62 Pa. Super. 547 | Pa. Super. Ct. | 1916
Opinion by
The only clauses of the will of Samuel Webb, deceased, that need be noticed in the determination of these appeals read as follows: “Item, — As to all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, I will, devise and direct that my executors or the survivor of them shall have and hold the same in trust for the following purposes, viz: To immediately after my decease select two disinterested persons who shall by themselves select a third who shall together appraise and value the whole of my estate, real and personal, and upon such appraisement the same shall be divided into five equal parts which shall be held by my executors or the survivor of them in trust to collect and receive all rents, issues and profits of the estate, real, personal and mixed, and invest and keep invested the same from time to time and pay over to each of my children, viz: My daughters, as follows, viz: Amanda, wife of John Cresson; Ann, wife of Lewis Eppelsheimer; Emma, wife of William Wilson; Eliza, wife of Oliver Hemphill, one-fifth of the same net rents, interest and income for and during all the term of their lives and from and after their decease or the decease of any one of them, then the principal thereof shall be paid, assigned and conveyed to their respective children, but if either dies without children then her share shall be in like manner held by my'executors or the survivor on
“Item, — One-fifth of my said estate shall be assigned, transferred and conveyed after the appraisement unto my son Hiram, his heirs and assigns absolutely.”
ElizaHemphill, the last survivor of the four daughters, died leaving no children, and at the adjudication of the account filed by the Northern Trust Company, substituted trustee for her under the will of Samuel Webb, claim was made by the representatives of the three deceased daughtérs that the principal of Eliza Hemphill’s one-fifth share of the trust estate, upon her death without issue, passed to them to the exclusion of the estate. of Hiram Webb. The auditing judge, as well as the court upon exceptions to his adjudication, rejected this claim, sustained the claim of the trustee under the will of Hiram Webb, deceased, and awarded to him one-fourth of the fund for distribution. From this decree the representatives of the three deceased daughters of Samuel Webb took these several appeals. The question is as to the intention of the testator in the use of the words, “but if either (daughter) dies without children then her share shall be in like manner held by my executors or the survivor on the same trusts as above set forth for my remaining children.” If the testator had meant to exclude his son Hiram it seems highly improbable that he would have used the word “children” instead of “daughters.” When it is considered further that giving to the word its natural meaning tends to equality, and that substituting for it the word daughters tends to inequality, the conclusion is irresistible that the construction adopted by the court carries out the actual intent of the testator. We have not overlooked the argument of appellant’s counsel based on the words “on the same trusts as above set forth.” But even if it be conceded that these words raise a doubt — and that is all that can be contended — it is not sufficient to overthrow the presumption arising from the other considerations to which we have referred.
The opinion in the above mentioned case was written by Judge Bice to whom the* case was duly assigned for that purpose during bis term of office, and is now adopted as the opinion of tbe court.
By the Court.
