Court Opinion

ID: 7896151
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-08 21:52:37.719779+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:32:05.570892
License: Public Domain

Robinson, J.,
delivered the opinion of the Court.
The question in this appeal arises upon the construction of the will of the late Benjamin B. Nyce.
After directing all his property real and personal, to be sold and converted into money, he directs that fifteen thousand dollars of the proceeds shall he invested by his executor in ground rents, the income thereof to he paid annually to his widow during her life, and upon her death, to his son Arthur William Nyce, during his life, and upon his death, the principal to he divided among the children of his said son.
In a subsequent clause, he bequeaths to Theophilus B. Horwitz, as guardian of his son, Arthur William, fifteen hundred dollars of said proceeds to be expended in the education of his son, in such sums and in such manner as the guardian may in his judgment think right and proper.
This sum was paid by the executor to the guardian, and upon the son's arrival at age, there remained of this *113sum in the hands of the guardian unexpended, about thirteen hundred dollars. This balance is claimed on the one hand by the son, and on the other by Jacob R. Eyce, and the daughter and only child of David B. Eyce, under the following clause in the will:
(Decided 13th July, 1882.)
“ I will and direct that the balance of said proceeds, after deducting said several sums hereinbefore named, if any, be divided equally between my brothers Jacob R. Eyce and David B. Eyce.”
We do not see on what grounds the claim of the brothers can be supported. The bequest to them is the balance of the proceeds arising from the conversion of his property into money, if any, “after deducting” the several sums bequeathed, of which the sum in dispute is one. It is very clear, the testator did not mean that his brothers should take any part of the fifteen hundred dollars bequeathed for the education of his son, and the only question is whether the balance of this fund remaining in the hands of the guardian, constitutes a part of the testator’s estate to be distributed to his next of kin, or whether it belongs to his son as property in the hands of his guardian. And in determining this question it will be observed that the money is bequeathed directly to the guardian, and that it was paid to and held by him as guardian. It no longer therefore constituted part of the testator’s estate. On the contrary it was a fund held by the guardian to be expended by him in the education of his ward, and if any part of the fund remained in the hands of the guardian unexpended, it belongs to the ward on his arrival at age.
The decree will therefore he reversed.

Decree reversed, and cause remanded.