Opinion · Supreme Court of the United States
Kenaday v. Sinnott
Kenaday v. Sinnott, 179 U.S. 606 (1901)
- Type
- Opinion
- Court
- Supreme Court of the United States
- Jurisdiction
- Federal
- Date
- 1901-01-07
- Topic
- general
How later courts describe this case
- when testator’s general intent was to leave all property to wife except when he otherwise specifically bequeathed, legacy of $10,000 bank balance held demonstrative
Citator
UpLaw has not yet analyzed Kenaday v. Sinnott. The absence of a flag is not a finding that it is good law.
- Cited by
- 67 opinions
Headnotes
- Civil Procedure — Finality of Decrees Final judgments or decrees of the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia are reviewable by the Supreme Court on writ of error or appeal in the same manner and under the same regulations as judgments of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia. 179 U.S. 606 (citing Act of Feb. 9, 1893, 27 Stat. 434, c. 74, § 8)
- Civil Procedure — Review of Probate Proceedings A proceeding involving the original probate of a will, though of a peculiar character, is a case in which there may be adversary parties and a final judgment affecting rights of property; if not a case in equity, it is brought to the Supreme Court on writ of error, even though the proceeding may not be technically one at law as distinguished from equity. 179 U.S. 606 (citing Ormsby v. Webb, 134 U.S. 47)
- Civil Procedure — Proper Mode of Review Where the controversy raised by exceptions to an executrix's final account is in its nature of equitable cognizance, the decree of the Court of Appeals is properly reviewable on appeal rather than on writ of error. 179 U.S. 606
- Estate, Gift & Trust Law — Jurisdiction of Orphans' Court An orphans' court, vested by statute with full power and jurisdiction to hear and decree upon all accounts, claims, and demands between legatees or persons entitled to any distributable part of an estate and executors and administrators, may adjudicate a controversy between the next of kin and the executrix over the distribution of personalty; the concurrent jurisdiction of a court of equity over matters of administration is not exclusive, and the parties need not resort to equity. 179 U.S. 606
- Civil Procedure — Removal Where the Court of Appeals reverses a decree approving an executrix's final account and remands the cause with direction that the account be restated in accordance with the principles of its opinion, thereby requiring the account to be entirely recast and leaving open questions of the identity and proportions of the next of kin, the decree is not final and will not support an appeal. 179 U.S. 606
- Estate, Gift & Trust Law — Construction — Testator's Intention The cardinal rule of will construction is that the intention of the testator expressed in the will, or clearly deducible from it, must prevail, if consistent with the rules of law. 179 U.S. 606
- Estate, Gift & Trust Law — Intestacy The law prefers a construction of a will that will prevent a partial intestacy to one that will permit it, if such a construction may reasonably be given. 179 U.S. 606
- Estate, Gift & Trust Law — Specific versus Demonstrative Legacies Courts are averse to construing legacies as specific and will not do so unless such is the clear intention of the testator; a legacy of a sum of money with reference to a particular fund for payment is a demonstrative legacy, which is so far general that if the fund is called in or fails the legatee may receive the legacy out of the general assets, yet so far specific that it will not abate with general legacies upon a deficiency of assets. 179 U.S. 606
- Estate, Gift & Trust Law — Ademption Ademption is the extinction or withdrawal of a legacy in consequence of some act of the testator equivalent to its revocation or clearly indicative of an intention to revoke; the ademption of a specific legacy is effected by the extinction of the thing or fund bequeathed, and the intention that the legacy should fail is presumed. 179 U.S. 606
- Estate, Gift & Trust Law — Demonstrative Legacies and Ademption Where a bequest is construed, in light of the testator's general intention as shown by the will as a whole and the rules against partial intestacy and against treating legacies as specific, to be a demonstrative legacy rather than a specific one, a change between the date of the will and the testator's death from money into securities is not an ademption; ademption in such a case would operate as a rule of law rather than as a question of intention. 179 U.S. 606
KENADAYv. SINNOTT,179 U.S. 606(1900)
21 S.Ct. 233
KENADAYv. SINNOTT.
ERROR TO AND APPEAL FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
No. 66.
Argued November 5, 1900.
Decided December 24, 1900.
