Case Name: Dommell's Estate
Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1926-06-26
Citations: 286 Pa. 509
Docket Number: Appeal, No. 204
Parties: Dommell's Estate.
Judges: Before Moschzisker, C. J., Frazer, Walling, Simpson, Kephart, Sadler and Schaefer, JJ.
Reporter: Pennsylvania State Reports
Volume: 286
Pages: 509–511

Head Matter:
Dommell's Estate.
Argued May 11, 1926.
Before Moschzisker, C. J., Frazer, Walling, Simpson, Kephart, Sadler and Schaefer, JJ.
F. Lyman Windolph, for appellant,
cited: List’s Est., 288 Pa. 255; Smith v. Coal Co., 282 Pa. 248; Wettengel’s Est., 278 Pa. 571; Robinson’s Est., 282 Pa. 531; Pattin v. Scott, 270 Pa. 49; Weister v. Young, 265 Pa. 393; Martin’s Est., 280 Pa. 573; Herskovitz’s Est., 81 Pa. Superior Ct. 379; Edwards v. Newland, 271 Pa. 1.
Paul A. Mueller, with him John M. Groff, for appellee,
cited: Pattin v. Scott, 270 Pa. 49; Stanton v. Guest, 285 Pa. 460.
June 26, 1926:

Opinion:
Per Curiam,
The will of decedent reads thus: "July 16-1925 I Geo. L. H. Dommell from this day on request that at my death every thing that is mine should be turned over to my wife Ivy, such as my home 1060 Columbia Ave all my real a state lots; and properties, money and all personal things and that she should see that Faith city
Church should get five Hundred dollars, and one thousand dollars put on interest for my boy De Yon till he is of age, and at her death every thing should be turned over to the boy, also request that Mr. Eby Union trust be made executor."
In a declaratory judgment proceeding, the court below, construing testatorls expressed intientions, correctly decided: "This instrument was intended as a will, and, consistent with that, the purpose of the maker of it was to dispose of his estate; one can read into it enough to find an intention to do that, regardless of the artless way in which it is expressed. In looking for the testator's 'actual, personal, individual intent' (Tyson's Est., 191 Pa. 218, 225), we find that it is to give to his wife the use of his estate for life, except as to the legacy of five hundred dollars to Faith Church and the one of a thousand dollars to testator's boy De Yon; and at her death the principal, of which she may enjoy the income for life, is De Yon's."
The decree is affirmed, costs to be paid out of estate of decedent.