Stewart v. Chattanooga Savings Bank

12 Tenn. App. 68, 1927 Tenn. App. LEXIS 220
CourtCourt of Appeals of Tennessee
DecidedMarch 21, 1927
StatusPublished

This text of 12 Tenn. App. 68 (Stewart v. Chattanooga Savings Bank) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Stewart v. Chattanooga Savings Bank, 12 Tenn. App. 68, 1927 Tenn. App. LEXIS 220 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1927).

Opinion

SNODGRASS, J.

Bill filed to construe a will. Complainant and defendant, Chattanooga Savings Bank & Trust Company, are executrix and executor jointly of the last will and testament of Cecelia M. Stewart, deceased. The complainant was and is the only heir >o£ the deceased, who apparently left a large estate. She is and was at the time of the filing of this hill —■— years old, and unmarried. She files the hill both as an individual and as executrix against her associate, the Chattanooga Savings Bank & Trust Company, a corporation, and against Southern Howard Association of Tennessee, and the Chattanooga Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, two corporations who were possible beneficiaries under the will, to construe the following clause therein:

“I desire the balance of my estate to go to the Working Girls Home in Chattanooga, Tenn., under the auspices of Howard Association as a building fund for above home providing the same be called ‘The Sarah Shaffer Home for Working Girls’ in honor of my sister, the late S. E. Shaffer, who gave «f her time, means and strength to the building of such a home in Chattanooga, Tenn., (several years ago); for destitute and needy girls seeking employment and which was represented in all appeals to the public for aid as and was called ‘A Working Girls Home’ but afterwards renamed ‘The Willard.’ ”

It is proper to say that in the previous suit referred to in the bill, about all the provisions of the will save the question in issue, which had been reserved, had been construed. The claim in the bill was and is that the said provision quoted is void ab initio, for a number of reasons. These reasons were specifically set out, and it was insisted that the complainant was entitled to, and it was asked, that the will be decreed to bequeath and to devise to complainant absolutely and in fee the entire estate of the said Cecelia M. Stewart, save and excepting the money bequests, which it was said the court might determine as valid; and to this end that. *70 the executors of this will be required to make final report and settlement, and that they be discharged from further liability as executor; and it was asked that the complainant be given general relief.

The Chattanooga Woman’s Christian - Temperance Union answered, that it was a corporation for the public welfare under the law; that it was in charge of and conducts the Prances Willard Home; that it was formerly known as the Working Girls Home; that it is the same Willard and Working Girls Home named and designated in the bill. It maintained the validity of the questioned'clause in the will, denied that it was void for any reason, insisted that the bequest was a most worthy one, for a most worthy need; placed itself in readiness to receive the benefit if entitled, laid the matter before the court for its protection, and joined issue on the allegations of the bill attacking the validity of the clause.

Chattanooga Savings Bank & Trust Company answered, that the facts stated in complainant’s bill as to the status of complainant and the probate of the will of Mrs. Cecelia M. Stewart were true; that it was true- that this defendant and complainant as executor of the will had filed the bill referred to in paragraph 3 of complainant’s bill in this court, for the purpose of construing, the will; that this defendant as executor was interested in the proper interpretation, construction and carrying out of the terms of the will because of said trust placed upon it, and that because ■of that trust defendant could neither admit nor deny the allegations of paragraph 4 of said bill, because the will of the said Mrs. Cecelia M. Stewart provided the following:

“After the payment, of all just debts I give and bequeath to my daughter Bessie M. Stewart for life all my personal and real property of which I may be possessed, excepting the cash bequests in items below.- Said life estate and the income thereof to be enjoyed by my said' daughter during her natural life. ’ ’

The answer further continued:

“It is further provided in said will, in item 1 thereof, for a bequest of $5000 to Miss Bessie M. Stewart, to be held by her as a separate estate free .of all marital rights of any husband to whom she may at any time be married, and to have and dispose of as she may desire.”

It was further provided in the 3rd paragraph of said will: .

“I desire the net income of my estate to be given my daughter each month by the .15th or 20th.”

The answer continued:

*71 “That this defendant as executor under said will and with the trust imposed upon it by. the terms of said will, which it has accepted, therefore submits to the court the question as to whether or not the attempt to limit the interest of complainant to a life estate is void.” The answer admits the truth of the 5th, 6th and 7th paragraphs of the bill, insists that paragraphs 8 and 9 thereof are legal conclusions which are before the court for determination, and in which the defendant is interested only to see that the terms of the will are carried out according to their true intent and purpose. A pro confesso was taken against the other defendant.

Proof was taken and the cause .heard before the Chancellor, which resulted in his holding and decreeing that the contingent residuary clause of the will of Mrs. Cecelia M. Stewart undertaking to devise, on the contingencies mentioned therein, certain properties to a working girls home in Chattanooga, Tennessee, under the auspices of the Howard Association, as a building fund for home does not include or refer to either the Southern Howard Association or the home known as the Willard Home operated by the defendant, Chattanooga "Woman’s Christian Temperance Union in the City of Chattanooga, and is vague and indefinite, and so much so that the same is void and of no effect. It was decreed that the entire provision contained in said contingent residuary clause of said will is null and void, for the reasons stated in the memorandum opinion prepared by the court and made part of the record.

It was further adjudged and decreed that while such provision is void, the net income of all the property covered and included in the last will and testament of the testatrix, after payment of debts, expenses of administration and the specific cash bequests provided for, goes to the complainant, Bessie M. Stewart during her life, and at her death to her child or children, or, if she die without leaving issue, then such remainder goes to the heirs at law of the testatrix, Mrs. Cecelia M. Stewart, except the real estate devised to the Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as adjudicated in the cause of Bessie M. Stewart et al. v. University of Chattanooga et al., in cause No. 21539 in this court. In.'Other words the court holds, that the life limitation in the will of said Cecelia M. Stewart is valid.

Thereupon a petition to rehear was filed by the complainant, praying, among other things, to be permitted to take further proof; averring that she was born July 28, 1874, and that she was now fifty-two years of age; that when she was forty-five years -of age in 1919 and about two years before her mother died, petitioner *72

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Bluebook (online)
12 Tenn. App. 68, 1927 Tenn. App. LEXIS 220, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/stewart-v-chattanooga-savings-bank-tennctapp-1927.