THIS was a proceeding for the settlement of the final account
of Mary Louise Kenaday, as executrix of Alexander M. Kenaday, in
the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, holding a special
term for orphans' court business. Alexander M. Kenaday died in
the District of Columbia, March 25, 1897, leaving a will, which
was probated in the orphans' court of the District at the April
term, 1897, and was as follows:
"In the name of God, Amen. I, Alexander McConnell Kenaday,
resident of Washington, District of Columbia, being of sound and
disposing mind and memory, calling to mind the frailty and
uncertainty of human life, and being desirous of settling my
worldly affairs and directing how the estates with which it has
pleased God to bless me shall be disposed of — after my decease —
while I have strength and capacity so to do, do make and publish
this last will and testament, hereby revoking and making null and
void all other last wills and testaments by me heretofore made.
And first, I commend my mortal being to Him who gave it, and my
body to the earth, to be buried with [as1] as little expense
by my executor hereinafter named.
"Imprimis. My will is that all my just debts and funeral
charges shall be paid out of my estate, by my executrix.
"Item. I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife, Mary
Louise Kenaday, all my real estate, household furniture, and
claims pending in the courts in relation to said real estate, to
wit:
"House and lot known as No. 507 509 on F street, northwest,
Washington, D.C., lot No. 2 (east half) of square 482, 30 X
101.10.
"House and lot known as No. 621 H street, northwest, lot 48[4]3
sq. No. 483, 20[3/4] X 133 to an alley.
[EDITORS' NOTE: THE NUMBERS CONTAINED WITHIN THE BRACKETS ARE
EXPONENTS]
"House and lot known as No. 2006 G street, northwest, lot No.
25 in square No. 103, 20 3/4 X 120 ft. to an alley.
Page 608
"And I hereby authorize my wife, as executrix, to convey by
deeds in fee simple any or all of said real estate in accordance
with the laws of the District of Columbia, under the advice of
some competent attorney.
"Item. Included as claims pending in the courts are: An
account for taxes against the estate of De Vaughnv. De Vaughn,
unjustly withheld, in charge of my attorney Woodbury Wheeler,
Esq. Also, an account for moneys withheld by the trustees of
Edwardsv. Maupin. In charge of my attorney, Frank W. Hackett,
Esq., amounting to $1078 with interest at six per cent. per annum
from March 7, 1888.
"Also, my business as a claim agent and as publisher of `The
Vedette,' together with all books, papers, files, office
furniture, etc., etc. Also, 200 shares of Sutro Tunnel stock and
Comstock bonds; also, notes and evidences of indebtedness to me,
of more or less value; also, deposits of currency entered on my
bank book of the National Metropolitan Bank, amounting to
$10,000.00 more or less.
"Item. I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved sister
Arabella D. Sinnott, residing in New Orleans, La., twelve
thousand dollars in registered U.S. 4% bonds, on special deposit
in the National Metropolitan Bank.
"Item. I give, devise and bequeath to the surviving children
of my deceased sister, Martha J. Piles, out of the residue of 4%
bonds deposited as aforesaid ($3500.00) as follows: To Mrs. Belle
Hubert, $500.00. To Wm. A. Piles, $500.00. To Ida Piles, $500.00.
To Eloise Piles, $500.00. To Edith K. Piles, $750.00. To Henry C.
Piles, $250.00.
"Item. The promissory note for $1100.00 filed with a chattel
mortgage in my name in the office of the recorder of deeds, in
the District of Columbia, signed by Mrs. Anna Hemenway, shall be
cancelled and my executrix may allow Mrs. Hemenway $500 in
settlement of her account.
"The bond of the city of Richmond, for $5000.00 bearing 5 per
cent interest, payable January and July — (on special deposit
with the 4% bonds of the U.S. in the National Metropolitan Bank,)
is hereby devised and bequeathed to my wife and executrix.
Page 609
"The sum of $5000.00 advanced to Wm. C. McGeorge of San
Francisco, California, no account of which has been rendered by
him, is hereby devoted to the relatives of my wife, and used
according to her discretion."
The will was subscribed by the testator, April 3, 1894, in the
presence of three witnesses, whose attestation was sworn to.
Mrs. Kenaday duly qualified as executrix, and proceeded in the
discharge of her duties. On June 10, 1898, under the order of the
orphans' court, the executrix gave notice, appointing Friday,
July 8, 1898, as the day for the settlement of her final account
as executrix by that court; and for making distribution of the
estate under its orders.
