McLellan v. Turner , 15 Me. 436 ( 1839 )

The case was continued for advisement, and the opinion of the Court, subsequently drawn up by

Shepley J.

By the language of the will, “I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife all my real and personal estate so long as she remains my widow,” the devisee took an estate for life subject to be defeated by her marriage, unless an intention to give a different estate can be inferred from the use of other language.

The argument is, that an intention not to use the words, so long as she remains my widow, as giving an estate durante viduitate, or for life, may be inferred from the clause of disposition in case of her marriage. The true intent being only to take the estate from her in case she should marry. The same design is also inferred, because in case of her marriage there is no devise over at her decease of the one third, which she was permitted to retain. This argument is opposed to the declared intention of the testator, that in case she did not marry, the estate at her decease should be divided among his children. The last clause in the will also shews an intention to give by the first clause only an estate for life. For after giving her all his real and personal estate by the first clause, he in the last, gives her his horse and chaise not to be inventoried as part of his estate ; clearly implying, that she was to dispose of that, as she pleased and in a different manner from the rest, which, it is implied, was to be inventoried and accounted for.

Again it is insisted, that she had a power of disposal, and therefore took a fee. This power is inferred from several expressions used in the will. Those principally relied upon are, “ after my just debts and funeral charges are paid “ remaining in her hands j” “ what of my estate may then remain after paying her funeral charges.” It is very difficult to infer the power contended for from such phraseology. Payment of his debts and funeral charges was to be made before she could take the estate in any manner. She was to take only what remained after they were paid ; and it was not necessary, that she should dispose of any part of what she did take for that purpose. The other expressions would be appropriate to shield her from accountability for the destruction and delay in-= cident to the use ; or would be explained by their connexion. If it were admitted, that a power of disposal existed, she would not take a fee, there being an express, devise to her for life. Cruise’s Dig. tit. 38, c. 13, $ 6.

It is further argued, that the devise is equivalent to one of all the real and personal estate for the payment of debts, and therefore is a devise of a fee. Reasons have been given for not admitting such a construction; but if it were admitted, that the estate was charged with the payment of' the debts, the result contended for would not follow. For where there are no words of limitation, or inheritance, and the charge is upon the estate, the devisee takes only for life. It is otherwise if the charge is upon the devisee. This was settled by the case of Denn v. Mellor, which was much examined in the King’s Dench, Exchequer Chamber, and House of Lords, where the judgment of K. B., which had been reversed, was affirmed by the unanimous opinion of the Judges. 5 T. R. 558 and 2 B. & P. 247. The same rule may be regarded as established in this country. Jackson v. Bull, 10 Johns. R. 148, where the English cases are collected and examined by Kent C. J.; Gardner v. Gardner, 3 Mason, 211; Wright v. Denn, 10 Wheat. 231, where Justice Story says the authority of Denn v. Mellor has never been broken in upon.

The words, “ all my real and personal estate” are much relied upon as exhibiting an intention, according to legal rules and decided cases, to give a fee. In this case those words are followed by the words so long as she remains my widow. If it were not so, the cases would not authorize a construction that would carry a fee. In the case of Doe v. Allen, 8 T. R. 497, the testator directed his debts to be paid out of his personal estate, and in case that was insufficient charged his real estate, and then devised “ all my mes-suages, lands, tenements, and hereditaments whatsoever,” and it was decided, that the devisee took no more than an estate for life.

In the case of Denn v. Mellor, the devise was of “ all the rest of my lands, tenements and hereditaments,” and also of all his personal estate after payment of his debts ; and the decision was, that the devisee took an estate for life, there being no charge upon the devisee. It is unnecessary to refer to other cases, as the doctrine appears to be too well established to be shaken. When the intention can be ascertained, the law will not allow it to be defeated, because the testator has not used appropriate language to convey his meaning. In this case, there is not only an absence of words of inheritance, but an express limitation during widowhood or for life, and a devise over, shewing clearly an intention to give a life estate only; and upon the application of legal rules established by decided cases, to the language, it will not be found to give the de-visee more than an estate for life.

Judgment for the plaintiffs.