{ "id": 8575858, "name": "GRACE TAYLOR McRORIE and Husband, HOWARD S. McRORIE, and ELIZABETH TAYLOR BURGESS, Widow, v. BILLY RAY CRESWELL, (Widower)", "name_abbreviation": "McRorie v. Creswell", "decision_date": "1968-05-01", "docket_number": "Case No. 607", "first_page": "615", "last_page": "620", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "273 N.C. 615" } ], "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": "80 S.E. 2d 29", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "31" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "239 N.C. 386", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8627055 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "389" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/239/0386-01" ] }, { "cite": "149 S.E. 731", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "197 N.C. 488", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8629830 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/197/0488-01" ] }, { "cite": "45 S.E. 904", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "134 N.C. 24", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11272405 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/134/0024-01" ] }, { "cite": "46 S.E. 756", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "759-60" }, { "page": "758" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "134 N.C. 319", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11273056 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/134/0319-01" ] }, { "cite": "22 A.L.R. 2d 177", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 2d", "year": 1952, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "97 S.E. 2d 478", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1940, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "484" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "246 N.C. 91", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8624507 ], "year": 1940, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "98" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/246/0091-01" ] }, { "cite": "113 S.E. 501", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "year": 1961, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "184 N.C. 13", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11268876 ], "year": 1961, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/184/0013-01" ] }, { "cite": "54 S.E. 2d 918", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1961, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "230 N.C. 603", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8631354 ], "year": 1961, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/230/0603-01" ] }, { "cite": "81 S.E. 2d 203", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "206" }, { "page": "204" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "240 N.C. 105", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8595095 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/240/0105-01" ] }, { "cite": "102 S.E. 2d 771", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "248 N.C. 183", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8621240 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/248/0183-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 646, "char_count": 13029, "ocr_confidence": 0.592, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.301701566877e-07, "percentile": 0.6222718004022628 }, "sha256": "05494baa0cecebde92976e7b7685518fce640499534f569bfe74309d6fdd6982", "simhash": "1:130025542df62fe0", "word_count": 2207 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T20:52:42.272754+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "HuskiNS, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case." ], "parties": [ "GRACE TAYLOR McRORIE and Husband, HOWARD S. McRORIE, and ELIZABETH TAYLOR BURGESS, Widow, v. BILLY RAY CRESWELL, (Widower)." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Sharp, J.\nThe controversy between the parties to this action involves the interpretation of the will of George M. Misenheimer (testator). The pleadings raise no issue of fact on any material proposition. Thus, the rights of the parties must be determined as a matter of law on the undisputed facts contained therein. Phillips v. Gilbert, 248 N.C. 183, 102 S.E. 2d 771. It follows, therefore, that the trial court was empowered to render its judgment upon the pleadings. 3 Strong, N. C. Index, Pleadings \u00a7 30 (I960).\nThe trial court based its decision upon the following rationale: Testator devised to Rosanna Misenheimer (Taylor) a life estate in the land in suit and, by implication, he devised the remainder in fee to her children, the plaintiffs. Rosanna\u2019s deed to Martin, therefore, conveyed to him only her life estate in the property. Consequently, his quitclaim deed to Mrs. Creswell gave her only an estate per autre vie, and it was this estate which her son, defendant, inherited. Upon the death of Rosanna on 25 December 1965, plaintiffs\u2019 estate vested and defendant\u2019s terminated.\nDefendant\u2019s contention is that under the Rule in Shelley\u2019s Case Rosanna acquired a fee defeasible upon her death without children. This same contention was made and held to be feckless in Taylor v. Honeycutt, 240 N.C. 105, 81 S.E. 2d 203. In that case, a controversy without action, Rosanna Misenheimer (Taylor), the mother of plaintiffs herein, and her husband sought to secure specific performance of their contract to convey to the defendant Honeycutt a fee simple title to the lands in suit here. Honeycutt declined to accept the plaintiff\u2019s tendered deed upon the ground that the title offered was only a life estate. Rosanna contended: (1) that testator devised the land to her for life with remainder (by implication) to her heirs; (2) that the word \u201cheirs\u201d was used in its technical sense; and (3) that this language vested the fee simple title in her under the Rule in Shelley\u2019s Case.