25 Ga. 305 | Ga. | 1858
delivering the opinion.
Whether the Court ought to have granted to the complainant the remedy by injunction, depends on the construction which ought to be placed on the marriage settlement; for if he has rights under that settlement, which entitled him to a future enjoyment of the property, or a part of it, the allegations in the bill of the defendant’s appropriation of the property to his own use, a sale of part of it and threats to sell more, and denying the complainant’s right, are sufficient to entitle him to an injunction, and the Court below ought to have awarded it.
The Court in that case said that" it being a case of marriage settlement, makes it a strong case in favor of children who are deemed purchasers for valuable consideration.” Garner vs. executors of Garner, 1 Dess. Rep. 437, 444, In the case of Doe ex dem Cooper vs. Collis, Lord Kenyon said “ that in a will, issue is either a word of purchase or of limitation, as will best answer the intention of the devisor, though in the case of a deed it is universally taken as a word of purchase.” 4 Term Rep. 299. " In marriage settlements the most favorable exposition of words will be made to support the intention of the parties.” 2 Dessaus
Had Lawton, the husband, died, leaving his wife surviving him, the trust was to remain for the use, benefit and support of the wife and her issue by her first or any other marriage; and lastly, after her death, for the use and support and benefit of the issue of the body of the wife by any marriage. Looking through the whole instrument, it was clearly the intention of the parties, that the parents respectively should have an usufructuary interest in the prop
If there had been no issue of the marriage, the marital right of the husband would have attached to all that part of the property not effectually limited over; but the provision for the children bars that right of the husband. It is -his agreement that it should do it, and the property vested in them subject to the interest of the husband, as expressed in the deed of settlement. I acknowledge that I had some doubt on the terms of this settlement and the facts of this case, if the subsequent provisions of the deed, even by aiding in ascertaining the intention of the parties, could prevent the husband from sharing the property with the issue of the marriage; but I yielded that to the strong conviction of my brethren, that the husband could not take more than a life interest in the property, and that to be shared with the issue of the marriage.
The children do not claim, as contended for by plaintiff in error, through the husband. The entire property proceeded from the wife. She did not secure more than a life interest in it to herself, and she could not have intended a greater for her husband. On this application for an injunction, the facts of the bill must be taken as true, and they are quite sufficient to entitle the complainant to it. If he proceeds with his cause, however, he must take out administration on the estate of his deceased wife.
Judgment reversed.