Franck v. Spencer

This is an appeal from an order of partial distribution. Ella Hubbard Franck died testate on the 20th of February, 1917, being at the time of her death a resident of Reno, Nevada. She left an estate in California, a considerable portion of which was in the city of Richmond, and her will was duly admitted to probate in the superior court in and for Contra Costa county. Letters testamentary were issued to the appellant, who was named in the will as executor and also as the residuary legatee and devisee.

The portions of the will germane to this appeal are as follows:

“Fifthly: I give and bequeath to Mary Ray Spencer, aged about thirteen years, now an inmate of Notre Dame Academy, Alameda, California, all the net profits or net income that may be derived from those certain premises situate, lying and being in the City of Richmond, State of California, and particularly described upon that certain map entitled ‘Nicholl Macdonald Avenue Civic Center, Richmond California, ’ said bequest being controlled by the following

conditions, to wit: That my executor hereinafter named keep an accurate account of the net profits or net income from said above described premises, and from the moneys so derived pay for the care, custody and proper education of the said Mary Ray Spencer until she shall have reached the age of twenty years, and when she shall have reached the said age of twenty years then whatever of said moneys there may be remaining in the hands of said executor shall be paid and turned over to the said Mary Ray Spencer. I further direct that when the said Mary Ray Spencer shall have reached the age of thirty-five years the said above described real property is hereby bequeathed to her as her property.

“Fourteenthly: I give and bequeath to the aforesaid Mary Ray Spencer all my cut glassware, china dishes, crockery and jewelry.

“Fifteenthly: I give and devise all the rest, residue and remainder of any real or personal property, of every name, nature and kind whatsoever owned by me, at the time of my death, to my most trusted friend Al. J. Franck, of the city of Reno, County of "Washoe, State of Nevada.”

Mary Ray Spencer, through her guardian, applied to the court for distribution to her of the property to which she was entitled under the will. Appellant, as executor, filed an objection to the petition. At the hearing it was established by competent evidence that the real property devised by the fifth paragraph of the will to Mary Ray Spencer was improved; that the building erected thereon was known as the “Raymond Apartments” and that said apartments were “rented furnished, and that the furniture, fixtures and other personal property situated therein had at all times been used as a part of the apartments.” By its decree the court ordered distributed to Mary Ray Spencer all the net profits or net income that might be derived from “those certain premises situate in the city of Richmond,” the description being the same as in the will, and, “also all the personal property, furnishings and fixtures contained in or about the building situated thereon and which building is known as ‘Raymond Apartments.’ ” It was further ordered that possession of the personal property and the residue from the rents and income due therefrom be given to appellant until Mary Ray Spencer shall attain the age of twenty

The appellant appeals from the decree of distribution, but objects only to that portion distributing the personal property in the apartment house to Mary Ray Spencer and ordering that its possession be surrendered to her upon her attaining the age of twenty years. He contends that, under the provisions of the will, no disposition was made of the personal property comprising the furniture and equipment of the apartment house, and that, under the residuary clause of the will, that property vested in him upon the death of the testatrix.

[1] Particular words are not requisite to create a legacy or devise. It is essential that the intention of the testator to make the gift be shown. (Estate of Barclay, 152 Cal. 753 , 757 [ 93 Pac. 1012 ].) [2] The cardinal rule for the construction of wills is to ascertain the intention of the testator, and this is determined from the words of the will, considering the circumstances under which it was made, if there is any uncertainty in its language. (Estate of Budd, 166 Cal. 286 , 292 [ 135 Pac. 1131 ]; Estate of Henderson, 161 Cal. 353 , 357 [ 119 Pac. 496 ]; Estate of Mitchell, 160 Cal. 618 [ 117 Pac. 774 ]; Estate of Carothers, 161 Cal. 588 [ 119 Pac. 926 ]; Estate of Spreckels, 162 Cal. 559 [ 123 Pac. 371 ].) [3] The will and its entire scheme, the property disposed of, the persons named as devisees and legatees, the words and the context should be considered together, and words used in the will should be construed according to their surroundings. (Estate of Koch, 8 Cal. App. 90 [ 96 Pac. 100 ].) [4] It is equally well settled that a devise or bequest may arise by implication. To warrant the court in so declaring there must be something more than conjecture.

[6] Appellant contends that the rule last stated should not apply to the present case. He argues that “it is far from true that a devise of the rents and profits of real property will carry title to the personal property contained in or about said devised real property.” In making this contention the appellant does not appreciate the full effect of the fifth clause of the will. Not only does the testator thereby devise the real property to Mary Eay Spencer, but she also gives to her the net profits, or net income (the words are there used in the same sense), that may be derived from “those certain premises,” of which the real property.was but a part. If it be claimed that the word “premises” should be held to only apply to the real property devised, it sufficiently appears from the will, the circumstances under which it was made, the persons named as devisees and legatees, and the property itself, that Mrs. Franck intended to make no subtle distinction between the realty and the personalty, which, by unity of use, comprised the apartment house premises. She was providing for the education and support of one to whom, if we may judge by the identity of names used in the will, she was closely related, and for whom the provisions of her last testament indicate she had more than ordinary affection. It seems clear that she intended the object of her benefaction to have sufficient funds to insure her education, and to provide for her maintenance until she arrived at an age of discretion, at which time the corpus of the fund should become hers absolutely. The testator may have attempted to define the day when the devisee shall fully enjoy possession of the real property, but we are

The order appealed from is affirmed.

Richards, J., pro tem., Lennon, J., Lawlor, J., Wilbur, J., and Shaw, C. J., concurred.