\nOne of the prerequisites for the application of the Rule in Shelley\u2019s Case is that the words \u201cheirs\u201d and \u201cheirs of the body\u201d be used in their technical sense and not descriptio personarum denoting children, issue, a particular class, or individual persons. Tynch v. Briggs, 230 N.C. 603, 54 S.E. 2d 918; Hampton v. Griggs, 184 N.C. 13, 113 S.E. 501; 4 Strong, N. C. Index, Wills \u00a7 32 (1961). In Taylor v. Honey-cutt, supra, the trial court rejected Rosanna\u2019s contention that the Rule in Shelley\u2019s Case operated to give her a fee. It ruled that by his use of the word \u201cheirs\u201d in the phrase \u201cProvided Rosanna has no heirs,\u201d testator meant issue. In affirming the judgment for the defendant, this Court said: \u201cWhen the testator, after devising a life estate to the feme plaintiff, added, \u2018provided Rosanna has no heirs,\u2019 the land was to go to his son, C. W. Misenheimer, for life, etc., the word \u2018heirs\u2019 referred plainly to children or issue of the feme plaintiff. . . . Rosanna could not die without heirs in a general sense as long as C. W. Misenheimer, her brother, or any of his lineal descendants, lived.\n\u201cOur decision is that the feme plaintiff (Rosanna) acquired and now owns a life estate in the land and that the judgment of the trial court must be affirmed.\u201d Id. at 109, 81 S.E. 2d at 206.\nThe Court pointedly refrained from further interpretation of the will because none of Rosanna\u2019s children (plaintiffs herein) or grandchildren and none of the children or grandchildren of C. W. Misen-heimer, were parties to the case agreed, nor was there any representation of unboms who might have acquired an interest in the property upon the death of Rosanna. The judgment and decision in that case is binding only on the parties and those in privity. Notwithstanding the difference in parties, the well established legal principles which dictated the decision in Taylor v. Honeycutt, supra, control here. Rosanna\u2019s interest in the property was clearly a life estate, and when she died her two children (plaintiffs) took the remainder in fee by clear implication.\n\u201c [T] he doctrine of devise or bequest by implication is well established in our law.\u201d Finch v. Honeycutt, 246 N.C. 91, 98, 97 S.E. 2d 478, 484. The rule with us is succinctly stated in 3 Restatement of Property \u00a7 272 (1940) as follows: \u201cWhen property is limited by an otherwise effective conveyance \u2018to B for life, and if B dies without issue, then to C\u2019 or by other words of similar import, then, unless a contrary intent of the conveyor is found from additional language or circumstances, an inference is required that the conveyor has limited an interest in favor of the issue of B, in the event that B dies survived by issue.\u201d Accord, 1 Mordecai, Law Lectures pp. 494-495 (1916); 28 Am. Jur. 2d Estates \u00a7 202 (1966). See Annot., \u201cGift to 'issue, children, wife, etc., as implied from a provision over in default of such persons,\u201d 22 A.L.R. 2d 177 (1952).\nIn Hauser v. Craft, 134 N.C. 319, 46 S.E. 756, the testator devised and bequeathed certain personal property to his granddaughter, Katherine, \u201cto be hers during her natural life only; and should the said Katherine Scott die without leaving any child or children, then \u25a0the property which I have given to her to be divided among the rest of my heirs.\u201d The surviving children of Katherine claimed that they took the remainder in fee upon her death. The defendants claimed that Katherine took a fee defeasible upon her death without children. They asserted that, since children survived her, she had an absolute fee and (as here) claimed title by mesne conveyances from her. The Court, reasoning as follows, held that Katherine\u2019s children, by implication, took the remainder at her death:\n\u201cIt will be observed that Katherine had only a life estate, and therefore at her death all of her interest ceased and determined. The heirs of the testator could not take unless she died without children, because it expressly provided by the will that they should take only upon the contingency of her dying without leaving children, and the fact that she died leaving children completely divested the testator\u2019s heirs of all right or title in the land. ... If the estate .of Katherine expired at her death, and the heirs cannot take because she left children, who, then, can take unless it be the children? . . . The implication is not only necessary, but irresistible, that in the situation of the parties, as now presented to us, and giving to the will of the testator a natural and reasonable construction, it was intended by him that the plaintiffs should be the objects of his bounty and should take the property in remainder after the death of their mother.\u201d Id. at 327-328, 46 S.E. at 759-60. Cf. Whitfield v. Garris, 134 N.C. 24, 45 S.E. 904.\nTo the same effect is West v. Murphy, 197 N.C. 488, 149 S.E. 731, where the testator devised land to his granddaughter, Bertie Hill, \u201cso long as she should live, and if no children, then to her brother, Frank Hill.\u201d Bertie Hill died leaving her surviving a child. This Court held that the child took a remainder in the land by implication upon the termination of his mother\u2019s estate.\nAn examination of testator\u2019s holographic will leaves it uncertain whether he placed a comma or a period after the phrase \u201cProvided Rosanna has no heirs\u201d. Defendant\u2019s contention that \u201ca period would seem to be the proper punctuation mark,\u201d and that the phrase should be disregarded as surplusage is untenable.\n\u201cThat a will is couched in ungrammatical language and is incorrectly punctuated are facts of little importance in construing it. . . . Commas may be inserted for periods, or vice versa, in order to accomplish the paramount object, which is the ascertainment of the testator\u2019s will or meaning.