Court Opinion

ID: 8015618
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 02:04:06.262958+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:36:18.893579
License: Public Domain

BURGESS, P. J.
— John O’Day, on the 8th day of June, 1901, executed his last will, and the plaintiffs herein were appointed therein to execute said will. This suit is for the purpose of having said will construed, and it was filed in the circuit court of Greene county, Missouri, on the--day of August, 1902, by said Sue I. B. O’Day and said E. W. Banister, and John Baldwin O’Day, Catherine O’Day and Thomas K. O'’Day, infants, and children of the marriage of deceased testator with Sue I. B. O ’Day, were made parties defendant. John O’Day and A. C. O'’Day, children by a former marriage, were also joined as defendants. After the institution of the suit, at her personal request, Sue I. B. O ’Day was also made a party defendant.
The infants, John Baldwin O’Day, Catherine O’Day and Thomas K. O’Day, were 'duly served with process, and T. J. Delaney was thereupon appointed guardian ad litem for said infant defendants. It being-apparent to said T. J. Delaney that a conflict of interests might arise between said John Baldwin O ’Day and Catherine O ’Day named in the will, on the one side, and the posthumous child, T. K. O’Day, on the other, the appointment of said T. J. Delaney as guardian ad litem for Thomas K. O’Day was, at his own suggestion, set aside and J. T. White, Esq., was appointed guardian ad litem in his stead.
The testator died seized of a number of tracts of real estate and possessed of a large amount of money and notes.
Only such parts of the will as seem to be necessary to a proper understanding and solution of the questions *72involved in this suit will be recited, and snch are as follows :
“First. I will and direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid by my executors, hereinafter named, as soon as practicable after my death.
“Second. I give, devise and bequeath to my wife, Sue I. B. O’Day, and to my children, John Baldwin and Catherine, who are minors, as tenants in common, and not as joint tenants, all the following described real estate, ... To have and to hold all of said several tracts or parcels of land, with all of the buildings, structures and improvements thereon or appertaining thereto, as such tenants in common, and to their heirs and assigns forever.
“I also give and bequeath to my wife, Sue I. B. C’Day, and said two minor children, John Baldwin and Catherine, the seventy-five thousand dollars (par value) of railroad bonds which are in the hands of E. W. Banister, as agent for me, and in the event that I shall sell any or all of said bonds, then in lien of the said bonds so sold I give to said three persons above mentioned the proceeds of said bonds, or a sum equal to such proceeds of said bonds so sold, said $75,000 of bonds, or the proceeds of any or all thereof, to be divided equally among said three persons.
“And in case either of said children, John Baldwin or Catherine, shall die before I do, or at any time before he or she reaches the age of majority, it is my will that the share of the child so dying, whether of the property hereinbefore or hereinafter devised o-r bequeathed, shall go to the survivor of said children.
“Third. I give, devise and bequeath to my sons, Allie and John (both of whom are of age), the following described real estate, ... To have and to hold all of said several tracts or parcels of land ,with all the buildings and improvements thereon or thereto appertaining, as tenants in common, and not as joint tenants, to them and their heirs and assigns forever.
*73“I-also give to my said sons, John and Allie, one hundred thousand dollars in cash, or at their option they may take all or any part of said amount in notes belonging to me at the time of my death, at the face value thereof, said sum of one hundred thousand dollars, whether in cash or notes, or part cash and part notes, to be divided equally between them, share and share alike.
“Sixth. All the residue and remainder of my estate, real and personal, and wherever the same is situated, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by me, I give, devise and bequeath to my wife, Sue I. B. 0 ’Day, and my four children, Allie, John, John Baldwin and Catherine, share and share alike, so that none of said five persons shall receive or have any preference over the others, .or either of them, as to said residuary estate.
“It is my wish that my estate shall be divided as herein provided for, without the necessity for any partition or other suit or suits, and I direct and request that my wife and children make an earnest effort to divide said residuary estate among themselves without resorting to any outside aid; and in order to facilitate and make such division possible, in case said John Baldwin O’Day and Catherine O’Day, or either of them, shall not have arrived at the age of majority at the time such division is undertaken, I hereby authorize, empower and direct the executor or executors of-this will to act for said minor children, or either of them, in making the ' division of said residuary estate; and I do for that purpose invest said executor or executors with full power and authority to act for said minor children, or either of them, and to make such division, including the right, authority and power to make, execute and deliver any deed, deeds or other instruments, writing or assurances of any kind which may be necessary or proper to effectuate and carry out a division of said residuary estate as herein contemplated, and I do hereby direct that any *74deed or other instrument in writing made, executed and delivered by my said executors or executor in charge of my estate, in the name of and for and on behalf of said minor children, or either of them, in order to effectuate such division of said residuary estate shall have the same force and effect as if the same were executed and delivered by said children, or either of them, for whom said instrument is so made, and they, or either of them, were at the time of its execution and delivery of full age and capacity to execute the same.”
