Grace v. Perry

95 S.W. 875, 197 Mo. 550, 1906 Mo. LEXIS 50

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: June 20, 1906
• Status: Published

Opinion

BRACE, C. J.

This is a suit for partition of a lot of ground in Block 208 E., in the city of St. Louis, fronting thirty feet on the west line of Thirteenth street and running westwardly that width to the east line of Centre street; of the undivided one-half of which the plaintiff, in his petition, claimed to he the owner as tenant in common in fee simple with the defendants.

The judgment was for the defendants, and the plaintiff appeals.

Since the case has been pending in this court, the plaintiff has died, and the case has been revived in the names of Thomas L. M. Grace, Margaret M. Grace, executors and trustees, and William L. Grace, a trustee under the will of the said Patrick Grace.

The case made is this:

James S. Dougherty died testate, seized of the land in question, leaving a widow and two children, to-wit, .James S. Dougherty and Augusta Lucy Dougherty, who has since intermarried with John W. Perry. His will is as follows: °

“I, James S. Dougherty, of St. Louis, Mo., being of sound and of deposing mind, do make, publish and declare the following as my last will and testament, to-wit :

‘ ‘ First: I direct all my debts justly due to be paid.

“Second: I give and devise to my wife my residence and furniture for sole use and the use of my children for and during her natural life, and such other interest in my estate as the law will allow, and may be allowed according to the within or attached contracts. All the residue of my estate, personal and mixed, I give and devise equally to my children, James S. Dougherty and Augusta Lucy Dougherty, during their natural lives, respectfully, with remainder to their heirs or his or her heirs of their body, but with full power and authority to each of my said children after their majority to dispose of the absolute estate in fee simple title, and on the death of either the survivor to inherit. But should both my children die without issue of their body, then and in that event my grandnephew, Charles F. Loker, shall inherit all my property.

“I appoint Melvin L. Gray and James R. Loker executors of this my last will.

“In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 5th day of April, 1878.

“James S. Dougherty. (Seal.)

“Subscribed, sealed and declared by the above-named J. S. Dougherty as and for his last will and testament in our presence and in the presence of each other herewith subscribing our names as attesting witnesses thereto this 5th day of April, 1878.

“J. O. Page.

Thomas J. Henley.

Thos. P. Miller.”

“The within or attached contracts” mentioned in the body of the will constituted an antenuptial contract whereby he charges his estate with an annuity of $800 in favor of his wife during her'wid'owhood.

On the 11th of February, 1898, the widow, released to her son, James S. Dougherty, all her right, title, interest and claim in and to the property in controversy. Afterwards, on the 5th of March, 1898, the said James S. Dougherty and wife executed a deed of trust of that date conveying “the absolute estate in fee simple title in and to the undivided half” of said lot to a trustee to secure the payment óf a principal note for $1,250 and two interest notes for $13.75 each, payable to the said Patrick F. Grace. The debt secured was not paid, the deed of trust was duly foreclosed and the said Grace became the purchaser of the premises at the price of $1531.75, received the trustee’s deed therefor, and thereupon instituted this suit, averring that the land cannot be partitioned in kind and asking that it be sold and he be given one-half of the proceeds.

The defendants are Augusta Lucy Dougherty Perry and her husband; James S. Dougherty, the grantor in the deed of trust; William Lyons, who held a second mortgage on the. premises executed by the said James S. Dougherty, which also covered other land; and Charles F. Loker, the grandnephew of the testator. Of these only Mr. and Mrs. Perry answered, their answer being in effect a general denial of the material allegations of the petition, with a specific averment that “Plaintiff is only entitled’ to a life estate in an undivided one-half interest in said real estate.”

On the trial the defendants inter alia offered in evidence the deed of trust and trustee’s deed aforesaid, and at the close of the case the court excluded these deeds and entered judgment for the defendants, thereby holding that the plaintiff acquired no interest whatever by virtue of these deeds. To determine whether the trial court was right or not, in so holding, it becomes necessary to ascertain in the first place what interest in and power over the land in question was acquired by the said James S. Dougherty by the will of his father, a question to be determined by a proper construction of the residuary clause of his will.

I. The controlling rule in construing wills in this Staté, to which all technical rules of construction must give way, is: to give effect to the true intent and meaning of the testator as the same may be gathered from the whole instrument, if not violative of some established rulé of law; and in arriving at that intention, the relation of the testator to the beneficiaries named in the will and the circumstances surrounding him at the time of its execution are to be taken into consideration, and the will read as near as may be from his standpoint, giving effect, if possible, to every clause and portion of it, and to this end, if need be, words may be supplied and omitted, and sentences transposed. [R. S. 1899, sec. 4650; Brooks v. Brooks, 187 Mo. 476; Dozier v. Dozier, 183 Mo. 137; Meiners v. Meiners, 179 Mo. 614; Simmons v. Cabanne, 177 Mo. 336; Underwood v. Cave, 176 Mo. 1; Cross v. Hoch, 149 Mo. 325, and cases therein cited.]

