{ "id": 4844237, "name": "Cora Heslet et al. v. James Heslet, ex'r, etc.", "name_abbreviation": "Heslet v. Heslet", "decision_date": "1880-12-21", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "22", "last_page": "30", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "8 Ill. App. 22" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "80 Ill. 181", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "40 Miss. 247", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Miss.", "case_ids": [ 9512057 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/miss/40/0247-01" ] }, { "cite": "29 Ill. 116", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2451921 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ill/29/0116-01" ] }, { "cite": "67 Ill. 419", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 820093 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ill/67/0419-01" ] }, { "cite": "15 Ill. 103", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 436793 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ill/15/0103-01" ] }, { "cite": "71 Ill. 528", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 5312240 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ill/71/0528-01" ] }, { "cite": "41 N. H. 391", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.H.", "case_ids": [ 8711714 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/nh/41/0391-01" ] }, { "cite": "106 Mass. 100", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mass.", "case_ids": [ 715949 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/mass/106/0100-01" ] }, { "cite": "16 N. Y. 365", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "case_ids": [ 1297804 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ny/16/0357-01" ] }, { "cite": "10 Ohio, 64", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ohio", "case_ids": [ 588074 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ohio/10/0064-01" ] }, { "cite": "72 Ill. 584", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2711972 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ill/72/0584-01" ] }, { "cite": "16 N. Y, 259", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "106 Mass. 106", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mass.", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "67 Ill. 430", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "29 Ill. 116", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2451921 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/29/0116-01" ] }, { "cite": "15 Ill. 103", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 436793 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "116" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/15/0103-01" ] }, { "cite": "71 Ill. 528", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 5312240 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/71/0528-01" ] }, { "cite": "10 Ohio, 64", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ohio", "case_ids": [ 588074 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ohio/10/0064-01" ] }, { "cite": "72 Ill. 584", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2711972 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/72/0584-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 848, "char_count": 18675, "ocr_confidence": 0.526, "pagerank": { "raw": 7.326535359885298e-08, "percentile": 0.4399603992356311 }, "sha256": "b564ca28800c7e778aefbcd89c050479490f0955b0193f8cfe15e335dc5799f0", "simhash": "1:b79f760a1224b9b6", "word_count": 3363 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T15:31:21.704510+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "Cora Heslet et al. v. James Heslet, ex\u2019r, etc." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Pleasants, J.\nThis was a bill filed by appellee, as executor, against the widow7, child and others, devisees and legatees of said testator, to obtain a construction of the will, especially in reference to the property therein mentioned as his homestead, and for direction to appellee in execution to his trust.\nJohn Heslet, the father of said testator, died Oct. 30, 1860, leaving Eliza Ann, his widow, and twelve children, including said Joseph, the testator herein, appellee, Mary A. Staufer and Haney Jenks, and a will devising said homestead to said widow for her natural life and directing that upon her death it he sold and the proceeds equally divided among all his said children.