Citation Numbers: 1 Cl. Ch. 209
Filed Date: 4/15/1840
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 1/12/2023
The testator in his will has given various pecuniary legacies, to be paid out of his personal estate specifically. He has devised his real estate and his residuary personal estate to his son Benjamin Bower ; but he has appointed a stranger to his blood and to his will, his executor. A period of nearly five years elapsed between the making his will and the death of the testator. During this period, the real estate of the testator was enhanced very considerably in value; and I have no doubt, from the testimony, that the testator, just before his death, wished to vary the disposition of his property as made by his will, so as to give his other children, except Benjamin, a greater amount than they would have received under the will. The proofs seem to "sustain this view of the case, particularly the testimony of Patrick Galbraith. Unfortunately, the testator, instead of altering his will to secure this object, determined upon the expedient of selling his personal estate to his son Benjamin, and taking his notes payable to his other children, at times when he supposed either that they would want the money, or that Benjamin could conveniently pay ■ them. These notes were enclosed in the will; and I have no doubt they were intended to be in addition to the legacies given in the will itself. The will itself was suffered to remain unaltered. An executor has nothing to do with any of the estate of the de
The taking of the notes for this personal estate in the manner they were taken, and placed as they were placed, is an appointment of the payment thereof to the persons to whom they were made payable. The testator, in my opinion, intended to make an alteration in the disposition of his property, by making certain appointments in addition to the testimentary provisions in his will. But his will remains unaltered, and we must recognise it as his will. The rules of
Neither has he any means -out of the estate to pay the expense of this litigation; but as he was justified in coming here to ask the advice of this court in a question of this character, it is not just that he should be compelled to pay the costs out of his own pocket. The expense should be paid out of the estate of the decedent in the hands of the executor, if any; if not, I do not see but he must- pay his own costs, as there is no fund upon which it can be charged. There can be no other provision made for his costs, as it does not appear by the bill that he offered the persons to whom the notes were made, to deliver them the notes. But no costs are given against the complainant on behalf of the defendants.