The evidence in this and the cognate case submitted with it, tends to prove that at the time of the execution of the will the testator was an “old gentleman ’ ’ possessed of ‘ ‘ considerable property. ’ ’ That his family consisted of himself, his wife and two minor children, James S. and Augusta Lucy, aged, respectively, about eight and ten years.

It is conceded, and we think it is evident on the face of the instrument, that it was the intention of the testator by the last clause to devise all the residue of his estate, real as well as personal and mixed.

It is manifest on the face of the will that it was written inops consiUi and probably by the testator himself, who by the same token was neither a lawyer nor a scholar. It is inartificially drawn, defective in orthography and grammar, and to its interpretation must be brought good common sense rather than artificial or technical rules of construction either grammatical or legal. Evidently a man of good sense but of limited education, he was doubtless moved to its preparation by the usual motives that induce the execution of a last will and testament in view of approaching death, his leading purpose being to make provision for those who were dependent upon him, and upon whom his affections naturally centered. These were his wife and his two infant children. His main purpose as to his wife having been accomplished by a ratification of his antenuptial contract with, and an additional devise to her; by the residuary clause in question, he sought to accomplish his main purpose as to his children. In it they were the special objects of his bounty. They were the persons he had in mind and for whose benefit this residuary clause was written, the leading and dominant idea of which is, that the residue of his estate is to go to them in equal shares for life with full power in each of them after their majority to dispose of his or her share of the estate in fee simple absolute. The remainder of the clause is devoted to providing for a devolution of these shares in case of the death of the children or either of them before they arrived at their majority, or before they had disposed of their shares.

As might have been expected of one of his limited accomplishments, not well versed in the technical meaning of legal terms, the language he uses for the purpose is not always aptly chosen, but it seems clear enough that his meaning, rendered broadly in everyday English, is that, if one of his children should die without issue before he or she arrived at the age of majority or before he or she had disposed of his or her share, the share of the one so dying should go to the other, and if both died without issue before the happening of these contingences, then the grandnephew should take the estate, and in the case of the death of either with issue, the issue should stand in the shoes of the parent, and the grandnephew should get nothing. 'For the purposes of this appeal it is, perhaps, unnecessary to trace the course of that devolution more definitely, for when James S. Dougherty executed the deed of trust aforesaid he had attained his majority, and the crucial question in this case is, could he then execute the power given him in the will so as to defeat the remainders limited upon his life estate, subject to that power, it evidently being the intention of the testator that they should be so subject?

But as it will be necessary finally to determine the interest of the defendant, Augusta Lucy Dougherty Perry, in the premises, a formal construction in appropriate legal terms is called for. None better could be given than that found in the brief of J. L. Minnis, Esq., Amicus Curiae, as follows:

“The manifest intention of the testator as expressed in his will was to devise to each of his children a life estate in the undivided one-half of the residue of his estate, with power to dispose of the fee to such half after attaining majority, and the remainder to the survivor for life with like power contingent on the death of the other without issue, hut if both children have issue, then with remainder to such issue per stirpes; if only one of the children has issue with remainder to such issue; but if both of the children, die without issue, then with remainder on the death of the survivor to Loiter. The remainders contingent on the failure of the children to exercise the power to dispose of the fee.”

Is there any established rule of law that will defeat the intention of the testator as thus expressed? For the defendant it is contended that there is, in that, the power to dispose of the fee to their respective shares given to the testator’s children must be rejected because repugnant to the disposition of the fee by the testator himself to the heirs of the first taker, and in the case of the failure of such heirs to the grandnephew of the testator. This contention cannot be maintained. It must be remembered that the devise is express for life with power to dispose of the fee, and it is a well-settled principle of law that a power or disposition added to a life estate is not repugnant to the life estate or to the remainder over. If not exercised it leaves both estates unaffected by it. If exercised, it defeats the remainder in the property disposed of; the remainder being subject to such defeat, as in this case. [24 Am. and Eng. Ency. Law (2 Ed.), 449; Russell v. Eubanks, 84 Mo. 82-88, and cases cited; Harbison v. James, 90 Mo. 411; Graven v. Allen, 100 Mo. 293; Lewis v. Pitman, 101 Mo. 281-291; Greffet v. Willman, 114 Mo. 106; Evans v. Folks, 135 Mo. 397-403; Garland v. Smith, 164 Mo. 1; Underwood v. Cave, 176 Mo. 1; St. Louis L. & B. Assn. v. Fueller, 182 Mo. 93.]