\nHis widow survived until Jan\u2019y 18, 1878. His son, Joseph, the testator herein, after his father\u2019s death, purchased the interest of all the other children, excepting Mrs. Staufer and Mrs. Jenks, and took from them respectively deeds therefor in the usual form of conveyances of real estate. He occupied the premises with his family until he died, April 28, 1874, leaving the said Cora, his widow, and the said William A., his only child, and a will in the words and figures following, to wit:\n\u201cIn the name of God, amen: I, Joseph Heslet, of the town of Earl, county of LaSalle and State of Illinois, being of sound mind and memory, and considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life, do therefore make and ordain and publish and declare this to be my last will and testament; that is to say:\nFirst. After all my lawful debts are paid and discharged, the residue of my estate, real and personal, I give and bequeath and dispose of as follows, to wit: To my beloved wife, $1,000 and one-third of the real estate of the homestead during her natural life; and to my son, William Albert, the two-thirds of my homestead estate; and to my brother, James, $1,000; and $100 each to my sisters, Bachel and Mary A.; and my interest in property at Mendota to my sister, Martha, during her natural life, and after her decease, to my brother, James; and $1,200 to the American Board of Commissioners for foreign missions; and $300 to the Trustees of the Congregational Church of Earlville towards the purchase of a bell; and my 80 acre lot in the town of Meriden to be disposed of at the option of my executor and proceeds to apply on my debts and to purchase interest of heirs on my homestead, and any remainder to go to maintenance and education of my child. So much of this will as pertains to the homestead is not to take effect till the death of my mother. If there should be other heirs by me they shall share equally with my child, William Albert. Likewise I make, constitute and appoint my said brother, James Heslet, to be executor of this, my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made.\u201d\nThe executor sold the eighty-acre lot mentioned for $2,090, but did not purchase the interests of Mrs. Jenks and Mrs. Staufer in the proceeds of the sale of the homestead, and the latter, upon the death of her mother, filed her bill against her sister and the widow, child, executor and legatees of her brother Joseph, setting up her father\u2019s will, her mother\u2019s death and the interests of the parties acquired, as above stated, and asking to have the homestead sold and the proceeds distributed to those entitled thereto, according to their several interests; whereupon such pi'oceedings were had that on the 8th of March, 1879, the master made sale of the premises for $7,949.94, of which one-third was paid to him in cash and the residue secured as prescribed by the decree.\nAfter paying the debts and claims allowed against the estate the executor has in his hands only the sum of $2,006, being a portion of the proceeds of his sale of the eighty-acre lot, and which by the will are specifically appropriated to the maintenance and education of the testator\u2019s child, and nothing remaining to apply in legacies, except the ten-twelfths of the proceeds of the sale of the homestead, which if available for all, is insufficient to pay them in full, he seeks by this bill to be instructed as to their application.\nThe questions are whether the gifts, by the will, of \u201cone-third of the real estate of the homestead\u201d to the widow for life, and of the two-thirds of his \u201chomestead estate\u201d to the child, are devises of real estate; and if not, whether they are nevertheless specific legacies, to be therefore paid in full \u2014 or demonstrative, to be paid as far as the fund charged will reach \u2014or general, to be abated and paid ratably with the others; and also what amount in value was intended to be given by these bequests respectively.\nIt was held by the circuit court, and we think correctly, that they were not devises of real estate. The authorities are clear that what John Heslet by his will gave to his children, proceeds of sale directed to be made of land, was money. Baker v. Copenbarger, 15 Ill. 103; Jennings v. Smith, 29 Id. 116.\nWhile those entitled to those proceeds might have elected to take and hold the land as such, in lieu of them, they could do ao only with the concurrence of all who were so entitled. Baker v. Copenbarger, supra; Ridgeway v. Underwood, 67 Ill. 430. There being no such concurrence in this case, the interest of Joseph remained in him an interest in money, and his bequests of it by the description of land could not change its real character in the hands of his legatees. 