Arabella D. Sinnott, William A. Piles, Ida Piles Miller and
Belle Hubert appeared and filed their petition, claiming as
distributees as the only surviving next of kin and heirs at law
of the decedent. They admitted the receipt from the testatrix of
their respective legacies under the will, and that another
legatee therein named, Edith K. Piles, since dead, had also
received her legacy; and said: "The other two legatees, to wit,
Henry C. Piles, and Eloise Piles, have not been paid the amounts
left them, the said Eloise having died before the testator,
Alexander M. Kenaday, and the said Henry C. not having been heard
from during the last six years and who your petitioners believe
is dead."
The final account of the executrix was made up and filed July
15, 1898, showing that she charged herself with a $5000 bond of
Richmond, Va.; $24,500 United States registered bonds; 200 shares
stock Comstock Tunnel Company and one certificate of scrip of
that company, appraised as valueless; cash found on deposit in
National Metropolitan Bank, $810.60; and some items of interest,
etc.; that the Hemenway note had not been found; that she
credited herself with disbursements for costs, funeral expenses,
etc.; with commissions; and with legacies paid or otherwise
satisfied, but not including therein the $810.60 on deposit; and
that there was in her hands $9218.76, "consisting mainly of
United States bonds and deposits in bank," which the executrix
credited herself with "on account
Page 610
of the bequest to her by the testator of `notes and evidences of
indebtedness to me,' `deposits of currency entered on my bank
book,' and other personal estate," and thus balanced and closed
the account in full.
The intervening next of kin claimed the balance on the ground
that it was residuary estate, and that, there being no residuary
clause in the will, it necessarily belonged to them; and filed
their exceptions to the account as stated, particularly excepting
to the credit of the $9218.76.
A certificate of the Register of the Treasury was filed, to
the effect that the records of his office showed that registered
four per cent bonds of the United States were standing in the
name of Alexander M. Kenaday on the first day of April, 1897, to
the amount of $24,500; of which, bonds to the amount of $15,500
bore date April 23, 1889, and bonds to the amount of $9000 bore
date April 1, 1895.
The orphans' court, Hagner, J., presiding, on October 11,
1898, overruled the exceptions, and approved the final account of
the executrix as stated. All said next of kin thereupon appealed
from this order to the Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia.
At the January term, 1899, the cause was heard, the order was
reversed with costs, and the cause was remanded to the court
below with a direction "that the account be restated in
accordance with the principles of the opinion of this court."
14 App.D.C. 1. The mandate having gone down, the account of the
executrix was restated as directed by the Court of Appeals, and
approved February 10, 1899.
The balance for distribution according to that account was
stated to be $8,285.64, and the distributive shares as follows:
"To Arabella D. Sinnott, sister, 1/2 .............. $4142 82
" Mrs. Belle Piles Hubert, niece, 1/5 of 1/2 .... 828 56
" Edith K. Piles, " " " " .... 828 56
" Ida Piles Miller, " " " " .... 828 56
" William A. Piles, nephew, " " " .... 828 56
" Henry C. Piles, " " " " .... 828 56
Fractions ........................................ 02
________
$8285 64"
Page 611
On the same tenth of February, Mrs. Kenaday was ordered to pay
over and deliver to the said Arabella B. Sinnott, through her
attorneys of record, the sum of $4142.82, being her distributive
share of said estate, taking receipt for the same. Thereupon Mrs.