By the seventh clause of said will, it is provided as follows:
“I desire that my wife, Sue I. B. O’Day, shall after my death have the care, charge, custody and control of ■ the estates of my two minor children, John Baldwin and Catherine, so long as she remains a widow, but in case she shall remarry, as soon as that event occurs I direct that all the estates of said two minor children shall vest in and be transferred to said E. W. Banister, in trust for said children, until their respective majority. And whether the said estates be under the care and charge of my wife or of said Banister, I vest them, and each of them, while acting as such trustee, with full power to manage and control the same, but it is my desire that the real estate which forms a part of the estate of said minors be preserved and not disposed of unless it is absolutely necessary or unquestionably advisable. And I direct that neither my wife nor said Banister be required to give bond while holding, controlling or handling said estate as executors, trustee or curator. ’ ’
By the will specific devises of real estate were made to Sue I. B. 0 ’Day and to her two children then living, and specific devises were also made to John 0 ’Day and A. C. 0 ’Day, children aforesaid, but no provision whatever was made for the posthumous child, nor was any reference made to said child in the will.
The testator died seized of a large number of tracts of real estate not specifically devised, and died pos*75sessed of $55,131.40 in cash, which snm was on deposit in his name in the hank of the Holland Banking Company, also possessed of thirty-two bonds of the St. Lonis and San Francisco Railroad Company, also the snm of $31,669.93 which was on deposit in the National Exchange Bank, also a large amount of notes of the face value of about $260,000, and other personal property. The $55,131.40 on deposit with the Holland Banking Company was the proceeds of the $43,775 bonds of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company, mentioned in the will, and especially bequeathed to Sue I. B. O ’Day and her two children. Many of the notes owned by O’Day at the time of his death were worthless.
The estate proved insufficient to pay the debts and satisfy the legacy of $100,000, to John 0'’Day and Allie C. O ’Day, children by a former marriage, and one of the questions involved in this litigation is, how this shortage should be met and out of what property paid. At the time of executing his will said testator owned $75,000 of bonds (par value) and other personal property, consisting mainly of notes and bonds. A short time before his death he sold forty-three of his bonds, to-wit, $43,000, par value, and realized thereon the sum of $51,730.44, and this sum was converted into a draft and deposited in the bank of the Holland Banking Company, at Springfield, to the credit of the testator, and was not mingled with any other fund, nor was any sum added to or taken therefrom by him, and from the time of such sale to the time of his death such sum was carried intact and separate and distinct from all other moneys owned by him. The evidence showed that such sum was by the direction of said testator placed on deposit with the Holland Banking Company, and that no other account was carried by said testator at said bank, but that all the rest of his bank dealings were had with the National Exchange Bank of Springfield, Missouri. The evidence further shows that the testator died possessed of other personal property consisting, as stated, *76mainly of notes and cash, and that the real value thereof did not exceed $100,000 of which $31,669.93 was cash, exclusive of said deposit aforesaid. It appears that debts amounting to several thousand dollars were standing against O’Day’s estate and paid, so that after such payment there was not sufficient personal estate, beside the $75,000 of bonds, above mentioned, to pay the $100,000 legacy to John O ’Day and Allie C. 0'’Day. Before the institution of this suit the executors had paid said Sue I. B. O ’Day the said sum of $51,730.44 realized from the sale of $43,000 (par value) of said bonds, and they had paid to John'O’Day and Allie C. O’Day the sum of $25,000 out of the cash on hand in the National Exchange Bant at the time of the testator’s death and out of moneys collected since the death of the testator.
Before the-rendition of the judgment in this suit John O’Day and Allie C. O’Day filed suit against the posthumous child, Thomas K. O’Day, to partition the lands to them specifically devised, and all of said lands, except the tract known as the old “O’Day Homestead,” were partitioned, and the interests of said parties were adjusted, the share of said Thomas K. O ’Day being decreed as one-sixth interest, in all of said lands, and said Thomas K. O’Day was also decreed entitled to one-sixth of all the personal property of which testator died possessed and which was bequeathed to others, and he was also decreed entitled to one-sixth of all residuary estate, real and personal.
The evidence shows that the executors advanced to John O’Day and Allie O. O’Day the sum of $25,000, that this sum was paid out of the general fund of $31,669.93, and that the debts were also paid out of this fund and out of money collected after the death of the testator. It appears that at the time the testator made his will he had on hand about $260,000 of notes, and that he thought at least $165,000 of said notes were good, and that he believed at the time of making said will that his estate was ample to meet the legacy of *77$100,000 to his sons. There was some evidence tending to show that defendants John O’Day and A. C. O’Day made an election to take certain of the notes in lieu of the cash bequest, or as part of said bequest, but on this the evidence is conflicting and unsatisfactory.
Over the-objection of plaintiffs, defendants John and A. C. O ’Day. were permitted to introduce evidence tending to show that by the provisions of the will the properties, by value, aggregated about three-fifths for Sue I. B. O’Day and her children, and two-fifths for John and A. C. O’Day.
