Secrist v. Secrist
Secrist v. Secrist
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
It is of ordinary occurrence that a testator writes a will or directs one to be written, under an idea that, after he is gone, every thing will be done by his executors and devisees in a certain way — and if all was so done by all concerned, no dispute or difficulty would arise in carrying the will into effect. In this case, if John and Solomon had held the mill and farm jointly, until the 3207 pounds 13 shillings and 4 pence, were paid in yearly instalments to the other children, nothing could have been plainer than this will.
. No sooner had the property become disposable by the youngest child arriving of age, than it was appraised and immediately taken, at the amount at which it was appraised, 4810 pounds, by John and Solomon, who at once divided the property, but the division was not into equal parts. The part which John took was valued at 2S00 pounds; the part of Solomon at 2010 pounds — and thus, in paying the 100 pounds per year, John must pay for his proportion about 58 pounds 4 shillings 3 pence, and Solomon about 41 pounds 15 shillings and 9 pence. Matters stood thus for three years, until the spring of 1812, when three instalments were paid or had become due, and the case does not state whether John had paid up to that time or not. The article of 1812 seems to be founded on the understanding that Solomon had paid nothing either to the legatees or widow. By the will the interest of one third of the sum of which the property was valued, was to be paid annually to the widow — that is, John would be bound to pay about 56 pounds, and Solomon to pay her about 40 pounds per year. But as John’s share was valued at 800 pounds more than Solomon’s, of course, to equalise them, the above proportions to be paid by each must be changed, and Solomon would have to pay about 100 dollars towards the 100 pounds annually to the
The dispute is, when this 777 dollars 774 cents became, or is to become due and payable to Solomon; and in the argument the claim of the widow and the time of her death, (April 1S23,) have been introduced as affecting the question.
The case states, “soon after the agreement of 1812, John Secrist paid some money to his mother, on account of his interest under the will, but that John got the same money back again, and the said John Secrist has not since paid any money to the said widow on account of her dower or interest, nor have his representatives paid any. The widow died in April 1823, having made a will. The said widow did not in her lifetime, nor has her executor since her death claimed any thing on account of her interest under said will from John Secrist in his lifetime, nor from his administrator since his death, and no such claim will be made, nor is the estate of John Secrist liable to the estate of the widow for such-claim.”
It is evident the demand by the widow or the release or forgiving her demand had a great effect on the interest of John and Solomon. To have paid 96 pounds from 1809 yearly till 1823, the estate would have cost 1300 pounds more than it has now cost. The more immediate benefit of her forgiving or releasing her claim, was to John, who thus was liable for only 100 pounds each year; but it resulted to the benefit of Solomon also, if she had demanded her money. The 4000 dollars which John was to pay Solomon would have been diminishing at the rate of about 200 dollars per year, and 2800 of it would have been paid at the widow’s death in 1823; the remaining 1200 would have been all required to pay the legacies to the children, and at 100 dollars per year would have been all exhausted in 1835 — nothing of this 4000 dollars worrld would have been left for Solomon, and he would still be liable for a portion of the legacies until the last payment fell due in 1841 or 2. Solomon has received his full share of the kindness of the mother in renouncing or releasing her claim. This leaves him entitled to receive his 777 dollars 77 cents, when the legacies are all paid, instead of being liable to contribute to the payment of them after 1835. No time is mentioned in the article of agreement when this is to be paid, but as the 4000 dollars are to be applied “to pay the parts of the legacies that Solomon is behind, and so on every year as they become due,” the balance will not become due until the last of the legacies is paid or is due, and then the whole balance will be due to Solomon.
It was understood, that if this court settled the principle on which the claim was to be adjusted, the parties and their counsel would make the calculations; we are of opinion, that the balance' which Solomon will be entitled to, will be due, and all due, when the last payment of the legacies is made, or when it falls due an'd ought to be made.
Judgment reversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Secrist against Secrist
- Status
- Published