Ring

This is a review of a recommendation of disbarment. Petitioner was charged with culpable negligence and misappropriation of funds in connection with the handling of the estate of the deceased wife of John Cowan. The evidence shows that he was employed in 1927, and received advances for costs and fees in the sum of $1250, of which $153.48 went for costs. About five years later, in February, 1932, another attorney was substituted in his place, in order to close the estate. The record discloses very few services performed by petitioner beyond the preliminary steps of administration. Thus, no inventory and appraisement was ever filed by him. It also appears that a bond premium in the sum of $100 was paid yearly by petitioner’s client, as executor of the estate, during all of the years that administration was delayed. The statutory fee to which petitioner would have been entitled for handling the estate was $735. The rest of the money advanced to him he claimed for extraordinary services.

The proceedings against petitioner were commenced by an order to show cause. Petitioner did not appear at the hearing before the local administrative committee or before the board of governors. He…