Wentworth v. Mathews
Wentworth v. Mathews
Opinion of the Court
This is a bill in equity, heard below by a Justice of this court, and from, his decree, dismissing the bill, an appeal was taken to the Law Court. The defendant is impleaded, both individually and in his representative capacity as administrator of the estate of Mrs. Wentworth. The latter was the second wife of Charles H. Wentworth who, by his first wife, had four children, namely, Elmer E., George E., Charles A., and Sarah E., who married and so became
The controversy arises out of the provisions of the will of Charles H. Wentworth. In that document, after providing for payment of debts, funeral charges and expenses of administration, he makes but one testamentary disposition of his estate, which is as follows:
“I give, bequeath and devise to my beloved wife, Isadore W. Wentworth, for and during the term of her natural life, all my estate, real and personal to have, hold and use for and during the term aforesaid, and to expend all if necessary for her care, maintenance ox-support, and from and after the decease of my said wife, Isadore M. Wentworth, said estate or the residue and remainder thereof to my sons, Elmer E. Wentworth, George P. Wentworth and Charles A. Wentworth, and my daughter, Sarah Eunice Wingate, wife of Edward C. Wingate, of Exeter, New Hampshire, in such shares as my said wife, Isadore M. Wentworth, shall by her last will and testament give, order, limit or direct, and I do hereby appoint my said wife, Isadore M. Wentworth, sole executrix of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all and any wills heretofore by me made.”
Mrs. Wentworth died intestate, hence she did not exercise the power given by her husband’s will to dispose of the residue of his estate. Therefore, all that remained of that residue, whether in the
The sitting Justice held that this contention was not then in order for decision. He further held that the unexpended residuum of Mr. Wentworth’s estate should be restored to the representative of that estate, to the end that he might pay it to those found to be entitled thereto; that although, in a sense, some of the money in the hands of the defendant belongs to the complainant, yet he is not to be permitted to maintain this suit for its recovery; that each heir at law of Charles H. Wentworth is not entitled to have the matter determined in his own action against the administrator of the estate of Mrs. Wentworth; that the real controversy is between the two estates; and that what the administrator of the estate of Mrs. Wentworth should restore to the administrator of the estate of Mr. Wentworth should be determined once for all in proceedings between those two estates.
When the proper parties present the main issue it can be finally decided but it cannot be so decided until such parties are before us.
Appeal dismissed without costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Elmer E. Wentworth v. William S. Mathews, Admr.
- Status
- Published