Estate of Schmidt
Estate of Schmidt
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
Testator devised his whole estate to his widow for life, and after her death to his two children, appellant and Henry Schmidt, “ their heirs and assigns, share and share alike.” He then further devised “ Fourth. — -And in case my said (son) Henry shall die unmarried and leaving no children, I desire and bequeath his one half unto my daughter Mary Schmidt now Mary Bachman, and after her decease of my said daughter Mary I give and bequeath all the same unto her my daughter Mary’s own produced then surviving children, and it is my will and devise that as soon after my daughter Mary’s death the youngest of her children is twenty-one years of age, the whole of the property shall be sold, at public or private sale and the whole amount of purchased money shall be devited to my said daughter Mary’s then surviving children share and share alike.” The learned court below held that this clause
The other assignments of error cannot be sustained. The judgments in favor of Henry were standing unimpeaehed on the records of tbe common pleas. They were not in litigation, for though a rule had been obtained to open them, it had been discharged. The common pleas had acted on the rule and tbe litigation was at an end. The orphans’ court had no authority to reopen it.
The refusal to disallow commissions to the administrator and the amount of bis counsel fee were matters which the court below considered carefully, and which were largely in their discretion. If is not claimed that the counsel fee is more than the counsel was entitled to, but that the services were rendered
So much of the decree as required security to be entered by appellant is reversed, and distribution directed to be made to her absolutely. Costs of this appeal to be paid by appellee, Henry Schmidt.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Estate of Christopher Schmidt, Appeal of Mary Bachman, a Legatee and under the will of Christopher Schmidt
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Will — Construction of — Life estate. Testator devised Ms whole estate after his wife’s death to his two children M. and II., “their heirs and assigns, share and share alike.” He further directed as follows: “And in case my said (son) II. shall die unmarried and leaving no children, 1 desire and bequeath his one half unto my daughter M., and after her decease of my said daughter M., I give and bequeath all the same unto her my daughter M.’s own produced then surviving children, and it is my will and devise that as soon after my daughter M.’s death the youngest of her children is twenty-one years of age, the whole of the property shall be sold, at public or private sale and the whole amount of purchased money shall be devited to my said daughter M.’s then surviving children share and share alike.” Held, that the qualifying clause relating to M.’s children and the sale of the property had reference only to the share which M. might take if II. died unmarried and leaving no children, and had no reference to the absolute interest in one half of the estate previously given to M. Jurisdiction — Orphans' court — Judgment against legatee. The orphans’ court has no jurisdiction to examine into the validity of a judgment against a legatee, where it appears that a rule had been obtained to open a judgment, but that it had been discharged, and that the litigation relating to the judgment was at an end. Executors and administrators — Counsel fees — Discretion of orphans' court. What is a proper allowance for the counsel fee for an executor or administrator is a matter largely within the discretion of the orphans’ court, since that court has a better opportunity than the Supremo Court has to investigate and determine such a question.