On the evidence adduced the court made and entered the following decree:
“Now comes on this cause to be heard, and the plaintiffs appearing in person, and the defendants John O’Day and Allie C. O’Day, appearing in person and by attorney, W. D. Tatlow, and the defendant Sue I. B. O ’Day appearing by attorney, Thos. J. Delaney, by consent of parties and request of said defendant, and the defendant minors John Baldwin O'’Day and Catherine O’Day appearing by their guardian ad litem, T. J. Delaney, and the defendant minor Thomas K. O’Day appearing by his guardian ad litem, J. T. "White, and this being a petition by the said executor and executrix, praying for the construction of the last will of the said John O’Day, deceased, the court doth find:
“That the said John O’Day, deceased, died on July 30, 1901, and left a last will and testament, which has been duly probated in the probate court of G-reene county ; that the plaintiffs are executor and executrix of the said last will and testament, duly qualified and acting as such; that the said John O’Day, deceased, left surviving him his widow, the said Sue I. B. O’Day, and children, John O’Day and Allie O. O’Day, who are of age, and John Baldwin O’Day, Catherine O’Day and Thomas K. O ’Day, who are minors; that the said T. J. Delaney has been duly appointed the guardian ad litem by this court for the minors John Baldwin O ’Day and *78Catherine 0 ’Day and that the said J. T. White has been duly appointed by this conrt as guardian ad litem for the said minor Thomas K. O’Day; and that the said guardians ad litem have filed their several answers for the said minors herein.
“The court doth further find that the minor defendant Thomas K. O’Day was born after the death of said John O’Day, deceased, and was not mentioned or in any manner provided for in said will.
“The court doth further find that the said John O’Day, deceased, by the said will, intended to dispose of all his property, and by one clause of the said will be made the following provisions:
“ ‘I also give to my sons, John and Allie, $100,000 in cash, or, at their option, they may take all or part of said amount in notes belonging to me at the time of my death at the face value thereof, said sum of $100,000, whether in cash or notes, or part cash and part notes, to be divided equally between them, share and share alike. ’
“That said last will and testament contains also the further following provisions:
“ ‘I also give and bequeath to my wife, Sue I. B. O’Day, and said two minor children, John Baldwin O’Day and Catherine O’Day, the $75,000 (per value) of railroad bonds which are now in the hands of E. W. Banister as agent for me, and in the event that I should sell any or all of said bonds, then in lieu of the said bonds so sold I give to the said three persons above mentioned the proceeds of the said bonds so sold, the said $75,000 of bonds, or the proceeds of any or all thereof, to be equally divided among said three persons. ’
“That by the two said clauses and by the other provisions of said will said testator intended to give said John O’Day and Allie C. O’Day two-fifths of his estate, and said Sue I. B. O’Day and said John Bald*79win and said Catherine O’Day three-fifths of his said estate.
“That the said John O'’Day, by other provisions of the said will, devised a portion of his real estate, hereinafter described, to the said Sue I. B. 0 ’Day and John Baldwin O’Day and Catherine .O’Day; and also a portion of his real estate, described in said will, to the said John O’Day and Allie C. O’Day.
“The court doth further find that the said John O’Day, deceased, at the time of his death, owned the real estate above mentioned and devised as aforesaid, and in addition thereto a large amount of real estate not specifically devised, which last-mentioned real estate is not particularly described in said will, and that said J ohn 0 ’Day at the time of his decease, owned the $75,000 of bonds above mentioned, and that there has been inventoried by the executors other personal prop- . erty consisting mainly of cash and notes, which other personal property the court finds to be of the value of not more than $100,000, and that debts have been allowed against the said estate amounting to several thousand dollars, so that there is not sufficient personal estate besides the bonds above mentioned to pay the $100,000 legacy to John and Allie C. O’Day and the said debts.
“ The court doth further find that by the residuary clause of the said will, the said John O’Day, testator, left all his estate, real and personal, not specifically devised as above set forth, to the five persons named in the said will, Sue I. B. O’Day, John Baldwin O’Day, Catherine 0’Da.y, John O’Day and Allie C. O’Day.
“The court doth further find that the $43,000 (par value) of the aforesaid bonds were sold by the said J ohn O ’Day, testator, during his lifetime, and the proceeds thereof were deposited in the bank of the Holland Banking Company and kept and maintained by the said John O’Day, testator, intact and separate from all other money owned by him as a distinct fund; that he *80left at the time of his death cash on hand and in hank $31,669.93.
‘ ‘ The court doth further find that it was the intention of the said John O’Day, testator, by the said last will, to give to the said Sue I. B. O’Day, John Baldwin O’Day and Catherine O’Day, the said $75,000 bonds or the proceeds thereof as a specific legacy; and that it was the intention of the said testator, by the said will, to give to said John O’Day and Allie C. 0’Da.y the sum of $100,000 as a general legacy, with the power in said John and Allie C. to select said amount in cash on hand at time of his death, or notes, or part cash and part notes, thereby making the same a specific legacy.
