Fellbush v. Egen
Fellbush v. Egen
Opinion of the Court
This case is clearly ruled by Fellbush v. Fellbush, 216 Pa. 141. It was there held that the instrument in question is a deed. It is unquestionably a deed in form, and where the language used is fairly capable of only one construction, as it is here, the intent of the maker must be gathered from his language. It is sometimes said that the question is not what he may have meant, but what is the meaning of his words, a most unfortunate form of expression, for the construction must always be according to his actual intent, whatever the words used, but where the meaning of his words is clear his intent is to be gathered solely from them. It is only where his words are ambiguous to the extent of being capable of more than one construction that resort can be had to other evidence dehors the instrument to discover his intent. In 216 Pa. it was clearly held that the instrument is a deed, and even conceding (what is not an allowable concession) that it was capable of more than one construction, there was no evidence dehors to rebut the prima facie character.
As to the technical objection that no present estate passed from the grantor, even if that were of more weight than it is, the deed would be good as a covenant to stand seized.
Judgment affirmed.
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- Deed — Form of paper — Construction—Intention—Evidence—Covenant to stand seized. Where an instrument is unquestionably a deed in form, and the language used is fairly capable of only one construction, the intent of the maker must be gathered from his language, and not from evidence dehors the instrument. It is only where the grantor's words are ambiguous to the extent of being capable of more than one construction that resort can be had to other evidence dehors the instrument to discover his intent. By a paper styled an indenture in which a husband was mentioned as of the first part, and his wife of the second part, the husband granted and conveyed to the party of the second part certain land described. Following the description of the land were these words: “The full intent and meaning of this conveyance is that the party of the second part shall enjoy said property for and during the term of her natural life. Said life estate to take effect upon the death of the grantor herein, and the remainder to go to the children of the said parties of the first and second part.” Held, that the paper was a deed, which even if it passed no present estate was good as a covenant to stand seized.