Graybill v. Warren, No. 56

No. 56 | Ga. | May 15, 1848

By the Court.

Nisbet J.,

delivering the opinion.

[1.] It is conceded by both sides, that the bequest of the slave Mat, is a specific legacy. The controversy is about a part of the hire during the minority of the legatee. The defendant in error, who is also the legatee, claims that specific legacies, whether the payment is postponed or not, if in money, bear interest from the death of the testator; and if in property which is productive, the profits thereon, belong to the legatee from that period. On the other hand, the plaintiff in error, who is the executor to the will, insists that if the payment of a specific legacy is postponed, it bears interest, if in money, only from the time of payment; and if in property which is productive, the profits belong to die legatee only from the time of payment. In this case the testator says, “ I give to Jesse Warren, son of Jesse Warren, deceased, one negro boy named Matt, which negro is not to go-in Ms2>ossession until lie arrives at full age, twenty-one.” The res-diuum of his estate, the testator leaves to certain residuary legatees, which is to be divided among them, within five years. The plaintiff in error upon the principle above stated contends that the hire of Mat up to the maturity of the legatee, is a part of the residuum, and goes to the residuary legatees.

Now, it will not be controverted, that the intention of the testator, in relation to the hire of the slave, if it can be ascertained from the will, and from the allegations in the bill, which, the demurrer confesses, must prevail. Although the intention is not perfectly manifest; yet, we think, that it may be fairly inferred, that he intended to give the hire to the specific legatee. The property in Mat, we think, vested absolutely in him — there is no restriction or limitation upon the property — the only limitation is upon the possession. That alone, is postponed until he arrives at twenty-one. From the absoluteness of the gift, and from the fact that by the words of the will, the possession only is postponed; we infer that, with Mat, the testator intended the legatee to have also his hire. The usual understanding of a gift of property, is, that it carries with it the rents, issues and profits. This, too, is the legal construction where the will shows nothing to the contrary. The postponement of the possession, is not inconsistent with an absolute property ; nor is it inconsistent with a right to the profits — as a general rule, they follow the property. The Bill discloses that the legatee was a minor, and an orphan. It is reasonable to presume, that the testator intended the hire of the slave to be applied to his education and maintenance during his minority. Again he directs the residuum to be paid to the residuary legatees within five years, within which time, the specific Legatee would not attain to twenty-one years of age. He then seems to have intended all claim of the residuary legatees before his estate, within that time to be settled. He could not have contemplated any increase of the residuum after that time. He could not have intended that they should have the hire of Mat, accruing after their legacies were paid. If they could not take it, why then, it goes to the specific legatee; or it is an undisposed of portion of his estate, subject to administration. That he intended to leave this hire undisposed of, is not at all reasonable or probable. The fairest conclusion, is therefore, that he intended it to belong to the legatee. Upon the score of intention, therefore, we think the demurrer was well overruled. But we sustain the judgment of the Circuit Court upon higher grouds.

