Sayer v. Gunn
Sayer v. Gunn
Opinion of the Court
Theodore Gunn died May 14, 1902, leaving a last will which has been admitted to probate. The appellant, Jacob J. Sayer, is the executor named in the will and appointed by the probate court. The deceased left a widow, Agnes Gunn, him surviving, and David Gunn, Isabelle Sayer, George Gunn, Sarah Oatley, Isaac Gunn, Maggie Whorley, Emory Gunn, and Alice Gunn, his children. Agnes Gunn was his second wife. The children were the offspring of Mr. Gunn’s first marriage. Prior to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Gunn, and on or about the 30th day of November, 1888, an ante-nuptial agreement was entered into by them, in which agreement is the following language:
“That in lieu and in full satisfaction of her whole dower in his estate and of all claims of any and every nature whatsoever upon his personalty, he hereby provides and agrees that there shall be paid to her. by his executors or administrators out of his estate the sum of $500 with interest thereon at the rate of 7 per centum per annum from the date of such marriage, within 60 days after his death, should she survive him after such intended marriage.”
Further provisions followed to carry out the release of dower, and then:
“And further, if the said marriage shall be had and she shall survive him, that she will not claim any share or interest in his personal estate, unless some part thereof be given to her by his will or some act done by him subsequent to the execution of these presents.”
‘ ‘ My will is: First. That all my just debts-, including funeral expenses, and the expenses of administration, shall, by my executor hereinafter named, be paid out of my estate, as soon after my decease as shall by him be found convenient.
‘ Second. All the rest and residue of my estate, personal, real and mixed, of which I shall die seised and possessed, or to which I shall be entitled at my decease, I give, devise, bequeath to be equally divided between and among my wife, Agnes Gunn, and my children [naming them as above], or to the issue of any deceased child or children by right of representation, share and share alike; provided, however, that the share of my wife, Agnes Gunn, shall be less five hundred dollars and the interest paid her thereon, the same being the consideration named in a certain deed executed by her before marriage in lieu of dower in and to my real and personal estate.”
Mr. Gunn paid $35 yearly to his wife, which payments were indorsed on the ante-nuptial agreement. After his death, and on July 10, 1902, the executor paid her the sum of $35. On July 13, 1902, he paid her the sum of $7.29, being the interest from April 29, 1902, to July 13, 1902. On November 12, 1902, he paid her the principal, $500, and the interest from July 13, 1902, to that date, $18.75. On the 9th day of April, 1903, the executor filed his final account, from which statement it appears that there remained for distribution among the legatees of Mr. Gunn the sum of $12,423.67. Upon this accounting the probate judge made an order distributing the estate as follows, to wit:
££ To Agnes Gunn, David Gunn, Isabelle Sayer, George Gunn, Sarah Oatley, Isaac Gunn, Maggie Whorley, Emory Gunn and Alice Gunn, the whole of said estate, real and personal, share and share alike; provided, however, that the share of Agnes Gunn shall be less the sum of five hundred dollars and the interest paid her thereon up to and including sixty days from the date of death of said Theodore Gunn, deceased, the same being the consideration named in a certain deed executed by her before
Mrs. Gunn appealed from this order to the circuit court, where a trial was had before the court without a jury. On the trial the testimony of the scrivener who drew the will was taken, over the objection of the attorney for the appellee, as to the conversation he had with Mr. Gunn at the time the will was drawn. Counsel for the appellant say:
“And the objection to this testimony and the holding of the court overruling any such objection occasioned the only exception that was taken on said trial.”
The court made findings of fact and law to which ex-exceptions were duly taken. The circuit judge foun,d a judgment in favor of Mrs. Gunn.
Counsel for appellant present the following questions in their brief:
“1. When, to what extent, and under what circumstances is parol evidence receivable as bearing upon the construction of a will ?
“2. Was the parol evidence, admitted on the trial of this case, receivable upon any question arising in the suit ?
“ 3. What is the proper meaning and construction of the language in this will, the meaning of which is controverted, and what was the real intention of the testator, as indicated by such language, properly construed ?”
He insists the testimony of the scrivener should not have been taken, under the following rule:
“ Parol evidence cannot be admitted to supply or contradict, enlarge or vary the words of a will, nor to explain the intention of the testator, except in two cases, viz.: (a) To explain a latent ambiguity arising dehors, or (b) to rebut a resulting trust” — citing Bradner on Evidence, p. 389; also section 9, p. 280, and many cases.
He further claims that the case does not come within
A reference to the provisions of the will which we have quoted will show that, after providing for debts, funeral expenses, and expenses of administration, Mr. Gunn desired his wife to share equally with his children; that from her share should be deducted “five hundred dollars and the interest paid her thereon, the same being the consideration named in a certain deed executed by her before marriage in lieu of dower in and to my real and personal estate.” It cannot be determined from the will itself to how much the interest amounted which was to be deducted. To find the amount it is necessary to refer to the ante-nuptial agreement. It is fair to infer from the will that the amount to be deducted was the amount which made up the consideration named in the ante-nuptial agreement. When we refer to that agreement, we find that Mr. Gunn provides:
“ That in lieu and in full satisfaction of her whole dower in his estate and of all claims of any and every nature whatsoever upon his personalty, he hereby provides and agrees that there shall be paid to her by his executors or administrators out of his estate the sum of $500, with interest thereon at the rate of 7 per centum per annum from the date of such marriage within 60 days after his death, should she survive him after such intended marriage.”
There is a further provision that because of the ante-nuptial agreement “she will not claim any share or interest in his personal estate, unless some part thereof be given to her by his will or some act done by him subsequent to the execution of these presents.”
It will be observed that under these provisions Mrs. Gunn relinquished all claim she would have to Mr. Gunn’s
Judgment is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In re GUNN'S ESTATE. SAYER v. GUNN
- Status
- Published