Walker v. Atmore
Opinion of the Court
Joseph Dean on the 6th of January, 1860, made a will which contains the following provisions:
“Secondly. I do direct that my beloved wife Jane Dean shall receive the interest of five thousand dollars during her lifetime in lieu of her dower at common law if she shall so elect, one hundred dollars on account of the first*645 year’s interest oí the five thousand dollars to be paid as soon after my death as possible. I do also direct that my beloved wife shall have whatever articles of household furniture she may think proper (at a fair valuation) of which I ■may die seised or possessed, in part payment on account of the first year’s interest of said five thousand dollars. On the death of my beloved wife the interest of said five thousand dollars to be paid to her daughters, Elizabeth Scarborough and Ann Jones, in equal parts during their lives; in case of the death of either or both the aforesaid Elizabeth Scarborough and Ann Jones, before ten years from the date of this will, my son William Dean, is to have the use of the said five thousand dollars by paying the interest to the children of the said Elizabeth Scarborough and Ann Jones. After the death of both Elizabeth Scarborough and Ann Jones (if they should die before the expiration of the above-mentioned ten years, at the expiration of the above-mentioned ten years, incase either or both the aforesaid Elizabeth Scarborough or Ann Jones should have died,) the money shall be divided in two equal parts and be divided between their children equally, with the exception of Robert Kershaw; three hundred dollars of his share to be paid to my son William Dean, for a debt due the firm of Joseph Dean & Son, by Paul Reitz, of which Robert Ker-shaw received the benefit. Thirdly. I give and bequeath to my son, William Dean, after all my debts, funeral expenses and the above-mentioned five thousand dollars are paid or secured to be paid, the residue of my estate, real and personal, of all and every description, of which I may die seised or possessed. ”
The questions for consideration arise out of the foregoing provisions; and are: First, are the legacies to Elizabeth Scarborough’s and Ann Jones’ children vested or contingent? Second, are they charged on the land devised to William?
The appellees contend that they vested on the testator’s death, and became a charge on the land devised; while the appellants claim that they were contingent, on Elizabeth and Ann dying within 10 years after the date of the will; and that as Elizabeth and Ann survived this period, the legacies were lost.
The language of the testator does not seem to leave his intention doubtful. The general scheme of his will is obvious. It was to give his son William all his property, except $5,000; to give bis widow the interest of this sum for life, and on her death to her daughters, (by a former husband,) Elizabeth and Ann; and after their deaths to give the principal to their children. He starts out with the provision for his wife, — setting aside $5,000, and giving the interest to her. On her death he gives the interest to Elizabeth and Ann; and in case they die within 10 years alter the date of his will, be provides that his son William shall have the “use” of the $5,000, “by paying the interest” to Elizabeth’s and Ann’s children. Thus far his intention is not questioned; and it should be observed that if he had stopped here, the children would have taken the interest not for the ten years simply, but for life. William is given the “use” of the principal, and tlie-children the interest without limitation as to time. What follows gives rise to the questions presented. It was added to dispose of the principal, — by conferring it on the children, and thus increasing the legacies before given them. The manifest intent, and effect of the language is to give them the $5,000 at their mother’s death, reserving to William the “use” before mentioned,
There is no occasion here to invoke the aid of canons of construction, —such, as that legacies are to be construed vested, rather than contingent where 'the language will permit; that a testator must be presumed to intend the disposal of his entire estate, etc. Their only use is to assist in ascertaining the testator’s purpose where it is obscure. Here, as we have seen, it is not.
; The appellants admit that the language will bear this construction; but claim that it will also bear another, which favors the heirs at law;
That the legacies are charged on the land, is not open to question. The testator mingled his real and personal property together and gave the residue to William, after paying his debts and “the above-mentioned $5,000.” Sucli language, under such circumstances has been uniformly held, in modem times, to create a charge on the testator’s land. Lewis v. Darling, 16 How. 1; Fenwick v. Chapman, 9 Pet. 461. The rule in Delaware, where this land is located, is shown to be the same, by the decision in Bambo v. Rumer, 4 Del. Ch. 9.
The statutory bond given by William Dean, as executor, was intended to secure the faithful discharge of his official duties, and had no relation to the payment of this legacy. The time when it might become payable was uncertain, while the obligations of the bond were limited to six years; and expired long before the legacies became due. The bond did not, therefore, “secure” its payment, within the terms of the will, as the appellant urges. The decree of the circuit court is affirmed.
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