In re National City Bank

244 A.D. 161
CourtAppellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
DecidedMarch 13, 1935
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 244 A.D. 161 (In re National City Bank) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re National City Bank, 244 A.D. 161 (N.Y. Ct. App. 1935).

Opinion

Rhodes, J.

The eighth paragraph of the will of testatrix, construction of which is involved herein, is as follows:

Eighth, I bequeath to my executors hereinafter named in trust, the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) to be expended for a college course in Vassar or Wellesley College or a college of equal standing for my granddaughter Ruth and for her proper and reasonable expenses in taking such course, to be paid to her or for such expenses, in the discretion of said executors, and at such times and in such manner as in their judgment shall be proper and for her best interests and in case she shall refuse to take such course before she arrives at the age of twenty-five years or is unable to do so I bequeath the said sum of Three thousand dollars to Clara Augusta [163]*163Travel* or in casé of her death to Bertha I. Traver’s youngest child living at the time of the failure of my said grand-child to take such college course. All interest upon such fund to be treated and disposed of as part of the principal of said fund.”

The will is not set forth at length in the record, and the date thereof is not shown. It does appear, however, that testatrix died in September, 1922, and that the will was admitted to probate September 16, 1922; that Ruth Jacobs was born on the 23d day of January, 1912; that in the year 1918 said Ruth Jacobs suffered from an attack of influenza so that for a time she was partially blind and was for many months under treatment before her sight was sufficiently restored to enable her to undertake reading or study or to engage in any pursuit which required protracted use of her eyes; that although her eyesight is improved, her eyes are still weak and it is inadvisable to have them subjected to severe strain such as may be caused by protracted and concentrated study of the kind required for preparation in a regular college coruse and for the taking of a full academic coruse as is required in Vassar, Wellesley or any other general academic college.

Previously, and when about five years of age, she was stricken with infantile paralysis, which partially affected the use of her left hand and arm, and the use thereof is now somewhat impaired, although she is hopeful that she will ultimately recover the use thereof.

In the affidavit of Ruth Jacobs, presented before the surrogate in this proceeding, she states: “My eyesight is such that it is difficult for me to devote the amount of concentrated study necessary to enable me to fit myself for a full college course and for the taking of a college course after I have succeeded in completing the necessary prehminary courses. I am now twenty-one years of age, and would probably have to continue my studies for about two years further before I would be educationally fitted to enter college, and the study required in the taking of a regular college course would, I believe, be a strain upon my eyes which might be hurtful, and I would prefer to be permitted to take the course in art for which I have some talent and in which I am interested. Such a course as is offered by the Pittsburgh Art Institute or by any other good institution of similar character would be preferable to me personally instead of utilizing the funds in sending me to a regular academic college.”

Later in the proceeding she filed a verified “ Supplemental Answer,” wherein she states that she has ascertained that she can secure admission to Pratt Institute, a school of household arts and sciences at Brooklyn, N. Y.; that the course of study which she wishes to pursue in said institution is a course in dietetics; [164]*164that said institution requires for admission to said course of study satisfactory completion of a four years’ course in high school or an equivalent of such course; that she.will be given credit by said institution for work which she has done in the laboratory of her father’s pharmacy, and will be admitted to said institution upon a basis equal to that of a high school graduate. She has finished practically two years of high school work, having attended high school for a part of three years and was not in attendance at the time of the hearing.

There appears in the record the opinion of the supervisor, qualifying certificates, of the State Education Department, and the parties have stipulated that such opinion be submitted as evidence herein. It states in part:

“ Pratt Institute gives specialized courses in science and engineering and in household sciences and arts, the majority of which may be considered of collegiate grade and of acceptable standards. Technically, however, this Institute is not registered by this Department as a college or professional school, since it does not require for admission graduation from an approved high school in all cases and does not grant a degree.

“ Pratt Institute has never been officially registered by this Department as a college or university mainly because it does not meet the standards of the Department for such registration. These standards include, first, a requirement that all students entering a college or university must be graduates of an approved or accredited high school or have equivalent education; second, that the college or university applying for registration must conduct a four-year college course and confer a degree at the end of the course.

Pratt Institute does not require, necessarily, graduation from high school for admission, and does not operate a full four-year course or confer a degree, so that this Institute cannot be considered as a college or university of equivalent standing to Yassar, Wellesley, Cornell, or other standard colleges or universities.”

By the decree appealed from, said eighth paragraph of the will is construed to authorize the trustee of said will to expend said fund for a four-year course in dietetics in Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, to the extent that the same is necessary for the proper and reasonable expenses of the beneficiary in taking such a course. The appellant questions this construction on the ground that the will forbids the expenditure of money for a course of instruction whether in dietetics or in any other subject, in Pratt Institute.

The objection has merit. The language of the clause in question is clear. The money is to be used for a college course in Yassar or Wellesley College or a college of equal standing. The language [165]*165employed is quite specific and reveals a definite and limited purpose. The physical condition of her granddaughter, presumably, was known to testatrix for this condition had existed for several years prior to her death. The language indicates that testatrix had this situation in mind, for she provided that if her said granddaughter were unable to take such course before arrival at the age of twenty-five years, then other disposition of the fund was made. Likewise, she directed that the fund go elsewhere in case the granddaughter refused to take “ such course.” Sufficient time elapsed between the date of the granddaughter’s affliction and the date of testatrix’s death to have permitted a different provision for the granddaughter by a change in the will, had the testatrix so desired. She did not give the money to be used without qualification for the education of the beneficiary. She imposed restrictions and limitations upon the gift. It was to be used for a college course unless the granddaughter was unable or refused to take such course before arriving at the age of twenty-five years.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
244 A.D. 161, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-national-city-bank-nyappdiv-1935.