Opel v. Shoup

100 Iowa 407 | Iowa | 1896

Given, J.

The last will and testament of John C. Hormel, deceased, provides as follows: “After my death, I desire that my estate, of whatever name and nature, be placed in the hands of a trustee, hereinafter named, to be by him invested so as to be productive of good interest, and in such manner as he may deem safe.

(2) I desire that the entire proceeds of said investment of my estate shall be paid at the end of each year to my wife, Elizabeth Hormel, so long as she shall remain my widow. If she marries again, then I desire that one-half of my estate be paid to her for her own free use and behoof, and the other half to be paid to my sister Anna Shoup, now living at Springfield, Hlinois. In case my sister dies before the division of my estate is made as above provided, then I desire that the one-half of my estate be divided equally between my heirs at law by blood kinship.”

A. A. Ball was appointed in the will as trustee and sole executor, and qualified as such.

The first contention is whether the defendant (appellant) Anna Shoup, is entitled to one-half of the property in question under said will.

John C. Hormel died April 13,1892, without issue, leaving his wife, Elizabeth Hormel, and his sister Anna Shoup, surviving him; his parents, brothers, and sister, other than Anna, having departed this life prior to his death. Elizabeth Hormel died, intestate, November 29, 1892, not having married again. The ruies for construing wills are so well understood, and of such frequent, application that we need not refer to the many authorities cited; it is sufficient that we refer to Kiene v. Gmehle, 85 Iowa, 313 (52 N. W. Rep. 232).

In that case this court quoted, with approval, from cases cited, as follows: “The cardinal principle to be kept in view is that the intent of the testator, if possible, is to be ascertained in tbe construction of wills. Courts always look upon the intent of the testator as the polar star to direct them in construction of wills.

The object of all rules of interpretation is to discover the intent, and this should be gathered from the whole instrument.

It may, however, be trusted as a safe rule to follow in all cases of construction of contracts, conveyances, or wills, that the intent of the parties, manifested by the reading of the whole instrument together, in the light of attending circumstances, must control the meaning.” It is said in that case: “The intent of the testator, as shown by the will construed according to established rules, must control. Courts may not give effect to any other result than that intended. To do so would be to make the will for the testator. Neither may they defeat the intention when it is lawful.”

Guided by these rules, we turn to the will to ascertain the intent of the testator in respect of the devise to Anna Shoup.

It is therein plainly written, in unmistakable terms, that the proceeds of the estate are to be paid to Elizabeth Hormel “so long as she shall remain my widow,” and, in terms quite as definite, that, if she marries again, one-half shall be paid to her for her own free use, “and the other half to be paid to my sister, Anna Shoup.”

The sole contingency upon which Anna Shoup was to be paid one-half, was the re-marriage of Elizabeth Hormel. Elizabeth Hormel did not marry again, and therefore the contingency upon which alone Anna Shoup was to have one-half of the estate never occurred. Under the facts, viewed from our standpoint, we might say that it would be reasonable and equitable if the testator had provided that one-half should go to Anna Shoup on the death of the widow without re-marriage, as well as upon her marrying again; but the will does not so provide. The testator had a right to rest it upon the condition that he did, and, having done so, it is not for us to inquire as to his reasons. We think the learned district judge held properly that Anna Shoup is not entitled to take one-half of the estate under the will, and that she is only entitled to share therein as an heir of John 0. Hormel, deceased.

2 II. Elizabeth Hormel was a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the state of Iowa, at the time of her death. In the few months that transpired between the death of her husband and her own death, she had not elected whether she would take under his will or under the statute; but it is not questioned but that she died seized of an undivided half of the real estate in controversy, and that her interest passed to her nest of kin legally qualified to inherit the same, immediately upon her death. She died without issue, leaving as her only parent surviving her, her mother, Elizabeth Opel, a non-resident ■.alien, residing in Bavaria, Germany. Elizabeth Opel died, intestate, in Bavaria, on May 12, 1894, leaving, as her nest kin, surviving her, her children, John Opel, Sr., and Barbara Degleman, .both non-resident aliens, and the plaintiff, Fred Opel, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the state of Iowa.