In relation to general legacies the rulo is, that when no time is fixed by the will for payment, they are payable at the end of the year after the death of the testator, and not before. This rule is said to be taken from the ecclesiastical Law, which gave the executor one year to get in the estate, and pay the debts and legacies. It is a convenient rule certainly. There ought to be a settled time, at which the executor ought to be liable to account, and not before. It relieves him from pressure by affording time for adjusting and commanding the resources of the estate; it also reduces to certainty what might be the fluctuating exercise of discretion in him, in reference to the priority of the legacies, and being fixed, the claims of all are in the main, no doubt equitably regulated by it. By our Statute, he is not liable to suit for any matter or cause against Ms testator, until twelve months after the probate of the will. As to his liability for legacies, the English Law governs. For the general rule, see Wood vs. Penoyre, 13 Vesey, 333, 334. Gibson vs. Bott, 7 Vesey, 96. Bechford vs. Tobin, 1 Vesey, 308. 1 Sek. & Less. 10. 1 Hovedeus Supl. to Vesey, 143, 144. Heath vs. Perry, 3 Atk. 101. Hearle vs. Greenbank, 3 Atk. 695, 716. Floyd vs. Williams, 2 Atk. 108. Maxwell vs. Wittinghall, 2 P. Wul. 62, 2 Roper on Legacies, ch. 12, p. 172. 2 Ibid, ch. 20, p. 184. 2 William’s Ex’rs, 1021, 2. 1 Sumner, R. 12, 13. 3 Dessaus. Reps. 387. 1 McCord’s Ch. R. 94. Ibid, 148. 14 Sergt. Sf Rawle, 238. As a necessary inference from this rule, interest is not generally payable upon a pecuniary legacy, until one year after the death of'the testator. For interest cannot be claimed in any case until the money is due, and from the time it is due. If the will provides that interest shall be paid before, of course, it must be paid according to the directions of the will. So also if the will fixes a future day for the payment of a general legacy, it is not payable until that day, and it does not bear interest till that day. See the authorities before cited — also, Sitwell vs. Bernard, 6 Vesey, 520, 529. Webster vs. Piale, 8 Vesey, 410, 413. Tyrrel vs. Tyrrel, 4 Vesey,1. 3 Vesey, 102. Crichett vs. Dolly, 3 Vesey, 10. 2 Williams, Ex’rs, 1024. There are some exceptions to these general rules, as to the time when interest is due. The principal of which is, that if the testator is the parent of the infant legatee, or is in loco parentis, the legacy bears interest from the death of the testator, whether the time of payment is postponed or not, unless there is also in the will, provision for the maintenance of the child. See Achorly vs. Vernon, 1 P. Williams, 783. Hill vs. Hill, V. & B. 183. Mills vs. Roberts, 1 Russ. &,- M. 555. Leslie vs. Leslie. cas. temp. Sugd. 4. 1 Sumner R. 14, 15. Bitror’s Ex’r, vs. Hahn et ure, 14. Serg & Rawle, 238. Raven vs. White, 1 Swanst. 553. Harvey vs. Harvey, 2 P. Williams, 21. Incledon vs. Northcoat, 3 Ath. 438. Chambers vs. Goldwin, 11 Ve-sey, 2. Brown vs. Simpuly, 3 Russ. Ch. Cas. 263. 1 Cox, 433. 2 John. Ch. R. 614. 2 Roper on Legacies, 07». 20, passim. Without pursuing the general doctrine as to interest on pecuniary legacies, or tracing the exceptions farther, I proceed to say that the controversies in the books, as to the interest on legacies, have relation, almost universally, to general legacies, with which specific legacies, and therefore this, can have nothing to do. They stand upon different ground. Specific legacies differ from general legacies in several particulars. There is no abatement of them to pay debts. That is to say, all legacies yield to debts; and general legacies, as a general rule, give way to those that are specific. If abatement be necessary, it falls first upon general legacies, even to their entire extinction. There are exceptions to this rule, which it is not necessary for me here to note. 2 Williams on Executors, 972, 973. Toller’s Executors, 339. Clifton vs. Burt, 1 P. Will. 679. 2 Black. Com, 513.

On the other hand, if they fall short, they cannot be made up from any other source. In relation to them, the elementary writers all say, that whatever produce accrues upon them from the death of the testator, as interest, rent, hire, or any other form of profit, and nothing more or less, belongs to the legatee; and that whether the enjoyment of the principal be postponed or not. I am not aware of a single authority which asserts a doctrine contrary to this. There are but few cases to be found, where a question as to the profit accruing upon a specific legacy, has been made. This is unquestionably owing to the universal consent of the profession to, and the acquiescing of the C ourts in the rule. In the argument of counsel, and in the opinions of the Bench, I find it invariably referred to as a thing conceded. A specific legacy is considered as separated from the general estate, and appropriated to the legatee. It is set apart in special property for him, and to the property attaches the right to its produce. It vests at the death of the testator, and interest or produce is demandable upon it, from that time. Ward on Legacies, 299. 2 Williams’ Executors, 1021. 2 Roper on Legacies, 3 Edit. 227.

I refer to a few cases, in which the rule I have stated has been recognised in Courts of the highest authority in England and America. In Webster vs. Hale, 8 Vesey, 410, one of the questions made, was whether a legacy of stock bore interest from the death of the testator, or from the end of one year thereafter, and this was made to depend upon the question, whether it was a spe-icfical legacy or a general legacy. The Masterof the Rolls said, “ "When legacies of stock are determined not to be specific, the value is always directed to be ascertained at the end of a year. The old dicta have been overturned by the modern cases; or at least, are totally neglected. In every direction, when once it is ascertained that a legacy is pecuniary, the interest is given from the end of the year.” In explanation of pecuniary legacies, it may be necessary to remark, that although there may be a specific legacy in money, yet these words, in this case, and generally, mean general legacies. Again, in the same case, the Master of the Rolls says : “Upon the other question, after the cases which have been decided, it is impossible to say these are not pecuniary legatees; and therefore, no inteiest is to be given upon any, except from the end of twelve months from the death of the testator.”

