{ "id": 8655369, "name": "W. M. ALLEN v. BENEHAN CAMERON", "name_abbreviation": "Allen v. Cameron", "decision_date": "1921-03-23", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "120", "last_page": "125", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "181 N.C. 120" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "38 N. C., 200", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2098145 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/38/0200-01" ] }, { "cite": "118 N. C., 580", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8653621 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/118/0580-01" ] }, { "cite": "119 Mass., 523", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mass.", "case_ids": [ 736982 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mass/119/0523-01" ] }, { "cite": "197 Mass., 591", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mass.", "case_ids": [ 72908 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mass/197/0591-01" ] }, { "cite": "161 Cal., 354", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Cal.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "11 L. Ed., 378", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed.", "case_ids": [ 3328051 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "385" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/43/0560-01" ] }, { "cite": "148 Ga., 539", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ga.", "case_ids": [ 1082224 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ga/148/0539-01" ] }, { "cite": "15 Me., 193", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Me.", "case_ids": [ 8847455 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/me/15/0193-01" ] }, { "cite": "261 Ill., 174", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 4742981 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/261/0174-01" ] }, { "cite": "168 N. C., 325", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "153 N. C., 225", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11271997 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/153/0225-01" ] }, { "cite": "138 N. C., 115", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11268839 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/138/0115-01" ] }, { "cite": "89 N. C., 447", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8683360 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/89/0447-01" ] }, { "cite": "38 N. C., 450", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2098137 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/38/0450-01" ] }, { "cite": "6 N. C., 228", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8691282 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/6/0228-01" ] }, { "cite": "160 N. C., 367", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11271725 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/160/0367-01" ] }, { "cite": "149 N. C., 235", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11270158 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/149/0235-01" ] }, { "cite": "16 N. C., 386", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11275573 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/16/0386-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 695, "char_count": 14792, "ocr_confidence": 0.465, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.319531908325129e-07, "percentile": 0.6262029176218382 }, "sha256": "0586d77254656482fb812538c69f5653f55785843356ff719e25a72e3e2b686b", "simhash": "1:056e8cc6b20c8e3c", "word_count": 2637 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:46:48.388810+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "W. M. ALLEN v. BENEHAN CAMERON." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Walker, J.,\nafter stating the case: We have no doubt as to what Mr. Cameron meant by the language employed in the residuary clause of his will. It is clear from the preamble, or introductory clause, that he intended to dispose of all that he owned or possessed, and not die intestate as to any part of his large estate. He disposed of the larger part of it with great care and particularity, and when he came to the final clauses, thinking that he may have inadvertently overlooked some part of it, he inserted the residuary clause to provide for any such omission on his part. This is generally the intention of a testator in making such a provision, and is the peculiar office of a residuary clause. It will embrace anything not before disposed of-in the will, both real and personal property, unless there are words used to restrict its meaning. Perusing the entire will of Mr. Cameron, and comparing all of its parts with each other, we are led to the conclusion that he has expressed his intention throughout with unusual