
    Sayre, Adm’r. of Outten vs Lewis.
    
      Sept. 23.
    Error to the Fayette Circuit.
    
      Set-off. Devastavit.
    
    The case slated.
    Circuit Courts have concurrent jurisdiction with Justices of the Peace for a devastavit, where the amount exceeds £5 and is under $50, and having jurisdiction, a smaller demand than £5 maybe included ; . a suit before Circuit Courts.
    An adm’r. cannot be made responsible for a 
      devastavitby one agent, when as the representative of his intestate he holds a greater demand than is claimed.
   Chief Justice Ewing

delivered the opinion of the Court.

Upon the return of nulla Iona on two executions which issued on the same day, from this Court, for costs, in favor of Lewis against Sayre, as administrator of Outten, one for $43 83 cents, the other for $12 98 cents, and which were returned on the same day, Lewis brought an action of debt in the Circuit Court for a devastavit against Sayre, for the amount of both executions. Sayre pleaded the general issue, denying the devastavit, and gave notice of set-off, of a larger demand due from Lewis to him, as administrator, for money advanced by his intestate for his use, and paid by him as administrator since his death, upon a written article between Lewis and his intestate. To the set-off the plaintiff demurred, and the whole matter of fact and law, was submitted to the Judge to decide. Judgment was rendered for the plaintiff, and Sayre has appealed to this Court.

According to the decision of this Court, in the case of Jeter, ad’mr. vs Durham & Willock, (6 J J. Mar. 228,) the Circuit Court has concurrent jurisdiction with Justices of the Peace, at least for the amount embraced in the larger execution. And as the policy of the law is opposed to a multiplication of actions, and the failure and refusal to pay, and consequent devastavit as to both demands, occurred at the same time, that the Circuit Court having jurisdiction as to the larger demand, may exercise it as to both, and render judgment accordingly.

But we think that Sayre was either not guilty of a devastavit, or if the facts proven render him responsible, he may rely upon the set-off set up by him.

We cannot perceive any just grounds for charging Sayre with misapplying, or wasting the assets of his intestate, to the injury of Lewis, by merely withholding from him payment of his demands, when he held against him a much larger amount due to the estate of intestate, and which at the time constituted a good set-off against them. The refusal to pay, under such circumstances, would seem to show a careful management of the assets in his hands, rather than a wasteful expenditure or misapplicaof them.

An adm’r. paying debts out nf his own estate, may retain an equivalent out of the assets.—

—And an adm’r. sued for a devastavit, may set-off a demand due to his intestate against the demand sought to to be recovered.

Sayre for plaintiff: Robertson for defendant.

But if under such circumstances he can be made responsible for a devastavit, we cannot doubt, especially since our statute which exempts him from responsibility, in this action, beyond the assets which came to his hands, that he may plead the set-off relied upon by him.

It is said that an administrator who has paid debts out of his own funds, may retain out of the assets, an equivalent in value. So if by coersion he is required to pay the demands of Lewis, for withholding payment out of the assets, upon the ground and for the reasons appearing, we cannot doubt that he might retain an equivalent amount out of the assets in his hands. If so, the estate would be benefitted by allowing the set-off, and Lewis not injured, and it might be injured by the entire loss of the amount, if the set-off should be refused, and Lewis should prove insolvent, so that the amount could hot be made out of him. We therefore think, that though the demand claimed by Lewis, is a personal demand against Sayre, as it was a demand against the estate of Outten, and grew out of Sayre’s withholding payment from Lewis, upon the ground only, that he held against him in behalf of his intestate, a much larger amount, that if he can be made responsible at all,, in this form of action, that he may set-off the amount by so much of the amount due his intestate.

The judgement of the Circuit Court is therefore reversed, and cause remanded, that a new trial maybe granted, aad the appellant is entitled to his costs.  