Estate of Blythe

This court was rather reluctant to make any appointment in the first instance, but upon motion of one of the many attorneys for the numerous claimants, none of the other attorneys dissenting audibly, or objecting other *116 wise until now, the appointment was made of a competent and reputable practitioner at this bar. This court never makes such appointments unless the necessity is manifest.

The court has the power to make such appointment under section 1718, Code of Civil Procedure, although it is a power that should be prudently and discreetly exercised, with a view to the conservation of the estate and of the interests of all concerned in it; and this court trusts it has so exercised the power conferred upon it by the code in this as in other instances. The court has in most cases refrained from appointing attorneys where there were no known heirs, not doubting its power, but questioning the expediency of its exercise in such cases; but in some other cases the result of the appointment was the discovery of true heirs, who, except for the action of the court, might have lost their inheritance. That the power resides in the court to make such appointment is hardly dubitable:…