{
  "id": 12166128,
  "name": "JOSEPH G. WHEELER v. J. S. WILDER and Wife, ELLA WILDER",
  "name_abbreviation": "Wheeler v. Wilder",
  "decision_date": "1948-10-20",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "379",
  "last_page": "381",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "229 N.C. 379"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C.",
    "id": 9292,
    "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 5,
    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
  },
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    {
      "cite": "181 N. C., 311",
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      "reporter": "N.C.",
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    {
      "cite": "223 N. C., 734",
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      "opinion_index": 0
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    {
      "cite": "210 N. C., 321",
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  "analysis": {
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:16:54.231798+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "JOSEPH G. WHEELER v. J. S. WILDER and Wife, ELLA WILDER."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "WiNBORNE, J.\nThe debate on this appeal is focused upon this clause \u201cand after his decease to be inherited by nearest heir in the Wheeler family,\u201d which appears in the will of Alsey B. Wheeler.\nPlaintiff, appellee, contends that the words \u201cnearest heir in the Wheeler family,\u201d as used in the will, mean the \u201cnearest heir in the Joseph Gardner Wheeler family,\u201d that is, his heirs. And defendants concede that if this he the meaning, plaintiff has a fee simple title under the rule in Shelley\u2019s case. This is the construction put upon the clause on the hearing below.\nOn the other hand, defendants contend that the words \u201cnearest heir in the Wheeler family\u201d mean the \u201cnearest heir in the Alsey B. Wheeler family,\u201d that is, the nearest heir of the testator,\u2014and that, hence, the life estate given to Joseph G. Wheeler was not enlarged into a fee simple.\n\u201cThe cardinal principle in the interpretation of wills is to discover the intent of the testator looking at the instrument from its four corners, and to give effect to such intent, unless contrary to some rule of law or at variance with public policy.\u201d Heyer v. Bulluck, 210 N. C., 321, 186 S. E., 356; Williams v. Rand, 223 N. C., 734, 28 S. E. (2d), 247. \u201cThe object is to arrive at, if possible, the intention and meaning of the testator as expressed in the language used by him.\u201d Patterson v. McCormick, 181 N. C., 311, 107 S. E., 12.\nApplying these principles to the case in hand, and considering the will of Alsey B. Wheeler, from its four corners, the intention of the testator seems clear from the language he used. It is significant that, first, he gives to his wife \u201call the real estate ... to have and to hold her lifetime\u201d ; then \u201cafter the decease\u201d of himself and of his wife, the language is \u201cwe bequeath to our nephew, Joseph Gardner Wheeler, our tract of land . . . which he is to have and to hold during his lifetime\u201d; and, then, \u201cafter his decease to be inherited by nearest heir in the Wheeler family to have and to hold as long as the law will allow.\u201d In other words, it is apparent that the testator had in mind three objects of his bounty in this order, first, his wife, during her lifetime; second, his nephew, during his lifetime; and, third, his own blood kin in general. That is, after his wife had enjoyed his tract of land for life, and then after his nephew had enjoyed it for life, it should go to the nearest kin in his, the testator\u2019s, family.\nAnd it is noted that while in the agreed statement of facts it is stated that \u201call of the persons interested in the controversy presented hereby, namely, the soundness of the plaintiff\u2019s title, are parties to this action, are of full age and are properly before the court,\u201d there are expressions in the briefs of counsel for appellants and for appellee, respectively, that tend to show that testator had no children, but had relatives,\u2014 appellant saying \u201cit is agreed that Alsey B. Wheeler left heirs who could inherit this land in question.\u201d\nIn the light of the above holding, the judgment below is\nReversed.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "WiNBORNE, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "A. M. Noble for plaintiff, appellee.",
      "F. II. Brooks for defendants, appellants."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "JOSEPH G. WHEELER v. J. S. WILDER and Wife, ELLA WILDER.\n(Filed 20 October, 1948.)\n1. Wills \u00a7 31\u2014\nThe cardinal rule in the interpretation of a will is to ascertain the intent of the testator as gathered from the four corners of the instrument, and to give effect to such intent unless contrary to some rule of law or in conflict with public policy.\n2. Wills \u00a7 33b\u2014\nTestator devised an estate for life to his wife and then an estate to his nephew to have and to hold during his lifetime and after his death \u201cto be inherited by nearest heir in the Wheeler family.\u201d Wheeler was the surname of both the testator and the nephew. Held: Construing the will as a whole, it is apparent that \u201cnearest heir in the Wheeler family\u201d referred to heir of testator and not the nephew, and the rule in SKelley's case is inapplicable. Since it appears that testator had collateral heirs who might inherit, the nephew cannot convey the fee simple.\nAppeal by defendants from Williams, ./., at August Mixed Term, 1948, of JOHNSTON.\nCivil action for specific performance of written contract of sale and purchase of certain land in Johnston County, North Carolina.\nThe parties submitted the matters in controversy in this action upon an agreed statement of facts substantially these:\n1. Plaintiff and defendants entered into a written contract on 21 June, 1948, for the sale and purchase of a certain specifically described tract, piece or parcel of land in Johnston County, North Carolina, by the terms of which contract plaintiff agreed to convey said land to defendants by good and sufficient deed \u201cwith full covenants and warranty,\u201d etc.\n2. Plaintiff, in due time, tendered to defendants a deed in the form he had agreed to do, but defendants refused to accept same, and to pay the agreed purchase price, for that they contend that plaintiff cannot convey a fee simple title to said lands in that he acquired, and has only a life estate in said land, under the following provisions of the will of Alsey B. Wheeler, under which he claims title: \u201cAnd after the death of myself, Alsey B. Wheeler and wife, Winnie Elizabeth Wheeler, we bequeath to our nephew, Joseph Gardner Wheeler, our tract of land, thirty-three acres and fifty three one-hundredths which he is to have and to hold during his lifetime, and after his decease to be inherited by nearest heir in the Wheeler family to have and to hold as long as the law will allow.\u201d\n3. During the year 1929, Joseph G. Wheeler, who is the same person as Joseph Gardner Wheeler, named in said will, built a home on said land, and lived, and was living thereon at the time of the death of Winnie Elizabeth Wheeler, in August, 1930, and of Alsey B. Wheeler on 1 April, 1931. And Alsey B. Wheeler, at the time of making his will, and at the time of his death, owned the fee simple title to said land.\n4. The land in controversy here is the identical tract of land devised to said Joseph Gardner Wheeler in the will of said Alsey B. Wheeler, and \u201call of the persons interested in the controversy presented hereby, namely, the soundness of the plaintiff\u2019s title are parties to this action, are of full age and are properly before the court.\u201d\nThe court finding the agreed statement of facts to be true, and being of opinion that by the language of the will of Alsey B. Wheeler, quoted in paragraph two above, an estate in fee simple is devised to Joseph Gardner Wheeler, the plaintiff herein, and that he is the owner in fee simple of the lands described in the contract to convey, set out in this action, entered judgment against defendants for specific performance.\nDefendants appeal therefrom to Supreme Court and assign error.\nA. M. Noble for plaintiff, appellee.\nF. II. Brooks for defendants, appellants."
  },
  "file_name": "0379-01",
  "first_page_order": 433,
  "last_page_order": 435
}