Kenaday appealed in open court to the Court of Appeals from the
order of February 10, approving and passing the account, and from
the order directing the distribution to Arabella B. Sinnott of
the amount therein mentioned as her share. An appeal bond in the
sum of $8000 running to Arabella B. Sinnott, to operate as a
supersedeas to the order directing the payment to her of $4142.82
was required by order of court, and it was also directed that the
penalty of a bond for costs in the matter of the appeal from the
order approving the account, filed the same day, be fixed at $50,
or in lieu of such bond for costs, a deposit of that amount in
cash. A supersedeas bond in the penalty of $8000 was approved,
filed and recorded, and $50 was deposited in lieu of bond on
appeal from the order approving the account. The Court of Appeals
filed an opinion,per curiam, that on examining the transcripts
of record it was found that the court below had in the
restatement of the account followed and observed the mandate sent
down on the former appeal, and that it was ordered that the
motion made by the said Arabella D. Sinnott to dismiss or affirm
the order of the court below approving and passing said final
account of the estate, under rule sixteen of the court, be
denied, but that the said final order of said court approving and
passing said account, the same bearing date the tenth day of
February, 1899, on the appeal of the said Mary L. Kenaday,
executrix, be affirmed, "the said account appearing to be stated
in accordance with the mandate of this court issued on the former
appeal." Thereupon judgment was entered April 5, 1899, "that the
order of the said Supreme Court in this cause, of February 10,
1899, approving and passing account be, and the same is hereby,
affirmed with costs." A writ of error to remove the cause to this
court was thereupon allowed by that court, and issued, a
supersedeas bond being given and approved. Subsequently the
executrix, being in doubt whether the proceedings to obtain a
review should be by writ of error, or appeal, prayed an appeal,
which
Page 612
was granted in the words: "On motion of Mary L. Kenaday,
executrix, by her attorney, and it appearing to the court that
the practice in cases exactly of the character of the present one
has not been established by precedent, it is adjudged and ordered
by the court this 17th day of April, 1899, that said executrix
be, and she is hereby, allowed an appeal from the order of this
court passed herein April 5, 1899, and that the same bond in the
sum of ten thousand dollars, to act as a supersedeas upon the
issuing a writ of error in this case, shall stand and act as a
supersedeas upon said appeal, or according as a writ of error or
appeal is ultimately decided to be the method of obtaining a
review of the decision of this court in said cause."
The supersedeas bond was in the sum of $10,000, and ran to
Arabella D. Sinnott, William A. Piles, Ida Piles Miller and Belle
Hubert.
By section 8 of the act of February 9, 1893,27 Stat. 434, c. 74, final judgments or decrees of the Court of Appeals are to be reexamined by this court on writ of error or appeal in the same manner and under the same regulations as theretofore provided in cases of writs of error or appeals from judgments in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia.
InOrmsbyv.Webb.134 U.S. 47, it was ruled that a writ of error would lie to review a judgment of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, admitting a will to probate, not merely because in that case a trial by jury had been actually had, but upon the more general grounds, thus stated by Mr. Justice Harlan: "It is, of course, undisputed that a final decree in equity, in the court below, cannot be reviewed here by means of a writ of error. But a proceeding involving the original probate of a last will and testament is not strictly a proceeding in equity, although rights arising out of, or dependent upon, such probate have often been determined by suits in equity. In determining the question of the competency of the deceased to make a will, the parties have an absolute right to a trial by jury, and to bills of exceptions covering all the rulings of the court during the progress of such trial. These are not the ordinary features of a suit in equity. A proceeding in this District for the probate of a will, although of a peculiar character, is nevertheless a case in which there may be adversary parties, and in which there may be a final judgment affecting rights of property. It comes within the very terms of the act of Congress defining the cases in the Supreme Court of this District, the final judgments in which may be reexamined here. If it be not a case in equity, it is to be brought to this court upon writ of error, although the proceeding may not be technically one at law, as distinguished from equity." And seeCampbellv.Porter,162 U.S. 478.
But while that is the established rule in that class of cases, it by no means follows that it is applicable in this case.
At common law jurisdiction over the estates of deceased persons vested in the ecclesiastical, common law and chancery courts, and, in this country, courts of probate or orphans' courts have universally been created by statute for the general exercisePage 614of that jurisdiction, including the exercise of equitable, as well as common-law powers, and the pursuit of appropriate procedure.
The District Supreme Court sits as an orphans' court, and by section 1 of subch. 15, of chap. 101 of the Maryland testamentary act of January 20, 1799, 2 Kilty, November Session, 1798, the orphans' court was instituted "for the purpose of taking the probate of wills, granting letters testamentary and of administration, directing the conduct and settling the accounts of executors and administrators, securing the rights of legatees, superintending the distribution of the estates of intestates, securing the rights of orphans and legatees, and administering justice in all matters relative to the affairs of deceased persons, according to law."
By other sections it is made the duty of the executor or the administrator, on settlement of his account, to deliver up the estate, or deliver up and distribute the surplus or residue.
And by section 12, of subch. 15, it is provided that: "The orphans' court shall have full power, authority and jurisdiction to examine, hear and decree upon, all accounts, claims and demands, existing between wards and their guardians, and between legatees, or persons entitled to any distributable part of an intestate's estate, and executors and administrators, and may enforce obedience to, and execution of, their decrees, in the same ample manner as the court of chancery may."