clearness and precision with the clear understanding of the other parts of his will, in which he provides for all those whom he regarded as the proper objects of his bounty and solicitude, he then takes precaution against the contingency of anything being left out, which shows additionally that he intended to dispose of everything he had, and this also is according to the presumption of fact which the law raises, for Chief Justice Ruffin said, in Reeves v. Reeves, 16 N. C., 386: \u201cIt is to be remembered that every testator is presumed not to intend to die intestate, as to any part of his estate; and, therefore, that a residuary clause is always, unless expressly restrained, held to pass whatever is not otherwise disposed of. If there was nothing particular, therefore, in this will, there could be no question.\u201d See, also, Powell v. Woodcock, 149 N. C., 235; Austin v. Austin, 160 N. C., 367; Homes v. Mitchell, 6 N. C., 228; Williams v. McComb, 38 N. C., 450; Page v. Foust, 89 N. C., 447; Foil v. Newsome, 138 N. C., 115; Jones v. Myatt, 153 N. C., 225; Norris v. Durfey, 168 N. C., 325. Cases in other jurisdictions are to the like effect. Wilson v. Wilson, 261 Ill., 174; Russell v. Elden, 15 Me., 193; Bacon v. Bacon, 55 Vermont, 243; Yopp v. R. R., 148 Ga., 539. Justice Story, in Burwell v. Cawood, Executor of Mandeville, 2 Howard (U. S.), 560, 578 (11 L. Ed., 378, 385), considered a case very mucb like ours and thus said, after referring to certain legal principles and to the testator\u2019s intention, as disclosed by his will, when read in the light of these principles. There can, we think, be no doubt that the testator intended by his will to dispose of the whole of his estate, real and personal. The introductory words to his will already cited show such an intention in a clear and explicit manner. He, therefore, looks to the disposal of all the estate he shall die possessed of. It is 'said that, admitting such to be his intention, the testator has not carried it into effect; because the residuary clause declares John West his \u201cresiduary legatee\u201d only, and not his residuary devisee also; and that we are to interpret the words of the will according to their legal import as confined altogether to the residue of the personal estate. \u201cThis is, in our judgment, a very narrow and technical interpretation of the words of the will. The language used by the testator shows him to have been an unskilled man, and not versed in legal phraseology. The cardinal rule in the interpretation of wills is that the language is to be interpreted in subordination to the intention of the testator, and it is not to control that intention, when it is clear and determinate. Thus, for example, the word legacy\u2019 may be construed to apply to real estate where the context of the will shows such to be the intention of the testator.\u201d He then cites some of the English cases. Hope v. Taylor (1 Burr. Rep., 269), where the word \u201clegacy\u201d was held to include lands, from the intention of the testator deduced from the context of his will; and Hardacre v. Hash (5 Term Report, 716), where a like doctrine was announced upon similar facts; Doe, dem, Tofield v. Tofield (11 East., 246), and Pitman v. Stevens (15 East., 505), were to the same effect. He treats the law as settled upon this point. The above English decisions have been followed by the courts of this country, and especially by this Court. We may, therefore, take the general rule to be unquestioned, that where it appears to be the intention of the testator, the word \u201clegacy\u201d may include \u201cdevise,\u201d and \u201clegatee\u201d a \u201cdevisee,\u201d so that a \u201cresiduary legatee\u201d would take land as well as personalty. In the following cases the word residuary legatee was used by the testator, and held by the Court to have the same meaning as if they had been \u201cresiduary legatee and devisee.\u201d Evans v. Crosbie, 15 Sim., 600; 60 Eng. Rep., 753; Estate of Henderson, 161 Cal., 354; Dann v. Canfield, 197 Mass., 591; Day v. Daveron, 12 Sim., 200 (59 Eng. Rep., 1108); Wilds v. Davies, 1 Smale & Giffard, 475 (65 Eng. Repr. Rep., 208); Laing v. Barbour, 119 Mass., 523; Singleton v. Tomlinson, 3 Appeal Cases, 404. So it is seen that the current of authority is decidedly in one and the same direction. But the language of the residuary clause is itself sufficient to show the intention of the testator. He first declares that he wishes \u201cto provide for any omission/\u2019 and therefore appoints his daughter*,. Mildred Cameron, his \u201cresiduary legatee\u201d \u2014 \u201cto receive and take all that shall be omitted or that shall fall in (or laj)se) and become mine.