Fosdick v. Delafield , 2 Redf. 392 ( 1876 )

The Surrogate.

By the literal terms of the will, the appointment of Lewis Delafield would appear to be dependent upon the decease of Joseph and Henry, occurring prior to the decease of the testatrix; whereas, the fact is that both of them survived her. I have examined with considerable interest and care the opinion of the late Surrogate upon this interesting question, and I should not presume to reconsider the question, were it not for the suggestion, made in that opinion, that the application was ez parte, and, in substance, was not to he regarded as final, but subject to review, upon a proper application.^* And I differ with the learned Burro. gate with some reluctance; and yet, upon the best consideration of the question I'ha,ve been able to give, I am persuaded that he mistook the force of the doctrine that the intent of the testatrix should control the plain terms in which the appointment of the executors was made, and hence failed to give due effect to the conditions in which the appointment of Lewis L. Delafield was expressed.

I am aware that the authorities are numerous, to the effect that the inti nt of a testator is to govern the construction of his will (Jackson v. Bloats, 11 Johns., 347 ; Brandon v. Brandon, ft of Appeals, MBS., 1876). A court is bound to find out the intention of a testator, if it be possible so to do, however artificially the will may be expressed (1 Stat. at Large, 699, § 2). “Bnt,” says Mr. Bedfield in his work on Surrogates, page 129, “ this intention must be discovered from the words of the will, and not from extraneous circumstances, and the court must proceed upon the known principles and established rules, not on loose conjectural interpretations or by considering what a man may be imagined to do in the testator’s circumstances.” The intention of the testatrix is therefore to be gathered from the words of the will, free of conjecture, under the guidance of precedents and rules of law. (Myers v. Eddy, 47 Barb., 263; Terpening v. Skinner, 30 Id., 373, and cases cited.) Where the words of a will are plain, the intent always follows. The'' will cannot be added to, nor its omissions supplied. (Cheeseman v. Wilt, 1 Yeates, 411; Cole v. Rawlinson, 2 Salk., 236.)

That the intention of the testatrix ought to govern, where it can be discovered, is a good rule; but where-ever the will is plain, unequivocal and in technical law language, it is unnecessary to resort to that rule of construction (Carr v. Jeannerette, 2 McCord, 66). Constructions and interpretations of wills are not resorted to for the discovery of a testator’s intention, when he has used none but plain, unequivocal expressions. (Theall v. Theall, 7 La. 220).

Although almost every rule of construction yields to the manifest intention of the testator, yet courts are not permitted to give an effect to his will, contrary to the plain and obvious import of the terms used by him, upon mere conjecture as to his intentions; and where he has made bequests to different children in terms which give them estates of different character in their respective legacies, the bequest to each must take effect according to its legal import, although no reason appears for having made the distinction between his children. (Monigoult v. Holmes, 1 Bailey S. C., 298) When a testator has used plain, explicit language, the court cannot reject the words upon the suspicion that he did not understand the import of the language used. (Jenkins v. Van Schaack, 3 Paige, 242; Taylor v. Wendel, 4 Bradf., 324.) Where the meaning of the testator is apparent from the language of the will, its plain import can not be departed from, though it result in rendering the will invalid. (Van Nostrand v. Moore, 52 N. Y., 12.)

From these numerous and well considered authorities, I deduce the obvious and reasonable principle,, that where the testator has used plain and proper language to express his intention, and there are no ambiguities, nor any other provisions of the will contrary to, or inconsistent with, the language used, the court has no authority to look outside of the terms of the will for the expression of the intention of the testator. Much less should the court assume to conjecture what the testator intended, independent of the language, or base its construction of the instrument upon its notion of what ought to have been the intention of the testator.

In order to sustain the construction put upon this will by the late Surrogate, and by the counsel who is the alleged executor and is sought to be removed, the words “ prior to my decease,” must be ignored, while these words are entirely unambiguous, and express a fixed and plain condition which has not occurred in the case under consideration.

If the court were at liberty to say that there was no propriety in making such limitation or condition, and that the purpose of the testatrix was or should have been to retain the administration of her estate in the family, and that it was entirely immaterial to her whether the appointed executors should die before or after her decease, then it would assume to make a will for the testatrix, instead of giving a construction to that already made by her.

