Lake v. Russell

SOMERVILLE, J. The bill of complaint shows that Sarah S. Russell died, intestate, in October, 1911; that she was a resident of Barbour county, Ala.; that she left real and personal property, all of which came to her by descent, devise, or gift from her mother; that she was survived by her husband, D. L. Russell, who is the administrator of her estate; and that Henry B. Lake, her maternal uncle, is her next of kin — there being no other relative of his class and degree. The bill is filed by said Lake, the maternal uncle of intestate, against said Russell, her surviving husband, and seeks a decree declaring complainant entitled, as heir, to one-half of intestate’s personal estate, and to all of her real estate after the termination of respondent’s life interest, to the exclusion of respondent. Respondent demurred to the bill, on the grounds that it is without equity, and that it shews on its face that complainant has no interest in intestate’s estate; and the chancellor sustained the demurrer. Section 3765, Code 1907, is: “If a married Avoman having a separate estate die intestate, leaving a husband living, he is entitled to one-half of the personalty of such separate estate absolutely; and to the use of the realty during his life.”' [202] Section 3754, Code of 1907, is: “The real estate of persons dying intestate as to such estate descends, subject to the payment of debts, charges against the estate, and the widow’s dower, as follows: * * * (6) If there are no children or their descendants, no father or mother, and no brothers or sisters or their descendants, then the whole to the husband or wife of the intestate. (7) If there are no children or their descendants,' no father or mother, no brothers or sisters or their descendants, and no husband or wife, then to the next of kin to the intestate, in equal degree, in equal parts.’’ Section 3763, Code 1907, subjects personal estate to the same rules of descent as real estate, with certain exceptions in favor of the widow, which are not here material. Complainant’s theory is that, as section 3765 makes provision for the husband’s distributive interest in the intestate wife’s separate estate, it must be regarded as an exclusive provision with respect to her separate estate; and hence the only consistent field of opinion for subdivision 6 of section 3754 is upon her equitable estate — i. e., any estate that may be vested for her use in an active trustee — and that under subdivision 6 the husband will take as heir only her equitable estate, the descent as to her separate estate in remainder over-leaping subdivision 6 and vesting in the next of kin, under sub-division 7. This conception of the meaning and effect of section 3754 is violative of its plain language, and is radically unsound. It is not necessary to enter into any learned discussion of the general subject, nor to trace the history and evolution of the respective statutes. Section 3765 is clearly designed as a statutory substitute for the common-law curtesy of the husband. Its purpose was to give the husband priority in the ownership of his [203] intestate wife’s separate estate, to the extent declared, as against any and all persons entitled to claim as heirs under the general statutes of descent. Section 3754 is but the residuary clause of the general legislative testament. It disposes of the whole estate not otherwise disposed of by special laws, and operates equally upon legal and equitable estates. If there be a husband, who is entitled as such to take a limited interest under section 3765, it gives the entire residuum of the estate to the children, the brothers and sisters, or the parents of the intestate, in preference to the husband as an heir. But, if there are none of those preferred classes, it gives the entire residuum to the husband as heir, in preference to any other relatives. Prior to the Code of 1896, any kindred, however remote, were preferred as heirs over husband and wife, in accordance with the doctrines of the common law. The statute of descent, as then amended, evinced an unmistakable legislative purpose to prefer husband or wife as heir over such remoter kindred. Indeed, language could not be plainer nor purpose clearer; for the express condition upon which alone these unpreferred next of kin may take as heirs is that there be “no husband or wife.” If there be husband or wife, the statute simply does not reach “the next of kin,” and subdivision 7 remains functus officio by its own specific proviso. We are unable to discover even the shadow of conflict or inconsistency between these statutes. On the contrary, they co-operate perfectly in the accomplishment of a manifest legislative intention, viz., the partial preference of the husband over all kindred, and his absolute preference over some of them. Complainant insists, however, that he is, in any event, entitled to the estate as against the husband, under section 3758, Code 1907, because the estate is an anees [204] tral estate' devised from intestate’s mother. Section 3758 is : “There is no distinction between the Avhole and the half blood in the same degree, unless the inheritance came to the intestate by gift, devise or descent from or of some one of his ancestors, in Avhich case all those AAdio are not of the blood of such ancestor are excluded from the inheritance as against those of the same degree.” It is sufficiently obvious, Avithout the aid of argument or commentary, that this statute applies only to the next of kin, and only to those of the same class; and its application to husband or Avife is morally, as Avell as physically, impossible. The demurrer to the bill was properly sustained, and the decree of the chancellor will be affirmed. Affirmed. 'Dowdell, C. J., and McClellan and Sayre, JJ., concur.