Opinion
March, 1911.
Ernest W. Tooker, for administratrix and next of kin.
Hendrick, Abberley Hendrick, for Adelaide Groesbeeck, legatee.
Deceased died in July, 1909, leaving a will dated June 15, 1892, wherein is bequeathed to Adelaide Groesbeeck the account in the Seaman's Bank of Savings; but no other property is mentioned in said will. In 1908, deceased was adjudged incompetent and a committee of her person and estate appointed and such incompetency continued until the date of her death. During the incompetency the committee of deceased withdrew from the Seaman's Bank of Savings the entire account, amounting to $1,317.19, and deposited the same in the Riverhead Savings Bank, where decedent had approximately $2,500 on deposit. The expenses of decedent during her incompetency were paid by the committee out of the general estate, and there now remains a balance for distribution on this accounting of upward of $4,000. The question is presented as to how much of the legacy bequeathed by the will should be awarded to the legatee. It is conceded by the next of kin that some portion thereof should be so awarded, but not all, upon the theory that the entire estate, including this legacy, should bear the expense of the maintenance of deceased during her incompetency.
The next of kin derive their interest in this estate solely because of the partial intestacy, and there can be no intestacy until the will has been fully performed and a balance thereafter remains in the estate. The intention of the testatrix must control; and the withdrawal of the fund from the Seaman's Bank of Savings does not affect the rights of the legatee, because such withdrawal was not the act of the testatrix. By removing this deposit, the committee could change the location of the fund, but could not change the intention of its owner. For some sixteen years, from the date of the will to the beginning of the incompetency, it remained the intention of the testatrix that this legatee should have this fund, as appears from the fact that no change was made in the will during that time. This intention continued in law to the date of death because, during the incompetency, the intentions of the decedent could not change. Consequently, at the time of decedent's death, which is the date at which the will speaks, it was her intention that this legatee receive this fund. Such intention cannot be defeated by any act of the committee, as the testatrix cannot be bound without her consent. Deceased is, therefore, testate as to this fund and intestate as to the balance of her estate. Moreover, to award this legatee less than the entire fund in the bank would be to declare the decedent intestate as to a portion of that very fund, which would be contrary to the terms of the will. The law reads the will as if it gave to this legatee a legacy of $1,317.19 and the remainder of the estate to the next of kin as residuary legatees.
Interest does not follow this fund, however, because the will is performed when the exact amount in the bank be determined. What increment there might have been had it remained is immaterial, because the account was legally withdrawn by the committee.
Neither can the court speculate as to how much of this fund the deceased might have drawn for her own support, had she remained competent, and so have reduced the amount passing to this legatee under the will. It is not what might have been, but what actually happened that controls the disposition of the fund. In other words, she gave this fund to the legatee, she failed to change her will, she did not withdraw the deposit; and, being intestate as to all property but this, the next of kin are entitled to share in only what remains.
Decreed accordingly.