The words in the will in question, “ prior to my decease,” are plainly significant of a condition; and I can not perceive, after the most careful examination of the instrument, any provision therein which indicates a contrary intention, or any thing suggestive of a consideration by the testatrix, of the advanced age of the instituted executors, or of the youth of those substituted, or any thing which makes the appointment of her relatives a controlling element in the making of her testament.

Where the language used is consistent with the other provisions of the will, though it may leave contingencies unprovided for, and may seem to the court to be without sufficient reason, yet to attempt to adjust the language or interpolate or omit terms, according to its notion of ivhat the testatrix should have done, would be to arrogate to itself the prerogative of testamentary disposition, which, under the law, belongs to the testatrix alone.

I might have contented myself with a disposition of this proceeding on the objection taken by the so-called executor, that the petitioners show no interest in this proceeding, and have no standing in court for the purpose of invoking a revocation of letters testamentary; but the principal question has seemed to me of considerable interest and importance, and I have felt unwilling to decide the question upon a technicality, and leave unconsidered the grave question of law which should be settled for the purposes of future proceedings.

The petition alleges no interest in the petitioners, except by virtue of their appointment and qualification as executors of the executor of the estate in question, and the alleged possession by them as such, of certain trust funds of this estate,

'By sec. 17 of 2 Stat. at L. 73, it is provided that “ no executor of an executor shall, as such, be authorized to administer on the estate of the first testator; but, on the death of the sole or surviving executor of any last will, letters of administration, with the will annexed, of the estate of the first testator left unadministered, shall be issued in the manner and with the authority thereafter provided.” It is, therefore, entirely clear that the petitioners in this matter, by virtue of their office as executors of Henry Delafield, have no interest in this estate nor any control over its administration. By see. 11 of 2 Stat. at L. 468, it is provided that an executor of an executor shall have no authority to commence or maintain any action or proceeding relating to the estate, effects or rights of the testator of the first executor, or to take any charge or control thereof as such executor. (Theological Sem. of Auburn v. Cole, 18 Barb., 370 ; Shook v. Shook, 19 Id., 653 Campbell v. Browne, 5 Paige, 36.)

The learned counsel for the petitioners, on the argument, suggested that the petitioners had a standing in court for the purposes of this proceeding, because they were possessed of certain property belonging to the estate of the testatrix, and that they had a right to know who was the proper representative of her estate in order that they might safely deliver the same. But it seems to me that a sufficient answer to that suggestion is the statute last cited.

It may be that on an application for the funds of the estate in their hands, they could raise the question as to the authority of the applicant to receive, but it is clear to my mind that they have no such status as will enable them to invoke a revocation of the letters in his case; .certainly no such interest is shown by their petition. The petition must therefore be dismissed, with costs to be paid personally by the petitioners, under the authority of Shook v. Shook (19, Barb., 653).

Order accordingly.

* Tho proceeding before Surrogate Hutchings was upon the petition of Lewis L. Dclafield, Esq. Tho petition alleged, among other.tkings, that tho petitioner was advised that, under tho circumstances set forth, the office and duties of executors in trust, by tho tenor and intention of the will, devolved upon the petitioner and Edward Delafield, the other nephew named, and prayed for tho construction of the will in that respect to the end that letters testamentary might be issued to them, or one of thorn, or that tho proper letters might bo issued to those entitled thereto. Tho following opinion was given upon the application, by Surrogate Hutchings in Oct. 1875.

The Subrogate.—Upon the facts presented, the question arises, whether letters testamentary upon tho will should issue to tho two nephews of tho testatrix named in tho appointing clause, or to either of them; or whether it is a case for letters of administration with the will annexed.

(1) Tho petition impliedly raises the inquiry whether letters testamentary can issue to tho two nopkows “ as executors according to tho ten- or,” as that expression is understood in law. This depends upon tho provisions of the whole will, other than the appointing clause, as that contains nothing pertinent to the inquiry.

An executor “ according to the tenor” is defined by Bonvier as one “not directly appointed by the will an executor, but who is charged with the duties which appertain to one; as I appoint A. B. to discharge all lawful demands against my estate.” (Law Diot, and cases cited). And according to Trilliams on executors (p. 208,) “the appointment of an executor may either be express or constructive, in which casa ho is verbally called executor according to the tenor; for, although no executor bo expressly nominated in the will by the word executor, yet if, by any word or circumlocution, the testator recommend or commit to one or more the charge and office or tho rights which appertain to an executor, it amounts to as much as tho ordaining or constituting him or them to bo executors;” and in a note, “ the use of the word executor is not essential to tho appointment of a person to execute tho will. An executor may be appointed expressly or constructively,and designated by committing to his charge those duties which it is tho duty of an executor to perform; by conferring those rights which belong to Ms office; or by any other language from which tho intention of the testator to invest him with that character may be inferred.”