‘ ‘ The court doth further find that the executor and executrix have paid over to said Sue I. B. O’Day, for herself and for the said John Baldwin and Catherine O’Day, the sum of $51,730.44, the proceeds of the $43.-000 bonds deposited in Holland’s Bank as aforesaid, and that the said executor and executrix have paid over to the said John 0’Da.y and Allie C. O’Day the sum of $25,000, in part payment of their said legacy of $100,000, which amount was paid out of the cash left on hands by the said John O’Day, testator, at the time of his decease and moneys collected since his death.
“The court doth further find that the real estate ' mentioned in the said will and specifically devised to the said John O’Day and Allie C. O’Day has been, by partition proceedings in this court, partitioned between the said John 0’Da.y and Allie C. O’Day and the said infant, Thomas K. O’Day; and the interest of the said Thomas K. O’Day has been set off to him under the order of this court in and to the real estate last above mentioned, with the exception of one tract thereof, known as the “O’Day Homestead,” and hereinafter more particularly described.
‘ ‘ The court doth further find that the said Thomas K. O ’Day is entitled to an undivided one-sixth interest in all the real estate specifically devised to the said Sue *81I. B. O’Day, John Baldwin O’Day and Catherine O’Day; and also entitled to an undivided one-sixth interest in the real estate devised to John O’Day and Allie O. O’Day and not partitioned as above set forth; and that the said infant is also entitled to a one-sixth of all the personal property left by the said testator at the time of his decease after the payment of the debts of said deceased and expenses of administration; and also entitled to an undivided one-sixth interest in all the real estate left by the said testator at the time of his death, and not specifically devised, as above mentioned.
“It further appearing to the court that the said Thomas K. O’Day, minor, by his guardian ad litem, T. J. White, has prayed, for a partition of the real estate last above mentioned, belonging to the residuary estate of the said John O’Day, testator, and all the parties interested or having any claim or interest in the said residuary real estate being now before this court, it is therefore considered, ordered and adjudged as follows:
“That the $75,000 of railroad bonds above mentioned, or the proceeds thereof, be and is adjudged to he a specific legacy.
‘ ‘ That the $100,000 bequeathed by the said will to the said John O’Day and Allie C. 0’Da.y be and is hereby adjudged a general legacy. But if said John O’Day and Allie O. O ’Day shall select of the notes and cash on hand at the time of the testator’s death, amounting to $31,669.93, the sum of $100,000, less the $25,000 already received by them, taking the said notes at their face value, in the payment of the said legacy, then the same shall become and he a specific legacy; and the said executor and executrix are hereby ordered to exhibit to the said John O ’Day and Allie C. O ’Day all the notes which were in their hands at the time of the making of the inventory of the said estate (except the proceeds of the *82bonds above mentioned) and the proceeds of such notes as have been collected may be selected in lieu of the above notes themselves, a reasonable time being allowed for such selection after such exhibition.
“And if the said John and Allie C. O’Day, from the said'cash and from the said notes and the proceeds thereof, at the face value of the said notes, such face value being the amount thereof, with accrued interest at the time of such selection, shall select the sum of $75,000 (they having already received the sum of $25,-000 in cash as aforesaid), then the said $100,000 legacy by such act and selection shall be and become a specific legacy of the same class and on the same footing as the other specific legacies of personal property mentioned in the said will; and such of the proceeds of said notes and such cash as was on hand at the time of the making of the said inventory as has been applied and used in the payment of debts and expenses of said estate shall be replaced and refunded out of the proceeds of said residuary estate, and if there be not enough of such proceeds 'for that purpose, then the said Sue I. B. O’Day, John Baldwin O’Day and Catherine O’Day shall contribute their proportional part in the proportions hereinafter provided.
“It is further ordered and adjudged that the residuary real estate above mentioned, and hereinafter more particularly described, shall be sold for the purpose of paying the debts allowed against the said estate and the said general legacy; and if the said residuary real estate shall be insufficient to pay all the debts which are allowed, or may hereafter be allowed, against the said estate and the expense of administering the said estate, then the same shall be paid out of the personal property not specifically devised, and the said legacy of $100,000 shall abate, if necessary, in an amount sufficient to pay the remainder of the said debts and expenses of administering the said estate.
“But if said John O’Day and Allie C. O’Day *83should select as above set forth the sum of $75,000 in cash and notes, then their said general legacy shall become a specific legacy, and in such case it is ordered and adjudged that, if the residuary real estate as aforesaid be insufficient to pay the said debts and costs of administration, and there be insufficient personal property not selected by the said John O'’Day and Allie C. O’Day, as aforesaid, to pay the said debts, then in that case the said specific legacy' of $100,000 to the said John O’Day and Allie C. O’Day and the said specific legacy of $75,000 in railroad bonds to the said Sue I. B. O’Day and the said John Baldwin O’Day and the said Catherine O ’Day shall abate, so as' to pay said debts and expenses- of administering the said estate. That is to say, the legacy of $100,000 shall abate to make up two-fifths of such deficiency and the legacy of railroad bonds shall abate to make up three-fifths of such deficiency.'
