Curley, 113 id. 575, 579; Matter of Cozine, 104 App. Div. 182.)

Section 347 of the Civil Practice Act was never intended to give an opposing party the advantage which the objectant now claims. In Cole v. Sweet (187 N. Y. 488, 492) the court said: “ After compelling her to state a part of what was said and done by herself and the decedent, he insisted that she could not explain the transaction or state all that was said and done. He could not thus turn a shield into a sword. The careful balance of rights made by the Legislature to protect both parties and injure neither, would be disturbed if he could thus take advantage of the defendant. It would promote fraud instead of preventing it, which is the aim of the statute. Having forced her to tell a part of her story before the surrogate he could not read it as evidence in this action and then prevent her from telling the whole, because the spirit of the statute, as interpreted by the decisions of the courts, is against it. The spirit of the statute is that the survivor shall not speak when the decedent cannot, unless the representative of the decedent speaks himself, or compels the survivor to tell a part when he waives the right to object to his telling the rest.”

Third. The referee’s findings and conclusions with respect to the ownership of the furnishings and contents of decedent’s residence and country home are also correct and the exceptions thereto are, therefore, overruled. As to the Liberty bonds of the par value of $200 above mentioned, the referee found as facts that they were delivered by the decedent to the administratrix in an envelope on which was indorsed a memorandum in the handwriting of decedent to the effect that they were to be kept by her for his convenience, and were to be returned to him if anything happened to her, and that she had not accounted for said $200 of Liberty Loan bonds. The referee has determined that the administratrix is chargeable with the $200 of bonds and interest thereon. Those findings of fact and conclusion were based on a clerical error. It was conceded before me by both sides that the envelope in evidence and relied upon by the referee to negative the gift did not contain these Liberty bonds. There is sufficient evidence that the widow had possession of them since their issuance and the gift to her was established. The exceptions to those findings and that conclusion are, therefore, sustained and the report is modified to the extent of holding that these bonds are not the property of the estate.

Submit decree on notice confirming the referee’s report as modified by the foregoing decision and settling the account accordingly.