Bonnell v. Bargeron
Bonnell v. Bargeron
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting. Hnder the facts as alleged the court erred in dismissing the plaintiff’s petition. A case similar to the present is that of Wilder v. Holland, 102 Ga. 44 (29 S. E. 134). It is there stated that Wilder, as administrator with the will annexed of John M. Weaver, filed suit against Bebecca H. Holland and others, praying for cancellation of a certain deed which he alleged was a cloud upon the title of property alleged to belong to the estate of his testator. On demurrer the petition was dismissed, and the plaintiff excepted. The will of John M. Weaver contained the following item: “I devise and bequeath my entire real estate to my beloved wife, Elizabeth Weaver, to have and to
In Wetter v. Walker, 62 Ga. 142, it was held: “Generally, a larger estate will not be implied where a smaller one is expressly granted. Hence, a power of disposition annexed to an express estate for life will not be-construed as enlarging the latter into a fee, unless the power be necessarily inconsistent with an estate for life only.” The general rule is that where an estate is ex
It will be observed that Mrs. Lydia Bonnell took only a life-estate in the property conveyed by the deed to her husband as trustee by her father, with the power of disposal by will of such property, and in default of such appointment the land and premises should belong to her “children in fee simple absolutely.” It appears from the petition that Mrs. Bonnell did devise the land in question to her son, Lawrence Bonnell, who is the plaintiff in the present suit. It also appears from the petition that during the lifetime of Mrs. Bonnell she executed a loan deed to the land in controversy, and that the land was sold under foreclosure proceedings, and the same was bought by the predecessors in title of the defendants. It will be observed that the deed from David Bailey to John C. Bonnell, trustee for Lydia Bonnell, was executed on July 6, 1866, and the trust thereby created became executed on the passage of the married woman’s act in December, 1866. Trammell v. Inman, 115 Ga. 874 (2) (42 S. E. 246); Follendore V. Follendore, 110 Ga: 359, 362 (35 S. E. 676); Overstreet v. Sullivan, 113 Ga. 891 (39 S. E. 431). As already observed, Mrs. Bonnell executed a fee-simple title to the land in controversy to the loan company, under which the defendants claim title with possession for more than twenty years. Mrs. Bonnell could convey to the loan company no greater estate than she already had, which was only a life-estate with power of disposition by will. Therefore it follows that the purchasers at the sheriff’s sale under the loan deed secured only such interest in the land in controversy as Mrs. Bonnell had, and that, as already stated, was only a life-estate. See Howard v. Henderson, 142 Ga. 1 (82 S. E. 292).
The petition' alleges that Mrs. Lydia Bonnell exercised the power contained in the deed of her father, David Bailey, when she éxcuted her will’ devising the land in controversy to her son, Lawrence Bonnell. Item 1 of her will is as follows: “I give and bequeath to my son, Lawrence Bonnell, all my property, both real and, personal, and give and bequeath to him the tract of - land
Opinion of the Court
The real question in this case is, whether the above deed put the legal title in the trustee to the estate granted to the children of Lydia Bailey, “in fee simple absolute,” upon her death and in default of the exercise of the power of appointment given her in said instrument; or was the legal title to this land put in the trustee only for and during the life of the said Lydia? It will be noted that this instrument does not convey this land to the grantee in trust for his wife during 'her life, but only gives her the net rents and income thereof after the payment for repairs and of taxes and assessments. In other words, she was only given an interest in a portion of the usufruct of this land. The habendum clause is “unto the said John C. Bonnell,” but “in trust and to and for the several uses,, intents, and purposes” mentioned thereafter in this instrument. The first purpose is to lease this land, collect the rents, and out of the same to keep the premises, in good order and repair, and to pay all taxes, assessments and charges that may be imposed thereon. The second purpose is to
Judgment affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.