In re the Estate of O'Brine

Otto 0. Jaeger, S.

The decedent, an incompetent veteran, was admitted to Matteawan State Hospital for the Insane in 1929. He remained there until 1966 when he was transferred to Pilgrim State Hospital where he died on January 16, 1967, intestate and without known heirs.

In this accounting proceeding by the Public Administrator it appears that all of the assets of the decedent’s estate were derived from benefits paid by the Veterans’ Administration. It is undisputed that in these circumstances the net distributable estate escheats to the United States rather than to the State of New York by…