Ralston Estate
Ralston Estate
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
This appeal requires the construction and interpretation of a holographic mil of Sidney S. Ralston, a resident of Westmoreland County, who died January 7, 1963.
In 1951, testatrix, then 58 years of age, had married Robert S. Ralston, then 60 years of age. Ralston had been previously married and had one child and grandchildren. Testatrix had not been previously married and, at the time of her death, in addition to her husband, she was survived by one living brother, Bernard A. Sutton (the present appellant), a niece and a nephew, children of a deceased brother, and a niece, the only child of her living brother.
Testatrix’ will contained provisions for her husband, brother, one niece and one nephew, for her church, other churches and charity, and pecuniary be
The instant controversy arises solely by reason of the first portion of testatrix’ will which reads as follows : “The following bequests are to be made to Robert S. Ralston the interest on $25,000.00 Trust Fund or enough to make an income of $100 per month, principal at his death to be given % to West Newton United Presbyterian Church and % to my brother, Bernard A. Sutton, 216 N. 25th Ave., Yakima, Wash. Also all of my A.T.&T. Co. stock and 200 shares Duquesne Light Co. Common stock and anything he may wish in the house.” (Emphasis supplied)
Bernard Sutton (the appellant) claims that, under this clause of the will, he became not only the remainderman of one half of the corpus of the $25,000 trust fund upon the death of Robert Ralston
At the time of audit of the account in this estate, the Orphans’ Court of Westmoreland County held that the testatrix’ intent was clearly shown in the language of the will and that it was testatrix’ intent that the disputed stock go to her husband.
Basically, the issue is whether, within the four corners of this will, the intent of the testatrix is demonstrated with clarity and without ambiguity. Appellant contends that it is not and that resort must be had to all the circumstances
An examination of the first clause of the will, supra, reveals clearly and unambiguously that which testatrix intended. Resort need not be had to any extrinsic circumstances for the language which the testatrix employed in this portion of the will portrays vividly what she intended. In the first place, testatrix expressly states that she was making for her husband not a bequest in the singular but bequests in the plural. She then provided for the first of such bequests, i.e., a life estate in a $25,000 trust fund with an assurance of a minimum of $100 monthly during his life. After outlining the terms of such trust generally, testatrix then significantly states “also”, i.e., in the sense of “in addition to”, she makes other bequests which consist of all her owned stock of A.T.&T. Co. and 200 owned shares of Duquesne Light Co. The word “also” carries out the intent implicit in the use of the words bequests in the plural rather than the singular to be made to testatrix’ husband. Such bequests are followed by another bequest described in the clause “and anything lie may wish in the house”. To whom does the pronoun “he” refer? In describing the trust fund
The court below properly construed this provision of the will.
Decree affirmed. Appellant pay costs.
Ralston, who elected to take under the will, died August 30, 1963.
These circumstances were: testatrix, an astute business woman, had her own separate estate which she had, by her own efforts accumulated and her husband had his own estate sufficient for his needs; by electing to take under the will, even though he could have secured more by taking against the will, the husband acqui
Appellant concedes that, even under the court’s interpretation, the husband received less than he would have received had he elected to take against the will.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.