Smith v. Haynes, 202 Mass. 531

Smith v. Haynes

202 Mass. 531 | Mass. | 1909

Rugg, J.

This is a bill in equity by executors and trustees praying for instructions as to their duties under the will of Phineas Haynes.

1. The first question presented is as to the shares to which *533the children of Florence Fellows are entitled. This involves the construction of the following clause: “ Seventeenth I give and bequeath the Ballance of my real Estate and Personal Property to my Heirs as follows to the 8 Children of my Nephue Arthur W. Haynes 8 shares to the 8 children of my Niece Florence Fellows 8 shares and my said Niece one Share and to George A. Haynes son of my Grand Nephue Allison Haynes one share making 18 shares Share and Share alike Excepting the Share of Phineas W. Haynes to whom I have given the Homestead in Section Sixteenth in this will to said Phineas W Haynes I give and Bequeath one full Share less Four Thousand Dollars.” One of the eight children of Florence Fellows, living at the date of the will, predeceased the testator, leaving no children. If the legacy was given to the children as a class, on the death of one, the survivors take the whole, while if it was given to them as named individuals, then, on the decease of one, his share lapses, and being in the residuary clause with no gift over, becomes intestate estate. Dresel v. King, 198 Mass. 546. It is manifest from i the will as a whole that the testator intended to dispose of all his estate and not to be in any respect intestate. Clause seventeenth has the characteristics of a true residuary clause, and discloses a purpose to include in it all estate not disposed of by the other clauses of the will. These children naturally form a class by reason of the relation to each other. They are grouped together by the testator under a common designation as the children of one mother, who was his niece. He describes them as a class and not as individuals. The children of one nephew are grouped by the testator in the same way, while the other beneficiaries in the residuary clause are named. Although the words “share and share alike” tend toward the other construction, they are not in any event conclusive, and do not overcome the general intent not to be intestate. They are applicable to the situation existent at the execution of the will, but are nob controlling of a subsequent condition, where they conflict with the main purpose of the will. Meserve v. Haak, 191 Mass. 220. It follows that eight parts of the residuum are to be divided equally among the seven children of Florence Fellows who survived the testator. Swallow v. Swallow, 166 Mass. 241.

2. The next question is as to the disposition of the |4,000 *534excepted from the share of Phineas W. Haynes in clause seventeenth and given by clause eighteenth, which is as follows: “ I give that Said Four Thousand Dollars to the remaining 17 Heirs to be divided Equally among them.” This language of the testator designates a single class, excluding from it Phineas W. Haynes, to whom he had made a specific devise of real estate by an earlier provision of the will. The description of this class as his “ remaining 17 heirs ” was not technically accurate, because the children of Florence Fellows were not his heirs, but he employs this word as indicating the objects of his benefactions in the three clauses under discussion. They were all his blood relations, and naturally lend themselves to the formation of a single class. This legacy is to be equally divided between the beneficiaries described in clause seventeenth, except that Phineas W. Haynes is not included. Each will receive one sixteenth.

3. Clause nineteenth provides that “If at my Decease any of said Heirs are not 21-years of age I will that the Money going to them be invested by the Trustees in good City Bonds or in some good Savings Banks and if said Heirs are not in need of the money it- shall remain invested until they becom of age.”

The intent expressed by this language is that the shares shall be paid to the children as they severally reach majority. There is nothing to indicate a design that the trustees shall hold the shares of all those who were minors at the death of the testator, until the youngest reaches the age of twenty-one years.

The further instruction under this clause is requested as to the circumstances under which the beneficiaries may be treated as “ in need of the money ” invested for them. The word “need” as here used imports something different from mere desire or the payment of a specific sum at a specified time, and therefore Conant v. Stratton, 107 Mass. 474, is not in point. The main purpose is to preserve the legacies until the beneficiaries severally attain majority. But as a concession to the possible inability of parents or guardians .to provide the physical, educational or moral environment suited to their birth and prospects as the recipients at the age of twenty-one of bounty from the testator, he provides as incidental to the chief consideration that they shall not lack conditions, which would be in keeping with their position in society, in order that on be-*535coining of age they might become useful citizens. So far as the amount of the fund permits, they should be decently clothed, properly educated, and be placed under virtuous influences. Perhaps they may be expected, when of sufficient age, to work toward their own support and thus be trained to industry and economy. Their circumstances are not disclosed with definiteness on the record nor is the amount of their shares stated. Hence it is not possible and perhaps not necessary more explicitly to determine their needs than to say that advancements may be made from time to time as a sound judgment and wise discretion may dictate.

The will appoints trustees. The only mention of them aside from the provision for their appointment and succession and the only occasion for their service is in clause nineteenth. There is no indication of an intent that the needs of the minors for advancement should be decided by any one except the trustees, while it is in harmony with the general benevolent design of the testator that the trustees pass upon that question. The careful conservation of the residuum of the estate provided by the will might be frustrated if this decision was left to others. It follows that the trustees are to determine what are the needs of the several minors for advancements.

The final request for instruction is whether the trustees have power to sell real estate. The residuum of the estate consists of both real and personal estate. The will gives no express power to sell the real estate. But it confers upon the trustees an active duty to provide for the needs of certain beneficiaries. It is conceivable that sickness or distress might require the entire share of some of the minors to relieve their needs before the time for final payment arrives. It follows that by implication without express statement there is conferred upon the trustees a power of sale of the real estate. May v. Brewster, 187 Mass. 524. McLaughlin v. Greene, 198 Mass. 153.

Decree accordingly.