Bates v. Bates

59 N.E.2d 155, 41 Ohio Law. Abs. 485
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedNovember 10, 1943
DocketNo. 135
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 59 N.E.2d 155 (Bates v. Bates) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bates v. Bates, 59 N.E.2d 155, 41 Ohio Law. Abs. 485 (Ohio Ct. App. 1943).

Opinion

OPINION

By MATTHEWS, J.

■ This is an appeal from a judgment construing the will of Harry G. Bates, deceased.

The testator was a partner in three distinct partnerships, each of which was engaged in the canning business, but at different locations. One, located at South Charleston was known as the South Charleston Canning Company, and in this the only other partner was the testator’s son, C. Everett Bates. Another, located at Spring Valley, was known as Spring Valley Packing Company, and the only other partner was his son-in-law, H. W. Harcum. The other located at New Vienna, was known as New Vienna Packing Company, and the other partner was his other son-in-law, R. C. Brann.

By his will, Harry G. Bates first provided for the payment of his debts, then gave all household furnishings and equipment to his widow, then gave her a life estate in real estate in Blanchester, and subject thereto three-tenths to each of his two daughters and four-tenths to his son, explaining the disparity by the statement that his son had been of valuable assistance during the reconstruction of the property. In the next item he gave his coal business located in Wilmington to his widow and niece Helen L. Patterson in equal shares subject to “all indebtedness and liability in connection with said business.”

As the meaning of Items Five, Six, and Seven are directly brought in issue, we quote them verbatim:

“Item 5. I give, devise and bequeath to my son, C. Everett Bates, • absolutely and in fee simple, all my interest in the assets of the canning business conducted by my said son and my[487]*487self at South Charleston, Ohio and known as the South Charleston Canning Company, including all real estate connected with or used by said business, this devise and bequest being charged, however, with all indebtedness and liability in connection with said business and my said son shall assume and pay the same to the satisfaction of my executors. At the date of this will, I am the owner of one-half of the business mentioned in this item.”

“Item 6. I give, devise and bequeath to my daughter, Loraine A. Harcum, absolutely and in fee simple, all of my interest in the assets of the canning business conducted by my son-in-law, H. W. Harcum, and myself at Spring Valley, Ohio, and known as the Spring Valley Packing Company, including all real estate connected with or used by said business, this devise and bequest being charged, however, with all indebtedness and liability in connection with said business and my said daughter, Loraine A. Harcum, shall assume and pay the same to the satisfaction of my executors. At the date of this will, I am the owner of one-half of the business mentioned in this item.”

“Item 7. I give, devise and bequeath to my daughter, Maphia E. Brann, absolutely and in fee simple, all of my interests in the assets of the canning business conducted by my sin-in-law, R. C. Brann, and myself at New Vienna, Ohio and known as the New Vienna Packing Company, including all real estate connected with or used by said business, this devise and bequest being charged, however, with all indebtedness and liability in connection with said business and my said daughter, Maphia E. Brann, shall assume and pay the same to the satisfaction of my executors. At the date of this will, I am the owner of one-half of the business mentioned in this item.”

By Item Eight the sum of seven thousand dollars was bequeathed to his seven grandchildren, and all the residue of his estate he gave to his widow and three children, share and share alike.

The testator died on January 10th, 1943.

The canning of corn is a seasonal business and the expectation is that between seasons the canned corn will be sold, the selling price collected and the season’s profits determined. It cannot be said from this record that the expectation was always realized in the operation of these partnerships. Nor can it be said that all the profits were divided between the partners annually. That didn’t take place the last year of the life of the testator.

[488]*488On November 16th, 1942 the testator was paid $9605.09, in full of his share of the profits of the Spring Valley Packing Company. During the year 1942, the testator received on account of profits of the South Charleston Canning Company two payments totaling $4000.00 and at the time of his death there was on hand canned corn of the value of $3170.00 and $397.23 in bank and debts totaling $573.41, leaving $2994.42 in corn and cash in which the "testator had an undivided three-eights interest.

At the close of 1942 the New Vienna Packing Company had on hand canned goods of the value of $13,833.77 and $8635.21 on deposit in bank subject to debts amounting to $591.00, leaving $21,877.98 in corn and cash in which the testator had an undivided one-half interest. On January 8th, 1943, the testator was paid $2500.00, which left his interest in the partnership assets worth $8438.99. The corn had been sold, but not delivered during the testator’s lifetime, for the reason appearing in appellee’s brief and the court’s opinion, but not otherwise, that the United States had prohibited the transfer.

The prayer, so far as material here, is as follows:

“(2) Do the profits from the Spring Valley Packing Company for the pack of the year 1942 paid to Harry G. Bates in his lifetime in the amount of $9605.09 pass to Loraine A. Harcum under Item 6 of said will or are they subject to the provisions of Item 8 of said will as a part of residuum of said estate.

“(3) Do the profits of the South Charleston Canning Company for the pack of the year 1942 paid to Harry G. Bates in his lifetime in the amount of $4000.00 pass to C. Everett Bates under Item 5 of said will or are they subject to the provisions of Item 8 of said will as a part of the residuum of said estate.

“(4) Do the profits of said South Charleston Canning Company for the pack of the year 1942, unpaid to Harry G. Bates at the time of his death, in the amount of $1122.91, partially in canned corn and partially in money in bank at the time of his death, pass to C. Everett Bates under Item 5 of said will or are they subject to the provisions of Item 8 of said will as a part of the residuum of said estate.

“(5) Do the profits of the New Vienna Packing Company for the pack of the year 1942, paid to Harry G. Bates in his lifetime in the amount of $2500.00 pass to Maphia E. Brann under Item 7 of said will or are they subject to the pro[489]*489visions of Item 8 of said will as a part of the residuum of said estate.

“(6) Do the profits of said New Vienna Packing company for the pack of the year 1942 unpaid to Harry G. Bates at the time of his death and in the amount of $8438.99 partially in canned corn sold under contract and partially in money in bank at the time of his death, pass to Maphia E. Brann under Item 7 of said will or are they subject to the provisions of Item 8 of said will as a part of the residuum of said estate.”

The appraisers placed the same, valuation upon the physical assets of these partnerships.

An effort was made to show that the partners distributed all the profits each year, but the evidence falls short of proving it. If the evidence so proved, we would not consider it material.

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Bluebook (online)
59 N.E.2d 155, 41 Ohio Law. Abs. 485, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bates-v-bates-ohioctapp-1943.