In re the Accounting of United States Trust Co.

185 Misc. 174, 58 N.Y.S.2d 865, 1945 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2531
CourtNew York Surrogate's Court
DecidedMay 23, 1945
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 185 Misc. 174 (In re the Accounting of United States Trust Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Surrogate's Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re the Accounting of United States Trust Co., 185 Misc. 174, 58 N.Y.S.2d 865, 1945 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2531 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1945).

Opinion

Boylak, S.

In this proceeding, the surviving trustee, upon an accounting, requests the construction of paragraphs “ Eighth ” and “ Eleventh ”, respectively, of the will of James Gr. Clark, and a further construction of said will as to the devolution of title to certain real property mentioned and described in paragraphs Second ” and Third ” of said will.

Certain facts, for the purpose of this proceeding, have been stipulated between counsel as true. They are as follows:

At the time of the execution of his last will and testament, on May 10, 1907, James Gr. Clark, the decedent herein, was a well-known physician, residing in Staten Island, county of Bichmond. The said decedent was then over eighty years of age, and was extremely fond of his son, Frederick E. Clark, who was also a physician.

The decedent was especially fond of his grandson, referred to in his last will and testament as “ James Gr. Clark, Jr.,” who, at the time of the making of said will of the decedent, was about thirty-one years of age, was married to a Miss Ethel Bichmond and, as of that time, had no living children. The said James G. Clark, Jr., frequently visited his grandfather, the decedent, on Sundays and on other occasions when he was not working, and there was a strong mutual affection between them.

The said decedent did not see very much of his granddaughter, Kathleen W. Clark, or of his son William Milton Clark.

On February 3, 1910, Constance Clark, a daughter of James G. Clark, Jr., and his wife, Ethel Bichmond, was born. Said child was approximately five years of age at the time of the death of the decedent, James G. Clark, on April 9,1915. James G. Clark, Jr., married a second time. Marjorie M. Clark (Haverstick) was his second wife. Two sons were born of this union, namely James Guy on Clark and Frederick D. Clark.

It appears from the petition that the decedent, James G. Clark, was survived by his wife, Blanche A., his two sons, Frederick E. Clark and William Milton Clark, and by James G. Clark, Jr., and Kathleen W. Clark (now Lemery), his grandchildren, the children of his son, Frederick E. Clark. It further [177]*177appears that the widow of the decedent, Blanche A., never remarried.

Both sons predeceased the widow. Frederick' F. Clark died testate on October 5,1920, and William Milton Clark died testate on Jnne 15, 1929. James G. Clark, Jr., grandson, died testate July 23, 1930, leaving him surviving his sons, James Guyon Clark and Frederick D. Clark, an infant under the age of fourteen years at the time of the filing of the petition herein.

Kathleen W. Clark, a granddaughter, whose married name is now Kathleen C. Lemery, was alive at the commencement of this proceeding.

The provisions of said will, which are the subject matter of this proceeding, are as follows:

“ Second: I give to my wife, Blanche A. Clark, the use of the premises now occupied by me (usually called the Homestead), situated at the corner of Richmond Terrace and Taylor Street, in the First Ward of the Village of New Brighton, Staten Island, City of New York, bounded on the north by Richmond Terrace, on the west by Taylor Street, on the south by my property and Trinity Place, and on the east .by property owned by Mrs. Thomas and Mr. McMurray. On this property are two dwellings, stable and outbuildings, and an outlet on the rear into Trinity Place. I also give to my said wife the use of all my furniture, pictures, silver, books, and (in a word) all things in my house, during her life, provided she remains my widow, and I direct my Executors and Trustees to regularly pay the water tax, and all taxes annually, the insurance, and for all necessary expenses and repairs on this property. At her death, or if she should marry again, I then give to my son, William Milton Clark, during his life, the use of the Homestead, and all the above mentioned property, and I direct my Trustees and Executors to pay all insurance, taxes and repairs during his life. If at any time my Trustees and Executors think it advisable and judicious to sell the Homestead property, with or without the furniture, I direct that the sum derived from such sale shall be invested, and the income therefrom be paid to my wife in regular quarterly payments, so long as she shall live, provided she remains my widow. At her death, or if she marries again, I then direct said income to be paid to my son, William Milton Clark, so long as he shall live, and at his death the principal from which said income is derived, together with any unpaid interest, shall be equally divided between my son, Frederick E. Clark, and my grandson, James G. Clark, Jr., upon the condition that they each pay to my granddaughter, Kathleen W. Clark, Two thousand dollars ($2,000) in cash.

[178]*178“ Third: At the death of my son, William Milton Clark, I give and devise the Homestead property, and all the property mentioned in paragraph second to my grandson, James G. Clark, Jr., in fee, (if said property has not been sold) upon, the condition that he pay to my granddaughter, Kathleen W. Clark, Two thousand dollars ($2,000) in cash, and to my son, Frederick E. Clark, Two thousand dollars ($2,000) in cash. * * *

“ Eighth: If my Executors and Trustees decide to sell the property on the north side of Kichmond Terrace (described in the last paragraph), I direct that the sum derived from said sale shall be invested, and the income therefrom shall be paid to my wife Blanche during her life, provided she remains my widow. At her death, or if she marries, I direct the principal from which this income is derived to be equally divided between my son, Fredérick E. Clark, my Son Milton, and my grandson, James G. Clark, Jr., upon the conditions that they each pay Five hundred dollars ($500) in cash to my granddaughter Kathleen. # * *

“ Eleventh: All the rest of my estate, real and personal, not hereinbefore disposed of, I give and devise to my wife, Blanche A. Clark, and the United States Trust Company of New York, In Trust, however, to hold, manage.and invest, to collect the income therefrom, and after deducting annually from said income a sum sufficient to pay the taxes, insurance, and for all necessary repairs on the Homestead property, and the Trustees’ commissions, then the residue in regular quarterly payments to be made to my wife, Blanche A. Clark, so long as she shall live, provided she remains my widow. At her death, or if she should marry again, the income to her shall oease, and I then direct that this income shall be paid to my son Milton as long as he shall live, and at his death I direct that one-half of the principal yielding this income be paid to my grandson, James G. Clark, Jr., and the other half to be equally divided between my son, Frederick E. Clark, and his daughter Kathleen.”

It further appears that the property mentioned in paragraphs “ Second ” and “ Third ” of said will has never been sold. Due to this fact, the directions contained in the second paragraph of said will do not require consideration. However, the language used therein does shed light on the feelings and intention of the testator toward the family of his son Frederick E. Clark, in that, after provisions for life estates to the testator’s widow and his son William Milton Clark, the corpus of [179]*179said estate is to be divided between the testator’s son and his grandson equally, subject to a charge in favor of Frederick E. Clark’s daughter, Kathleen" W. Clark (now Lemery), of $4,000.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Allen v. White
201 Misc. 1034 (New York Supreme Court, 1951)
In re the Accounting of Alhart
189 Misc. 473 (New York Surrogate's Court, 1947)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
185 Misc. 174, 58 N.Y.S.2d 865, 1945 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2531, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-the-accounting-of-united-states-trust-co-nysurct-1945.