Stembel v. Martin

50 Ohio St. (N.S.) 495
Ohio Supreme Court·Decided June 23, 1893·Published

Opinions

Williams, J.

1. While each of these cases presents a question not involved in the other, there is one question common to both, which will be first considered; and that is, whether, when the relict of a former deceased husband or wife dies intestate and without issue, possessed of real or personal property which came to the intestate from such husband or wife, in the manner contemplated by the act of April 11, 1877 (74 Ohio Taws, 81), the one-half of the property passes and descends, under the provisions of that act and the statutes to which it is supplemental, to the brothers and sisters of the whole blood of the former husband or wife, and their representatives, in preference to those of the half blood, and their representatives, or to both classes equally.

In the Stembel case, the question arises in an action brought by the administrators of M. Touise Deshler, in which they ask the direction of the court, in making distri[515]*515bution of moneys in their hands, the proceeds of personal property which descended to her from her former husband John G. Deshler. It appears, that on the 8th day of January, 1878, John G. Deshler died in Franklin county, seized of certain real property situated in this state, which he had acquired by purchase, and possessed of a personal estate largely beyond what was necessary for the payment of his ■debts and the expenses of administration. He died without issue, and intestate, leaving a widow, M. Eouise Deshler, who died intestate' and without issue, February 12, 1878; ■and the personal property which came to her from her husband, was converted into money by her administrators, who hold it ready for distribution as the court may direct. John G. Deshler had two brothers of the whole blood, both of whom survived him and his widow. One of them has since ■died leaving children. Surviving John- G. Deshler, were also sisters of the half blood, and representatives of a deceased brother and of deceased sisters of the half blood. The controversy, presenting the question now under consideration, is between the brother and representatives of the deceased brother of the whole blood of John G. Deshler, and the sisters and representatives of the deceased sisters and brothers of the half blood. The latter claim they are entitled to share equally with the former in the distribution of one-half of the fund in the hands of the administrators.

In the other case, the question is made in an action for the partition of real estáte of which Margaretta Stone died seized. Silas S. Stone, it appears, died intestate, and without issue, February the 18th, 1884. He had acquired the land, the partition of which was sought in the action, by purchase, and died seized of the same. Margaretta, his widow, died without issue and intestate, January the 21st, 1892, possessed of the land. The plaintiffs in the partition suit, are the children of the only brother of the whole blood of Silas S. Stone, the brother being dead, and there being no sisters of the whole blood or their representatives. The plaintiffs claim they became the owners of one-half of the land upon the death of Margaretta, and her brothers and [516]*516sisters, and their representatives, the owners of the other half. The brothers and sisters of the half blood of Silas S. Stone, and the representatives of two deceased brothers of the half blood, were, on their motion, made parties defendant.. They claim to be tenants in common with the plaintiffs, and demand partition accordingly.

The question thus presented by each of these cases, must find its solution in the statutes regulating the descent and distribution of the estates of deceased persons, in force when the estates vested.

When Deshler and his widow died, the act of March 14, 1853, as amended April 17, 1857, and the supplemental act of April 11, 1877 ( 74 Ohio Laws, 81), were in force. After-wards, and before the death of Stone and his widow, the statutes were amended in some particulars, but not so as to' affect the question in hand. The provisions of the statutes, so far as they are deemed material to the decision of the question, are: Sections 1 and 2 of the act of March 14, 1853, as amended by the act of April 17, 1857 (S. & C., 501): Section 4 of the act of March 14,1853, and the supplemental act of April 11, 1877. The provisions of sections 1 and 2, which affect the question, are as follows:

“ Section 1. That when any person shall die intestate, having title or right to any real estate or inheritance in this state, which title shall have come to such intestate, by descent or devise, or deed of gift from any ancestor, such estate shall descend and pass in parcenary, to his or her kindred, in the following course:
“ First—To the children of such intestate, or their legal representatives ;
“ Second—If there be no children or their legal representatives living, the estate shall pass to and vest in the husband or wife, relict of such intestate during his or her natural life;
“ Third—If such intestate leave no husband or wife, relict of himself or herself, or at the death of such relict, the estate shall pass to and vest in the brothers and sisters of the intestate who may be of the blood of the ancestor [517]*517from whom the estate came, or their legal representatives, whether such brothers and sisters be of the whole or half blood of the intestate.”
“ Section 2. That if the estate came not by descent, devise or deed of gift, it shall descend and pass as follows:
“ First—To the children of the intestate and their legal representatives;
“ Second—If there be no children or their legal representatives, the estate shall pass to and be vested in the husband or wife, relict of such intestate ;
“ Third—If such intestate leave no husband or wife relict of himself or herself, the estate shall pass to the brothers and sisters of the intestate of the whole blood and their legal representatives.
“Fourth—If there be no brothers or sisters of the intestate of the whole blood, or their legal representatives, the estate shall pass to the brothers and sisters of the half blood and their legal representatives.”

The other provisions of these two sections, are not deemed important in the decision of the question.

Section 4 of the act of March 14, 1853, provides, that “ If any person shall die intestate, leaving any goods, chattels, or other personal estate, such goods, chattels, or other personal estate shall' be distributed agreeably to the foregoing course, prescribed in the second section of this act, saving, however, such right as any widow may have to any portion of such personal estate.”

The supplemental act of April 11, 1877, is as follows :

“ An act supplementary to the act entitled ‘An act regulating descents and the distribution of personal estates,’ passed March 14, 1853 (S. & C. 501), and to the various acts amendatory thereof.
“ Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio,

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Stembel v. Martin, 50 Ohio St. (N.S.) 495 (Ohio 1893).

50 Ohio St. (N.S.) 495 (Stembel v. Martin) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.