The plaintiff, Fred Opel, contends that he is entitled to inherit the undivided one-half of said real estate from his sister, Elizabeth Hormel, either solely or with his said brother and sister.

It is contended on behalf of the heirs of John C. Hormel, that neither the plaintiff nor the other children .of Elizabeth Opel are entitled to so inherit, and that, therefore, no heirs of Elizabeth Hormel being found legally entitled to inherit said property, it goes to the heirs of her deceased husband, John 0. Hormel, under section 2458 of the Code of Iowa.

Leaving out of consideration the fact of alienage, it would not be questioned but that, upon her death, the estate of Mrs. Hormel vested in her mother, and, upon her death, in her children, Fred Opel, John Opel, Sr., and Barbara Degleman. Chapter 85, Acts Twenty-second General Assembly, approved April 9, 1888, provides as follows:

“Section 1. Non-resident aliens * * * are hereby prohibited from acquiring title to, or taking or holding any lands or real estate in this state by descent, devise, purchase, or otherwise, only as hereinafter provided.”

An exception is thereinafter provided in favor of “ the widow and heirs of aliens who have heretofore acquired lands in this state under the laws thereof;” but this exception does not apply to this case, as Elizabeth Hormel was not an alien. Section 2 of said chapter provides as follows:

’“ Sec. 2. Any non-resident alien may acquire and hold real property to the extent of three hundred and twenty (820) acres, or city property to the amount of ten thousand dollars in value, providing that within five years from the date of purchase of said property, the same is placed in the actual possession of a relative of such purchaser, the occupant being related to such owner within the third degree of kindred, or the husband or wife of such relative, and further provided, that such occupant become a naturalized citizen within ten years from the purchase of said property aforesaid.”

In Bennett v. Hibbert, 88 Iowa, 155 (55 N. W. Rep. 93), it is held that “purchase” and “purchaser,” as found in this section, include every method of acquiring title to real estate, except by descent by operation of law. See Burrow v. Burrow, 98 Iowa, 400 (67 N. W. Rep. 287). Section 7 of said chapter provides that the act shall not apply to aliens who are residents of the state of Iowa. It is certainly clear that Mrs. Opel was disqualified from acquiring title to, or taking or holding this real estate by descent, under the prohibitions of the first section, and that she is not within either of the exceptions made to that prohibition.

In Furenes v. Michelson, 86 Iowa, 508 (53 N. W. Rep. 416), this court held that a naturalized citizen, resident of this state, cannot inherit through a father who is a non-resident alien, the lands of a great-uncle who was a naturalized citizen, “on the ground that a line of inheritance cannot be traced through non-resident aliens.”

If nothing further appeared, the conclusion would follow from what we have said, that the estate did not pass to Elizabeth Opel, and consequently, did not pass to her children.

III. On January 21, 1845, there was concluded and adopted between the United States of America and the King of Bavaria, Germany, a treaty, articles 1, 2, and 3 of which are as follows:

“Article 1. Every kind of droit d’aubaine, droit de retraite, and droit de detraction or tax on emigration, is hereby and shall remain, abolished between the two contracting parties, their states, citizens, and subjects, respectively.

3 “Art. 2. Where, on the death of any person holding real property within the territories of one party, such real property would, by the laws of the land, descend on a citizen-or subject of the other, were he not disqualified by alienage, such citizen or subject shall be allowed a term of two years to sell the same, which term may be reasonably prolonged according to circumstances, and to withdraw the proceeds thereof, without molestation, and. exempt from all duties of detraction. ^ "

“Art. 3. The citizens or subjects of each of the contracting parties shall have power to dispose of their (real and) personal property within the states of the other, by testament, donation, or otherwise; and their heirs, legatees, and donees, being citizens or subjects of the other contracting party, shall succeed to their said (real and) personal property, and may take possession thereof, either by themselves or by others acting for them; and dispose of the same at their pleasure, paying such duties only as the inhabitants of the country where the said property lies shall be liable to pay in like cases.”

