Supreme Court of South Carolina, 1930

Blakely v. Blakely

Supreme Court of South Carolina · Decided February 26, 1930 · Stabeer, Watts, Messrs, Cothran, Brease, Carter

152 S.E. 24; 155 S.C. 123; 1930 S.C. LEXIS 49 (South Eastern Reporter)

Counsel

Messrs. Blackwell, Sullivan Wilson , for appellants, cite: Fee created: 40 Cyc., 1580; 16 Johns, 537; 43 S.C. 266 ; 40 Cyc., 1735; 132 Fed., 485; 52 S.C. 345 . Pecuniary legacies must be paid out of personal estate: 51 S.C. 366 . Mr. A.C. Todd , for appellants, cites: As to estates created: 4 Kent. Comm., 535; 2 Strob. Eq., 134; 59 S.C. 39 ; 4 Rich. Eq., 50; 5 Paige, 583; 56 S.C. 85 ; 19 S.C. 297 ; 40 Cyc., 1417; 4 McC., 151; 1 Hill Eq., 360; 115 S.W., 134; 64 S.E., 992; 121 Tenn., 240 ; 7 L.R.A. (N.S.), 370; 142 S.W. 401; 21 R.C.L., 776; 29 R.C.L., 202; 36 A.L.R., 1180; 48 S.C. 444 ; 36 N.J.L., 460 ; 91 N.J. Eq., 359 ; 104 S.E., 892 ; 121 S.E., 291; 36 A.L.R., 1171; 64 S.E., 988; 21 S.E., 810; 44 S.E., 900; 62 S.E., 958; 63 S.E., 988; 64 S.E., 992; 4 Leigh, 408; 13 W. Va., 519 ; 12 S.E., 731 ; 40 S.E., 565; 47 S.E., 236; 79 Va., 251 ; 11 L.R.A., 610; 24 A.S.R., 653; 36 A.L.R., 1220; 67 U.S. 415 ; 61 N.E., 443; 107 S.W. 775; 32 Ly. L., 1104; 89 S.C. 198 ; 14 Am. Dec., 458; 49 S.E., 690; 50 S.E., 649 . As to pecuniary bequests: 51 S.C. 366 ; 14 Rich. Eq., 245; 22 S.C. 92 ; 27 S.C. 295 . Mr. Wm. P. Greene , for respondents, cites: Estate created: 28 R.C.L., 238; Rood on Wills, 543; 2 Strob. Eq., 142; 52 S.C. 345 ; 43 S.C. 272 ; 4 Strob. Eq., 103; 38 S.C. 129 ; 56 S.C. 346 ; 107 S.C. 117 . As to whether pecuniary bequest charge on realty: 27 S.C. 298 ; 28 R.C. L., 287; 40 Cyc., 2024. Cases distinguished: 51 S.C. 367 ; 107 S.C. 775 . Power of appointment: 58 N.C. 82 ; 98 Ky., 717 . Mr. R.E. Babb , also for respondents, cites: As to power of appointment: 31 Cyc., 1089; 2 Strob. Eq., 134; 4 Rich. Eq., 475; 126 S.C. 89 ; 40 Cyc., 1584; 31 Cyc., 1137. Cases distinguished: 51 S.C. 366 . Bequests: 22 S.C. 92 ; 46 S.C. 230 .

Opinion of the Court

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Mr. Justice StabeEr.

This action involves the construction of the will of William J. Fleming, a citizen of Laurens county, who died in March, 1921. We have made a careful study of the record in the casé, and are satisfied with and approve the conclusions expressed by' the circuit Judge in his well-considered decree — with this explanation: We do not consider the capacity in which Mrs. Bettie Fleming held the estate passing into her hands, whether as trustee or otherwise, material; it is clear that she was given under the ninth item of the will its mere management for her proper support during her lifetime, with full power of disposition; and as she failed to exercise the powers granted, the estate remaining at her death passed under the will as decreed by the Court below. Under the construction given, item ten is preserved in accordance with the manifest intention of the testator.

All exceptions are overruled, and the judgment of the circuit Court is affirmed.

*147 Mr. Chief Justice Watts and Messrs. Justices Cothran, Brease, and Carter concur.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.