Linton v. Williams

25 Ohio Law. Abs. 659, 1937 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 1243
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 19, 1937
DocketNo 2704
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 25 Ohio Law. Abs. 659 (Linton v. Williams) 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
Linton v. Williams, 25 Ohio Law. Abs. 659, 1937 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 1243 (Ohio Ct. App. 1937).

Opinion

OPINION

By CRAIG, PJ.

Appellee commenced an action in the Probate Court of Franklin County for determination of heirship in- the estate of Mary Jane Chennell, deceased. George L. Chennell died testate, without issue, December 11, 1933, leaving all his property to his widow, Mary Jane Chennell, who died testate, without issue, May 9, 1934. At the time of t-he death of Mary Jane Chennell the administration of the estate of George L Chennell had not been completed. In fact none oí the property had been turned over to Mai’y Jane Chennell under the provisions of the will, although $11,200.00 of the year’s allowance of $25,000.00 set oil to her had been paid. At the time of her death Mary Jane Chennell possessed $1540.26 in a bank account, six insurance policies on which her estate was paid $1029.50. an obligation oí The Columbus Bill Posting Company for $5016.50 which was paid to her estate, an obligation of the George L. Chennell estate for $1429.06, and furniture and fixtures appraised at $2831.80. In addition there was yet due on her year’s allowance from the George L. Chennell estate the sum of $13,800.00.

Items 7 and 8 of Mary Jane Chennell’s will are as follows:

ITEM SEVEN: It is my will and I do hereby authorize and instruct my executor hereinafter named, to sell and reduce to cash all assets of which I may die seized, whether the same be personal property or real estate, and that after so doing he their make distribution as provided by this will or any Codicil or Codicils thereto. It is my will and I do further authorize and instruct my said executor, to sell any and all such assets at public or private sale as he may deem best and without order of court therefor, provided, however,- my said executor shall not have the l'ight to sell at: less than the appraised value, any property without order of court so authorizing same.

ITEM EIGHT: Knowing full well that there is much of my property I have not disposed of by specific bequest or devise, it is my will that all such undisposed of residuary estate shall descend to and be distributed to such person and persons as would receive the same were I to die without will; it being my present intention, however, by codicils hereinafter made, to dispose of much or all of my property in this Item Eight referred to.

Since the death of Mary Jane Chennell a large portion of the assets of the George L. Chennell estate has been turned over to the Mary Jane Chennell estate. All of it has been reduced to cash, a number of specific legalies paid and the remainder, which [661]*661is in excess of $200,000.00, awaits distribution.

The executor of the estate of George L. Chennell is also executor of the estate of Mary Jane Chennell. He has made diligent search for the heirs of both decedents which has taken him to foreign lands and to distant parts of this country. As a result of his painstaking efforts he has located a brother and a sister of George L. Chennell, both living in England. The brother, John Chennell, has since died and James N. Linton is the duly qualified and acting ancillary administrator of his estate, having been appointed in the Probate Court of Franklin County. The sister is Cicily Muller.

Mary Jane Chennell died leaving surviving her no brothers nor sisters nor any lineal descendants thereof. The following are the next of kin discovered by the executor after making investigation in England. Wales, the United States, Canada and Ausirafia: Jane Jenkins Caldwell, a maternal aunt; Thomas E. Jenkins, a first ccusfii; David Williams, a first cousin; John Williams, a first cousin; Margaret Williams, Chevalier, a first cousin once removed; Edith Thomas Williams, a first cousin;' William Louis Thomas, a first cousin; Thomas John Thomas, a first cousin.

The defendant David Williams has filed an answer and cross-petition claiming to be a maternal first cousin of Mary Jane Chennell, and has asked the court to determine that he is entitled to a l/12th share of the residuary estate of Mary Jane Chennell. The defendant, Margaret Williams Chevalier has filed a similar pleading claiming to be a maternal first cousin once removed of Mary Jane Chennell, and asking the court to determine that she is entitled to a l/12lh share in the Mary Jane Chennell estate.

James N. Linton, as ancillary administrator of the John Chennell estate has filed air answer asking the court to determine that John Chennell was a lawful heir of George L. Chennell and asking that his estate be allowed to participate 'in the Mary Jane Chennell estate according to law.

Upon hearing on the various pleadings the Probate. Court found that the next of kin of George L. Chennell at the time of the death of Mary Jane Chennell and entitled to participate in the distribution ol the esrate were John Chennell, a brother of George L. Chennell, and Cicily Muller, his sister. The court found that each of these persons was entitled to %th of the residuary estate under Item 8 of Mary Jane Chenneil’s will. The court further found that Jane Jenkins Caldwell was an aunt of Mary Jane Chennell and as such entitled to %th of the residue'; that Thomas E. Jenkins is a first cousin and entitled 10 %th of the residue; that David Williams is a first cousin and entitled to l/24th of 1he residue; that John^ Williams is a first cousin and entitled' to l/24th of the residue; that Margaret Williams Chevalier is a first cousin once removed and entitled to D24th of the residue; that Edith Thomas Williams is a first cousin and entitled to l/24th of the residue; that William Louis Thomas is a first cousin and entitled to l/24th of the residue; and that Thomas John Thomas is a first cousin and entitled to 1/24 tb of such residue.

David Williams and Margaret Williams Chevalier have taken an appeal to this court on questions of law. No assignment of error has been filed in the cause and we find it difficult to ascertain with the desired clarity what are the errors claimed.

In appellant’s briefs it is claimed that §10503-5 GC, known as the Half and Half Statute, has no application and the next of kin of Mary Jane Chennell should receive her entire residuary estate to the exclusion of the next of kin of George L. Chennell because she died testate as to the residuum although the will directs that it be treated as intestate property. In oral argument this point was not urged and on inquiry it was stated by appellants’ counsel in substance that he was satisfied the contention was not supported by the authorities. We agree with this so that-discussion on this phase of the case is unnecessary.

The next point is that inasmuch as the will directs the executor to convert to cash decedent’s property, the Half and Half Statute would not apply since it operates only when the identical property coming from the deceased spouse is distributed to the next of kin. This is the proposition established in Wilson et v Eccles et, 119 Oh St 184, and Murphy, Admr. v Niehus, 50 Oh Ap 299. The Half and Half Statute, §10503-5 GC is as follows:

“When the relict of a deceased husband 01 wife dies intestate and . without issue, possessed of any real estate or personal property which came to such relict from any deceased spouse, by deed of gift, de[662]*662vise, bequest or descent, then such estate, real and personal, except for the intestate share oí the surviving spouse, if any, of such relict, shall pass to and vest in the children oí the deceased spouse from whom such real estate or personal property came, or the next of kin of deceased children.

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Related

Riley, Admr. v. Keel
85 N.E.2d 123 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1946)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
25 Ohio Law. Abs. 659, 1937 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 1243, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/linton-v-williams-ohioctapp-1937.