Source: http://masscases.com/cases/sjc/206/206mass20.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 04:17:36+00:00

Document:
ARTHUR G. WALTON, trustee, vs. MARTHA DRAPER & others.
Present: KNOWLTON, C.J., MORTON, LORING, BRALEY, & RUGG, JJ.
A testatrix left certain personal property in trust, to pay over the income therefrom to her two sons "share and share alike . . . upon the death of either to pay his share of the income to the lawful issue of his body, but if he dies without issue then to pay the entire net income to the survivor: upon the death of both this trust shall cease and determine." The sons survived the testatrix, and both died, each leaving a will and without issue. Those, who were next of kin of the testatrix at the time of the death of the survivor of the sons, claimed the right to have the trust fund transferred to them and offered oral evidence tending to show that the testatrix had intended to make this disposition of the property. Held, that the will was unambiguous, that there was an intestacy as to the principal of the trust fund after the death of the survivor of the sons without issue, and therefore that the fund should be paid to the executors of the wills of the sons, who were the next of kin of their mother at the time of her death.
the will of her son Charles H. Patch, for disposition in accordance with the wills of such sons, they having been living at the time of the death of the testatrix and being then her sole heirs and next of kin, but having since died without issue; or whether the fund should be transferred and conveyed to the other defendants, who were the testatrix's next of kin at the time of the termination of the trust.
In the Probate Court Lawton, J., made a decree ordering the conveyance and transfer of the principal to the executrix of the will of Fred C. Patch and to the executor of the will of Charles H. Patch.
On appeal the case was heard by Rugg, J., who ruled that certain evidence, which tended to show that the testatrix had intended her property ultimately to go to those who were her next of kin at the time of the termination of the trust, was inadmissible, confirmed the decree of the Probate Court, and reported the case for determination by the full court.
G. W. Anderson, for Arthur G. Walton, the executor of the will of Charles H. Patch, and Martha E. Stelle, the residuary legatee under that will.
W. A. Ladd, for Charles A. and Frederick A. Draper, of the next of kin.
R. E. Buffum, for Martha Draper and Fannie Johnson, the others of the next of kin.
T. Eaton, for G. Maude White, executrix of the will of Fred C. Patch.
heirs, and, they having died testate but without issue, upon the death of the survivor the trust terminated. At the time of his death her next of kin were some of the defendants, and the question for decision is, whether the principal shall be divided among them, or be paid over in equal proportions for distribution under the wills of the beneficiaries for life. We assume, in the absence of any statement to the contrary, that the residue turned over to the trustee consisted solely of personal property.
If the use and income had been directly given to the sons, or if, after using such terms, the gift had been coupled with the further provision that the estate should be held in trust, a construction could be adopted that the testatrix intended an absolute gift of the principal, or that the sons took an equitable fee, and a partial intestacy would be avoided. Chase v. Chase, 132 Mass. 473. Seaver v. Griffing, 176 Mass. 59. Fay v. Phipps, 10 Met. 341. Holden v. Blaney, 119 Mass. 421. Russell v. Bates, 181 Mass. 12. Chauncey v. Francis, 181 Mass. 513. Chauncey v. Salisbury, 181 Mass. 516. Hayward v. Rowe, 190 Mass. 1.
remoulded to meet the demands of disappointed heirs or legatees. Lincoln v. Perry, 149 Mass. 368. Best v. Berry, 189 Mass. 510, 512. Polsey v. Newton, 199 Mass. 450, 455, and cases there cited.
The equitable reversion, therefore, vested at her death in her sons as her next of kin, although by reason of the trust they never came into possession, and the share which each inherited passed by the provisions of their respective wills. Keating v. Smith, 5 Cush. 232, 235. Stearns v. Stearns, 192 Mass. 144. Cushman v. Arnold, 185 Mass. 165, 169.
It accordingly remains the duty of the trustee to divide the principal into two equal parts, and pay one part to the executor of the will of Charles H. Patch, and the other part to the executrix of the will of Fred C. Patch.
Decree of Probate Court affirmed.

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