But the appomtment of executors by construction or implication is not favored, and in doubtful cases, administration citro test. an. must be resorted to (Harnett v. Wandell, 2 Hun, 552).

Applying what has been said to the present case, the two nephews of the testatrix are not named in any part of the will, other than the clause above, as being charged with any of the duties appertaining to an executor, or as being given or clothed with any of the rights belonging to the office of an executor, or referred to by name, in any language importing the testatrix’s intention to invest them with that character; and consequently, they cannot, independently of the appointing clause, maintain their right to letters testamentary as “ executors according to the tenor.”

(2.) Letters testamentary can issue to them therefore, if at all, only on the ground of an express appointment, as executors, under that clause of the will above set forth. a

Before discussing that question, some further citations from Bouvier may be of service. He refers to substituted, instituted and conditional executors, and defines the former to be one appointed, if another who has been appointed refuses to act; the next, to be one who is appointed by the testator without any condition, and who has the first right of acting when there are substituted executors. An executor may be appointed conditionally, and the condition maybe precedent or subsequent. Such is the case when A is appointed in case B shall resign.

In this case, then, it would appear that the two brothers of the testatrix were, within the definition given, appointed instituted executors, and the two nephews were appointed substituted executors.

The former were no less instituted executors because the clause referred to the contingency of their death before the testatrix, for that contingency might happen in any case of any instituted appointment.

If the brothers had died before the testatrix, or, if surviving her, they had both declined to act, the appointment of the two nephews would have been as operative and effectual, as if they had been solely and unqualifiedly named as executors.

But one of the brothers qualified and acted as executor: and both brothers being now deceased, the inquiry under consideration is narrowed to whether the substitution of the nephews is or is not to be denied to óxtend and to apply to existing circumstances ; or whether the clause referred to is or is not to be held to have arestricted application, according to its first apparent or literal sense.

In ex parte McDonnell (2 Bradf., 32), which was a case of constructive appointment, it is observed that, though the executor can only derive the right to his office from a testamentaryappointment,yetit is well established that this appointment may be either express or constructive: but that this, “ like all other questions of testamentary construction, is a question of intention to be ascertained from an examination of all the provisions of the will. ”

So here it would seem that the reason of the principle equally applies, and that whether the petitioner is entitled to qualify as an executor, is a question of intention on the part of the testatrix, to he ascertained from an examination of the particular clause, in the light of the whole will, and in view of the nature and purpose of that section of the will, and the office and functions intended to he conferred hy it on the persons therein named. What was the necessity of any appointment ? Did the testatrix intend to confine the execution of the powers of such an appointment to persons of her own selection, in whom she placed special trust aud confidence, so long as any of the trusts arising under the will remained in force ? Did she not intend to provide, as well as she could hy substituted appointments, for the execution of the trusts hy persons of her own designation, and to guard against either embarrassment in law from a vacancy or an administration of the continuing trusts hy strangers ? These are questions which must now he determined, and courts should and will give effect to what may he ascertained to be the intention of the testatrix in these respects.

Imperfect phraseology will not he allowed to defeat an intention in such a case, reasonably deduced from the instrument; and how rigorously rules of construction shall he applied, or in what direction a doubt should yield, may depend, it would seem, much upon the subject matter of the clause in question : that is to say, for instance, a difference may he recognized between provisions that affect rights of property, and those that relate merely to the incumbent who is to execute a trust, or administer the estate for the benefit of others, whose rights are in law unaffected, if there only he a competent trustee. ^

Where a testator appoints an executor and provides that in case of his death another should he constituted, on the death of the original executor although he has proved the will, the executor so substituted may he admitted to office, if it appears to have been the testator’s intention that the substitution should take place on the death of the original executor, whether happening in the testator’s life-time or afterwards ( Williams on Exec, citing in re Goods Lighton, 1 Hagg., 235).

In Hartnet v. Wandell (2 Hun, 552,) which was a case of delegated appointment, which was not sustained, Justice Boardmau says the appointment of an executor is a mark of personal confidence and trust, hut the executor should he named in the will, or appointed, or by necessary inference; and referring to the statute as to whom letters testamentary may issue, he recognizes the validity of the appointment of a person who can he identified by process of construction or implication applicable to the language of the will, by inquiring whether the Surrogate has power to issue letters to a person not named in the will and who cannot he so identified.

