Paulson v. Paulson

107 N.W. 484, 127 Wis. 612, 1906 Wisc. LEXIS 205
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 20, 1906
StatusPublished
Cited by29 cases

This text of 107 N.W. 484 (Paulson v. Paulson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Paulson v. Paulson, 107 N.W. 484, 127 Wis. 612, 1906 Wisc. LEXIS 205 (Wis. 1906).

Opinion

. KeewiN, J.

1. The question raised by the first assignment of error is whether the circuit court erred in not granting the motion of appellant to dismiss the appeal of the executrix from the order and judgment entered by the county court. It is plain from a reference to sec. 4031, Stats. 1898, that the executrix, Matilda Paulson, was an aggrieved party within the meaning of the statute, and as such entitled to appeal. This question was directly passed upon by this court in the late- case of McKenney v. Minahan, 119 Wis. 651, 91 N. W. 489, and it was there held that an executor or administrator is an aggrieved party within the meaning of the statute, and has a right to appeal. The court below, therefore, was right, in denying the motion to dismiss the appeal.

2. The court found, in effect, that the will was duly executed, and that the testatrix during her lifetime was a member of the Emanuel Church, two and one-half miles from Cashton, Wisconsin, and contributed to its support, which church was known as the “Moen Churchthat appellant, Peter Paulson, was also a member of such church, and that the testatrix paid his membership dues in the_ church during the year prior to her death; that there is no society known as the “Norwegian Home and Eoreign Missionary Association,” but that there is a society known as “The Home and Eoreign Missions of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America,” and ■that such society was connected with the Emanuel Church two and one-half miles southwest from Cashton; that the testatrix contributed to this society, and stated during her lifetime that she was going to make a gift to it; and, as conclusions of law, that the testatrix intended to make a bequest of [616]*616$1,500 to Peter Pcmlson upon tbe condition tbat be attend tbe regular meetings of Emanuel Cburcb two and one-balf miles southwest from Casbton, known as tbe “Moen Cburcb,” wben not sick in bed or prevented by accident or other unavoidable occurrence; tbat by tbe fourth clause of said will tbe testatrix intended to and did give tbe bequest over to the Home and Foreign Missions of tbe United Norwegian Lutheran Cburcb of America; and tbat tbe conditions annexed to tbe bequest to Peter Paulson in the second clause of tbe will were valid.

Tbe errors complained of by appellant under these findings of fact and conclusions of law involve tbe following propositions : First. Whether tbe findings of fact are borne out by tbe will and tbe evidence. Second. Whether tbe will vested in Peter Pcmlson an absolute title to tbe gift at tbe death of tbe testatrix. Third. Whether tbe testatrix gave, or intended to give, tbe Peter Paulson bequest over to tbe Home and Foreign Missions of'the United Norwegian Lutheran Cburcb of ‘America. Fourth. Whether tbe conditions ^annexed to tbe bequest to Peter Paulson are valid.

After a careful examination of tbe record we are convinced tbat tbe findings of fact are fully supported by tbe evidence, and therefore shall spend no time upon this branch of tbe case. We are unable to agree with counsel for appellant that tbe will vested absolute title to tbe $1,500 legacy in Peter Paulson. Tbe first and most important question for determination is, What was the intention of tbe testatrix ? and we think it clear from tbe terms of the will tbat it was her intention tbat tbe legacy should pass subject to tbe conditions specified. Tbe provision tbat, if Peter Paulson should not in good faith try to comply with the terms imposed upon him, then and in such case tbe bequest should go over to tbe society named in tbe will, to be paid by tbe executrix in fifteen equal annual payments, commencing five years after tbe death of tbe testatrix, makes manifest her intention tbat [617]*617tbe legacy was upon condition attached to such gift, as found by tbe court below, and that tbe control and management of tbe legacy should remain with the executrix until the condition should be performed, or, in case of Peter s death during the fifteen years, the unpaid portion of such bequest should go to his children, share and share alike. It is true that legacies payable at a future time certain and not subject to condition precedent are vested, while, on the other hand, legacies made payable on conditions which may never happen and placed in the possession and under the control of a trustee and subject to condition precedent are contingent. Scott v. West, 63 Wis. 529, 566, 24 N. W. 161, 25 N. W. 18. And, when a future time for the payment of a legacy is defined by the will, the legacy may be vested or contingent as may appear to have been the intention of the testator upon a proper construction of the will. Stark v. Conde, 100 Wis. 633, 76 N. W. 600, and cases cited. But in all cases the intention of the testator as expressed in the will must govern. And it is quite clear in the case before us that the testarix intended the conditions should attach to the gift and defeat it upon failure on the part of the legatee to perform. Eor the purpose of enabling the executrix to carry out the trust in accordance with the terms of the will, the testatrix manifestly intended that possession and control of the bequest to Peter Paulson should remain in the executrix during the period necessary for the execution of the trust. Scott v. West, supra. The gift over to the Home and Foreign Missions of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America, in case of failure of performance of conditions by Peter Paulson, is definite and certain, and the intention of the testatrix clearly was that the gift over to this society was intended, although another name was inadvertently inserted in the will. Extrinsic evidence was admissible to explain the ambiguity. Webster v. Morris, 66 Wis. 379, 28 N. W. 353; Sherwood v. Sherwood, 45 Wis. 357. It is considered that the court below [618]*618was right in determining that the testatrix intended to make, and did make, the beqnest to Peter Paulson upon the condition named in the will.

3. The main contention on the part of the appellant, and the one upon which he seems to rely for reversal, is to the effect that the condition attached to the beqnest to Peter Pcml-son requiring him to “attend the regular meetings of worship of the Emanuel Church near the village of Cashton when not sick in bed or prevented by accident or other unavoidable occurrence,” is void for the reasons (1) that it infringes art. I, sec. 18, Const.; (2) that it is void for uncertainty and indefiniteness.

Under the first head it is insisted that the condition referred to is repugnant to the constitutional provision that “the right of every man to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of his own conscience shall never be infringed, nor shall any man be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship or to maintain any ministry against his consent, nor shall any control' of or interference with the right of conscience be permitted. . . .” It is not easy to see how the conditions attached to the will in any manner infringe this constitutional provision. The condition in question is neither against public policy nor contrary to law, nor can it be said that it interferes with the right of the legatee to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience. The testatrix had the right to dispose of her property in such lawful manner as she saw fit, and make such person as she desired the object of her bounty, and in so doing attach to the bequest any lawful condition.

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Bluebook (online)
107 N.W. 484, 127 Wis. 612, 1906 Wisc. LEXIS 205, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/paulson-v-paulson-wis-1906.