\u201d Hauser v. Craft, supra at 323-24, 46 S.E. at 758. As Parker, J. (now C.J.), said in Clayton v. Burch, 239 N.C. 386, 389, 80 S.E. 2d 29, 31. \u201cWhen necessary to accomplish the testator\u2019s intent as ascertained from the context of the will, the court may disregard improper use of capital letters, punctuation, misspelling and grammatical inaccuracies, especially where the will is written by an unlearned person.\u201d\nWe have noted that the pleadings in this case do not disclose whether Sarah Misenheimer, the wife of testator, is still alive. Although it was stipulated in Taylor v. Honeycutt, supra at 107, 81 S.E. 2d at 204, that she died prior to 1954, we cannot consider that fact as admitted in this case. Her existence, however, is immaterial to decision here. The judgment entered in the court below adjudicated plaintiffs\u2019 rights only as against defendant.\nThe judgment of the trial court is\nAffirmed.\nHuskiNS, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.", "type": "majority", "author": "Sharp, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Kenneth B. Cruse for plaintiff appellees.", "Williams, Willeford \u25a0& Boger and Robert H. Irvin for defendant appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "GRACE TAYLOR McRORIE and Husband, HOWARD S. McRORIE, and ELIZABETH TAYLOR BURGESS, Widow, v. BILLY RAY CRESWELL, (Widower).\n(Filed 1 May 1968.)\n1. Pleadings \u00a7 30\u2014\nJudgment on the pleadings is proper when the pleadings raise no issue-of fact on any material proposition, but raise only questions of law for the court.\n2. Wills \u00a7 32\u2014\nThe Rule in Shelley\u2019s case applies where the words \u201cheirs\u201d or \u201cheirs of the body\u201d are used in their technical sense and are not descriptio person-arum denoting children, issue, a particular class, or individual persons.\n3. Wills \u00a7 33\u2014\nThe doctrine of devise or bequest by implication applies in this State.\n4. Same \u2014 ,\nWhen property is limited to a devisee for life, with remainder to an- ' other if the devisee dies without issue, surviving issue' of the devisee take, unless a contrary intent of the devisor is found from additional language or circumstances.\n5. Wills \u00a7 27\u2014\nWhen necessary to accomplish the testator\u2019s intent as ascertained from the context of a will, the court may disregard improper use of capital letters, punctuation, misspelling and grammatical inaccuracies, especially where the will is written by an unlearned person.\n6. WiUs \u00a7 33\u2014\nA devise to testator\u2019s daughter for life, followed by a provision that if the daughter \u201chas no heirs\u201d the land should go to the testator\u2019s son for life and upon his death to his heirs, is held to convey only a life estate to the daughter, the Rule in Shelley\u2019s case being inapplicable since it is apparent that the word \u201cheirs\u201d was used!-to mean children or issue of the daughter, and at the death of the daughter her two children took the remainder in fee by clear implication.\nHuskins, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.\nAppeal by defendant from Copeland, S.J., June 1967 Session of CabaRRus, docketed and argued at the Fall Term 1967 as Case No. 607.\nPlaintiffs instituted this action to determine the title to a .60-acre tract of land in Cabarrus County known as the southern half of lot No. 1 of the George M. Misenheimer estate. This property is described by metes and bounds in paragraph 2 of the complaint. The allegations of the complaint, which are admitted by the answer plus additional averments in defendant\u2019s further answer, establish these facts:\nPlaintiffs Grace Taylor McRorie and Elizabeth Taylor Burgess are the only children and heirs of Rosanna Misenheimer Taylor, who died intestate in Cabarrus County on 26 December 1965. Rosanna Misenheimer Taylor was the daughter of George M. Misen-heimer, deceased, whose holographic will was probated in Cabarrus County in January 1907. Pertinent portions of the will, which devised the property in suit, are these:\n\u201cI want enough of land sold to pay my debts.\n\u201cI bequeath and give the balance of my land and other property, except my mill property, to my beloved wife, Sarah, and & daughter Rosanna Misenheimer \u2014 their lifetime. Provided Rosanna has no heirs, Then it shall go to C. W. Misenheimer my son, his life time and then to go to his heirs at his death.\n\u201cMy interest in the mill property with what he owes me goes to C. W. Misenheimer.\u201d\nOn .29 January 1936, Rosanna Misenheimer Taylor and husband, George Taylor, by a deed which contained no covenants of warranty, conveyed her interest in the property in suit to Harry A. Martin. On 28 March 1936, Harry A. Martin and wife quitclaimed the property to Oza Mae Creswell. From that date until her death in 1951 Mrs. Creswell exercised exclusive dominion over the land. Defendant Billy Ray Creswell, her son and heir, claims the property by inheritance from her. He went into possession of the land at her death and adds his possession to hers.\nWhen the case came on for trial, plaintiffs moved for judgment on the pleadings. The court, being of the opinion that all material facts were established by the pleadings and that the controversy involved only a question of law, entered judgment \u201cthat the superior title and right to possession\u201d of the property described in the complaint, as against defendant, ought to be, and the same is hereby decreed to plaintiffs, Grace Taylor McRorie and Elizabeth Taylor Burgess. Defendant excepted to the judgment and appealed.\nKenneth B. Cruse for plaintiff appellees.\nWilliams, Willeford \u25a0& Boger and Robert H. Irvin for defendant appellant." }, "file_name": "0615-01", "first_page_order": 651, "last_page_order": 656 }