In this case, are not the nephews of the testatrix, within the meaning of the statute, executors expressly named in the will or appointed by necessary inference, in a manner consistent with the authority and opinion of the court in Hartnett v. Wandell ?

Giving full weight and consideration to judicial decisions hearing on this case, and to the statute which provides to whom letters testamentary may issue, as the same is construed by our courts, it would seem to follow that the two nephews of the testatrix are entitled to qualify as executors, if it can be determined from the clause in question in connection with the whole will, that it was the intention of the testatrix, that they should act as executors upon the death of the two brothers, even though they or either of them survived the testatrix and qualified under the will; for if the clause is construed to express or imply that intention, then the nephews were named in the will as executors, within the meaning of the statute.

On that point, it is to he kept in view that there were express trusts of money for investment by the executors for.the lives of several persons, and if the appointment of an executor as such for ordinary purposes of the possession of the estate, for the payment of debts, and thereupon to distribute the estate, is a mark of personal trust and confidence; the same may he said, a fortiori, where there are trusts such as this will creates.

It is fairly to be regarded that the testatrix, in appointing two of her own brothers executors, and, contingently her two nephews, desired that the trusts of her will should he executed by her own near relatives; and the substituted appointment evinced her desire that, among her nephews, these particularly named should act as her executors. That desire has its expression in the will as her intention and direction.

If such was her wish, can any reason be believed or supposed to exist for intending that the two nephews should assume the trust, as a mark of her confidence, any less because the two brothers, or either of them qualifying, died while in the execution of the trust ?

There seems to he no rational explanation of a distinction in the mind or intention of the. testatrix to make the choice of her nephews to depend on ihe occurrence of the deaths of the brothers before or after herself, or if surviving, on their or either of them qualifying and afterward dying before the trusts were fulfilled. And if this is so, such an intention cannot be regarded as xirobable; so that the intention of such a distinction as would now deprive the nephews of the executorship may b6 considered as without reason and alike improbable and unnatural.

Yet it is true that courts must in some cases give effect to provisions that are obnoxious to criticisms of such a character. Bnt under this will, there appears to be ground for a reasonable doubt of the meaning of the clause in question; and while courts are not required to .strain after probate of a-will, there may, and should properly, he an effort to reconcile a will in all its parts, and to give that meaning which is most in harmony with reason and natural probabilities, if the intention of the testator is in question; and it is now the province of the court to say whether the words “ prior to my decease,” in the nominating clause, in case both of the two brothers of the testatrix die, may not, in construction, ho overlooked or discarded as superfluous, or as an imperfect attempt to define the time of decease, when unnecessary and incomplete, as not referring to the possible death while in the execution of the trust; or in other words, whether the event of death was not the contingency, and not the time it happened, or whether it was not an accidental an d not an intended omission to refer to the decease of the brothers after qualifying as executors.

It seems to me that, in the mind of the testatrix, it was the event of the death, whether prior or subsequent to the decease of the testatrix, that she intended as the contingency which would render the appointment of her nephews effectual. This inference is founded on the clause referred to, taken in connection with the other contents of the will, and on the nature of the trusts and the relationship of the appointees, as before adverted to. (See Parks v. Parks, 9 Paige, 107.)

It is an established rule in the construction of wills, that where it is evident the testator has not expressed himself as he intended and supposed he had done, and the defect is produced by the omission of some word or words, and when it is certain, beyond reasonable doubt, what particular words were thus omitted, that may he supplied by intendment and the will read and construed as if those words had been written in the place or places where they were intended to have been. (Redfield on Wills, p. 453; and per Lord Mansfield in Clements v. Parke, 3 Doug., 384.)

This case, it must be acknowledged, is not free from doubt, hut in view of all the circumstances presented, there appears to be sufficient ground to permit the petitioner to qualify as executor and to receive letters : hut without prejudice in any manner or degree, hy reason of the grant exparle to a reconsideration of the whole matter, orto the rights of eestnis que trust or ultimate legatees of the capital of the trusts, if an application shall he made to revoke the letters, or their validity shall he otherwise questioned.

In like manner, as stated, Edward Delafield should he allowed to qualify and receive letters, if he shall so elect.