Court Opinion

ID: 4925929
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-24 00:56:44.959515+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:14:20.252836
License: Public Domain

This argument having been had at the last April term in this comity, the opinion of the Court was now delivered by
Weston J.
The only title stated in the case, in behalf of the tenant in his own right, having emanated from James Boyd, the son of the testator, must yield to that of the demandant, in virtue of his prior attachment of the same land, as his creditor. In this view of the case, the demandant would be clearly entitled to judgment; as his title is unquestionably good against his debtor, and all claiming under him, subsequent to the attachment. But if the widow of the testator, or his executor, have a title, which the levy of the demand-ant cannot impair or defeat, it is distinctly stated by their counsel to have been the intention of the parties, and such has been the course of the argument, to admit the tenant to defend in their right. Through him the widow has enjoyed her portion of the estate to her satisfaction, if she be a devisee of one third of the farm; and by his agency, the executor may be considered as having paid her one third of the net income, if this provision in her favor is to be deemed a legacy. The question then submitted to the determination of the court is, whether the demandant is entitled to the land he claims, either as against the tenant, or as against the widow or the executor, so far as they may have derived an interest under the will.
To his son Jamies, the testator gave all his real and personal estate, not otherwise devised or bequeathed. To his wife he gave., among other things, the net income of one third part of his home™ *202stead farm. Is this provision in favor of the widow, to be regarded as a legacy, or a devise to her, during life, of one third of the farm in common and undivided ? If it be a legacy, the payment of it is a duty devolving upon the executor. It is manifestly to be drawn from one third part of the farm. If thus considered, it would seem to be necessary that the executor should hold it in trust, to enable him to perform this duty ; and authorities are adduced, tending to show that this would be the legal construction by necessary implication, if it cannot be held to be a devise to the widow. If the executor held one third of the farm in trust, in common and undivided, during the life of the widow, it would interpose the same obstacle to a recovery by the demandant, .as if tbe same estate were held directly by her. But whether this would be the legal result, if this provision for the widow were to be regarded as a legacy, it is not necessary for us to give an opinion; inasmuch as we are satisfied that under the will, the widow is by law entitled to a life estate in one third of the farm in question as tenant in common.
If a man devise the rents and profits of his land, the land itself passes. 3. Com. Dig. Devise N. 1. In South v. Alliene 1. Salk. 228, the whole court agreed that a devise ol the rents and profits was a devise of the land; and it was decided by two judges against one, that a devise of the rents and profits, to be paid by the executor, was also a devise of the land. Holt C. J. who dissented, considered it by implication of law, a devise to the exeutors in trust, and this seems the better opinion. Reed v. Reed 9. Mass. 322, cited in the argument, was almost exactly like the case before us. The testator there gave to his wife one third of his personal estate, and the income of one third of his real, during her life. It was insisted in argument, that the provision for the wife was an annuity, or a legacy becoming due yearly, which could be claimed only of the executor, and that he took an estate in trust to enable him to pay it; but the court held that a devise of the income had the same effect as a devise of the land.
It does not appear to us that any fair distinction can be raised between income and net income.. Net is a term used among merchants, to designate the quantity, amount or value of an article or *203commodity, after all tare and charges are deducted. The income of an estate means nothing more than the profit it will yield, after deducting the charges of management; or the rent which may be obtained for the use of it. The rents and profits of an estate, the income, or the net income of it, are all equivalent expressions. The provision made for the widow was for her support and maintenance. This object is best effected by permitting her to enjoy the estate directly. But if liable to be levied on as the property of others, although it might pass subject to the charge, she might meet with great delay and vexation, while persuing her legal remedies to obtain that, which the testator intended as a means of supplying her immediate wants. By the will, she had the privilege of keeping two cows and six sheep. The enjoyment of a part of the farm specifically, was necessary to enable her to do this. In this mode she would realize the income, not directly in money, but by the profits of her stock. It was probably contemplated by the testator, that she would cultivate her part of the farm through the aid of her son, that he would retain a portion of the produce for his labor, and that she would thus enjoy the net income. But there is nothing in the will to re strain her from availing herself of the income, in any other manner she might deem more eligible. The land, the source from which it was to be derived, was hers for this purpose; of which she cannot legally be deprived by her son, or by his creditors. The levy of the demandant, therefore, upon part of the land in severalty, by mdes and bounds, as the property of James Boyd, cannot be sustained agai.ist her. The cases cited by the counsel for the tenant9 are very clear to this point.
According to the agreement of the parties, the demandant is to become nonsuit, and the tenant allowed his costs.