Sager v. Byrer

24 Ohio N.P. (n.s.) 129
CourtRichland County Court of Common Pleas
DecidedJuly 1, 1921
StatusPublished

This text of 24 Ohio N.P. (n.s.) 129 (Sager v. Byrer) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Richland County Court of Common Pleas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Sager v. Byrer, 24 Ohio N.P. (n.s.) 129 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1921).

Opinion

Galbraith, J.

Plaintiffs bring this action, asking for the construction of the last will and testament of Henry J. Byrer, deceased, which was [130]*130duly admitted to probate in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, on September 20, 1907; and in anticipation of a construction favorable to their contention, they also ask for an accounting.

The estate now consists of real estate located in Cleveland, of a value of about $40,000, and decedent had real estate in Rich-land county and certain personal property, shortly prior to his death, which was otherwise distributed, of an additional value of approximately $20,000.

The petition herein was filed July .8, 1918.

It appears that all necessary parties are properly before the court either by answer, or, if in default for answer, by proper service.

Separate and joint answers of the several defendants assert various defenses, as follows:

(1) That the court has no jurisdiction of the subject matter, because all of the land in controversy is located in Cuyahoga county.

(2) That plaintiffs have no right to maintain the action, because the demand made upon the trustee — the Citizens Savings & Trust Co. — was limited to the construction of a single item of the will, while this action seeks construction of several items or the entire will.

(3) That the right to maintain an action for construction is barred by the ten year statute of limitations.

(4) That this court has no jurisdiction of the person of one of the necessary party defendants — Harry J. Byrer — because he is a non-resident of the state and was only summoned by publication. '

(5) That the devisees under the terms of the will were either all in being or the immediate issue of all in being.

(6) That full accounting in the estate has been had in the probate court of Cuyahoga county, Ohio.

And questions of estoppel, and forfeiture under the terms of the will, which are presented in the answer of C. E. McBride, guardian ad litem for the minor grandchildren, and in the amendment to the answer of the defendants, Edmund K. Byrer. Dolly L. Byrer, Harry J. Byrer and Carrie E. Byrer.

These two latter defenses are reserved for reference later herein.

[131]*131Upon motions and demurrers this court has already eliminated the matters of defense set forth above as defenses (1), (2), (3) and (4), and, in the court’s opinion, nothing further need be said thereon than was said in the written opinions on file.

Coming then to the general issue, and which would include the defense referred to above as (5)' — the parts of the will first, and for the general purpose, necessary to refer to (separated, transposed and numbered by the court for its own convenience for reference), are as follows:

“(1) I set apart the following properties, to-wit, sub-lot 10, and the west half of sub-lot number 11, situated on Clinton ave., N. W., with frame house on said No. 10, my old home and part of sub-lot No. 103, twenty feet front situated on Dun-ham with frame building on said lot, now 66 Street N. E. My executors shall turn over and deliver these .two properties to the Citizens Savings & Trust Company of Cleveland Ohio. The said Citizens Savings & Trust Company shall hold these two properties in trust only. They shall keep them well insured and in good repair, pay taxes, take out their pay; the balance or surplus they shall divide equaltybetween my two daughters, Leola M. 'Stickle and Sarah Ruth Pritchard so long as they live and when one of them dies, pay all to the remaining one so long as she lives. If both die before my sons, the income shall then be paid to my two sons, Edmund K. Byrer and Harry J. Byrer, or to one, if alive. If both are dead, it shall be paid to the two widows, Dollie Byrer and Carrie E. Byrer. If all are dead, the bank shall credit the amounts to my estate in the savings department.”
“(2) And I set atpart the following real estate for the supi port of my wife as long as she lives and remains my widow and no longer. I hereby set apart and reserve for her maintenance sub-lots No. 12, and the East half of sub-lot No. 11 ■with double house, situated on Clinton Ave., N. W.,‘ also the part of sub-lot No. 210 Russell now 70th Street, N. E., with double house bought of Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Kelley, also sub-lot No. 8 in W. J. Crawford’s and others sub-division of part of original lot No. 392 situated on Kenmore Ave., N. E. Out of the income of these properties my wife shall keep them well insured, pay taxes and repairs and the balance she shall use for her'living expenses and for no other purposes. Should [132]*132tlie income be in excess of my wife’s expenses of maintenance she shall deposit the -balance in bank in the name of my estate and only to be withdrawn by her if actual necessity requires it for her comfort and support.”
“(3) After the death of my wife, my desire is that my' executors turn over to .the Citizens Savings & Trust Company of Cleveland sub-lot No. 12 and the east half of sub-lot No, 11, with double frame house on said lots situated on Clinton Ave., N. W. to hold said sub-lots No. 12 and No. 11 in trust only, and to manage the same as they do sub-lot No. 10 and the west half -of sub-lot No. 11 Clinton Ave., N. W., and sub-lot No. 103 twenty feet situated on Dunham (now 66 Street), keep in repair, pay taxes, insurance, and the bank’s commission and pay balance to my two daughters, Leola M. Stickle and Sarah Ruth Pritchard,' and followed as directed above.”
<£(4) Sub-lot number 8, forty feet on Kenmore Ave. N. E. and also the part of sub-lot number 21G Russell (now 70th Street) shall go to my two sons, Edmund K. Byrer and ITarry J. Byrer .equal after my wife’s death. (¡T my two sons are dead, then The Citizens Savings & Trust Company shall hold them and they shall go to my grand-children as my will describes)!
“ (5) The real estate set aside and reserved with the income going to my two daughters Leola M. Stickle and Sarah Ruth Pritchard, after all those who are benefited by this property held in trust by The Citizens Savings & Trust Company are dead and past to the beyond, then the said trust company shall continue to hold the property until the oldest child at proper age is entitled to its spkre of this property. (The property shall then be sold at private sale to the highest bidder for cash, and paid to the grandchildren as they become to the age and requirements of my will. /
££No grandchild who is a common woman or a whore or smokes or uses tobacco or a grandson who smokes or uses tobacco in' any form or drinks beer or whiskey or any intoxicating drinks of any kind or is profligate or goes into saloons or places where intoxicating drinks are sold, or are doless men and no energy to make something of themselves, shall forever be debarred from receiving any money out of my estate. And all grandchildren who can prove themselves clear and clean of all these filthy habits shall be heirs to my estate, and each one must under oath before the Probate Court where this will was probated make oath that they are free and clean and clear of these filthy habits. And each child shall furnish five good respon[133]*133sible male citizens who will make oath that this grandchild is clear of these habits and comes fully under the requirements of this my will.

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Bluebook (online)
24 Ohio N.P. (n.s.) 129, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sager-v-byrer-ohctcomplrichla-1921.