Terry v. Smith

42 N.J. Eq. 504

• Court: New Jersey Court of Chancery
• Decided: February 15, 1887
• Status: Published

Opinion

The Chancellor.

The complainant seeks partition of the land of her late mother, Harriet E. Manning, deceased, and an account of the rents and profits thereof coining to her, and an account of the personal estate of her mother, and a decree that her share thereof be invested for her benefit. She claims under the will of her mother a life interest in one-sixth of the whole estate. By the will the testatrix, after directing payment of her debts and funeral expenses by her executor and trustee therein named, gave and bequeathed to her daughter, Frances M. Gr. Wilson, “ the interest of the one equal undivided one-sixth part or portion” of her whole estate, during Mrs. Wilson’s natural life, and directed that upon the death of Mrs. Wilson “ the said interest and principal thereof” be paid absolutely to Georgiana Sweet, a granddaughter of the testatrix. She then gave and bequeathed to her daughter, the complainant, “ the interest of the one equal undivided one-sixth interest, part or portion ” of the whole estate during the complainant’s natural life, and directed that on the death of the complainant “ the said interest, as well as principal thereof,” be paid absolutely to the before-mentioned Georgiana Sweet. She next gave a legacy of $1,000 to her sister, Mrs. Hendrickson (which, however, she subsequently revoked by a codicil), and $5,000 absolutely to her granddaughter, Bessie Belle Bateman, daughter of her daughter, Nellie J. Smith, on her attaining to the age of twenty-one years, and $2,000 absolutely to Harriet L. Smith, another daughter of Mrs. Smith, upon her attaining to her majority; and she then gave and devised all the balance and residue of all her property, both real and personal, of whatever nature or kind, and wheresoever situated, to James A. Bradley, her executor, “ in trust for the execution of her will,” and gave to her daughter, Mrs. Smith, all the rents, issues and profits of all her estate, both real and personal, so to be held in trust, and directed the executor to pay over to her those rents, issues and profits quarterly for and during her natural life; and, upon her death, gave, bequeathed and devised all the remainder and residue of her estate, both real and personal, to Mrs. Smith’s before-mentioned two daughters absolutely. The value of the personal property was, it is said, about $700; that of the real estate about $42,000, and the debts amounted to about $14,200.

Where £3,000 were given, on the decease of A without issue, to the children of B, and by a codicil testator recited that he had already given the £3,000 to B for life with remainder to B’s children, and then revoked the gift as to £2,000 and gave it to O — Held, that B could not claim the other £1,000 for life, Be Smith, 2 Johns. & Hem. 594. But a legacy will not be cut down by a mere misrecital of its amount in a codicil, Gordon v. Hoffman, 7 Sim. 29 ; Mann v. Fuller, Kay 624. A testator assigned as a reason for revoking a legacy to A that he had provided A with a permanent home, when, in fact, he had not so provided. — Held, that the revocation was valid, Hayes v. Hayes, 6 O. E. Gr. 265. The words in a will, “ I have already given to my son John lot No. 1,” which was not a fact, do not constitute a devise thereof, Smith v. Meyers, 2 U. G. Q. B. (O. S.) 301 (335); see Edmunds v. Waugh, 4 Hrew. 75; JDenn v. Cornell, 3 Johns. Gas. 174 ; Bur/ord v. Burford, 29 Pa. St. 221. A recital that the title to certain lands is in A, which, in fact, is in testator, does not amount to a devise thereof, hut where the title should, in justice, be in A equity will not correct the mistake, Williams v. Allen, 17 Qa. 81. After giving to his daughter the use of the residue of his estate after her marriage, with remainder to her children, a testator, by codicil, revoked the gift because he declared that in consequence of nervous debility she was unfit to marry, and therefore should not marry. — Held, that the court would not inquire into the fact whether the testator was mistaken or not with reference to his daughter’s health or capacity, Morley v. Beynoldson, 2 Hare 570. If a testator assign as a reason for revoking a legacy that the legatee is dead, which is not true in fact, such revocation is void, Campbell v. French, 3 Ves. 321; Barclay v. Maskelyne, Johns. 124; see Gifford v. Dyer, 2 JR. I. 99; Bitter v. Fox, 6 Whart 99. A testator, by codicil, recited that he thereby gave his grandson a legacy because he had disinherited him, whereas, in fact, he had given him a large legacy in the will. — Feld, that the legacy in the will was not revoked, but that the codicil was void for mistake, Mordecai v. Boylan, 6 Jones ¾. 365. So, if a. testator, believing his will to be lost, execute another which is probated, and afterwards the original is found, Moresby’s Goods, 1 Hagg. 378; see Pringle v. McPherson, 2 Brev. 279; Onions v. Tyrer, 1 P. Wms. 345. Testatrix bequeathed to A “£300 due on bond.” She owed A only £120, but A was held entitled to the £300, Whitfield v. Clemment, 1 Meriv. 402; see Wood v. White, 32 Me. 340; Shmvood v. Sherwood, 45 Wis. 360. A specific bequest made to testator’s granddaughter in satisfaction of a debt said by testator to be due from him to her, whereas, in fact, it was due to her father, cannot be charged therewith, Harrison v. Haskins, 2 Pat. <⅛ H. 388.

