Sorrelle's exr's v. Sorrelle

COLLIER, C. J. It is scarcely necessary to inquire whether the defendant could insist upon the provision made for him in the will of his father as a set-off to the action, and pro tanto [247] defeat a recovery. We however, consider it perfectly clear, that such a defence is not allowable. 1st. Because his share of his father’s estate was not a debt or demand duo in praesenti, for the recovery of which an action could be maintained, it not being assented to by the plaintiffs, or the time arrived when by the statute it was demandable. 2d. Because it would disturb the legal course of administration, and possibly, injuriously affect creditors, whose rights are paramount to the beneficiaries under the will. The material questions are, 1. Was the exposition of the will regularly referred by the court to the jury? 2. Does the will in itself operate a release of the debt owing by the defendant to the testator, to the extent of the interest it confers upon the former? 1. Starkie, in his work on Evidence says, the construction of a written document, is matter of pure law, in all cases where the meaning and intention of the framers, is by law, to be collected from the paper itself. As in the instances of judicial records, deeds, &c.; but where the meaning is to be judged of by the aid of extrinsic circumstances, the construction is usually a question of fact for the jury. [1 Vol. 429.] And such seems to be the result of the adjudged cases on the point. [3 Phil. Ev. C. & IPs cd. 1420.] In the present case, it appears that the question did not arise upon the construction of the will, in connection with parol evidence, but the court referred it to the jury to say, from a mere inspection of the paper, what was the intention of the testator. This involved a legal inquiry, which it was the province of the court to determine. If the law were otherwise, and there were no settled rules by which the meaning of writings could bo adjusted, no man could tell with certainty, what terms to employ in his transactions; for the interpretation of one jury might be very different from that which another might give to the same document. There are, however, cases in which parol evidence is admissible to show the intention of the parties to a written instrument, which is in some measure equivocal. [Ely v. Adams, 19 Johns. Rep. 313, and cases there cited; 3 Phil. Ev. C. & H’s ed. 1420, and cases cited.] To ascertain when it is admissible, in order to determine the meaning of wills, see 2 Lomax’s Ex’rs and Adm’rs [248] 31, 99 and cases cited. It is unnecessary to notice more particularly, the authorities on this point, and they are only referred to, that they may be consulted, if in the ulterior progress of the cause, it should be desired, 2. In respect to the second question, it is laid down, that the gift of a legacy may be so framed, as to be the release of a debt} but to have this effect, the intention must be clear. Where a creditor bequeaths a legacy to his debtor, and either does not notice the debt, or mentions it in such a manner, as to leave his intention doubtful, and after his death the securities for the debt, if there were any, are found uncancelled among the testator’s property, the legacy to the debtor, is not considered as necessarily, or evenprima facie, a release or extinguishment or the debt; but it requires evidence clearly expressive of the intention to release, [2 Lomax’s Exr’s & Admr’s 99; 2 Wm’s on Exr’s 810.] And the law is stated in equivalent terms after great consideration in Clark v. Bogardus, [12 Wend. Rep. 67, See also Williams v, Crany, 5 Cow. Rep. 368; ib. 246, and 4 Wend. Rep. 449.] In the case at bar, the testator not only does not mention in his will, the debt in controversy, but keeps the evidence of it in his possession uncancelled at Iris death, and so far as any inference can bo drawn from the manner in which he has dispensed his bounty, it is adverse to the idea of a release. He very clearly manifests the intention to distribute his estate equally between all Ms children. In addition to the general direction to that effect, he bequeaths to one of his daughters a sufficiency of property to place her upon the same footing with the children who had been previously advanced; and also directs that the shares of two of his sons shall be subject to a deduction, for money he had expended in the payment of their debts. On both the questions considered, the county court erred: its judgment is consequently reversed, and the cause remanded.