“It is further ordered, adjudged and decreed that the said residuary real estate, in accordance with the prayer of the answer filed by the said J. T. White, guardian ad litem for the said Thomas K. O ’Day, be partitioned among the several parties according to their several interests; that is to say: One-sixth interest to said Thomas II. 0’Da.y, a one-sixth interest to the said Sue I. B. O’Day, a one-sixth interest to the said John Baldwin O’Day, a one-sixth interest to the said Catherine O’Day, a one-sixth interest to the said John O’Day, and a one-sixth interest to the said Allie O. O'’Day.
“It being apparent to the court that the last-mentioned real estate, from its character and location and from the nature and amount of the property sought to be divided and the number of owners thereof, cannot be partitioned in kind without great prejudice to the owners, it is therefore ordered and adjudged that the said real estate, which is described as follows, to-wit: . .
“That the same be sold, and one-sixth of the proceeds thereof belonging to the said minor, Thomas K. *84O’Day, be paid to bim, and that the remaining proceeds of such sale be held for the purpose above provided by the terms of this decree.
“It is further ordered and adjudged that the said executor and executrix be and are hereby appointed commissioners of this court to sell the said real estate under this order, during the session of the circuit court in the several counties where the same is situate as soon as practicable, and report their proceeding at the next term of this court after such sales.
“It is further ordered, adjudged and decreed that the said Thomas K. O’Day be and is entitled to an undivided one-sixth interest in all the real estate above mentioned, devised by the said will to the said Sue I. B. O’Day, John Baldwin O’Day and Catherine O’Day, all of which real estate is situated in Greene county and State of Missouri, to-wit: ....
11 The said Thomas K. 0 ’Day may maintain an action in partition for the division of the same and may have immediate possession of the same, and an order of this court may issue therefor upon application of the said guardian ad litem or the general guardian of said minor, if such should hereafter be appointed.
‘ ‘ The court doth further order, adjudge and decree that the said Sue I. B. O’Day shall pay to the duly appointed curator of the said minor, Thomas K. O’Day, a one-sixth of all rents which have been collected by her from the real estate specifically devised to the said Sue I. B. O’Day, John Baldwin O’Day and Catherine 0 ’Day; and the said Sue I. B. 0 ’Day and the said E. W. Banister be ordered to pay over to the duly appointed curator of the said minor all of the rents which have been collected by them from the real estate set apart to the said minor, Thomas K. 0 ’Day, in the partition proceedings between the said John O’Day and Allie C. O’Day and the said Thomas K. O’Day, which real estate consists of the property known as the Gott Hotel *85property in the city of Springfield, Greene county, Missouri.
“That the said Sue I. B. O’Day and the said E. W. Banister, as executor and executrix, and in their own proper person, are hereby ordered to make an accounting for such rents as they have received, as aforesaid, with the duly appointed curator of the said minor, and such curator, on motion in this cause, may procure such accounting.
“It is further ordered, adjudged and decreed that the said executor and executrix, in making distribution of the personal estate in their hands, shall pay and deliver to the -duly appointed curator of the said minor a one-sixth of all the personal property and money which has come or may hereafter come into their hands as such executor and executrix, including a one-sixth of the said bonds and proceeds thereof and a one-sixth of the cash and notes and other personal property belonging to the said estate after the payment of all debts and the expenses of administering the said estate ; that is to say: that all the debts of the said estate shall be first paid, and after such payment a one-sixth of all the said personal property shall be paid over and delivered to the duly appointed curator of the said infant, Thomas K. O’Day; and after the residuary real estate above mentioned shall have been sold, and the proceeds thereof appropriated to the payment of the debts, except the one-sixth interest of the said minor, the said minor shall be charged with a sum and' amount out of his share in the said personal estate equal to his share of said proceeds of said residuary real estate, and such amount shall be deducted from the personal property delivered to him. ’ ’
On the rendition of this decree, the plaintiffs, Sue I. B. O’Day, as executrix, and E. W. Banister, as executor; the defendants John Baldwin O’Day and Catherine 0 ’Day, by their guardian ad litem, T. J. Delaney; the defendants John O’Day and Allie C. O’Day, and *86the defendant Sue I. B. 0 ’Day, in her individual capacity, filed their several motions for a new trial and filed their several motions in arrest of judgment, and the same were hy the court overruled, and exceptions to such rulings were duly made by the respective parties at the time.
Thereupon applications for appeal were made hy all said parties, duly verified by affidavits, and appeals were allowed, and leave was given to all said parties to file a hill or hills of exceptions within and including the first day of the following term, to-wit, .January term, 1903, and a bill of exceptions, concurred in hy all appellants and for all appellants, was on said.first day of said term duly presented to the judge of said Greene circuit court for allowance, and on said day the same was signed hy said judge and allowed, and on said day the same was filed with the clerk of said circuit court.
The plaintiffs, Sue I. B. O’Day, executrix, and E. W. Banister, executor; and John Baldwin O’Day and Catherine O’Day, minor, defendants; and Sue I. B. 0 ’Day, in her individual capacity, assign the following errors:
“ The court erred in admitting incompetent, irrelevant and immaterial testimony offered hy defendants John O’Day and A. C. O’Dav.