The other articles provide for the care of the property in the absence of the heirs, the mode of deciding disputes, that the treaty shall not derogate from the force of laws of Bavaria to prevent the emigration of the king’s subjects, and that the treaty is made subject to the approval of the two governments,

This treaty abolishes, as between these governments and the subjects thereof, “every kind of droit d’aubaine, droit de retraite, and droit de detraction or tax on emigration.”

Black’s Law Dictionary defines “droit” as equivalent to the English word “right”; and “droit de’aubaine” as, “in French law, a rule by which all the property of a deceased foreigner, whether movable, or immovable, was confiscated to the use of the state, to the exclusion of his heirs, whether claiming ab intestato or under a will of the deceased.” It is this provision of the treaty that we are called upon to consider. Appellants insist that the provisions of the treaty are not applicable to this case; that confiscation was never applied by any government to property of its own deceased citizens; and that the treaty only contemplates the protection of the citizens of either government, who may die having property in the other. The fault of this argument is in assuming that the protection is for the dead, and that the property remains in the deceased. It is conceded that this property vested in some living person immediately upon the death of Mrs. Hormel. If, under the common law, that person was disqualified by alienage from inheriting it, then this treaty applies and removes that disqualification.

In the absence of this treaty, Mrs. Opel was disqualified, by alienage, from inheriting this property; but by it the disqualification was removed, and therefore the property descended to her. Our inquiry, then, is as to property in Iowa belonging to a resident and subject of Bavaria.

Appellants cite Frederickson v. Louisiana, 23 Howard, 445. “Fink was a naturalized citizen of the United States at the time of his death, and residing in the city of New Orleans; also, that the legatees resided in the kingdom of Wurtemberg, and are subjects of the King of Wurtemberg.” We had a treaty with that kingdom similar to that under consideration. Louisiana had a statute providing that “each and every person, not being domiciled in this state, and not being a citizen of any other state or territory in the Union, who shall be entitled, whether as heirs, legatee, or donee, to the whole or any part of the succession of a person deceased, whether such person shall have died in this state, or elsewhere, shall pay a tax of ten per cent, on all sums, or on the value of all property which he may have actually received from said succession, or so much thereof as is situated in this state, after deducting all debts due by the succession.” Rev. St. 1876, section 3683. The claim of the state to this tax was resisted, on the ground that it was contrary to the third article of the treaty, and that article alone, and not the second, as in this case, was under consideration. The third article of that treaty relates solely to personal property, and is different in its language from the second, which is identical with the second in this. The court held that the act does not make any discrimination between citizens of the state and aliens in the same circumstances, and sustained the tax as valid. Appellants quote from the opinion as follows: “But we concur with the supreme court of Louisiana in the opinion that the treaty does not regulate testamentary disposition of citizens or subjects of the contracting powers with reference to property within the country of their origin or citizenship. The cause of the treaty was that the citizens and subjects of each of the contracting powers were or might be subject to onerous taxes upon property possessed by them within the states of the other by reason of their alienage, and it is, perhaps, to enable such citizens to dispose of their property, paying such duty only as the inhabitants of the country where the property lies pay under like conditions. The case of a citizen or subject of the respective countries residing at home, and disposing of property there in favor of a citizen or subject of the other, was not in contemplation of the' contracting powers, and is not embraced in this article of the treaty*” This view of that treaty is applicable to the one before us, but we fail to see wherein it supports the claim that the facts of this case do not bring it within the provisions of this treaty.

