2 Div. 735. | Ala. | Apr 4, 1921
Item 3 of the will gives Sallie Jackson all of the property, of every description, "during her life only." This language is plain and unambiguous and leaves nothing open for interpretation. It is suggested, however, in brief of appellant's counsel, that while this would be the case if item 3 stood alone, item 5 of said will is inconsistent therewith and being the subsequent clause should prevail; that while item 3 gives all of the property to Sallie Jackson for life only, item 5 attempts to dispose only of so much of the personal property, or money, as may be left at the time of the death of said Sallie Jackson, thus giving her the right to dispose of the money before her death and thereby creating in her an absolute estate as to same. We cannot concur in this contention and do not think that item 5 is in conflict with or repugnant to item 3. It is true, item 5 makes a disposition to the remaindermen only of such money left after the death of Sallie Jackson, but this was in no sense intended to give her the right to dispose of the corpus, except in so far as it may be necessary to comply with items 1 and 2 as to the payment of debts and the erection of tombstones. The testatrix may have also felt that some of the money may have been lost, through no fault or responsibility of Sallie Jackson during her life, and made provision only for what was on hand at her death, but did not thereby intend to give her the absolute right of disposition during her life. We cannot say that the life estate expressly limited by item 3 was enlarged by an inference to be drawn from item 5, simply because it mentions the money remaining after the death of Sallie Jackson.
As Sallie Jackson is only entitled to the use of the property for her life, the remaindermen are, of course, interested in the preservation of the estate during her life, and upon the showing made by them, the trial court, sitting in equity, was justified in assuming control of the fund for the preservation of same and in directing the investment thereof for the benefit of all interested parties, in *420 case the life tenant did not elect to retain same by the execution of a proper bond.
The decree of the circuit court is affirmed.
Affirmed.
McCLELLAN, SOMERVILLE, and THOMAS, JJ., concur.