Black v. Trembly, 209 N.C. 743 (1936)

March 18, 1936 · Supreme Court of North Carolina
209 N.C. 743

RACHEL E. BLACK, Administratrix, v. RUTH TREMBLY.

(Filed 18 March, 1936.)

Wills E b — Judgment that legatee of life estate in personalty might use part of corpus held without error on remainderman’s appeal.

Judgment that a bequest of personalty to testator’s wife, “to be used as she sees fit,” and at her death to go to testator’s daughter if living, and if not, to testator’s brother and sisters, gave the wife the right to use not only the income, but also so much of the principal thereof as should be necessary for her comfort and support, is held without error upon the appeal of the daughter. As to whether a limitation over after a life estate may be created in personalty by executory devise, queere?

Appeal by defendant from Harding, J., at November Term, 1935, of Henderson.

Civil action, brought by administratrix c. t. a. of the estate of E. R. Black, to obtain a construction of the testator’s will and for guidance in the discharge of her duties.

*744The only clause in the will submitted for construction is as follows:

“That I will all of my personal and real estate to my wife, Rachel E. Black, to be used as she sees fit, and at the expiration of her life to go to my’ daughter Ruth, if she is living, if she is not living, to go to my sisters and brother.”

The defendant is the daughter of the testator mentioned in the will.

The testator also left him surviving one brother and three sisters.

The estate is not large; it consists of personal property; the major portion of which is common stocks of various corporations. There is no real estate.

The trial court being of opinion “the testator intended by the said will that his widow should have the right to hold the said personal property and to use, not only the income, but also so much of the principal or corpus thereof as might be necessary for her comfort and support,” entered judgment accordingly, from which the defendant appeals, assigning error.

Thomas H. Franks for plaintiff.

Charles French Toms, Sr., for defendant.