Hampton v. . West , 212 N.C. 315 ( 1937 )

DeviN, J.

Construing the will of H. D. Spear as a whole, and looking at it from its four corners, in the effort to give effect to his intent as expressed in the language used (Heyer v. Bulluck, 210 N. C., 321), it would seem that the testator did not intend that his widow should have a fee simple estate in all his land, for he sets forth two provisions for its disposition after her death. If he had stopped with a general and indefinite devise of his estate to his wife, as stated in the third item, by the force of the statute, C. S., 4162, undoubtedly it would have been construed a devise in fee simple. If in the fourth item he had merely added to the indefinite devise that after her death the land remaining (presumably meaning undisposed of) be given to another, and said no more, the rule laid down in Hambright v. Carroll, 204 N. C., 496, 168 S. E., 817, and Carroll v. Herring, 180 N. C., 369, 104 S. E., 892, would have controlled. It was said in Patrick v. Morehead, 85 N. C., 62, quoting the language of Chancellor Kent in Jachson v. Robbins, 16 Johnson, 537: “A devise of an estate generally or indefinitely, with a power of disposition over, carries the fee.” However, the fourth item provides for the devolution of only one-half of his estate “remaining” after the death of the testator’s wife. If the language used in the fourth item be construed to imply an unrestricted power of disposition of an one-half interest in the land the devolution of the other half interest in the land is set out in the fifth item.

In the fifth clause the power is restricted and limited to disposition by will. The testator there inserts a further and additional direction with respect to the other half of his estate, and uses this language: “Upon the death of my wife I further direct that in the event that she should not leave a will disposing of the residue of my estate, I give, devise and bequeath to Mrs. Matthew Legasse children.”

The title we are called upon to decide did not pass by a will executed under the power conferred, but the widow, having married again, proposes to execute a deed to the defendant West, conveying the entire interest in the land in fee simple, disregarding the fifth clause entirely.

In Hambright v. Carroll, 204 N. C., 496, 168 S. E., 817, land was devised to be “divided equally between my children (naming them) and my granddaughter, Louise Hambright. The share Louise Hambright will receive I want my executor to hold in trust and give her the proceeds ; . . . but should she die without children, then what remains of her share becomes a part of my estate.” The ground upon which the devise to Louise Hambright was held a fee appears from the following quotation from the opinion. “To his three children the testator gave a fee or absolute title; the plaintiff was to have an equal share— share equal in quantity with the others. The phrase ‘what remains of her share’ carries the connotation that nothing may remain; and this implies an unrestricted power of disposition.”

In Carroll v. Herring, 180 N. C., 369, 104 S. E., 892, the devise was of two tracts of land to “James A. Carroll in fee, but if he die, without heirs, possessing the lands or either tract, with remainder to the heirs of J. W. Carroll.” There the decision was predicated upon a similar view. Not only was the devise to the first taker in fee, but the limitation over was in case he die “possessing the lands,” indicating full power of disposition in James A. Carroll.

But the situation here is distinguishable. It is out of the facts that the law arises. The devise was not in fee to the first taker. The application of C. S., 4162, is negatived by the remaining clauses of the will. The language of the will, in effect, that one-half of his estate remaining after the death of his wife be given in fee simple to Charlie Spear, his adopted son, and that the other half, if undisposed of by the widow by will, be given to the Legasse children, indicates the definite intention of the testator that his widow should not have power to convey the entire estate by deed in fee simple.

The requirement of C. S., 4162, that a devise to any person shall be construed to be in fee simple, is qualified by the remaining portion of the section, “Unless such devise shall in plain and express words show, or it shall be plainly intended by the will or some part thereof that the testator intended to convey an estate of less dignity.”

Taking the will in question by its four corners and giving effect to every part thereof, including the fourth and fifth items, it seems to have been plainly intended by the testator that an estate of less dignity than a fee simple be conveyed. In Rees v. Williams, 165 N. C., 201, 81 S. E., 206, the devise was: “1. My house and lot ... I leave to my daughter Jennie Lee. 2. In case my daughter Jennie Lee shall die without issue surviving her, then I desire said property to return to my eldest daughter.” It was held that the intention not to give an estate in fee simple plainly appeared.

In Roberts v. Saunders, 192 N. C., 191, 134 S. E., 451, the devise in the first paragraph was in these words: “I give to my beloved wife, Martha Roberts, all my estate, real and personal.” In the third paragraph the testator used this language: “All the rest of my property I give to my wife as above stated, during her widowhood; if she should marry,'she would be entitled to a dower on the estate in form according to the laws of North Carolina.” It was held the controlling intention of the testator was not to convey a fee simple. To the same effect is the holding in Foil v. Newsome, 138 N. C., 115, 50 S. E., 597; Shuford v. Brady, 169 N. C., 224, 85 S. E., 303; Pilley v. Sullivan, 182 N. C., 493, 109 S. E., 359; Jolley v. Humphries, 204 N. C., 672, 169 S. E., 417; Alexander v. Alexander, 210 N. C., 281; Barco v. Owens, ante, 30.

We conclude that the plaintiff cannot convey a fee simple title to the entire interest in the land as contracted, and that the defendant may not be required to accept the deed tendered therefor. The ruling of the court below must be held for error.

Judgment reversed.