Lewis v. Reed
Lewis v. Reed
Opinion of the Court
By the Court.
delivering the opinion.
By the second clause in the will, the testator declares, that the complainants shall take no portion of his estate, except what shall be hereinafter specially pointed out.
By the 7th clause of his will, the testator gives to his wife, his house and lot in LaGrange, and his furniture, during her natural life or widowhood.
By the fourth clause of his will, the testator solemnly requests, that Ms wife would keep Ms house open to any of his children that may be, or have been indigent or unfortunate.
It is evident from the latter part of the second clause, that the testator had it in his mind, to make some provision for the children by his first marriage, which would be specially pointed out in his will. It being his intention also to give to his wife, the house and lot in LaGrange, and the furniture, during her natural life or widowhood, as he did so, by the seventh clause in his will, the fouth clause, specially points out that provision, which is, “that his wife would keep Ms house open, to any of his children that may be, or have been, indigent or unfortunate.”
By “ keeping his house open,” we understand that the testator intended that such of his children as answered the descrip
That the testator did not intend the house should be kept open for the benefit of the complainants, for any longer period than the natural life or widowhood of his wife, we think, is very clear from the provisions of the will. The house and lot, as a matter of course, ceased to be under her control after her death, to be “ kept open” by her for. the benefit of the eomplainants; besides, it was only given to her during her natural life or widowhood, and by the third clause of his will, the testator directs, that if his wife should think proper to marry again, that his house and lands be sold for the benefit of herself and his younger boys, (to wit,) Robert, Oscar, Fitzallen, Warner, and Charles. When his wife should depart this life, her interest in, and control over the house and lot in LaGrange terminated, according to the will of the testator, for it "was given to her only during her natural life or widowhood. If she married, then the house was to be sold, not for the benefit of the complainants, but for the benefit of his wife, and his younger boys.
The complainants then were entitled, to have the house in LaGrange kept open for their benefit, under the fourth clause of the testator’s will, during the natural life of the testator’s wife,,or her widowhood, and no longer. Whether the widow of the testa
But inasmuch as the right of the complainants to have the house kept open for their benefit, depends on the fact of her being in life and unmarried, that fact should have been affirmatively stated by the complainants, to entitle them to the assistance of the Court, which they now seek. The complainants must shew7 on the face of their bill that the widow of the testator is in life and unmarried, to entitle them to the relief prayed for under the testator’s will, which material fact not being alleged, the application for an injunction w7as properly refused by the Court below.
Let the judgment of the Court below be affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Nicholas M. Lewis, in error v. James R. Reed, in error
- Status
- Published