Hamilton v. Rodgers
Hamilton v. Rodgers
Opinion of the Court
The first question which arises in the construction of this will is whether an estate vested in the distributees at the time of the testator’s death, or not until the happening of the events upon which a distribution was to take place.
Although conceding that in the interpretation of-wills, courts in general favor that construction under which estates will vest at the time of testator’s death, yet this, like every other rule of construction, will be controlled by the intention of the testator as gathered from the whole will. As was said by Scott, J., in Richey v. Johnson, 30 Ohio St. 288-292: “We are to read the whole will and ascertain not only what the testator has said, but what he has forborne to say ; .and the construction given to any part of the will should conform to its general scope and purpose as collected from the whole document. It is to be observed that the testator gives no interest in the farm in question, or in its proceeds, to his brothers and sisters, or to the children of any of them by way of direct devise or bequest. The gift is to be found only in the direction to distribute the proceeds of its sale and in the designation of the persons among whom distribution is to be made.”
These remarks apply with equal force to the case before us. The only words of gift in the will are to be found in the devise of the whole estate to trustees, and in the direction to distribute
Has the time then arrived for a distribution of the estate, either final or partial % Clearly not. No partial distribution could be made until it is ascertained who the parties may be who are entitled to take, and this cannot be ascertained until the time arrives for final distribution. And here we may say that we think it clear that but one distribution was ever contemplated by the testator, and that his object in calling it a “ final ” distribution, was simply to distinguish it from what might be called the partial distribution of $2,000 each to his minor sons when they should come of age.
On the one hand it is contended that the time arrives only upon the death of all of the annuitants ; on the other, that it depends upon the cessation of the annuities as a charge upon the estate by release or otherwise by operation of law. That the latter is the proper interpretation we entertain no doubt. The testator does not speak of the death of the annuitants, but of the “final cessation ” of the annuities; and surely it is but fair to take him to have intended just what he has said. Had he intended to postpone the division of his estate to such time
We regard as wholly untenable the claim of the trustee that no distribution can be made so long as there may be grand-children, now living, or hereafter to be born, who may,
We are asked to decide to whom shall pass upon distribution the share which Thomas Rodgers would have received had he lived. It is stated in argument, although it is not disclosed in the record, that the testator was twice married, and that his younger sons Janies 8., Thomas and Oliver were children of the second marriage. If this be true we are clearly of opinion that the testator, in providing that if any of the persons mentioned as distributees should die without issue “ then the interest which he would be entitled to shall go to theii brothers and sisters,” referred to brothers of the whole bloot, only as respects his own children. This is rendered manifesl from the care taken to exclude his other children from an\ share whatever in his estate. The sons had been uni or tunal ( in business, and were insolvent, and it is evident that the testator believed that a gift to them would have been a gift to their creditors, from which neither his sons nor their children would reap the benefit. The provision in question could apply only to the grandchildren and to these younger sons, seeing that no share could come to the older sons and daughters. We are therefore of opinion that, at the time of distribution, Thomas’ share will pass to his brothers J ames S. and Oliver if they be then living, and to their children if deceased. This conclusion also follows of necessity from our previous holding concerning the vesting of the estate only in the persons answering the description of the will at the time of distribution.
Judgment affirmed.
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