1 Jarman on Wills, marg. p. 536.\nWe hold that they were bequests respectively of the proportions stated of his interest as it was, that is, of ten-twelfths of the proceeds of the sale of the land: 1 Jarman on Wills, p. 537; Heirs of Wright v. Minshall, 72 Ill. 584.\nBut what amount was intended ? There being no devise of land or any estate therein to the widow, so as to bar her dower in lands, or her share in personal estate, under the statute then in force, she was entitled, if she chose to claim it, to one-third of all the personalty remaining after the payment of debts; and to this right all legacies must yield: Jennings v. Smith, supra. Upon this ground the circuit court construed the bequest to the widow of \u201c one-third of the real estate of the homestead,\u201d to mean one-third of ten-twelfths of the proceeds of the sale of the homestead remaining after deducting the one-third of said ten-twelfths to which she was so entitled under the statute, \u2014 in other words, one-third of two-thirds of said ten-twelfths; and so also of the bequest to the child. We do not suppose it intended to construe the words \u201c one-third\u201d to mean \u201c two-nintlis,\u201d or \u201c two-tliirds\u201d to mean \u201cfour-ninths,\u201d but that \u201c the proceeds of the sale of the homestead\u201d meant in this case so much only of such proceeds as under the facts were subject to bequest. The results, however, are the same.\nIn this we think there was error. Indeed it can hardly be said to be construction, in its proper sense, the object of which is to ascertain the meaning of language used, but rather a declaration of the supposed effect and actual operation of the language; not of its own force or of the intention of the party using it, but as legally compelled by facts dehors the writing-. It is to be observed that the widow here did not claim O any portion of the proceeds under the statute, but sought to subject them absolutely to the disposition of the will; and since this could not injuriously affect any other party it was not for the executor or the court to interpose as her right what she thus disclaimed. Mor if she claimed it could her claim necessarily embrace any portion of these proceeds specifically.\nBut if this had been otherwise there was no ambiguity in the will upon the subject in question requiring construction. Ten-twelfths of the proceeds of a sale to be made is' a sum as certain in the eye of the law as any that can be stated in dollars. Jt is ten-twelfths of the amount of the price brought, less the expenses of the sale. A.nd this meaning could not be affected by the widow\u2019s statutory right, although its operation might. But the construction under consideration, if otherwise proper, is erroneous as a statement of the operation of these bequests, in that it is confined to them, notwithstanding the fact that the widow\u2019s statutory right, if it diminished these, would diminish the other pecuniary legacies also in the same proportion. The decree directs that these, as thus reduced, be paid pro rata with the others, which are not so reduced, thus making them too small relatively, even if they were to be paid pro rata, by just the amount of the reduction.\nBut they are not to be so paid unless they are general legacies. It is deemed unnecessary to refer to many of the cases cited in the briefs upon the distinctions between general and specific legacies. Most of them relate to bequests of money due or becoming due to the testator, and secured or evidenced by instruments in writing; in which the inquiry seems to be, whether the gift is of such instrument or of the money in the condition stated, that is, of the debt itself, or is of a certain amount of money, and the fact and manner of its security are stated as incidental or as indicative merely of the source from which it is to be most conveniently realized; and'the rule agreed on is that the former is specific and the latter general, but in determining the subject of the gift, in view of this distinction, different courts have put different constructions upon language which seems to be of very nearly, if-not quite, the same import. Others of these cases are upon bequests of particular shares of stock in incorporated companies, which are uniformly held to be specific. Here the bequests are of one-third and two-thirds respectively of what the testator calls his homestead; which, as we have seen, are tantamount to these proportions of his interest in the particular real estate referred to; that is, one-third and two-thirds of ten-twelfths of the proeeeds of its sale; and. the question is whether these are general or specific.