There can be no question that the District Supreme Court was clothed, as an orphans' court, with ample powers to proceed in the settlement of estates and the distribution thereof to those entitled, in accordance with equitable principles and procedure; and we think that the controversy raised by the exceptions of the next of kin to this final account was in its nature of equitable cognizance, and that the decree of the Court of Appeals is properly reviewable on appeal rather than on writ of error.
The reasoning which conducts to this conclusion in proceedings of this character in effect disposes of the contention of appellant that the decree should be reversed because the orphans' court had no jurisdiction over an alleged residue of personaltyPage 615in the hands of an executrix undisposed of by the will, as jurisdiction over it belonged solely to a court of equity, as a matter of trust. Alvey, C.J., in the opinion reported14 App.D.C. 1,21, discussed the subject at length, and, among other things, said: "The executor, as is well understood, derives his title as executor from the will of the testator, but he takes no beneficial interest in the undisposed of surplus or residue of the personal estate, by mere implication or construction, as by the former English rule. It is true every executor is, in a certain sense and to a certain extent, a trustee for all persons interested in the preservation and distribution of the personal estate of the testator, and he is equally so in respect of the surplus or residue of the estate undisposed of by the will, as of any other portion of the estate. He takes the estate under the will for purposes of administration, and of distribution to those entitled; and while a court of equity has a long established jurisdiction in all matters of trust, of account, of administration, and of construction, in the settlement of estates, yet such jurisdiction is not exclusive of the very ample jurisdiction conferred on the orphans' courts of Maryland, and the special term of the Supreme Court of this District for orphans' court business, by the testamentary act of 1798, ch. 101. That act embodies in its various provisions a testamentary and administrative system, intended to be complete in itself." The Chief Justice then gave aresumeof the act, and quoted the sections to which we have already referred.
There being a controversy over the distribution between the next of kin and the executrix, we are entirely satisfied that the powers vested in the orphans' court gave it jurisdiction to dispose thereof, and that appellees were not compelled to go into the equity court.
Appellees also moved to dismiss both the writ of error and the appeal, on the ground that the judgment of the Court of Appeals on the first appeal was a complete and final decree, settling and fixing the rights of the parties, and that appellant, because she did not appeal therefrom, was concluded from any review by this court of the matters then considered.
We do not think so. On the appeal of the next of kin, thePage 616Court of Appeals reversed and remanded the cause "that the account be restated in accordance with the principles of the opinion of this court."
The account was to be entirely recast under the mandate, and the determination of who were the next of kin, the proportions they should take, the effect of the death of one or more of them, and any other questions that might arise, were remitted to the court below. The settlement was to be a final settlement, and the decree reversing and remanding that such a settlement might be had on the principles indicated was not final so as to justify an appeal by the executrix therefrom, although, had it been a decree of affirmance, the present appellees might have appealed.
We come then to the case upon the merits, and it must be determined on the correct construction of the will, arrived at in accordance with well settled applicable rules.
The cardinal rule is that the intention of the testator expressed in his will, or clearly deducible therefrom, must prevail, if consistent with the rules of law. And another familiar rule is that the law prefers a construction which will prevent a partial intestacy to one that will permit it, if such a construction may be reasonably given. And in principle this must be so when it is contended that the executor takes merely for next of kin claiming as distributees of an alleged undisposed of residue.
The general intention of the testator in this instance is perfectly clear. The will was inartificially drawn, but its various provisions taken together put it beyond doubt that he intended to dispose of all of his property, and we think that he accomplished that purpose. In doing so all property not expressly given another destination was, in substance, devised and bequeathed to his wife, including some $10,000 on deposit. His intention that she should thus take is evident. And if by the will he disposed of all the property he had, there appeared no necessity for a technical residuary clause.
The property enumerated in the will was the property he owned at the time of his death, except that there was but $810.60 on deposit in bank, and he had $9000 in United States bonds more than when the will was executed. These bondsPage 617were of a subsequent date to that of the execution of the will, and were necessarily, therefore, purchased afterwards.
The will, executed April 3, 1894, referred to $15,500 of bonds, and, at his death, he had bonds for $24,500, $15,500 dated April 23, 1889, and $9000 dated April 1, 1895.
