In re Estate of Martin
In re Estate of Martin
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The controversy in this case grows out of the following clause of the will of Ruth Martin: “ Third, I give and bequeath to. my grandson A. M. Vale, $1000.00 to he and remain in the farm whereon I reside to. be paid to him personally when-he shall come for it, but should he .never come for it then I direct it. to
Upon these facts the learned auditor' found as matter of law that the legacy was not assignable, as it was contingent, and the condition upon which it would vest had not been performed ; that the demand made by Vale was insufficient, and that he must now come personally for the legacy to the party authorized to pay from the proceeds of the sale of the farm, and he directed ■that the amount of the legacy should be set apart to be paid to Vale, and that in the event of his not coming and receiving it personally within six months from the confirmation of the auditor’s report, the sum set apart should be distributed to the other legatees. His report, except the requirement as to the time
This finding cannot be sustained. The case is not governed by Stover’s Appeal, 77 Pa. 282. The difference in the wills is sufficient to indicate different intentions on the part of the testators, and in Stover’s Appeal no demand had been made for the annuity. It is unnecessary to consider whether the legatee had a vested interest in the legacy at the death of Mrs. Martin, as we think that the conditions upon which the legacy became payable were complied with by him. The evident intention of the testatrix was that her grandson, if living, should receive $1,000 of her estate. She had reason to suppose that he was dead, or that if living he might never return to receive her gift. She gave effect to her intention by providing that the legacy should be a charge upon the land which she desired her daughter to take, and to be paid to her grandson if he came for it, and by a bequest over if it should be unclaimed by him. He came within five months of her death and claimed the legacy. This claim was made to the administrator. and to the daughter to whom the land was to go. These were the proper persons of whom to make demand. They were unprepared to pay. No duty rested upon the legatee to wait indefinitely or to cross the continent again to make demand at the particular time when in the course of administration the fund was ready for distribution. He did all that he was required to do, and all that it was intended that he should do. He came and demanded the legacy. His right to it then, if not before, was fixed, and he could deal with it as he pleased. It follows that the assignment by Yale Avas valid, and that the appellant is entitled to the amount of the legacy, with interest from October 12, 1882. We see no reason why any part of the expenses of the audit should be deducted from the legacy. The appellant has. not been in fault in asserting what we regard as a just demand, and the whole expense of the audit should be paid from the general fund.
The order of the court of December 81,1895, is reversed and set aside, and the record is remitted in order that distribution may be made in accordance with this opinion.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In re Estate of Ruth Martin, E. M. Sayers' Appeal
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Will — Legacy—Condition. Testatrix charged a legacy to her grandson on a farm which she gave to her daughter, and directed that it should “ be paid to him personally when he shall come for it, but should he never come for it, then I direct it to be,divided among my other legatees equally.” At the time the will was made the grandson had removed to the West, and testatrix had heard a rumor that he was dead, and was in doubt whether he was living. Five months after testatrix’s death the grandson came from California to Pennsylvania and demanded payment from the daughter to whom the farm had been devised, and from the administrator c. t. a. of the testatrix. Neither the administrator nor the daughter had funds to pay him. He then sold and assigned the legacy to S., and returned to his home. Subsequently tjie land upon which the legacy had been charged was sold. Held, (1) that the grandson had sufficiently complied with the requirements of the will by making the demand which he did for the payment of the legacy; (2) that after such demand his right to the legacy became fixed; (8) that a good title to the legacy passed by the assignment. Stover’s Appeal, 77 Pa. 282, distinguished.