Enders v. Enders
Enders v. Enders
Opinion of the Court
The bill in this case was filed to obtain a? construction of the will of Philip Enders deceased, more particularly that part of it relating to the farm that he had purchased from Bradley Cartwright.
After the payment of his debts his wife was to have at
“ And to Norman N. Enders, I want him to have the farm I lately bought of Bradley Cartwright, at the same price and on the same terms, except he is not to pay any interest on the mortgage on the said farm after my death; and if the said farm amounts to more than his share, the balance to be paid equally to the rest of my children except Jeremiah.”
The price and the terms upon which he had purchased the Cartwright farm were $6000, — $1700 cash, and the balance payable in yearly installments of $400, with interest, secured by mortgage on the land. The price, therefore, at which the farm was to be valued, was $6000. From this was to be deducted Norman’s share in the estate, of which this farm at this valuation formed a part; the balance or amount to be paid by Norman, if any, was to be paid in yearly installments of $400, and to be secured by mortgage upon the farm; thus corresponding to the terms upon which this farm was purchased, subject only to the modification that Norman should not pay interest upon the mortgage so to be given by him. This in our opinion was the intention of the testator, and in the light of the surrounding and existing circumstances, is the fair and only construction that can be reasonably given to the language used.
Norman would have been under no obligation to pay either principle or interest upon this mortgage given to Cartwright, and there was not, therefore, any reason for exempting him from the payment of what was a charge not against him, but against the estate. The terms of the Cartwright purchase were yearly installments for the balance secured by mortgage, and interest was to be paid thereon. Such would have been the terms which Norman would have been required to comply with, viz.; $400 yearly installments with interest secured by mortgage, and the only modification of such terms is the exemption of interest. If this exemp
This view is also strengthened by a clause in the codicil, viz.: “ That in consideration of what I have heretofore given and willed to my son Norman [he] shall furnish my wife Ann all the fire-wood that she shall need for her own use during her natural life, the wood to be fitted ready for the stove, and to be delivered at her house in the village of Goderich.”
• The decree will be affirmed, except that part relating to payment of solicitor’s fees, with costs, the same to be paid out of the estate.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Harry H. Enders Ex'r. v. Norman N. Enders
- Status
- Published