The question then really comes to this, whether an irrebuttable presumption arises that the testator, by reducing the amount of money on hand at the date of his will, intended that the amount of such reduction though remaining in his assets in another form should be distributed to his next of kin rather than that his wife should receive it.
And it is to be observed at the outset that to each of the next of kin he made a bequest. To his sister, Mrs. Sinnott, a specific legacy of $12,000 of the $15,500 of bonds, and to the children of a deceased sister legacies aggregating $3000 out of the $3500 of bonds remaining after the delivery of the $12,000 to Mrs. Sinnott. Certain enumerated promissory notes were otherwise disposed of, and all the rest of his property, real estate, household furniture, Richmond city bond, money, etc., was devised and bequeathed to his beloved wife. There was indeed an apparent surplus of $500 of the $3500 of bonds, but the allowance to Mrs. Hemenway of $500 immediately followed the bequests to the next of kin.
At his death there were on hand $9000 more in bonds, and $9000 less in money. Do the rules of law require it to be held that by this change he intended to withdraw so much from what he had designed his wife to have, and to bestow it on the next of kin in addition to what he had originally expressly given them?
The question involved is one of ademption and not of satisfaction. Without going into refinements in respect of the definition of the word ademption, it may be said to be the extinction or withdrawal of a legacy in consequence of some act of the testator equivalent to its revocation or clearly indicative of an intention to revoke. The satisfaction of a general legacy depends on the intention of the testator as inferred from his acts, but the ademption of a specific legacy is effected by the extinction of the thing or fund bequeathed, and the intention that the legacyPage 618should fail is presumed. At least a different intention in that regard which is not expressed will not be implied, although the intention which is expressed relates to something which has ceased to exist.
Williams says in reference to the different kinds of legacies that: "A legacy is general when it is so given as not to amount to a bequest of a particular thing or money of the testator, distinguished from all others of the same kind. A legacy is specific when it is a bequest of a specified part of the testator's personal estate, which is so distinguished. . . . A legacy of quantity is ordinarily a general legacy; but there are legacies of quantityin the natureof specific legacies, as of so much money, with reference to a particular fund for payment. This kind of legacy is called by the civiliansa demonstrativelegacy; and it is so far general, and differs so much in effect from one properly specific, that if the fund be called in or fail, the legatee will not be deprived of his legacy, but be permitted to receive it out of the general assets; yet the legacy is so far specific, that it will not be liable to abate withgenerallegacies upon a deficiency of assets." Vol. 2, p. 1158. And he adds: "The courts in general are averse from construing legacies to be specific; and the intention of the testator, with reference to the thing bequeathed, must be clear."
These rules are considered and applied in well nigh innumerable cases. Many of them will be found cited in the notes toAshburnerv.Macguire, 2 White and Tudor's Leading Cases in Equity, Part II, Fourth American Edition from Fourth London Edition, p. 600.
InWaltonv.Walton, 7 Johns. Ch. 258, Chancellor Kent reviews the subject at large with his usual ability, and criticises the observation of Lord Thurlow inStanleyv.Potter, 2 Cox, 180, that the question in these cases does not turn upon the intention of the testator, saying: "But I apprehend the words of Lord Thurlow are to be taken with considerable qualification; and that it is essentially a question of intention, when we are inquiring into the character of the legacy, upon the distinction taken in the civil law, between a demonstrative legacy, wherePage 619the testator gives a general legacy, but points out the fund to satisfy it, and where he bequeaths a specific debt."
InWilcoxv.Wilcox, 13 Allen, 256, Wells, J., said: "Courts do not incline to construe legacies to be specific, and will not do so unless such be the clear intention of the testator.Kirbyv.Potter, 4 Ves. 748;Attorney Generalv.Parkin, Ambl. 566;Briggsv.Hosford, 22 Pick. 288;Boardmanv.Boardman, 4 Allen, 179. If a legacy be given, with reference to a particular fund only, as pointing out a convenient mode of payment, it is to be construed as demonstrative and the legatee will not be disappointed though the fund wholly fail."