The rule is thus stated in 24 Am. and Eng. Ency. of Law (2 Ed.), 449: “A limitation after a life estate contingent upon alienation by the life tenant is valid, and a life estate may be given with the power of disposal or appointment superadded, and an executory limitation in default thereof will be good,” and in a foot note at the bottom of the page, cases from England, the Supreme Court of the United States and from twenty-two States are cited.

In Russell v. Eubanks, 84 Mo. 82, the will gave to Julia Ann Williams an estate for life, with power to sell and dispose of the property as she pleased, with remainder to Frances Ellen and Henrietta Gregg Robinson. The court said:

“The effect of this added power of disposition, if exercised by her, it may be conceded, would have been to carry the fee, and thus cut. off the remainder. But it was only a power, and if not exercised her life estate was not thereby enlarged and converted into a fee, and the remainder over, at her death, is valid and takes effect in the remainderman. These positions, we think, are abundantly sustained by adjudications in this State and elsewhere.” [Citing numerous authorities.]

Further on the court said: “It may be true that he intended by the power to sell and dispose of the property as she pleased, to enable her, by exercising the power, to convert her life estate into a fee, but it is equally true that he intended and so provided that, in case she did not exercise the power, the property so remaining at her death should go to and vest in the legatees in remainder. Of this, we think, under the language of the will and rules of construction, there can be no reasonable doubt. ’ ’

In the case of Harbison v. James, 90 Mo. 411, the clause of the will under consideration was as follows:

“I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Mary F. Hall, all my property, including real and personal, of any and every description whatever, giving her the right to sell and reinvest, as she may desire, any part of the same for her separate use and benefit, and at her death I desire that any portion of my estate remaining undisposed of shall go to. my three daughters, Marie Davis, Annie Harbison and Amelia Wilson.”

The court gave effect to the will as written. The court said: “The power of sale or disposal, super-added to the life estate, if not exercised, does not enlarge the life estate into the fee, and in such case the remainder over is valid, and, at the death of the life tenant, takes effect in the remainderman.”

The court announced the same doctrine in the case of Lewis v. Pitman, 101 Mo. 281, and in Greffet v. Will-man, 114 Mo. 106. In the former case the court said:

“The testator gives all of it to his wife, with the right and power in her to carry on the manfacturing business, or to dispose of the same, as to her may seem best, with the further qualification that whatever of the property she has remaining at her death shall go to the children. Thus interpreted, does the will violate any rule of law? It is claimed by the appellant that it does, and this for the reason that where there isa devise of property, with an absolute power of disposal in the first taker, a subsequent limitation over is void. We shall not review the many authorities cited in support of this proposition of law. It may be conceded that a devise of an estate generally or indefinitely, with a power of disposition over it, carries a fee. [Green v. Sutton, 50 Mo. 186.] But there is a wide difference between that class of cases and those where there is a devise for life with a power of disposition. Where an express life estate is created, an added power of disposition does not convert the estate into a fee.”

The wife having failed to exercise the power, the court held that: “ She had but a life estate . . . and at her death the children became entitled to all that remained, and they are entitled to take it under their father’s will.”

In Evans v. Folks, 135 Mo. 397, the will under consideration gave a life estate, with superadded power to dispose of the fee with remainder over. The court said: “However, as he gave to her a life estate by express words, with a power of disposition, which the law ho].ds to be a mere power, which was not executed during the life time of Mrs. Evans by a conveyance of the property under the seventh clause of the will, on her death it passed to the heirs of Nathan Evans and Stacy Evans, youngest son of William Evans, or those of them who were then living.”

In Garland v. Smith, 164 Mo. 1, the deed under consideration conveyed: (1) a legal title in fee simple to the trustee; (2) an equitable life estate to the wife, with power to dispose of the fee superadded; (3) a contingent remainder to the issue of the wife living at ’ her death; and (4), in default of such issue, a contingent remainder to the right heirs of Charles Garland. The court held that this arrangement was consistent and valid; that the instrument by which the wife attempted to execute the power being void, and the wife having died, the land vested in the right' heirs of Charles Garland.

In the case of Underwood v. Cave, 176 Mo. 1, the clause of the will under consideration read:

“It is my will that the property, real and personal, hereby bequeathed to my wife, shall be hers absolutely during her natural life, to use and enjoy as she may see proper, and at her death, if there should be anything left, -my will is that it is be vested and applied to the use of the Lone Jack Baptist Church, used as may be thought most conducive to the advancement of the Christian religion.”

It was held that the wife took a life estate, with superadded power to dispose of the fee, and that the exercise of the power by her cut out the remainder-man.

