Summary
In Gallavan v. Gallavan (57 App. Div. 320), cited by the appellant, it was assumed that the devises in question were void, and the question considered was, whether the realty attempted to be devised went to the residuary devisee or to the heirs at law.
Summary of this case from Matter of TurnerOpinion
January Term, 1901.
Mortimer L. Sullivan, for the appellant.
J.P. Eustace, for the respondents.
The contention of the appellant is that the land descended to the heirs because the intention of the testator, as expressed in the will, is that a portion of the land should not go to the residuary devisees, and that is made manifest by the testator's devise of a portion of it to each of three other children; that the failure of the devise because of inability to locate the lots does not operate to affect the intention, and this intention must be controlling to the extent, at least, of preventing the land from passing, by the residuary clause of the will, to the residuary devisees. This contention would be undoubtedly sound if the principles prevailing under the common law were now in this State recognized as controlling. But, I think, the courts have declared a different principle, basing it upon the terms of the Revised Statutes which made a will speak as of the date of death of the testator, rather than as of the date of the execution of the will.
In Cruikshank v. Home for the Friendless ( 113 N.Y. 354) FINCH, J., says: "Among the numerous reasons which have been assigned for the common-law rule, some of which were always artificial and unsatisfactory, the principal and most sensible one is well stated by LEARNED, J., in Hillis v. Hillis (16 Hun, 76) and by GROVER, J., in Youngs v. Youngs ( 45 N.Y. 254). * * * This reason wholly disappeared when our statute made the will speak from the testator's death, both as to real and personal property. * * * As I read the case of Youngs v. Youngs the lapsed devise was carried to the residue upon two grounds; one that the rule as to lapsed devises had become the same as to lapsed legacies. * * * I think that must be regarded as the correct rule applicable to a general residuary clause which is not narrowed or restricted by the terms of its own construction. The testator in the present case clearly expressed his intention to pass all his property, and that nothing additional should pass to his heirs beyond what he had effectually given them."
In Matter of Allen ( 151 N.Y. 243) the case last referred to ( Cruikshank v. Home for the Friendless) was cited and approved and the court said: "The rule is now the same as respects devises and bequests, that any part of the estate not legally disposed of becomes a part of the residuary estate and passes under a residuary clause embracing both real and personal property in the absence of a contrary intention found in the will."
In Moffett v. Elmendorf ( 152 N.Y. 485) the court again said: "The lapsed devises went into the residue, as the common-law rule to the contrary has been done away with by statute, and there is no longer any difference as to the operation of a residuary clause between lapsed devises and lapsed legacies."
The rule as to legacies is stated in Riker v. Cornwell ( 113 N.Y. 124) and no distinction is made between lapsed and void legacies. Speaking of the general residuary clause in a will, the court says: "It will include legacies which were originally void either because the disposition was illegal or because, for any other reason, it was impossible that it should take effect."
There is no solid ground for a distinction between lapsed devises and devises void because for any other reason they cannot be made effectual, and precisely the same reasoning which carries the void legacy to the residuary legatee, takes also the void devise to the residuary devisee. The language of the residuary clause appearing in the will after making the specific devises mentioned, and which are shown to be ineffectual because of the indefinite description, "all the rest, residue and remainder of my property, both real and personal," expresses no intent on the part of the testator to limit or exclude from the residuum anything personal or real, anything whatever which for any reason might prove to be ineffectually disposed of. It expresses a clear intent on the part of the testator to make a full and complete disposition of his property, and a disherison of the heir at law is here very plainly declared. ( Riker v. Cornwell, 113 N.Y. 124; Hulin v. Squires, 63 Hun, 352.)
The interlocutory judgment sustaining the demurrer should be affirmed, with costs.
All concurred.
Interlocutory judgment affirmed, with costs.