InTifftv.Porter,8 N.Y. 516, Johnson, J., speaking for the majority of the court, said: "A legacy is general, when it is so given as not to amount to a bequest of a particular thing or money of the testator distinguished from all others of the same kind. It is specific, when it is a bequest of a specified part of the testator's personal estate which is so distinguished. . . . The inclination of the courts to hold legacies to be general, rather than specific, and on which the rule is based that to make a legacy specific, its terms must clearly require such a construction, rests upon solid grounds. The presumption is stronger that a testator intends some benefit to a legatee, than that he intends a benefit only upon the collateral condition that he shall remain till death, owner of the property bequeathed. The motives which ordinarily determine men in selecting legatees, are their feelings of regard, and the presumption of course is that their feelings continue and they are looked upon as likely to continue. An intention of benefit being once expressed, to make its taking effect turn upon the contingency of the condition of the testator's property being unchanged, instead of upon the continuance of the same feelings which in the first instance prompted the selection of the legatee, requires, as it ought, clear language to convey that intention."
And so Alvey, C.J., inGelbachv.Shively,67 Md. 498: "Ordinarily, a legacy of a sum of money is a general legacy; but where a particular sum is given, with reference to a particular fund for payment, such legacy is denominated in the law ademonstrativelegacy; and such legacy is so far general, andPage 620differs so materially in effect from one properly specific, that if the fund be called in or fail, or prove to be insufficient, the legatee will not be deprived of his legacy, but he will be permitted to receive it out of the general assets of the estate.Duganv.Hollins,11 Md. 77. But such legacy is so far specific that it will not be liable to abate withgenerallegacies, upon a deficiency of assets, except to the extent that it is to be treated as a general legacy, after the application of the fund designated for its payment.Mullinsv.Smith, 1 Drew. Sm. 204; 2 Wms. Exrs. 995. The authorities seem to be clear in holding that whether a legacy is to be treated as a demonstrative legacy, or is one dependentexclusivelyupon a particular fund for payment, is a question of construction, to be determined according to what may appear to have been the general intention of the testator. . . . It is certainly true, as a general proposition, as was said by the Vice Chancellor inDickinv.Edwards, 4 Hare, 276, that where a testator bequeaths a sum of money in such a manner as to show aseparateand independent intentionthat the money shall be paid to the legateeat all events, that intention will not be held to be controlled merely by a direction in the will that the money is to be raised in a particular way, or out of a particular fund."
These references, and rulings of similar import are legion, serve to illustrate the governing principles. The intention of the testator must prevail, and legacies will not be held specific, when the result would be that the mere transmutation of money into securities raised an irrebuttable presumption of ademption inconsistent with the intention of the testator as plainly deducible from all the terms of his will taken together.
As we have already stated, the general intention of the testator in this case was to leave all his property to his wife except what was expressly otherwise disposed of, and among the clauses inserted in effectuation of that result were these: "Also, my business as a claim agent and as publisher of `The Vedette,' together with all books, papers, files, office furniture, etc., etc. Also 200 shares of Sutro tunnel stock and Comstock bonds; also, notes and evidences of indebtedness to me, of more or less value; also, deposits of currency entered on my bank book ofPage 621the National Metropolitan Bank amounting to $10,000.00, more or less." If the latter item stood alone and were not read in connection with the will as a whole, it might well be that it should be held to be a specific legacy, adeemedpro tantoby the use of the money except $810.60 in the purchase of additional bonds, or otherwise. But taken in connection with all the provisions of the will; with the manifest general intention of the testator; and with the rules against partial intestacy, and against treating legacies as specific, if that construction can be avoided, we think that it should be regarded as in its nature a demonstrative legacy, and not adeemed by the change from money into property.
Assuming that the testator had at the date of the will about $10,000 on deposit in the bank, his intention was clear that his wife should receive the amount, and we are of opinion that we ought not to defeat that intention by holding that the pecuniary legacy was specific, and that the subsequent change was an ademption, and so a rule of law rather than a question of intention.
InTowlev.Swasey,106 Mass. 100, a legacy of "whatever sum may be on deposit" in a certain savings bank was held to be specific, but there the provisions of the will evidenced no intention to the contrary, and the language used essentially differed from that in this case.
It results that Mrs. Kenaday was entitled to credit herself with the $9218.76, and that the original decree of the orphans' court was correct. But in view of the lapse of time and the course of the litigation, we shall simply reverse the decree of the Court of Appeals and remand the cause to that court with a direction to remand it to the court below for a restatement of the final account in accordance with the views we have expressed.So ordered.
MR. JUSTICE BREWER and MR. JUSTICE PECKHAM dissented.Page 622
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