Aubry v. Cajus

Mathews, J., delivered the opinion of the court. This case presents a single question for decision, depending on the proper and legal interpretation of the will of the deceased. It contains several specific legacies, the amount of each being ascertained, leaves no difficulty as to the quantum which must be deducted from the mass of the succession bequeathed to certain legatees, who are to take under general titles. The question is, whether the debts and specific legacies shall be deducted from the entire estate left by the testatrix, and the balance be equally divided between the plaintiffs and the wife of the executor, who is a legatee both of specific objects, and of one-half of all the property which was left by the deceased at the time of her death, as contended for by the plaintiffs 1 or whether the whole succession should be divided in such a manner, as to place the burthen of the specific legacies on the portion left to them, considered alone as residuary legatees 1 The solution. [46] of this question depends upon the construction which ought tQ gjven to two jagt ciauses 0f the will. They are expressed in the following terms: “ Je donne et légue it ma niéce au second dégré, Marie-Elisabeth Paillet, épouse de Mr. Jean-Baptiste Cajus, mon armoire, mon Unge et mes bijoux, sans' aucune reserve : plus, je donne et légue it ma dite niece etc. la moitié de tous les biens de nature mobiliaire et immobiliaire queje délaisserai au jour de mon décés, Vinstituant ma légataire it titre particulier et it titre générál, de la portion des biens dont se compose la présente disposition. Et pour le surplus de mes biens, je les donne et légue aux quatre erifans de Pun et de Pautre sexe de ma *®»r Elisabeth Roche,” etc. ofthe testator as wlu^shouid 4he carried into efstrument shouM be so construed, give - meaning ry clause, phrase contradictory ^ phrases and ex-sed^o^bsoiute meimings^as^to be irreeoneiieable, one or the othermustyield, So where queíthed certain toiierniec!aand a moiety of ail and immoveable decease7 instituting her niece a tícuiai? amígenth? balanced her property she wills to the four children of .her flmt both sets of legatees must be considered as claiming under universal tía es, equal portions of the succession, contribute e-payment of the particular^ legacosts, [46] ^he judge of the court below, in interpreting these clauses of the testament, seems to have arrived at a conclusion by which he decreed to the person first named as legatee, un(jer a particular and general title, one-half of the entire succession, without deduction of the special legacies, considering her, in relation to the one-half of the property left at ^ decease of the testatrix, as a particular legatee. From the decree thus made, the plaintiffs appealed, The matt'er is not without difficulties calculated to produce doubts. But we are of opinion that the court below erred in. its judgment. It is the duty of courts of justice to carry into , . J J , . , . J effect the intention of a testator as expressed in Ins last will. To ascertain what was really intended is often difficult, in consequence of the want of legal precision in the mode of exPressi°n used by the writer of a testament. 'In the present instance we are unable to discover any thing tending to create ambiguity and uncertainty, except the double and apparently contradictory phrases in the clause which makes the donation to Madame Cajus. It contains a specific and general legacy, and concludes by declaring that the bequest *s made under a particular and general title. Rules of construction, in relation to laws and instruments in writing, ..... ... . . _ „ ,, , ■ require, if it is possible, to give meaning and effect to all the words and phrases used in them; but when contradictory expressions are used, so absolute in their different meanings 1 . . . ° as to be irreconcileable in reference to the same thing, one or [47] the other must yield. In considering the clause of the will in question, we are not compelled to invalidate either of the phrases, particular title or general title. The first may be considered as having reference to the specific legacy, given to the same person and in the same clause; and the last to r # 7 # that which was general in its nature, - being an undivided half of the succession, &c. Considered in this light, no good reason offers itself to our minds, in consequence of which a distinction should be made between the- situation of the present parties litigant, as claimants under the will. They must both be considered as claiming under universal titles, equal portions of the succession, and standing in this relation to the inheritance, they must both contribute equally to the payment of the particular legacies. Louisana Code, articles 1604, 1606, 1627 and 1700. Thefeeofthe “ent1 heirs1 be ^allowed the mass of the shouid'be’chars;e(i to the portion of the atisent heirs. It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the Court of Probates be avoided and reversed, and that the plaintiffs recover of the deféndant, the sum of seven thousand six hundred and fifty-one dollars twenty-seven and one-half cents, being three-fourths of the net half of the estate, after deducting from the mass the debts, charges of administration, and the specific legacies, except the fee of counsel for absent heirs; the costs below to be , ,, . , . bóme by the succession, and those or the appeal to. be paid by the appellees.