“The court erred in excluding competent, relevant and material testimony offered by plaintiffs, and offered by the minor defendants, and offered hy Sue I. B. O’Day in her individual capacity.
‘ ‘ The finding of facts hy the court is not warranted by the evidence.
“The conclusion of law reached hy the court in said decree is not the law and is not sustained hy the facts found.
‘ ‘ The construction placed upon said will is against the law and against the manifest intention of the testator.
“The court erred in declaring that said will *87charged the residuary real estate with the payment of debts.
“The court erred in declaring that said will charged the residuary real estate with the payment of the legacy to John'and Allie O’D'ay.
“The court erred in declaring that said will charged the residuary real estate with the payment of the legacy to John and Allie O ’Day.
“The court erred in declaring that the right of selection was a subsisting right in John 0 ’Day and Allie O. 0 ’Day.
“The court erred in declaring the law to be that such selection when made would convert said bequest into a specific legacy.
“The court erred in declaring the law to be. that under the terms of the will the specific bequest to Sue 1. B. O’Day and her children abated ratably with the bequest to John and Allie O ’Day.
“The court erred in declaring the law to be that the specific devises abated ratably to make good the legacy to John and Allie O’Day.
“Under the testimony, the bequest to John and Allie O’Day is a general one, or at best a demonstrative one, so far as notes are concerned (if right of selection subsists), and adeems for the payment of debts if residuary property be insufficient to pay debts and such legacy of $100,000.”
It is insisted by plaintiffs that the debts of the estate must be paid out of the residuary personal estate, and that, if this prove to be insufficient, the entire personal estate is liable; general legacies first contributing ratably, and then specific legacies; next if necessary, residuary real estate, and, next, real estate specifically devised, because, under our statute, debts cannot be defeated by the provisions of a will. Upon the other hand, it is contended that where the testator directs the executors to pay off and-discharge the debts oijt of the estate, and follows this direction by disposing *88of Ms property, real and personal, among Ms cMldren, in substantially equal parts, by separate devises or bequests, and charges no specific property, either real or personal, with the payment of his debts, the rule in this State is that all devisees and legatees are to contribute equally toward the payment of such debts; that the debts are not to be paid entirely out of the real estate, nor are specific legacies to have preference over general legacies in the order of abatement of such debts, but that all legacies and devises are required to contribute ratably.
In Brant’s Will, 40 Mo. 266, the testator directed Ms executors to pay off and discharge all of his debts out of his estate as soon as it could conveniently be done after his decease. He then bequeathed and devised his estate, by specific legacies, and devises to his wife and his children in nearly equal parts. The debts were paid off by the executors from the rents collected from the real estate. Upon a bill to marshal assets, it was held, as the testator had designated no specific fund from which the debts were to be paid, it was his intention that the devisees and legatees should contribute ratably to the abatement of the incumbrance, and that the whole burden of the debts couM not be thrown upon the personal estate.
The rule contended for by respondents John and Allie C. O’Day seems to be announced in Brant’s Will ease, supra, wherein it is said: “If a man dies intestate, owing debts, payment will be made in the regular order pointed out by the statute, commencing with the personalty; but if he devises and bequeaths his whole property specifically, both real and personal, it is an indication that the objects or recipients of his bounty shall have the estate in the proportion designated in the will. Where, therefore, the testator makes various specific gifts of movable and immovable property, and large amounts of debts, resulting from contingent liability perhaps, which were unexpected and not contem*89plated by Mm at the time of his decease, are proved up against the estate, will it be believed or considered that it was intended by him that that part of the property which consisted wholly of the realty should be entirely indemnified from his debts by the rest? Or, in other words, that the law should step in and make a distinction where he had made none, and where he had made equal provision for all, and each and every specific devisee and legatee, it should be held that one set of beneficiaries should hold their estate intact, whilst another set should be thrown upon the world destitute and beggared? Yet, the enforcement of the rule pressed in the argument for the plaintiff would lead precisely to this result. The just and equitable manner of construing the will is to give it such an application as, in the arrangement for the payment of debts, the plan of the testator in the distribution of the property shall be fairly carried out, and no disappointment shall happen to those who appear to have been equally the subjects of his bounty and affection. Of course, tMs opmion as to the true construction of the will must be considered as applying to specific devises and legacies, and not to any residuary clause that may be contained in the instrument. ’ ’
A will is always to be construed in accordance with the intent of the testator, which is to be arrived at, not from single words or clauses or sentences, but from a consideration of the whole will, its general design and scope; and in order to a proper and practical construction of a will, technical rules must yield to the obvious intent of the testator, as gathered from all parts of the instrument. Such being the rule observed by this court in the construction of wills, there is no escape from the conclusion that the testator in this case intended, in the distribution of his property among his wife and four children, to make them as nearly equal as practicable; and this being the case, the court should make no distinction between the parties who are the recipients of *90Ms bounty where the testator made none. This view is in accord with the principle announced in Brant’s Will case, supra, and while that case is not in line with authorities cited by counsel for appellants, it is to be commended for its sound logic and the equitable principles promulgated by it. And although forty years have elapsed since it was decided, it has never been overruled, or even criticised, and having for so long a time been recognized as the law of this State, should not at tMs late date be interfered with.