And in the last case cited, St. Louis L. & B. Assn, v. Fueller, 182 Mo. 93, it was held that the power given to the life tenant “to sell, convey, mortgage or otherwise encumber the land gave her power not only to sell her life interest but the land itself, and when she exercised that power she cut out all interests which the remainderman would have had if she had not exercised that power.”

It follows from what has been said that James S. Dougherty, at the time the deed of trust aforesaid was executed, had power to dispose of an undivided one-half of the real estate in question in fee simple.

II. It is next contended that although it be held that James S. Dougherty had power to dispose of the fee simple title to the real estate in question, he had not power to dispose of it by mortgage— that the power of disposal created by the words “with full power and authority to dispose of the absolute estate in fee simple” should be construed as a power to sell and that a power to sell does not include a power to mortgage. It may be'conceded that as a general rule the power to sell does not include a power to mortgage and that the execution of a power by means of a mortgage is a disposition in favor of the donee of the power, and it may be further conceded that if it appeared from the context of the will that it was the intention of the testator that the power granted should be exercised by sale only or for the benefit of others, which is sometimes made manifest by the purpose for which the power of disposal is given and sometimes by the connection in which the word “dispose” is used, the contention might be maintained. But such is not this case. The grant of power to dispose here is full and general, to be exercised by the grantees for their own benefit, unhampered as to the mode in which it is to be exercised and not associated with any words which upon the maxim of “noscitw a sociis” or the principle of ejusdem generis could be construed to put any limit upon their power. In other words, the power here is general and unlimited as contradistinguished from the particular or limited powers contemplated in the authorities cited in support of this contention. The law upon the subject is thus tersely expressed in the text-books: In 22 Am. and Eng. Ency. of Law (2 Ed.), 1133:

“The question whether a power is general or limited depends solely upon the terms of the instrument creating the power; and a power general in its terms will not he cut down to a limited power by subsequent provisions, except by express words or unless an intent to do so is apparent from the instrument creating the power. A general power of appointment may be exercised in favor of whomsoever the donee pleases, even in favor of the donee himself or for his benefit.”

And in 1 Sugden on Vendors (3 Am. Ed.), p. 514, as follows:

“A general power is, in regard to the estates which may be created by force of it, tantamount to a limitation in fee, not merely because it enables the donee to limit a fee, which a particular power may also do, but because it enables him to give the fee to whom he pleases;'he has an absolute disposing power over the estate, and may bring it into the market whenever his necessities or wishes may lead him to do so.”

To the same effect are the authorities generally, and from these principles it follows that no special mode of exercising the power being prescribed in the instrument creating it, such general power of appointment may be executed by a mortgage which will be operative to the extent of the interest of the mortgagor. “The mortgage, however, will operate as an execution of the power only to the extent of the mortgagee’s interest, leaving the equity of redemption or surplus as though the power were undisposed of; but where the mortgage also contains limitations over of the surplus, after the satisfaction of the debt secured, it will operate as a complete execution of the power so as to defeat limitations over in default of an exercise of the power. ’ ’ [22 Am. and Eng. Ency. of Law (2 Ed.), 1108.] And such was the deed of trust in this case..

III. It is next, and finally contended, that although James S. Dougherty might have executed the power given him in the will of his father as to the land in question by the deed of trust, he did not in fact do so, because no reference to the power is made in said deed and the effect thereof was to convey only his life estate. The power of said Dougherty under the will was to dispose of “the absolute estate in fee simple.” By the deed, which was for a valuable consideration, he conveyed “the absolute estate in.fee simple,” as he must have intended what he said, and as he could not have conveyed the absolute title in fee simple except in execution of the power, this sufficiently indicates that the deed was made in execution of the power. [Underwood v. Cave, 176 Mo. 18; Boyer v. Allen, 76 Mo. 498; Kinney v. Mathews, 69 Mo. l. c. 523; Campbell v. Johnson, 65 Mo. 439; Owen v. Ellis, 64 Mo. 77.]

The rule in some of the earlier cases upon which this contention might have been maintained (Pease v. Pilot Knob Iron Co., 49 Mo. 124; Turner v. Timberlake, 53 Mo. 371; Owen v. Switzer, 51 Mo. 322) was thoroughly discredited by the learned and able opinion of Napton, J., in Owen v. Ellis, supra, and Owen v. Switzer, supra, the last case in which the rule was ever maintained, was expressly overruled in Campbell v. Johnson, supra, and is no longer the law in this State.

It follows from what has been said that Patrick F. Grace by virtue of the deed of trust, aforesaid, and the trustee’s deed, executed in pursuance of the sale thereunder, acquired the fee simple title to an undivided one-half of the premises, and that the court erred in rejecting those deeds and in giving judgment for the defendants. The judgment of the circuit court will, therefore, be reversed and the cause remanded to be proceeded with in accordance with the views expressed in this opinion.

All concur except Graves, J., not sitting.