Goss v. Eberhart

— Lumpkin J. By the Court. delivering the opinion. The question in this case, arises upon the construction of the 6th item of the will of the late William PI. Barnett. The testator having in the previous parts of his will, disposed of his property to his wife and children, proceeds thus: “My will and desire is, and I do hereby give and bequeath all of the property of every description, that I have given or may hereafter give, to each of my daughters, I give to them and their children, heirs of their body, and not subject to be sold by their respective husbands, or liable for their debts, in any manner whatever.” [548] His daughter Melita S. Eberhart, wife of William F. Eberhart, had two children at the date of the will, and at the death of the testator; William F. Eberhart has since died, and the widow has intermarried with Horatio J. Goss, Jr., by whom she has one child. The administrator of William F. Eberhart, finding the negroes received under the will of William H. Barnett in the possession of his intestate at the time of his death, took possession thereof as a part of his estate; and filed the present bill, asking the direction of the Court respecting this property. It is insisted by counsel for the plaintiff in error, that the words create an estate tail in Mrs. Eberhart, and that hence under the law, she took an absolute fee in it. The antagonistic view to this, and the one held by the Court, is, that Mrs. Eberhart took as tenant in common with her children, born and to be born. Without stopping to controvert both, or either of these positions, I would remark, that to maintain the first, namely, to make this an estate tail, the words “ children” in the will, must be wholly disregarded. And so on the other hand, to support the position of the defendant in error, and the decision of the Circuit Court, the word “ heirs,” must be ignored. But it is not allowable thus to mutilate an instrument, whether deed or will. On the contrary, it is our duty to give effect to all the words, if possible. Here it is not only possible, but by doing so, we ascertain the true meaning of the testator. He gives the property to his daughter and her children, heirs of her body. Now no one is the heir of the liv- ■ ing. The employment of this term therefore, indicates, that the children were not to take a present estate, but one that should come to them after the death of their mother. Our construction then is, that the daughter, Mrs. Eberhart, .took a separate life estate, with remainder to such children, ’ born and to be born, as survived her. And this case seems to be identical almost with that of Crawford against Trot [549] ter, wherein, a legacy of £100 stock was bequeathed to Lady Scott and her heirs, (say children.) In the case at bar, it is to her children, heirs of her body, just reversing the collocation of the words. Sir John Leach, V. C., was of opinion, that Lady Scott was entitled for life, remainder to her children, the word “ heirs,” which was synonymous with children, importing that they were to take after her death. (4 Madd. 361; Burdett vs. Young, 9 Mad. 93; 3 Bro. P. C., 50, S. C.) I would only add, that where the construction is doubtful, the Courts lean to the implication of life estates.