But it is claimed by plaintiffs that the will passed upon in Brant’s case is to be differentiated -from the will in the case at bar, in that the testator, 0 ’Day, in his will did not specifically dispose of his whole estate, as was done by the will in Brant’s case; that the concluding sentence in that case, “Of course, this opinion as to the true construction of the will must be considered as applying to the specific devises and legacies, and not to any residuary clauses that may be contained in the instrument,” means any will with specific dispositions of property followed by a residuary clause, and that as it is manifest, not only from the will but from the evi-. denee adduced, that the testator thought he had ample personal property to liquidate all of his debts and pay all legacies, specific and general, he could not have intended to charge his real estate. But it is apparent from the reading of the will in that case that it contained no residuary clause, so that there was nothing to call for such observatipns, and should not be regarded as in any way detracting from or nullifying the opinion M that case. Defendants do not contend that the rule announced in that case applies to the residuary property, but their position is that there can be no such thing as residuary property until after all previous devises, bequests and debts have been paid. By the residuary clause of the will it is expressly provided that all the residue and remainder of the testator’s estate is devised and bequeathed to Ms wife and four chil*91dren, share and share alike, and whether or not the residuary real estate is exempt from the payment of debts until all of the personal property is exhausted is entirely immaterial in so far as the rights of the parties are concerned, for practically the same result would follow if the personal estate should be first exhausted. Nor can the Brant case be distinguished from this upon the ground that all of the legacies in that case were specific; and this is manifest by a comparison of the second clause of the Brant will with the concluding part of the third clause of the will involved in this controversy. In that part of Brant’s will to which reference has just been made, the testator after giving to his wife various articles of property and stocks in different corporations, bequeathed to her all money due him in any bank or banks or from any corporation or institution, or any individual, all notes or credits and also all debts due or to become due to him, and not otherwise disposed of by his will, to have and to hold the same to her and her heirs and assigns forever; while, by the last clause in the third paragraph of the 0 ’Day will, the testator bequeathed to his sons John and Allie one hundred thous- and dollars in cash, or at their option they might take all or any part of said amount in notes belonging to said testator at the time of his death at the face value thereof. These bequests are substantially similar, and it must follow that if the bequest to Mrs. Brant was specific, so is also the bequest to these respondents. The decree left it optional with John and Allie C. O’Day to exercise the right of selection conferred upon them by the will; but if they failed to select, then all of the debts were to be paid out of the residuary fund and the legacy to them. But as the residuary estate was insufficient to pay the debts, they chose to exercise the right of selection.
As there was ample personal property to pay the debts, the question with which we are confronted is, whether the specific legacy is entitled to priority over *92the legacy of respondents in order of abatement in payment of the debts. It is said for appellants that the legacy to John and Allie O. O’Day is not specific, for the reason that the right to select cash or notes on hand at the time of the death of the testator to pay such legacy only makes it demonstrative. Conceding that the legacy under discussion is a demonstrative legacy, do not specific and demonstrative legacies occupy the same plane with reference to ademption for the payment of debts in case of a deficiency of assets to pay them? Upon this question, it is said: “After all the personal estate not specifically bequeathed has been exhausted, specific legacies and devises abate pro rata, and demonstrative legacies, so far as the fund upon which they are charged will extend for their payment, abate ratably with specific legacies; but in so far as it may be necessary to resort to the general estate, by reason of the total or partial failure of the fund, they are to be regarded as general legacies, in which event they contribute pro rata with other general legacies.” [1 Am. and Eng. Ency. Law (2 Ed.), 56.] In Armstrong’s Appeal, 63 Pa. St. 312, it is held that a demonstrative legacy is the bequest of a certain sum of money to be paid out of a particular fund, and when there is a deficiency of assets to pay both debts and legacies, specific devises and specific legacies shall abate proportionately.
In Dugan v. Hollins, 11 Md. 41, it was ruled that when a fund upon which a demonstrative legacy is chargeable does not exceed it in amount, it is to be treated in some respects as specific; it is liable to abate with specific legacies in the payment of debts, and liable to contribution from them if the fund demonstrated has been so applied to the exemption of specific legacies.
In Pomeroy’s Equity Jurisprudence, with reference to the abatement of demonstrative legacies, it is said: “If the fund out of which they are primarily made payable exists as part of the testator’s estate at his death, demonstrative legacies are governed by the *93same rules as specific legacies, and abate only with them ratably; but if the fund does not so exist, they become, in effect, general legacies, and must contribute pro rata with all the other general legacies.’’ [3 Pomeroy’s Eq. Jur. (3 Ed.), sec. 1138; Mullins v. Smith, 1 Dr. & Sm. 204; Florence v. Sands, 4 Redf. (N. Y.) 210; Gelbach v. Shively, 67 Md. 501.]