The gift to the complainant is of the interest of the clear one-sixth of the estate, real and personal. The scheme of the will is to give to her and Mrs. Wilson each one-sixth of the entire estate for life, with remainder to the complainant’s daughter; to give to Mrs. Smith’s two daughters $7,000, and then to give the residue of the estate to the executor to pay debts and funeral and testamentary expenses, and then to pay over to Mrs. Smith, quarterly, the rents, issues and profits of the balance of the residue, and, at lier death, to hand over such balance to Mrs. Smith’s two daughters. The shares of the complainant and Mrs. Wilson are not subject to the trust created for the residue. The words “ for the execution of my will ” are employed in the will to qualify the trust, but they are superfluous, and do not extend it over the shares of the complainant and her sister, Mrs. Wilson. The debts and the pecuniary legacies of $5,000, and $2,000 to Mrs. Smith’s daughters, are to be paid out of the residue in exoneration of those shares. The complainant and Mrs. Wilson are each entitled to the interest of an undivided one-sixth of all of the testator’s estate, real and personal, without any deduction for the payment of debts, or for the payment of the pecuniary legacies.

Under a direction to pay debts, “ including a debt of £300 owing from me to my daughter,” whereas, the testator owed her only £150 — Held, that she was not entitled to more than £150, Wilson v. Morley, L. R. {5 Ch. Div.) 776. A testator gave a legacy to A, and by codicil stated that he had advanced a certain amount to A, which should be deducted from the legacy. — Held, that the amount stated should be deducted, although the advancement was, in fact, less than that sum, Aird v. Quick, L. R. {12 Ch. Div.) 291; Quihampton v. Going, 2/f W. R. 917; McAlister v. Butterfield, 31 Ind. 25; Bunnell v. Bun-nell, 73 Ind. 163; Jackson v. Payne, 2 Mete. {Ky.) 567; Barker v. Cornins, 110 Mass. Jfl7; Sayre v. Sayre, 5 Stew. Eq. 61, 8 Stew. Eq. 563; Outcalt v. Appleby, 9 Slew. Eq. 75, note; Painter v. Painter, 18 Ohio 247; see Van Ilouten v. Post, 6 Slew. Eq. 344; Whately v. Spooner, 3 K. & J. 542; Hoak v. Hoak, 5 Watts SO; Bullock v. Bulloch, 2 Dev. Eq. 307. A testator gave his daughter “ four hundred dollars that she has now in her possession.” She never had that amount or any other of her father, but shortly before the will was made he endorsed and gave to her a promissory note of her husband for that sum. — Held, that she had no claim for the legacy, Snow v. Moore, 107 Mass. 510. As to the effect of a testator’s mistake in the amount of a certain legacy, see Read v. Slrangwuys, 14 Beav. 139; Thomas v. Howell, L. R. {18 Eq.) 198; Milner v. Milner, 1 Ves. Sr. 106; Purse v. Snaplin, 1 Atk. 414; Danvers v. Manning, 2 Bro. C. C. 18; Jordan v. Fortescue, 11 Jur. 549; Brachenbury v. Brackenbury, 2 Eden 275, Amb. 474 ; Berkeley v. Palling, 1 Russ. 496; Trevor v. Tremor, 5 Russ. 24 ; McLennan y. Wishart, 14 Grant’s Ch. 512.

The trust of the residue did not devolve upon the administrator with the will annexed. Brush v. Young, 4 Dutch. 237 ; Lanning v. Sisters of St. Francis, 8 Stew. Eq. 392.

