Huff v. Hamilton

277 S.W. 274, 211 Ky. 265, 1925 Ky. LEXIS 862
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kentucky (pre-1976)
DecidedNovember 17, 1925
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 277 S.W. 274 (Huff v. Hamilton) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kentucky (pre-1976) primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Huff v. Hamilton, 277 S.W. 274, 211 Ky. 265, 1925 Ky. LEXIS 862 (Ky. 1925).

Opinion

Opinion op the Court by

Commissioner Hobson

Reversing.

Ethel K. Musgrove died testate in Jefferson county March 23, 1923. Her husband, Charles Musgrove, re *266 nounced the will. Her mother, Anna M. Huff, was found of unsound mind on May 26, 1924, and Harold L. Huff was appointed as committee for her. W. S. Hamilton was appointed administrator with the will annexed and filed this suit on June 12, 1924, to obtain the direction of the court in the settlement of the estate. Mary L. Collier presented her petition alleging that by the will and codicils she is constituted trustee for Ada N. Huff. The circuit court adjudged her the relief sought. This is the only question presented on the appeal. The will and codicil are in these words:

“I, Ethel K. Musgrove, of Louisville, Jefferson county, Kentucky, being of' sound mind and disposing memory, do make this my last will and testament.
“I give, devise and bequeath to my husband, Charles Hamilton Musgrove, all property, real, personal and mixed, of which I may dispossessed, or in which I may have any interest of any kind.
“I hereby appoint said Charles Hamilton Mus-grove as executor of this will, ‘and request that he be allowed to qualify without executing bond, and that no inventory of my estate he filed.
“This will is written wholly in my own handwriting this twenty-eighth (28) day of February, 1914.
“(Signed) Ethel K. Musgrove.
“I, Ethel Musgrove (nee Huff), of sound mind, do hereby direct that one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) in government bonds be given absolutely to. my ■husband, Charles Hamilton Musgrove, and he is to have full and complete ownership of my interest in the property (house and lot) at 1343 South First street. The interest on bonds, moneys and property of every description (outside the bonds and house and lot, the latter of which is left to my husband during his lifetime) is to be turned over to and -possessed by my mother, Mrs. Annie M. Pluff. If such interest, money and income is inadequate to her support and comfort, additional sums are to be paid to or used for her living and upkeep out of the money invested or from the sale of one or more government bonds held in trust for her maintenance.
“If diamonds and other personal property and the lot known as lot 6 in block 6 — Kenwood—can be *267 sold to good advantage, the proceeds are to be invested in some good security and the interest used for the upkeep of my mother, Mrs. Annie M. Huff. Upon her death, all bonds and moneys are to become the property of my husband, Charles M. Mus-grove, if he is still unmarried, and if he is married or dead, said moneys and bonds are to become the property of my brother, Harold Ledman Huff.
“Upon the death of my mother, Mrs. Annie M-Huff, the house, lot and improvements at 2229' Osage street, now occupied by my brother and family, is to become the property of my brother, Harold, if living. If he is dead, lot and improvements are to become the property of my husband, Charles Hamilton Musgrove, if living and unmarried. If said Charles Hamilton Musgrove is dead or married, and my brother Harold is dead, house, lot and improvements at 2229 Osage street is to become the property of the children of my brother, Harold. Upon the death of my husband, Charles Hamilton Mus-grove, my interest, right and title to the property at 1343 South First street is to revert to my brother, Harold Ledman Huff, if living, and if my brother Harold is dead, to his children, in equal division when the youngest child reaches maturity, the proceeds of property to be used for their benefit during their minority.
“During the lifetime of my mother I would ask that her interests be safeguarded and directed by my cousin, Mary Collier.
“In witness that this is my last will and desires, I hereby attach my signature this second day of November, nineteen hundred and eighteen.
“(Signed) Ethel Musgrove/7
“Louisville, Ky., May 26, 1921.
“In the event of my death the savings account ■of five hundred dollars and interest in the Louisville National Bank Co. dating from 1916, is to be turned over' in its entirety to my mother, Mrs. Anna M. Huff.
“(Signed) Ethel Musgrove/7
“Louisville, Ky., June 1, 1921.
“Upon my death all my personal possessions and the amount accruing from the jewelry and diamonds, *268 I wish sold, is to be divided 'between my husband, ■Charles H. Musgrove, and my mother, Mrs. Anna M. Huff. This includes bonds, etc. The rentals from the house and lot at 2229 Osage street are to-be paid my mother during her lifetime and at her death, all -of which she dies possessed is to go to my brother, Harold Ledman Huff, including house and lot at 2229 Osage' street. The house and lot •at 1343 S. First street is to belong to my husband, Charles H. Musgrove, during his lifetime. At his death, my interest in same is to go to my brother, Harold Ledman Huff. My mother is to be paid at least $75.00 per month out of the estate I leave.
“(Signed) Ethel Musgrove. ”

The personal estate, including $12,000.00 in Liberty Bonds, was of value $18,983.00; the realty $2,500.00. Anna M. Huff is living with her son, his wife and four small children. She has lived there since the death of her daughter. He is her committee. She is óf unsound mind. The judgment appealed from is in these words:

“The will of Ethel K. Musgrove -creates for the benefit of Anna M. Huff a trust of which Mary Collier is named and she shall have the right upon duly qualifying to act, as trustee.
“The trustee for Anna M. Huff shall be entitled to receive from the administrator upon final settlement and distribution one-half of the surplus personalty of the testatrix, to hold upon the trust hereinafter defined.
“The trustee shall use at least seventy-five dollars ($75.00) per month to provide for the support and comfort' of Anna M. Huff. The trustee shall have the right to receive the income from the ■share -of Anna M. Huff in the first and third parcels of land hereinabove described.”

This vests one-half of the surplus personalty of the testatrix in Mary Collier as trustee for Anna M. Huff. Does the will warrant this?

By the original will everything was devised to the husband. By the first codicil $1,000.00 in government ■bonds and the full and complete ownership of the testatrix’s interest in the First street property, for his lifetime, was devised to the husband, and the interest on bonds, money and property of every description, ex *269

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9 S.W.2d 1020 (Court of Appeals of Kentucky (pre-1976), 1928)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
277 S.W. 274, 211 Ky. 265, 1925 Ky. LEXIS 862, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/huff-v-hamilton-kyctapphigh-1925.