There is no question in this case but that the fund out of which the legacy in question was to be paid was amply sufficent for that purpose, and was not, therefore, liable to abate other than pro rata with the legacy of appellants; so that, whether the legacy in question was demonstrative or specific, as held by the trial court, the result is the same.
It is plain from the provisions of the will that it was not the intention of the testator that there should be any residuary estate until the debts were paid. The testator first directs the payment of the debts; then, by the sixth clause of the will, he gives to his wife and four children all the residue and remainder of his estate, clearly meaning what was left remaining after the payment of his debts and the devises and bqquests mentioned in the will. The language used can bear no other construction.
It will not be contended that the authorities are in harmony upon the question as to whether the blending of real and personal property in the residuary clause of a will is of itself sufficient to charge the residuary real estate with the payment of legacies, but the weight of authority seems to be decidedly that way. Among other courts of high authority which announce a contrary view is the Court of Appeals of New York. [Biggs v. Carroll, 117 N. Y. 288.]
The personal property of the testator O’Day which passed under the residuary clause of his will was only about six hundred dollars, which he must have known was insufficient to pay his debts, which he unquestionably knew were largely in excess of that amount. Nor *94does the'fact that he was mistaken with respect to the amount of solvent notes which he owned at the time of the execution of the will alter the cáse, for he specifically charged these notes with the payment of the legacy to John and Allie C. O’Day, which would seem to be inconsistent with the idea that these notes or cash on hand must be applied to the payment of his debts in preference to the payment of the legacy to respondents.
A point is made by the guardian ad litem of Thomas K. 0 ’Day with reference to the effect upon the property devised and bequeathed to Catherine O’Day, deceased, of that part of the seventh clause of the will which says, “I desire that my wife, Sue I. B. O’Day, shall after my death have the care, charge, custody and control of the estates of my two minor children, John Baldwin and Catherine, so long as she remains a widow, but in case she shall remarry, as soon as that event occurs I direct that all the estates of said two minor children shall vest in and be transferred to said E. W. Banister, in trust for said children, until their respective majority. And whether the said estates be under the cafe and charge of my wife or of said Banister, I vest them and each of them, while acting as such trustee, with full power to manage and control the same, but it is my desire that the real estate which forms a part of the estate of said minors be preserved and not disposed of unless it is absolutely necessary or unquestionably advisable. And I direct that neither my wife nor said Banister be required to give bond while holding, controlling or handling said estate as executor, trustee or curator. ’ ’
The contention is that that clause of the will, limiting the estate which Catherine and John Baldwin 0 ’Day acquired under the will to the survivor in case of the death of either of them, gives a power of disposition of their interest to Sue I. B. O’Day and E. 'W. Banister, which power is inconsistent with the executory devise and renders the executory devise invalid by *95reason of repugnancy, and that, therefore, the interest which the minor, Catherine O’Day, acquired under the will would descend, one-fourth to Sue I. B. O’Day, one-fourth to Thomas K. O’Day, one-fourth to John Baldwin O’Day, and one-eighth each to Allie C. and John O’Day, the last two persons named being brothers of the half blood.
It was unquestionably the purpose .and intention of the testator, as expressly provided in the will, that in the event of the death of either John Baldwin or Catherine O’Day before the testator, or at any time before he or she reached the age of majority, the share of the child so dying in all the property devised or bequeathed” to them, should go to the survivor of said children. His intention could not well have been expressed in stronger or more certain terms, and before his purpose should be thwarted by any power of disposition in others, the .authority to do so should be expressed in equally as emphatic and unambiguous language. It is clear that no such power is expressly given to Sue I. B. 0 ’Day or E. W. Banister by the .clause of the will quoted; and it would require a very strained construction of the language used to find or infer any such power; for in no event, if ever, is such power to be exercised unless absolutely necessary or unquestionably advisable, but that such real estate, which forms a part of the estate of said minors, is to be preserved and not disposed of except under the circumstances and conditions which we have indicated. They are designated as trustees, and each of them while acting as such is vested with full power to manage and control the estates of said minors until their respective majority; but there was no intention on the part of the testator to vest the title to the land in them or to confer upon them the power to sell it, but merely to look after it and to manage and control it for said minors. To hold otherwise would be to do so in contravention of the provisions of the will and the intention of the testator, and in violation of the provisions *96of the statute which says that “all courts and others concerned in the execution of last wills shall have due regard to the directions of the will, and the true intent and meaning of the testator, in all matters brought before them.” [Sec. 4650, R. S. 1899.]
We do not think the case of Gannon v. Albright, 183 Mo. 238, or any of the cases cited by the guardian ad litem of Thomas IL 0 ’Day, which announce the same doctrine, are controlling in the case at bar, for the reason that in those cases the wills were construed as giving to some particular person or persons express power to sell the lands, while to construe the will in this case •as conferring absolute power upon said trustees to convey the land devised to Catherine O’Day and John Baldwin O’Day would be contrary to the intent and will of the testator.
Our conclusion is that the judgment should be affirmed. It is so ordered.
All concur.