\u201d Nowhere does he restrict this gift to personal property, but uses general words, such as \u201cany\u201d and \u201call,\u201d which included his property of every kind not expressly given to another, or which reverts to him by reason of a lapse on account of the death of any beneficiary during his lifetime. He could not have written a more inclusive or comprehensive clause. The subsequent reference to her child\u2019s part in the division of the personalty (already provided for) was inserted in order to make it clear that he intended that the daughter should be treated with special favor, and that there should be no deduction from her child\u2019s share in the personalty when the division of it was made as before directed, on account of any advancement he had made to her. The latter part of the clause was not intended to limit the words of the first part by confining the latter to personalty alone, but was inserted there for a very different purpose. He assigns the reason for thus favoring his daughter, which is, that no real advancements had been made, \u201cas she had needed none, and had received nothing beyond that she deserved for her care of her .parents and as a member of my (his) family.\u201d There can be no doubt as to the true construction of Mr. Cameron\u2019s will, if there was room for it. Where the meaning is plain, or without any ambiguity, no construction is required, but we simply enforce the intention as it is clearly expressed, and for this reason further discussion would be useless, and we would end it here but for the fact that this Court has once passed upon this will some years ago, in construing another clause of it, and in the opinion of the Court reference also was made to this residuary clause, which is pertinent to this case and deserves some attention from us. The Court there said: \u201cIt is a presumption of fact that every man that makes a will intends to dispose of all of his estate. Blue v. Ritter, 118 N. C., 580; Jones v. Perry, 38 N. C., 200. This presumption may be rebutted, but it stands until it is rebutted. ' It is therefore presumed that Mr. Cameron did not intend to die intestate as to this large body of land, amounting to some 800 acres. And, besides this presumption the law makes, we have other evidence in the will tending to show that he did not intend to die intestate as to any part of his estate. We find that in the sixteenth item of his will he says: \u2018And to provide for any omissions, I name my daughter, Mildred, the residuary legatee,\u2019 but she is to have her full share, and not to account for anything she may receive under this residuary clause.\u201d The sixteenth clause is the one now under consideration. It appears from the above excerpt from the opinion of the Court in the case that our brethren of that day regarded clause sixteen as referring to both realty and personalty. They were considering wbetber a tract of land containing about 800 acres bad been sufficiently described to pass to tbe defendant under tbe will, but tbe Court was unanimous in tbe opinion tbat Mr. Cameron did not die intestate as to any of bis property, but tbat it all, realty and personalty, bad passed either .under specific devises and beqriests, and if not, tben under tbe residuary clause. But we do not agree to tbe suggestion in tbat opinion tbat tbe reference at tbe close of tbe quotation referred \u201cto anything she received under tbe residuary clause,\u201d but solely to money or property given to her in tbe testator\u2019s lifetime, which, but for bis explicit direction in tbe residuary clause, might be taken and charged against her as advancements.\nOur conclusion is tbat upon tbe facts stated in tbe record this property passed to Mildred Cameron by her father\u2019s will, and, by her will, it passed to tbe defendant, and tbat tbe latter is now tbe owner thereof, and can convey a good and indefeasible title thereto to tbe plaintiff by tbe deed which tbe court has required him to execute.\nThere is no error, and we affirm tbe judgment.\nAffirmed.", "type": "majority", "author": "Walker, J.," } ], "attorneys": [ "R. N. Simms for plaintiff.", "Ernest Ilaywood for defendant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "W. M. ALLEN v. BENEHAN CAMERON.\n(Filed 23 March, 1921.)\n1. Wills \u2014 Interpretation\u2014Intent\u2014Residuary Clause \u2014 Presumptions.\nThe purpose of a residuary clause in a will is to embrace both real and personal property not therein specifically devised or bequeathed, and unless words are used to restrict its meaning, this interpretation will be adopted as carrying out the intent of the testator.\n3. Same.