Jolley v. Humphries, 204 N.C. 672 (1933)

May 24, 1933 · Supreme Court of North Carolina

204 N.C. 672

NELLIE SETTLEMYER JOLLEY et al. v. J. T. HUMPHRIES et al.

(Filed 24 May, 1933.)

1. Wills E b — Held: the words “afore described/ real estate” applied only to the tract immediately before described in the will.

The testator devised three tracts of land to his wife, each tract being described separately and the words of disposition being prefixed to each description, and after the description of the third tract the will contained the following words: “to have and to hold the afore described real estate during the term of her natural life and at her death” to the testator’s daughter. A later item devised the third tract to the daughter subject to the wife’s life estate. Held, the words “afore described real estate” applied only to the tract immediately preceding, and the limitation over to the daughter applied only to the third tract, and the wife took the first two tracts in fee simple.

2. Wills E a — General rules for construction of wills.

A devise will be construed to be in fee simple unless an intention to convey an estate of less dignity is apparent from the will, C. S., 4162, and regard will be had to the natural objects of the testator’s bounty, and the testator’s intention as gathered from the whole instrument will be given effect unless it is contrary to some rule of law or public policy.

Appeal by plaintiffs from Finley, Jat Spring Term, 1933, of CLEVELAND.

Civil action in ejectment determined upon the construction of the following provisions in the will of S. R. Humphries, who died in 1909:

“2nd. I give and bequeath to my wife, Mary A. Humphries, the following described real estate, to wit: (Description by metes and bounds of homestead consisting of 208 acres). I also bequeath to my beloved wife my entire one-half interest in the following described tract of land owned by my brother, P. W. Humphries, and myself, to wit: (description by metes and bounds of tract consisting of 163% acres). Also I bequeath to my wife my entire half interest (description by metes and bounds of tract consisting of 619% acres). To have and to hold the afore described real estate during the term of her natural life and at her death to go to Nellie G. Settlemyer of Catawba County, North Carolina. 2nd. I bequeath to Nellie G-. Settlemyer now with her mother in Catawba County, North Carolina, tract No. 3 the above described lands, and she is to have possession of said lands upon the death of my wife, Mary A. Humphries, and not before.”

On 21 August, 1912, Mary A. Humphries, wife of the testator, sold the lands here in dispute, the first and second tracts, above described, to V. A. Humphries in fee, reserving a life estate unto herself, and remained in possession thereof until her death in June, 1917.

Nellie G. Settlemyer was a minor at the death of the testator. She married J. Floyd Jolley in 1915, and reached her majority in 1918 or 1919.

Y. A. Humphries took possession of the two tracts of land here in controversy under the deed of Mary A. Humphries immediately following her death and remained in possession thereof until his death, which occurred 21 June, 1931. His heirs have been in possession of said lands since his death. This action was instituted 9 February, 1932.

The defendants deny that plaintiff took any interest in the first and second tracts, above described, under the will of S. R. Humphries, and they also plead the statutes of limitations.

From a judgment holding that plaintiff took no interest in the locus in Cfiio under the will in question, she appeals, assigning error.

D. Z. Newton, Paul Boucheir, Jennings L. Thompson and Quinn, Hamrick & Hamrick for plaintiffs.

J. G. Whisnant and Ryburn & Hoey for defendants.

Stacy, C. J.

Does the limitation, “To have and to hold the afore described real estate during the term of her natural life and at her death to go to Nellie G. Settlemyer,” which follows the description of the third devise in item two of the will of S. R. Humphries, also apply to the first and second devises? Our answer is, that it does not. This is the interpretation which the parties themselves placed upon the will for more than twenty years.

In the first place, the ordinary signification of the words “afore described real estate” is the next preceding, which in the instant case would mean the third tract of 619% acres immediately preceding the limitation. McIver v. McKinney, 184 N. C., 393, 114 S. E., 399.

Secondly, the first and second devises, standing alone, are unquestionably devises in fee to the testator’s wife. She was the primary object of his bounty, and is entitled to be accorded consideration as such. Mangum v. Trust Co., 195 N. C., 469, 142 S. E., 711. It is provided by 0. S., 4162, that when real estate is devised to any person, the same shall be held and construed to be a devise in fee simple, unless such devise shall, in plain and express words show, or it shall be plainly intended by the will, or some part thereof, that the testator intended to convey an estate of less dignity. Lineberger v. Phillips, 198 N. C., 661, 153 S. E., 118; Washburn v. Biggerstaff, 195 N. C., 624, 143 S. E., 210; Barbee v. Thompson, 194 N. C., 411, 139 S. E., 838.

Hence, if we give the language of item two its ordinary meaning, it would seem to accord with the interpretation heretofore placed upon the will by the interested parties. Dunn v. Hines, 164 N. C., 113, 80 S. E.. 410.

But conceding tbe purpose of item two, standing alone, to be doubtful, tbe intention of tbe testator is apparently set at rest by tbe 3rd item of tbe will (erroneously numbered 2nd), where it is repeated Nellie G. Settlemyer is to have “tract No. 3 tbe above described lands,” subject to tbe life estate of tbe testator’s wife.

Tbe will was drawn by a justice of tbe peace, who was perhaps more familiar with deeds than wills. After writing out tbe second item in long band, be evidently read it over, and realizing tbe possible misconstruction which might result from its peculiar wording, be undertook to clarify its meaning by stating in tbe next item that Nellie G. Settle-myer was to bave tbe third tract, subject to tbe life estate of tbe testator’s wife. Tbe fact that no further mention was made of tbe first and second tracts would seem to indicate that be regarded it clear they were to go as originally devised to tbe testator’s wife in fee.

Tbe pole-star in tbe interpretation of wills, to which all rules must bend, unless contrary to some rule of law or public policy, is tbe intent of tbe testator, and this is to be ascertained from tbe four corners of tbe will, considering for tbe purpose tbe will and any codicil or codiciles as constituting but one instrument. Ellington v. Trust Co., 196 N. C., 755, 147 S. E., 286.

Giving expression to tbe same thought in McIver v. McKinney, supra, Adams, J., delivering tbe opinion of tbe Court, said: “Nevertheless, it is generally conceded that in tbe construction of a will tbe cardinal purpose is to ascertain and give effect to tbe intention of tbe testator — not tbe intention that may bave existed in bis mind, if at variance with tbe obvious meaning of tbe words used, but that which is expressed by tbe language be has employed. Tbe question is not what tbe testator intended to express, but what be actually expressed in bis will, when all its provisions are considered and construed in their entirety,” citing as authorities for tbe position: Patterson v. Wilson, 101 N. C., 586; Francks v. Whitaker, 116 N. C., 518; Chewning v. Mason, 158 N. C., 579; Dunn v. Hines, 164 N. C., 114; Taylor v. Brown, 165 N. C., 157; McCallum v. McCallum, 167 N. C., 310.

Tbe case of Hauser v. Craft, 134 N. C., 319, 46 S. E., 756, cited and relied upon by plaintiffs, is not at variance with our present decision, for in tbe cited case, there was no further clause, as here, explaining tbe possible ambiguity.

Affirmed.