298 CASES IN THE SUPREME COURT Bankhead ex. vs. Hubbard et al. [JULY BANKHEAD, EX. vs. HUBBARD, ET AL. In granting letters testamentary upon estate of deceased persons, by the Clerk of ' the Probate Court, in vacation, he had no discretion in any case to dispense with the bond and security required by the statute: but he is bound to require bond and security in all cases--e y en where the will directs otherwise. But in granting, rejecting or revoking letters, or taking or dispensing with security, or requiring new seeurity, the Probate Court has a large discretion, which will not be controlled by this conrt, unless there is such outrageous abuse of it as to produce manifest injustice. Where the bill of exceptions fails to show that it contains all the testimony adduced on the trial, the presumption is in favor of the judgment, as ruled in . Everett vs. Clements, 4 Eng. 480, Collins vs. MePeolz, 4 Eng. 558. Appeal from Hempstead -Circuit Court. The Hon. SHELTON WATSON, Circuit Judge, presiding. - The last will and testament of Thomas M. R. liankhead, was duly probated in vacation, before the clerk of the Probate Court, who granted letters testamentary to the executrix therin named, without requiring bond and security, under the following clause in the will: "Lastly, I appoint my beloved wife sole executrix, and direct that she shall not be required to give bond." Upon motion in the Probate Court, by the executrix, to confirm the grant of letters testamentry by the clerk, in vacation, the appellees, as creditors of the estate, appeared and filed their motion, protesting against the confirmation of the letters testamentary, because the same had been granted without bond and security ; . whereupon the Probate Court refused to confirm the grant of the letters testamentary, because they had been improperly granted by the clerk, a . nd ordered that they be rejected and that the executrix give bond and security : She excepted to the ruling of the Probate Court, and appealed to the Circuit Court, where
OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS. 299 TERM, 1853.1 Bankhead ex. vs. Hubbard et al. the judgment of the Probate • . Court was af firmed, and she again excepted and appealed to this court. Argued and submitted at the July term, 1852. WATKINS & CURRAN, for the appelant. PIKE & CUMMINS, for the appellee, cited sec 10, Art. 6, Const., sec. 5, ch. 48, Dig., as to the jurisdiction of the Probate Courts, in regard to estates : and sec's. 1, 15 and 17, ch. 4 and 16 and 18 - ch. 170, as to the power of • the clerks of the Probate Courts to take probate in vacation, and their duty to require bonds of the executor or administrator, subjeet to the confirmation and. approval of the court. HEMPSTEAD, Special Judge, delivered the opinion of the Court. The constitution of this State vests'in the Probate Courts such jurisdiction in matters relative to the eStates Of, deceased persons, executors,- administrators, and guardians, as may be prescribed by law. • Const. sec. 10, Art. 6. The 'administration law authorizes the clerks of the Probate Courts tci grant letters testamentary', and of administration, subjject however to the confirmation or rejection of the court (Digest 110); and requires bond from the person to whom letters testamentary''Or -of administration are granted with two or more securities,' residents .of the county, to the State of Arkansas, in such 'sitm . as the .court or clerk shall deerri sufficient, not less than double the amount of the estimated value of the estate. If the bond- is taken by the clerk in vacation, it-is subject to the approval or rejection of the court in term time. Digest, 112, 113. And as' to securitieS, it is enjoined as a duty to take . persons who are solvent and sufficient, an wdho are not bound in too many other bonds, and testimony may be taken to ascertain these facts.. And an additional bond 'may be required in certain cases, and on failure to give it, the letters 'may be revoked. Digest .116. These provisiOns . speak fOil themselves. and are too plain to
300 CASES IN THE SUPREME COURT Bankhead ex. vs. Hubbard et al. [JULY require construction or argument. They indicate the general policy of the act to be to require security in all cases. This security is for the benefit of creditors, heirs, devisees and legatees.- and there are but few instances in which it should be dispensed with. Perhaps, in the case of a sole heir or devisee, being appointed executor or administrator, and no debts against an estate, bond and security need not be given, because waste or mismanagement of the estate would be guarded against by motives of self interest, and in any event could injure no one but himself, and there may be other cases within a similar reason. But the case should be clear, because a doubt in the scale ought to operate in favor of requiring security, that being a general requisition, which the Legislature had the power and thought proper to make: The clerk stands in a dif ferent position from the court, and has, in our opinion, no discretion on the subject, and must'theref ore take a bond and security in all cases. His act must pass under the review of the court, and must be confirmed or rejected. The court has discretion, but the clerk none, and his act is merely ministerial. We are not to be understood as deciding that letters granted without security aie absolutely void ; because we do not deem the bond a condition precedent to the validity of the letters. We think the statute is directory, and that the court may, in some in-stanses,dispence with security. But in granting, rejecting, or revoking letters, or taking, or dis-yensing with security, or requiring new security, the Probate Court possesses under the law a large discretion ; which will not and should not be controlled by this court, unless there has been such an outrageous abuse of that as to produce manifest injustice. The case must be a strong one to call for our interposition: In this case we regard the action of the Probate Court as entirely proper, and within the scope its legal authority. But if otherwise, we would not interpose for another reason, which is where, as in the case here, the bill of exceptions fail to show either that oral testimony might be taken on these investigations : and expressly or by necessary implication, that it contains all the
OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS. 301 TER M , 1853.] testimony adduced on . the investigation or trial, the presumption must be in favor of judgment. Everett vs. Clements, 4 Eng. 480. Collins vs McPeak, 4 Eng. 558. That is the settled law . of this court, and is directly applicable. WATKINS; C. .1. not sitting.
You are being directed to the most recent version of the statute which may not be the version considered at the time of the judgment.