\nA testator owning a large estate in real and personal property, after making devises and bequests thereof, and to provide for any omission, with apparent particularity declared his daughter the residuary legatee, \u201cto receive and take all that sh\u00e1ll be omitted, or shall fall in and become mine, either in law or equity, and that she shall be paid her full child\u2019s part on the division of my personal property, without deduction for any advances, as she has needed none and received nothing beyond what she deserved,\u201d etc.: Held, a lot of land not specifically devised comes within the terms of the residuary clause, and evidenced the testator\u2019s intent from the language employed as well as from the presumption of law, that as to the land specified he should not die intestate, and that the daughter should not be charged with any advancements whatsoever.\n3. Same \u2014 Devise\u2014Bequest\u2014Realty\u2014Personalty.\nThe general rule of interpretation of a residuary clause in a will is that the word \u201clegacy\u201d may include \u201cdevise\u201d and \u201clegatee,\u201d a \u201cdevisee\u201d apply- \u25a0 ' ing to both the testator\u2019s realty and personalty when from the writing of the will the testator\u2019s Intent so appears.\nAppeal by plaintiff from Kerr, J., at November Term, 1920, of Wake.\nTbis is a civil action, brought by plaintiff, W. M. Allen, against defendant, Benneban Cameron, for tbe specific performance of a written contract, whereby Mr. Cameron agreed to sell to W. M. Allen, and said Allen agreed to buy from bim a bouse and lot in Raleigb, N. 0., on East Jones Street, at the price of $8,000 in cash. The defendant Cameron in apt time tendered the deed from bim and bis wife to said Allen, and demanded the payment of the sale price of $8,000. Mr. Allen made no objection to the form of the deed, or that the property was not free from encumbrance, but refused to accept tlie deed, or to pay the sale price, solely on the ground that item 16 of the will of Mr. Paul C. Cameron did not pass said bouse and lot to bis daughter, Mildred Cameron, who devised the same to defendant, Bennehan Cameron, and hence that the defendant,. Bennehan Cameron, did not have and could not convey a good title to said bouse and lot, the said Allen contending that the words \u201cresiduary legatee\u201d in item 16 passed undis-posed of personal property alone, but did not pass undisposed of real estate; while the defendant Cameron claimed that item 16 passed undis-posed of real estate also, including the bouse and lot in question. The bouse and lot was owned by Paul C. Cameron at the time of bis death, but is not specifically mentioned in bis will, and there is no other residuary clause in the will, except item 16. Mr. Paul C. Cameron wrote bis own will.\nItem 16 of the will of Paul C. Cameron is as follows:\n\u201cItem 16. And to provide for any omission I name and declare my daughter, Mildred Cameron, the residuary legatee, to receive and take all that shall be omitted, or that shall fall in and become mine, either in law or equity, and that she shall be paid her full child\u2019s part on the division of my personal property, without any deduction for any advances, as she has needed none and received nothing beyond what she deserved for her care of her parents, and as a member of my family.\u201d\nThe court below rendered judgment in favor of the defendant, and held that item 16 of the will of Paul C. Cameron did pass the house and lot to Mildred Cameron, and that her will devised the same to the defendant Bennehan Cameron, and, therefore, that he was the owner in fee simple of the same, and that upon his tendering to the plaintiff a deed in sufficient form to pass title in fee to the house and lot free from encumbrances, the plaintiff should accept the same and pay the sale price of $8,000 over to the defendant.\nThe plaintiff excepted and appealed, and filed six exceptions and assignments of error, set out in the record. All of plaintiff\u2019s exceptions and assignments of error are based upon his contention that the court erred in holding that item 16 of the will of Paul C. Cameron operated to make his daughter, Mildred Cameron, his residuary devisee as well as residuary legatee, and that the house and lot passed to her, it being eoirceded that if she acquired the title to the house and lot, it passed by her will to the defendant, and that he is now the owner in fee of the same, and that the deed already tendered by him is fully sufficient to convey the house and lot to plaintiff in fee. Therefore, all of plaintiff\u2019s exceptions and assignments of error will be considered together.\nThe only question is as to whether item 16 of the will of Paul C. Cameron passed to his daughter, Mildred Cameron, the undisposed of real property as well as the undisposed of personal property.\nR. N. Simms for plaintiff.\nErnest Ilaywood for defendant." }, "file_name": "0120-01", "first_page_order": 172, "last_page_order": 177 }