4 IV. Appellants cite authorities to the effect that the states alone have the right to regulate, by legislation, descents and conveyances of real estate within their borders; and from this it is argued that the federal government has no power, “by treaty, to interfere with the right of the state in regard to the descent of property upon the death of its citizens”; that treaties made without authority are not valid; that this treaty' is in conflict with the laws of Iowa, and is, therefore, of no force or effeet. It may be conceded that the states alone have such power; that they alone may declare to what kindred the estate of persons dying intestate shall descend. It must also be conceded that the federal government alone has power to treat with other governments as to rights of the citizens of each within the territory of the other. This treaty does not attempt to regulate descents of real property in Iowa. It does not declare that, when a son or daughter dies without issue, the estate shall go to the parents. It is left to the state, and Iowa has so provided. This treaty simply declares that, if that parent is disqualified by alien-age, as to the citizens of these two governments, this disqualification is removed. In Article 6 of the Constitution of the United States, it is provided that “this Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution, or the laws of any state, to the contrary notwithstanding.” Many cases may be found wherein the courts have enforced treaty stipulations, similar to this, in favor of foreign claimants; but the case of People v. Gerke, 5 Cal. 381, is the first we find wherein the power of the federal government in this respect was questioned. In that case, Deck, a citizen of Prussia, died in San Francisco, leaving undisposed of a large amount of real property in* that state. Article 14 of our treaty with Prussia is the same as Article 3 of this treaty. The attorney general, on behalf of the state, denied the power of the federal government to make such a provision by treaty, and argued, as is done in this case, that to exercise such power would permit the federal government to control the internal policy of the states, and in cases like this to alter materially the statutes of descent. The court, after an able consideration of the subject, concludes as follows: “I can see no danger which can result from yielding to the federal government the full extent of powers which it may claim from the plain language, intent, and meaning of the grant under consideration. Upon some subjects the policy of a state government, as shown by her legislation, is dependent upon the policy of foreign governments, and would be readily changed upon the principle of mutual concession. This can only be effected by the action of that branch of the state sovereignty known as the ‘General Government;’ and, when effected, the state policy must give way to that adopted by the governmental agent of her foreign relations.” The reasoning and conclusion of the opinion are strongly emphasized by what is added by Justice Ryan. While the question of the power of the federal government in this respect was not directly passed upon in the following cases, they show that the courts have uniformly enforced such treaties, without doubting the power of the federal government to make them: Chirac v. Chirac, 2 Wheaton, 259; Hauenstein v. Lynham, 100 U. S. 483; Geofroy v. Riggs, 133 U. S. 258 (10 Sup. Ct. Rep. 295); Fairfax v. Hunter, 7 Cranch, 603; Carneal v. Banks, 10 Wheaton, 189; Hughes v. Edwards, 9 Wheaton, 489. In the recent ease of Wunderle v. Wunderle, 144 Ill. 40 (33 N. E. Rep. 195), the subject of descents and alienage is considered at length, and with marked care and ability, as affected by the common law, and by statutes of the states and by treaties with the United States. In considering the effect of conflict between the statute of the state and a treaty with the United States, the court, after eiting article 6 of the federal constitution, says: “In construing this article, it has been held that provisions in regard to the transfer, devise, or inheritance of prop-, erty are fitting subjects of negotiation and regulation, by tbe treaty-making power of tbe United States, and that a treaty will control or suspend the statutes of the individual states whenever it differs from them. Hence, if the citizen or subject of a foreign government is disqualified under the laws of a state from taking, holding, or transferring real property, such disqualification will be removed, if a treaty between the United States and such- foreign government confers the right to take, hold, or transfer real property.” If it may be said that chapter 85 of the Acts of the Twenty-second General Assembly is in conflict with said treaty of January 21, 1845, reason and the authorities support the conclusion that the treaty must control.

It follows from the conclusions we have reached that an undivided one-half of the property in question vested in Mrs. Opel upon the death of her daughter, and upon her death it passed to her children, subject to -the conditions imposed by said treaty, and that the other undivided one-half passed to the heirs of John 0. Hormel, deceased. The decree of the district court being in harmony with these conclusions, it is AFFIRMED. '