Lord Eldon, in discussing a similar question, concludes by saying, “ This being a specific legacy of stock, dividends are due, from the death of the testator.” 6 Vesey, 345. The bearing of these dicta upon this case, will be understood when it is remembered, that general legacies, where there is no time of payment specified, are not payable, and consequently do not bear interest until one year after the death of the testator. The struggle in these cases, on the part of the legatee, was to show that the legacies in question, were specific and not general; and for that reason, bore interest from the death of the testator.

In Gh-eene vs. Pigot, a legacy was left to a female infant, to be paid at twenty-one or at marriage, with interest at 4 per cent; and if she die before, to sink into the residuum. The Court ordered the legacy to be paid into Bank for security, and the principal question was, whether, if the legacy yielded more profit than s4 per cent, the excess should go to the infant. The Court decreed that it should be to the use of the infant. The Lord Chancellor remarking, “ The Master of the Rolls has done right in ordering it to be laid out in the funds. But if it should yield more than 4 per cent, who is to have the surplus ? I may order it to be paid to the executor. But should it produce less, can I order the executor to make it up 1 No ! I think, therefore, the produce must be to the use of the infant.” 1 Brow. Ch. R. 103. This is a case in point. There was a postponement of the time of payment, and although the testator directed interest at 4 per cent, to be paid, yet as to any interest over that rate, the will was silent. So far as the excess of produce is concerned, it is the case at this bar. The case of Chaworth vs. Hooper, is equally as strong. There was a devise of residue to an infant, payable at twenty-one, with remainder over. The infant died underage, and it was decreed, that the interest from the death of the testator to the death of the infant, should go to her representatives ; not to-the remainder-man. Mr. Baron Eyre, said, “ he could not distinguish this case from that of Nichols vs. Osborn, 2 Williams, 419. The whole residue is here given to the infant; 'what is to become of the produce % Where would the use be, if it were a specific thing, or the rents, if land 1 The interest is the natural produce. It is not a charge upon any body. The produce must go to the person who has the thing liable to be divested ; when divested, it must from that moment go to the per son who comes in.” 1 Broivn’s Ch. R. 82.

Mr. J. Story, in Sullivan et ure. vs. Winthrop et. al., in discussing the question whether a general legdcy bore interest from the death 'of the testator, recognises the rule in the following words:“Nor is this the case of a specific legacy of property or funds earning interest. If it were, I agree that whoever is entitled lo the specific property or find, is entitled to the income or increment, as aw adjunct.” 1 Sumner’s Reps. 12.

Precisely the question made in this record, came before the Supreme Court of Alabama, in Christian vs. Christian. The testator bequeathed as follows : “ I give to my grand-son John W. Chiistian, an equal dividend of the slaves, with the following named children, (naming them,) to be equally divided when James A. Christian arrives at the age of twenty-one years.” The guardian of John W. Christian, filed a petition against the administrator 'cum testamento annexo, of the testator, in the Orphan’s Court, praying an account of the estate of his ward. The petition demanded an account of the hire of the negroes willed to the minor, from the death of the testator until tho period of the distribution. Without noting tho immaterial variations, between this case and the one we are reviewing, I think it will be admitted that the question made in both is the same. The Supreme Court of Alabama, through Hitchcock, C. J., held as follows: “ The bequest in this case is what the law denominates a legacy of quantity, in the nature of a specific legacy ; as when so much money is bequeathed with reference to a particular fund for its payment; to which, except in some cases applicable to this kind of legacy, the rules applicable to specific legacies apply; which are considered as severed from the bulk of the testator’s property, by the operation of the will, from the testator’s death; and with their inbrease and emoluments, specifically appropriated for the benefit of the legatee, from that period ; upon which interest is computed, from the death of the testator. And it is immaterial whether the enjoyment of the principal is postponed by the testator or not.” 3 Porter R. 350, 351, 352. See also, 4 Vesey, 563. 5 Ibid, 205. 8 Ibid, 413. 1 Swanst. 557. 2 P. Will. 26. 3 Ibid, 254. 9 Vesey, 483. 1 Brow. Ch. R. 335. 1 Vesey, 185. Ambl. 96. 3 Meriv. 345, 346. 4 Brow. C. C. 144. 2 Vesey, Sen. 563.

Let the judgment of the Court below be affirmed.