Matter Estate Nancy M. Alexander v. Lee S‪.‬

This is an appeal from the judgment of August 3, 1961 of the Circuit Court of Adair County in the matter of the Estate of Nancy M. Alexander, Deceased. It involves the objections of Annie Dowell and Robert Patton, two heirs of the deceased, to the final and two previous settlements filed by Lee S. McElhiney, the administrator, an accounting of his stewardship, and an effort to modify the settlement and remove the administrator from office for misconduct. The first appeal in this case was dismissed as premature because the judgment appealed from (rendered June 16, 1958) was not final, no accounting having been taken. In re Alexanders Estate, Mo. Sup., 327 S.W.2d 218. After our mandate went down the Circuit Court of Adair County appointed a referee who conducted a hearing and made a detailed report recommending certain charges and credits to the account of the administrator; finding that the administrator owed a balance of $48,673.04, and finding gross mismanagement. McElhineys exceptions to the referees report were overruled. Two of the heirs filed five exceptions, four of which were sustained. New administrators were appointed. On August 3, 1961 the court entered a final judgment confirming the judgment of June 16, 1958 sustaining the heirs objections to and striking the final settlement; removing McElhiney as administrator; revoking his letters of administration as of June 16, 1958; amending the referees report to satisfy the heirs four exceptions; finding that McElhiney should be charged with the sum of $157,680.51 and credited with the sum of $97,855.43; otherwise approving the referees report and adopting its findings, and rendering judgment ordering McElhiney to pay his successors $59,825.08, and to pay costs in the sum of $753.68. McElhiney filed a motion to set aside and to enter judgment in his behalf, or in the alternative for a new trial. Overruled, McElhiney appealed from the judgment of August 3, 1961.