Parks v. Robinson.

Connor, J. after stating- the case: This case was submitted upon very full and well considered briefs and oral argument by counsel for both sides by which we have been aided in coming to the conclusion that His Honor correctly construed the will of Mr. Parks. It was conceded that the contract made by the plaintiff, the specific performance of which is sought to be enforced, is fair and just to all parties' and we think: entirely consistent with the purpose find in tent of the testator. The parties, however, very properly desire that any doubt in regard to the validity of the title conveyed by Mrs. Parks be removed by the decision of the court. We are not called upon to say whether Mrs. Parks takes a fee simple in the property. In construing similar language the Supreme Court of Massachusetts in Cummings v. Shaw, 108 Mass., 159, said: “This clause gives to the plaintiff either an estate in fee on the ground that power 'to convey an absolute estate is an attribute of ownership, and carries with it a fee, or it gives an estate for life, with power to convey an absolute estate; and upon either construction the plaintiff is able to convey to the defendant a fee simple and thus perform his contract. If a question had arisen as to the validity of a devise over, it might be important to determine whether the plaintiff took an estate for life or in fee, but it can not be so in this case.” In that case the language was: “I give and bequeath * * * for and during his natural life, with right to dispose of the same as he shall think proper.” The court held that the words “the right to dispose of the same” referred to the property itself, and not merely to the estate in it. We think this construction applicable to the language used by the testator in the case before us. This court in Troy v. Troy, 60 N. C., 623, construing *272 language somewhat similar, said: “This is a power appurtenant to her life estate; and the estate which may be created by its exercise will take effect out of the life estate given to her, as well as out of the remainder. A power of this description is construed more favorably than a naked power given to a stranger, or a power appendant, because, as its exercise will be in derogation of the estate of the person to whom it is given, it is less apt to be resorted to injudiciously than one given to a stranger, or one which does not affect the estate of the person to Avhom it is given.” In Wright v. Westbrook, 121 N. C., 156, this court held that where property was given to one during her natural lifé “with full power to dispose qi the same” with the permission of her husband, a deed executed by husband and wife conveyed a good and indefeasible title. These decisions appear to be in harmony with those made by other courts. In White v. White, 21 Vt., 250, the estate was given to the wife “to have at her disposal during her natural life or so long as she remains my widow.” This was construed to give her the power to dispose of the fee during her widowhood. In Underwood v. Cave, 75 S. W., 455, the court construed a devise to one absolutely during her natural life to use and enjoy as she may see proper, as a life estate coupled with it the power of disposal in fee. The defendant’s counsel cites 2 Underhill on Wills, Sec. 686, in which it is said: “If land be devised to a person expressly for life only, in certain and definite language, with a power of use or disposal, an estate for life only passes * * * and if the devisee dies without exercising the power, the reversion of the fee will descend to the heirs of the testator, or it will go to the devisee of the testator as a contingent remainder or executory devise if he has devised it over. In either event no estate in the land will pass under the power until it has been executed.” This language in no way militates against the power of Mrs. Parks to convey the land. The author is discussing *273 the question whether a power of disposal carries the fee by implication which, as we have seen, does not arise in this" case. The defendant also calls to our attention the case of Smith v. Bell, 6 Peters 68. In that case an estate was givep. for life with a power of disposition and a remainder over. The Supreme Court held that the power of disposal was restricted to the life estate. In Gifford v. Choate, 100 Mass., 340, Hoar, J. noticing Smith v. Bell, says: “The authority of Smith v. Bell, is somewhat impaired by the circumstances that no counsel were heard on behalf of the party against whom it was made, and the attention of the court does not seem to have been drawn to the authorities in favor of the opposite conclusion. But the decision is made to rest upon the fact that the remainder was the only substantial provision made by the will for the testator’s only child and there were no words directly extending the wife’s interest beyond her life.” Smith v. Bell has been followed by the Supreme Court of the U. S. in Brandt v. Coal Co., 93 U.S., 326; Giles v. Little, 104 U. S., 291. We are of opinion that the more reasonable view, certainly where there is no limitation'over, is found in the decisions of this and other courts which we have cited. Read in the light of the condition of the testator’s family, he having five minor children, we think it clear that his purpose was to give to his wife an estate for life with a power to dispose of the property in fee in such manner as she should deem best for the rearing, education and settlement of her children. To restrict the power of disposal of her life estate would be to nullify its effect. She had such power incident to her life estate. To confine the power of disposal to such life estate would do violence to the rule of construction that every word used by the testator should be given force. We concur with counsel that “with such unlimited confidence in his wife, and such firm belief that she would be able to act more wisely-than he could then direct, how can it be said that testator *274 used tbe words, 'at her disposal’ in a restricted or limited 'sense? Under these circumstances, does not the presumption against intestacy, as to the reversion, become stronger and does not the rule for a liberal construction of these words favor an unlimited power of disposition?” The judgment of His Honor must be Affirmed.