In re Estate of Frost — 17 N.Y. St. Rep. 782

Majority

p. 782

Estate of Philemon H. Frost, Deceased.

(Surrogate’s Court, New York County,

Filed June 20, 1888.)

Headnote

Will—Construction op.

The will of testator, among the bequests to the widow, in lieu of dower, gave her a certain lease-hold property. She rejected the provisions of the will in her behalf, and elected to take her dower in the real estate. The residuary clause was “all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, of every nature and description, I order and direct my executors * * * to sell at. public or private sale,” etc. Reid, that it was the intention of the testator, that if his widow elected to take her dower instead of the bequest in lieu thereof, the leasehold property should become part of his residuary estate. That the election of the widow to take her dower interest, debars her from taking any share of the leasehold property, which has become a part of the residuum and goes to the residuary legatees.

Jackson & Burr, for executors; Fred. W. Hinricks, for Mary E. Bay.

The decedent died leaving him surviving his widow, Mary E. Frost, and four daughters, children of a prior marriage. There were no children born to the testator by his second wife, and since his death she has married again. Among the provisions of the will in her behalf in lieu of dower is a bequest of certain leasehold property described as No. 64 West Forty-eighth street. She rejected the provisions of the will in her behalf, and elected to take her dower in the real estate. The leasehold property above referred to has been sold by the executor, and upon the final settlement of his account the widow now claims that it did not fall into and become a part of the residuary estate, but that as to it the testator died intestate, and that it should be distributed as intestate property, and that she should receive one-third of the proceeds of the sale thereof. The language of the residuary clause is as follows: “All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, of every nature and description, I order and direct my executors and executrix hereinafter named * * * to sell at public or private sale, and upon such terms as they may deem best. ’ ’ I have no doubt but that the intention of the testator, if his widow elected to take her dower instead of the bequest in lieu thereof, was that the leasehold property should become a part of his residuary estate.

The case of Kerr v. Dougherty et al., ( 79 N.Y., 327 ), cited by the contestant, is clearly distinguishable from the case

p. 783

at bar. There it was held that the general rule that in a will of personal property the general residuary clause covers whatever is not otherwise legally disposed of, does not apply where the bequest is of a residue of a residue, and the first disposition fails.

The case of Hatch v. Bassett ( 52 N. Y., 359 ). cited by contestant, has no bearing. In that case there was no absolute devise of the residuum to any one.

In the case of Stephenson v. Ontario Orphan Asylum ( 21 Hun, 380 ), cited by contestants, it was held that certain legacies having failed because not valid, a fund remains not embraced or intended to be embraced in the residuary clause of the testator’s will, and therefore it must pass to the next of kin under the residuary clause. This decision is put entirely upon the point of the intention of the testator. In the case at bar his intent clearly was to give this leasehold property to his wife in lieu of dower, or, if she elected to take her dower, she was to be cut off from further benefactions under the will.

On the other hand there are numerous authorities upholding the construction sought by the executor. Bowers v. Smith, 10 Paige, 193; Younge et al. v, Younge et al., 45 N. Y., 254 ; Estate of L’Hommedieu, 32 Hun, 10 ; King, et al. v. Strong, 9 Paige, 94; Van Kleech v. The Ministers, etc., of R. D. Church, 6 Paige, 600.

I hold, therefore, that the election of the widow to take her dower interest debars her from taking any share of the leasehold property, which has become a part of the residuum and goes to the residuary legatees.