Rorer v. O'Brien

Coulter, J.

Michael O’Brien has the legal estate of the lands in question, under the will of Jacob Borer, the father of his wife. But he has the legal estate subject to a trust in favour of his wife, who is the real beneficiary of the will, and is entitled to a separate estate, free from his debts, &c. This kind of separate interest in the wife is fully recognised by the law, and it will not fail for want of means to protect it under our peculiar system of jurisprudence. If the facts offered in evidence are satisfactorily proved, they will present a case calling upon the court for its equitable interposition. In Rees v. Waters, 9 W. 90, it is said that a court of law in Pennsylvania will not lend its aid to a husband who has deserted his wife, to enable him to recover her elioses in action, without making a suitable provision for her maintenance ; and why should the principal be different as regards her real estate ?

As we have not the evidence before ns, it is not for us to pronounce any judgment on the facts, further than that they ought to have been admitted in evidence.

Judgment reversed, and a venire de novo awarded.