Matter of the Estate of William WilLiamson

Hayne, C. —This is an appeal from a decree of distribution. The question presented is as to the construction of the will.

The will first declares that all of the testator’s property is the community property of himself and his wife Artemesia, who was then living, and that an advancement had been made to his daughter, Caroline Judd (the appellant here), and then, after reciting that his son, Robert Samuel Williamson, “by his valuable labor and service, has greatly assisted, and is now greatly assisting, me in making and accumulating my said property,” proceeds as follows: —

“1. I give, bequeath, and devise to my said son Robert Samuel .... all the property, real, personal, or mixed, of whatsoever nature or character, or wheresoever the same may be situated, in or to which I now have or hereafter may acquire any right, title, or interest; that is to say, an undivided one-half interest in said property, or all of which I have power under the law to make testamentary disposition, leaving the remaining undivided one half of said community property to my said wife Artemesia, as the law directs. 2. I request and desire [318]that my said wife, in case she survives me, by testamentary disposition or otherwise, distribute her portion or half of said community property equally between our said children, Robert Samuel and Caroline, and any others that may be begotten unto us.”

The wife died before the testator, and the contest is between the two children as to the share which would have gone to the wife had she lived. The' court below decided that the son took the whole of such share, and the daughter appeals.

We think the court erred. The testator first used language which, if not limited by what follows, would undoubtedly have given the whole estate to the son. But he immediately defines the sense in which he used the sweeping language by the following: “ That is to say, an undivided one-half interest in said property, or all of which I have power under tlie law to make testamentary disposition.” This shows that when he spoke of bequeathing “all the property” to the son, he meant all over which he supposed he had power of disposition, which was one half of the community property. And, as if to clinch the matter, he adds this clause: “Leaving the remaining undivided one half of said community property to my said wife Artemesia, as the law directs.”