The complainant is entitled to have her share set off to her for her use. If good reason be shown for so doing, a mixed trust estate is partible in equity. Wetmore v. Zabriskie, 2 Stew. Eq. 62. It is manifest, from the language of the bequest, that the testatrix contemplated a conversion of the share into money, and the investment thereof for the benefit of the complainant for life. The gift to her is of the “ interest of the equal undivided one-sixth part or portion ” of the estate, and the will directs that after her death the “ said • interest and principal thereof” be “paid” to Georgiana Sweet. And so, too, the gift to Mrs. Wilson is of the “ interest of the one equal undivided sixth interest, part or portion ” of the estate for life, with a direction that upon her death the “'interest as well as the principal thereof” be “paid” to Georgiana Sweet. The testatrix, indeed, gives no express power of sale of the real estate, and, in the gift of the residue to Mrs. Smith, appears not to have contemplated the sale of the real estate therein, for she gives to her the rents, issues and profits for life, and gives, bequeaths and devises the property, after Mrs. Smith’s death, to Mrs. Smith’s daughters. The difference between the provision for the complainant and Mrs.. Wilson and the provision for Mrs. Smith is very marked. The testatrix appoints no trustee of the shares of the complainant and Mrs. Wilson, but she evidently meant to create a trust as to those shares. In such case where such a trust is created, and no trustee is appointed, the trust would devolve upon the executor. But the executor has renounced, and refuses to act, and the administrator has no authority to execute the trust. Under such •circumstances this court would- appoint a trustee. If the real estate can be partitioned without prejudice to the interests of the owners, the share of the complainant may be set off, and she may enjoy it as tenant for life.

Or his estate in lands, Burger v. Hill, 1 Bradf. S60 ; Harmer v. Moulton, 23 Fed,. Rep. 5; Farrar v. Ayres, 5 Pick. 409. See Wilkins v. Kennedy, 9 East 366. The words in a will, “ I acknowledge N., my second cousin, to be my next of kin and lieir at-law to all my property situate in M.,” is an effectual gift to N., who was, in fact, neither heir nor next of kin of the testator, Parker v. Nickson, 1 De G. J. & S. 177. A testator made a bequest to “ my step-daughter Sarah,” who was not, in fact, such, because the marriage of her mother to testator was void, as the mother knew, but Sarah and the testator did not— Held, that Sarah was entitled, Wilkinson v. Jonghin, 12 Jar. (iV S.) 330, L. R. (2 Eg.) 319. A gift to a trustee was declared by the testator to be made in pursuance of a prior marriage settlement. — Held, that the trustee was entitled thereto, although the marriage settlement was inoperative at the time the will was made, Dyke v. Dyke, 44 L. T. (N. S.) 568 ; see Adams v. Adams, 1 Hare 537; Machem v. Machem, 28 Ala. 374. See, further, Cole v. Wade, 16 Ves. 46; Kennell v. Abbott, 4 Ves. 808; Florey v. Florey, 24 Ala. 241; Hearn v. Ross, 4'Harring. 46; Jones v. Haber-sham, 63 Ga. 146 ; Cleveland v. Carson, 10 Stew. Eg. 377 and note ; Walliee v. Wallize, 55 Pa. St. 242; Whitlock v. Wardlaw, 7 Rich. 453; Ealherly v. Eatherly, 1 Coldw. 461; Hunt v. White, 24 Tex. 643. — JEtep.

By the will the testatrix declares that her reason for bequeathing a larger share of her estate to Mrs. Smith than to the complainant and Mrs. Wilson was not want of affection for the latter, but because they were “amply provided for in this world’s goods,” whereas Mrs. Smith was poor and had no property of her own whatever; and that her reason for giving more of her estate to Mrs. Smith’s two daughters than to her other granddaughter, Georgiana Sweet, was that they were poor and had no property whatever, while Georgiana Sweet had ample means and property in her own right. It is urged on behalf of Mrs. Smith and her daughters that under the construction which is above put upon the will, the testatrix’s intention to give to Mrs. Smith more than she gave to the complainant and Mrs. Wilson will be frustrated. But this consideration cannot control in the construction of the will, inasmuch as the language and terms of the instrument are not doubtful. The fact that the testatrix’s plan of division of her property fails to effectuate her purpose in this respect will not justify the court in disregarding the plain provisions of the will. If her design is defeated, it is because she over-valued her property, or because it has fallen in value, or because she contracted debts or met losses after the making of the will. Where the testator’s language and the provisions of the will are plain the court must be guided by them.