Porter v. Turner
Porter v. Turner
Opinion of the Court
J. (After stating the case.) There are cases, where equity will aid the defective execution of a power; relief will be given, in favour of creditors, or of a wife, or children. But this is not one of those cases. The appointment, it is true, is in favour of grand-children. But even supposing, for argument’s sake, that grand-children fall under the same rule as children, there would be no reason for an interposition here; because in default of an appointment, the estate would go to grand-children; so that the equity of the contending parties would be equal. The solemnity of a seal, is. not considered with the same veneration, now, as formerly. Still, this Court has no power to dispense with a seal, where the party creating a power, has required one. The question is, therefore, reduced to a single point, viz. whether this was an appointment under the seal of Mrs. Dupuy. That she intended to make an appointment under her father’s will, is certain; and as that will required a seal, we must suppose that she intended the will, and codicil, to operate as one instrument, because otherwise, the appointment would be invalid. When she wrote the letter, intended for a will, she made no publication of it, but kept it locked up, until nine days after. Then, for the first time, she published it, and had it attested as her will, but not until she had signed and sealed the codicil ; the publication of both, was simultaneous, and may be considered as the same act. Is there any principle of law then, which intervenes, and frustrates the intent of the testatrix ? It is contended, that there is ; that the will, and codicil, are different instruments, and consequently the seal affixed to the latter, can have no effect on the former. Let us exa
Concurring Opinion
This question arises on the execution of a power, created by the will of John Dowers, and the will and codicil of Catharine Dupuy. [Here his honour repeated the facts of the case.] Is this a good appointment ? Can the Court dispense with the seal, and is the want of it such a defect in the execution of the power, as that Chancery would grant relief to the appointees standing in the situation they do, and support the appointment ? Can the will and the codicil be considered as one conjunct disposition of her own estate, and appointment under the will of her father, constituting but ‘one instrument, and attended with all the solemnities, and ceremonies imposed by the testatrix ? The will itself has all the essential forms prescribed by the testatrix. The appointment is in writing under her hand. It is in the presence of a greater number of witnesses than is required. As was suggested by the plaintiff’s counsel, the will of John Dowers was most probably modelled on some ancient form by the scrivener. It perhaps had its origin in former days, when the credit of all instruments was justified by the actual seals of the parties. Here then we have the instrument authenticated by more witnesses than the testatrix required. This authentication by witnesses is all the testatrix had in view ; for it is not required to be by deed. Hand and seal, without proof of delivery, would be sufficient. Nor is it required, that the witnesses should be subscribing witnesses : but merely under seal, executed in the presence of two or more witnesses, in Pennsylvania, our Courts have in many cases departed from those forms, prescribed even by the legislature. One instance of which is in the acknowledgment of conveyances by femes coverts; there the substance only has been required, and not a rigid technical adherence to the letter of the law. Yet, with all this, I am
This is not the case of the exercise of a power reserved by the owner over his own estate, but it is a power to be exercised over the estate of another. For a distinction has been taken between the execution of powers over the.estate of a third person, and the party’s own ; in the latter case, the want of little circumstances may be helped in equity. Sayle v. Freeland, 2 Vent. 350. But even this has been denied in Bath v. Montague, Powell on Powers, 130. But where the power is given to the devisee of a particular estate, the most strict adherence to all the forms and ceremonies prescribed, would seem to be required, and all the circumstances prescribed in the creation of the power internal and external, reserved by the owner to be exercised over his own estate, demand a strict observance.
If sealing be required to a will, though not incidental to such an instrument, the want of it is fatal. The instrumental circumstance of the seal is arbitrary; but it has pleased the owner of the estate to prescribe it. It is unimportant and insignificant, except as it is required.. It becomes essential, as it is required by him who gave the power. It is incapable of substitution, because the requisition has no spirit in it which can otherwise be satisfied. There can be no equivalent, because it is of no value. But oil the ground on which my opinion is formed, it becomes unnecessary to touch the question, whether in Pennsylvania, Courts would not, in the liberal relaxation in matters merely ceremonial and unessential, dispense with the seal, where all essential and substantial requisitions have been complied with.
If this be a defective execution of the power, do the appointees form one of those classes of claimants-, to whom a Court of Chancery would extend relief ? I think not. For the perfect execution of the power has not been prevented, either by fraud or accident. Here is neither purchaser, creditor, nor wife ; nor child, nor grand-child unprovided for. The owner of the estate, on failure of appointment, has provided for all his grand-children; for all equally ; and this is equity. All the grand-children come in by a title antecedent to the will of Catherine Dupuy, under the will of John Dowers.-
As this appointment appears to me to have been delibe
The argument opposed to this by the defendant’s counsel, is not entitled to much' consideration; that the codicil has no relation to the appointment. It is true the appointment must be made with reference to the power, or must be by some act applying to the subject matter. But in the case before us, the will and the codicil were both in. the hands of Dr. Sim, one of the subscribing witnesses. Holding, them in his hands, he asked Mrs. Dupuy, if she acknowledged the same to .be her last will and codicil. It is made part of the case, that both will and codicil were acknowledged at one and the same time. The letter, though wrote before, was not attested, published, or acknowledged as her will, until the whole disposition was made ; and the whole, the will and the codicil, were conjunctly acknowledged. In Lord Leicester's case, cited by the counsel in favour of the appointment, the intention that instruments should act in conj unction prevailed. There is here internal evidence. The res ipsa loquitur ; the most unerring species of evidence; and external evidence, positive proof, that it was the intention of Mrs. Dupuy, that the two instruments should be taken together, and form one whole disposition; that they conjointly, should execute her views, as well with regard to the disposition of
Now in this case,-,there was only a Constructive sealing by one of the parties, and yet it was decided to be his deed, though the seal was .not affixed to it in his immediate presence, nor was it delivered by him; nor had the other a power under seal, to affix the seal of the firm thereto.
The result of my opinion is, that the appointment made Mrs.' IPypuy, is a valid one, and that judgment be entered according to the agreement of the parties, in the case stated.
Judgment for the plaintiff.
Reference
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- Porter and others against Turner and others
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