Court Opinion

ID: 7032826
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 06:42:39.35349+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:11:01.774531
License: Public Domain

Davison, J.
Bill in chancery. Hudson, the appellee, was the complainant, and Evans the defendant.
On the 28th of November, 1840, one Levi Giddings made his will, and within six days thereafter died, leaving Martha Giddings his widow, two children, Julia Evans and Ardelia Hudson, and three grand-children, named James A. Hudson, Beersheba Hudson and Levi Saffer. The appellant, who was the defendant below, is the husband of the said Julia. Ardelia was the mother of James A., the appellee, and Beersheba his sister. Giddings, at his death, left a large estate, in money and property, which has been settled by his administrators. When Giddings died, the appellee and his sister were minors, and the appellant became their guardian.
The bill charges that the appellee and his sister were entitled as legatees under the testator’s will; that as such guardian the appellant has received large amounts of money, notes and judgments from said estate, the whole *294of which of right belong to them, &c. The bill prays that the guardian may account and pay over to the appellee his portion of the money, &c., and for general relief.
By his answer the appellant admits that, as guardian, a certain amount of money came to his hands; denies that he is liable to account to the appellee and his sister for more than one-half of it; and alleges that the money, &c., in controversy was bequeathed to the said Ardelia Hudson and Julia Evans, the only children of the testator alive at his death; that Ardelia had died intestate, leaving the appellee and his sister her only heirs; and that it is alone as such heirs, and not as legatees under the will, that they can claim an interest in the subject of the present suit; that the will gave the money, notes, &c., mentioned in said bill equally to Julia Evans and Ardelia Hudson, and that Julia being the appellant’s wife, he is in her right entitled to one-half of said money, &c.
The cause was submitted, &e. Upon final hearing the Court decided that all the property in contest had been by said will bequeathed to the said Ardelia Hudson, and accordingly decreed in favor of the appellee 583 dollars.
The will is as follows:
“ As to such estate as it hath pleased God to entrust me with, I dispose of in the following manner:
“1. I direct that my debts be paid,” &c.; “that all my stock, household and Idtchen furniture shall remain in the hands of my wife; that after collecting all moneys and paying all just debts, the balance of my moneys shall be put out at interest, and the interest applied, so far as may be necessary, to the tuition of my two grand-children, James A. and Beersheba Hudson. Afterwards divided between my children.
“2. I bequeath to my grandson, Levi Saffer, 150 dollars in cash, to be put out at interest, and the principal and interest to be paid to him when he arrives at the age of twenty-one.
“3. I will that my wife shall have and hold a certain tract of land in the Jeffersonville district,” (describing the land); “ also certain lots in the town of Elizabeth,” (des*295cribing them,) “for and during her life. Said property, at her death, to be equally divided amongst my children.
“4. To my daughter Ardelia Hudson I devise a certain tract of land in said district,” (describing it); “ also a block of lots,” (describing them); “to have and to hold to her during life, and after her decease to be equally divided between my two grand-children, James A. and Beersheba Hudson.
“5. It is also my will that it shall be thé duty of my administrator or executor to deliver up to my daughter Julia Evans, or her husband John A. Evans, all notes, receipts, bonds or dues whatever which I hold against the said Julia and John A., which shall be in full payment of the said Julia and John A. Evans1 proportion of my estate, together with all accounts, dues and demands which the said John A. or Julia, his wife, may hold against me,” &e.
The appellant, in right of his wife, claims under the first clause of the will. As we have seen, it provides that “after collecting,” &c., “and paying,” &c., “the balance of my moneys shall be put out at interest, and such interest, so far as necessary, to be applied to the tuition of my two grandchildren; afterwards to be divided between my children.” Whether any amount was ever appropriated to the purposes of tuition, as directed by the will, is not shown; but it is proved that Julia Evans and Ardelia Hudson were the only children of the testator in being when the will was made, or at his death. The first clause, therefore, is decided in its support of the defence set up in the case, because there is nothing in the will tending to show that the' testator meant to use the word “ children” in any other than its ordinary sense. Those who bore to him that relation, and no others, were evidently intended.
But the clause thus relied on is, in our opinion, directly in conflict with a subsequent provision, which, in effect, excludes the right of Julia Evans from any portion of the property involved in this suit. The fifth clause, it will be seen, is very explicit. It directs the executor to deliver up to the appellant and his wife all notes, &c., which the testator held against them, “in full payment of their propor*296tion of his estate,” together with all accounts, &c., which they might hold against him. These provisions in the will are totally inconsistent with each other. They can not stand together. When this occurs, the rule of construction is well settled. “ The clause which is posterior in local position must prevail, the subsequent words being considered to denote a subsequent intention.” 1 Jarm. on Wills, 394.
TI. P. Thornton and W. A. Porter, for the appellant.
R. Crawford, for the appellee.
It is said in argument that the intention of the testator, collected not from any particular or detached clause, but from the whole will, must govern its construction. Where such intent can be ascertained, that principle obviously applies; but would its application to the present case favor the defence? The claims to be surrendered plainly constituted a part of the estate. We are not informed by the record of the amount of these claims, but as they were in express terms directed to be delivered up “in full payment," &c., it is not an unfair presumption that the testator considered them, in amount, at least, one-half of all the personalty bequeathed to his children, and therefore a fair provision for the appellant and his wife. At all events, no intent, either express or implied, sufficient to control the expressed import of the last clause, can be collected from the whole will; and that clause, being “posterior in local position” to the one under which the appellant claims, must be allowed to denote the real intention of the testator. This construction, it is said, will materially affect provisions in the will other than those under discussion. We think differently. But whether it will or not is a question not “ arising in the record,” and, for that reason, not properly before us.
It is insisted that the decree is too large; that it is for an amount not authorized by the proof. We have carefully examined the evidence, and, in our opinion, the weight of it sustains the finding of the Court.
Per Curiam.
The judgment is affirmed, with 1 per cent, damages and costs.