Hackley's Admr. v. Kelly's Admr.
Hackley's Admr. v. Kelly's Admr.
Opinion of the Court
John Kelly, on the 10th of January, 1878, executed several writings of the same kind promising to pay the sum of $512.15 to each of the children named in the writings by way of advancement but not to be due or payable until after his death except at his option. Simultaneously, on the same day, he made and published his will, reciting in the fourth clause that with the view of equalizing his sons he had executed the writings above described and given Up to them a note on J. R. Kelly for $1,439.25. The writings are particularly described as to amount, time of payment, condition and purpose.
By the fifth clause he directs the unpaid remainder, if any, at his death, of the writings which he had delivered to his children and which he denominates “notes” to be paid out of the proceeds of his estate before there is any further distribution. In the seventh clause he provides that if any of his children die in his lifetime “then the portion willed such one so dying, is to go to his or her children, if any, surviving them, or if any should die without lawful issue the portion of the one so dying is to go to the remaining brothers and sisters,” etc.
His widowed daughter, Sarah E. Sear, married the appellant, Hackley. She died -in the lifetime of her father without issue and her husband was appointed administrator of her estate and brought this action upon the alleged “note” delivered to her by her father for $512.15, against his administrators. The writing sued on and the will of John Kelly must be construed together. The fifth clause of the will shows clearly that the writings or “notes” he executed to his children were written memorials of the amounts necessary to equalize the holders with others who had been advanced, and the expression that they are to be paid “out of the proceeds of his estate before there is any further distribution” is a correct statement of the proper mode in which the principal of the doctrine of advancements is carried out, and demonstrates that the writing-sued on was intended to show that other children had received that much more than the holder, who was entitled to have that sum out of the estate before those having actually received advancements should receive anything further of their distributable share. This construction is in exact accordance with the testator’s “view of equalizing his sons and daughters.” It is therefore con-
The daughter, Sarah E., having died without issue in the lifetime of her father her portion, by the express terms of the latter part of the seventh clause of his will, “is to go to the remaining brothers and sisters.” Therefore her husband, as administrator, has no right or cause of action on the writings or “note” or by the terms of the will, and the court did not err in so adjudging.
Wherefore the judgment is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.