\nPerhaps the most intelligible and satisfactory description of a specific bequest is given by Lord Hardwicke in Purse v. Snaplin, 1 Atk. 417, as one which specifically describes the property or interest bequeathed and distinguishes it from all others of the same kind. See, also, Bouvier\u2019s Law Dict. Vol. ii. p. 17; Hinton v. Pinke, 1 P. Wms. 540, note 1; Stephenson v. Dawson, 3 Beav. 342; Stout v. Hast, 2 Halstead, 214; Towle v. Swasey, 106 Mass. 106.\nSo money, if sufficiently distinguished, may be the subject of a specific bequest, as money in a certain bank, or in such a chest, Ibid. And money the proceeds of any property or interest so distinguished, is as clearly distinguished, as such property or interest itself. Redf. on Wills, Vol. ii. Ch. 1, \u00a7 7, f 22 (p. 145 of 2d Ed.); Roper on Legacies, Vol. i. Ch. 3, \u00a7 3, p. 199; Page v. Leapingwell, 18 Ves. 463; Creed v. Creed, 11 Cl. & Fin. 491; Stout v. Hast, supra; Chase v. Lockerman, 11 Grill. & J. 185; Grilbrath v. Winter, 10 Ohio, 64.\n\u2022 Thus it appears that the bequests by John Ileslet to his children being the proceeds of real estate described to be sold, were specific, and the bequests by Joseph of the same interests, or of any specified part thereof) must therefore, by force of the terms, be specific also.\nBut counsel for appellee insist that to be specific the bequest must be something in the testator\u2019s possession at the time of making the will, and at the time of his death, citing Bonvier, supra, and that her\u00bb he had not at either of those times the possession or the enjoyment of the particular thing sought to be bequeathed, but was simply a legatee expectant under the will of his father. .\nAlthough the proceeds of the sale were in expectancy the right to them was vested in the testator at the time of the execution of the will and at tire time of his death. Such an interest is the subject of sale or gift inter vimos, why not also of specific bequest % How does it differ in principle from a legacy of the money to become due upon a particular mortgage %\n\"What one has contracted for he is regarded as possessed of, for testamentary disposition. Redf. on Wills, Ch. 1, \u00a7 6, \u00b6 12 (p. 122), and notes and the case cited and quoted from in note 47, on p. 123; Collison v. Girling, 4 My. & Cr. 63.\nIn our opinion these are specific legacies, to be paid in full. We do not think the testator\u2019s real estate or any interest therein was charged with the payment of legacies. The intention to create such charge must be either expressly declared, or fairly and satisfactorily inferred from the language and disposition of the will \u2014 as where he directs the debts and legacies to be first paid, or devises real estate after the payment of legacies, or the remainder after such payment. Heslop v. Gatton, Exec\u2019r, etc., 71 Ill. 528; Reynolds v. Reynolds, Exec\u2019r, 16 N. Y, 259; Lupton v. Lupton, 2 Johns Chy. Rep. marg. p. 623; Keeling v. Brown, 5 Ves. 359. JSTo such expression or implication appears in this will. In all the cases when such charge has been held to be made, so far as we are aware, legacies are mentioned eo nomine or by clear description, or reference, distinguishing them from debts.\n1 We do not think it proper to indicate any views upon points not passed on by the circuit court, but for the errors above stated the decree is reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings in conformity herewith.\nEeversed and remanded.", "type": "majority", "author": "Pleasants, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Messrs. Mayo & Widner and D. A. Cook for appellants;", "Richolson & Snow, Charles Blanchard and R. A. McDonald, for appellees;" ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Cora Heslet et al. v. James Heslet, ex\u2019r, etc.\n1. Statement. \u2014 John Heslet, the father of the testator, Joseph Heslet, died October 30, 1860, leaving Eliza Ann, his widow, and twelve children, including said Joseph, Mrs. Mary A. Staufer and Nancy Jenks, and a will devising his homestead to his widow for life, and directing upon her death it be sold, and the proceeds equally divided among his children. The widow survived until January 18,1878. Joseph, the testator, after his father\u2019s death, purchased the interest of the other children, except Mrs. Staufer and Mrs. Jenks, and took from them deeds in the usual form of conveyances of real estate. He occupied the premises with his family until he died, April 24,1874, leaving Cora, his widow, and William A., his only