27 N.J. Eq. 305 | New York Court of Chancery | 1876
This bill is filed by a legatee to procure a construction of the will of Julia Ann Sommers. The clause giving rise to the dispute is in these words: “I give, devise and bequeath the house and lot where I now reside, to my daughter, Ann M. Sommers, for her sole use and benefit, for so long a time, as she may remain single and unmarried, or until such time as, in her judgment, she may deem it advantageous to sell and .dispose of the same.” A naked ¡lower of sale is given to the executors. The will then directs, when the proceeds of sale are received, $3000 shall be set apart for the use of the complainant during life, and on her death the principal fund shall be paid- to the persons who, at that time, are her heirs-at-law.
The testatrix died April 20th, 1873. Anna M. was married January 6th, 1875. She and the complainant are the only children of the testatrix, now living.
What is the extent, in duration, of the estate given to Anna: can she hold the house and lot not only up to the time of her marriage, but for such beyond as she may deem it best not to' sell? In other words, did the-testatrix mean that Anna should not only have the use of the house and lot to the time of marriage, but for such period beyond as she might deem it advantageous not to sell ? To read the will so as to give an affirmative answer to this question, “or” must be struck out and “and ” substituted. To read the will according to the natural sense of the words employed by the testatrix, it is clear it must be held to say, Anna shall have the house and lot until she marries, or until she deems it advantageous to sell, and that whenever she marries, or shall deem it advantageous to sell, -whichever shall first happen, the executors shall exercise the power of sale. Plain, clear words, read in their ordinary sense, must always govern in searching for the
The correct reading of this clause is, Anna shall haA^e the use of the house and lot until, in her judgment, an advantageous sale can be made, or until she marries, whichever shall happen first, aiid whenever either happens, a sale shall be made. She, unquestionably, had the right to exercise a right ■of judgment, prior to her marriage, as to -the time AArhen a sale should be made, but she was bound to exercise it reasonably and fairly, with respect to the rights of others as well as her OAArn. It did not give her the right to say, arbitrarily or ■capriciously, I will not consent to a sale, because it promotes my interest not to sell.
In my judgment, the executors now have power to sell, and it is their duty to exercise the power.