child, and a will, giving, after the payment of his debts, to his widow $1,000 and one-third of the real estate of the homestead, to his son, Wm. A., two-thirds of his homestead estate; to his brother James, $1,000: to his sisters Rachel and Mary A., $100 each; and his interest in the Mendota property, to his sister Martha, for life, and at her death, to his brother James; to the Am. Board of F. M. $1,200; to the trustees of C. $300; and his 80 acre lot in Meriden to be disposed of at the option of his executor, and the proceeds to apply on his debts and to purchase the interest of heirs in his homestead, and any remainder to go to the maintenance, and education of his child. So much of the will as relates to the homestead not to take effect till the death of his mother.\n2. Construction oe will \u2014 Proceeds oe real estate \u2014 Devise\u2014Legacy. \u2014 That the gifts by the will of \u201cone-thiid of the real estate of the homestead\u201d to the widow for life and of the two-thirds of his \u201chomestead estate\u201d to the child are, not devises of real estate but are specific legacies and to be paid in full.\n3. Proceeds on sale to be made regarded as money. \u2014 That what John Heslet by his will gave to his children \u2014 proceeds of sale directed to be made of land was to be regarded as money.\n4. Those entitled to proceeds might elect to hold the land. \u2014That those entitled to the proceeds might have elected to take and hold the land as such in lieu of the proceeds, but they could do so only with the concurrence of all who were so entitled; there being no such concurrence in this case, the interest of Joseph remained in him an interest in money, and his bequests of it by the description of land could not change its real character in the hands of his legatees.\n5. Rights op the widow. \u2014 There being no devise of land or any estate therein to the widow, so as to bar her dower in lands or her share in personal estate, under the statute then in force, she was entitled, if she chose to claim \"t, to one-third of all the personalty remaining after the payment of debts, and to this right all legacies must yield. That the widow did not claim any portion of the proceeds under the statute, and as this could not injuriously affect any other party it was not for the.executor or the court to interpose, as to her right, what she thus disclaimed.\n' Appeal from the Circuit Court of LaSalle county; the Hon.\nGeorge W. Stipp, Judge, presiding.\nOpinion filed December 21, 1880.\nMessrs. Mayo & Widner and D. A. Cook for appellants;\nclaimed that if the interests in the homestead devised to the wife and son are held to \u25a0 be personal property, and not real estate, still, to give effect to the testator\u2019s intention such devises must be held to pass to the two beneficiaries like proportions of the proceeds of the sale of the homestead; Heirs of Wright v. Minshall, 72 Ill. 584; 1 Jarman on Wills, 1st. Am. ed. p. 537; 1. Williams on Executors, 734; 2 Redfield on Wills, 145; Gilbraith v. Winter, 10 Ohio, 64; Farnham v. Bascom, 5 Central Law Journal, 204.\nWhen the gift is to be regarded as a specific legacy: Sidebotham v. Watson, 11 Hare, 170; Guillame v. Aderly, 15 Vesey, 384 ; Chairworth v. Beach, 4 Vesey, 555; James v. Johnson, 4 Vesey, 364; Gidding v. Seward, 16 N. Y. 365; Stout v. Hart, 2 Halstead, 414; Towle v. Swazy, 106 Mass. 100; Walton v. Walton, Johnson Ch. Rep. 257; Loring v. Woodward, 41 N. H. 391; Measure v. Carlton, 30 Beavan, 538; Roper on Legacies, 199.\nWhen real estate not to be charged with the payment of legacies : Heslop v. Gatton, Ex\u2019r, 71 Ill. 528; Lupton v. Lupton, Johnson Ch. Rep. 614; 2 Redfield on Wills, 208.\nEquity looks upon that as done which ought to have been done: 1 Story Eq. Jnr. Sec. 790, and note 1, Sec. 1212.\nRicholson & Snow, Charles Blanchard and R. A. McDonald, for appellees;\nthat the devise of the proceeds of the sale of real estate to be made must be regarded as money: Baker v. Copenbarger, 15 Ill. 103; Ridgway v. Underwood, 67 Ill. 419; Jennings v. Smith, 29 Ill. 116.\nA demonstrative legacy is where a certain amount of money is given to come out of a particular fund: 2 Redfield on Wills, 2 Ed. 136; Molone v. Mooring, 40 Miss. 247.\nLegacies will be declared general unless it clearly appears they are intended to be specific: Apreece v. Apreece, 41 Vesey & B. 364; Dowman v. Rust, 6 Rand (Va.) 567; Bray v. Lamb, 2 Dev. Eq. (N. C.) 372.\nAs to the duties of executors, see Pingree et al. v. Jones, 80 Ill. 181." }, "file_name": "0022-01", "first_page_order": 24, "last_page_order": 32 }