Stubbs v. Abel

Rehearing denied June 2, 1925. ON PETITION FOR REHEARING. (236 P. 505.) For the motion: Messrs. Welsh Welsh and Stephen J.Chadwick, for petitioner W.H. Abel.

Of counsel: Messrs. Harris, Smith Bryson and Mr. CharlesA. Hardy; Mr. Jay Bowerman, for petitioners Hilda Williams and Ben Hur Lampman.

No appearance contra. W.H. Abel, Hilda Williams and Ben Hur Lampman have filed a petition for a rehearing of the above cause.

This is a partition suit involving the construction of the will of Richard W. Williams, deceased, in so far as it pertains to the title of the property sought by the suit to be divided. For a statement of the pertinent facts and our conclusions therefrom, see our opinion filed February 24, 1925, reported in 114 Or. 610 (233 P. 852), wherein we held that the testator, by his will, in language that ought not to be misunderstood, devised to Richard C. Williams and Claire S. Williams one half of the real property involved in this suit, "subject, however, to such disposition as I may hereafter make of any portion thereof."

Clearly, the testator's disposition of that property is consistent with a defeasible fee in Claire S. Williams, as provided by subsequent clause in the will.

In their brief in support of their petition for rehearing the petitioners say, among other things: *Page 635

"The opinion and decision of the court does not make it clear * * that the language used in clauses Six and Seven will have no application to the real property devised under the second clause of the will. While this property is not included in the subject-matter of the suit, expressions used in the opinion are of such general character that it might be claimed that a rule of property is established by the decision as the same now stands; it is therefore important that any final decision made in this case should expressly exclude any intention of construing the second clause of the will so as to create any impression that the fee thereby devised is in any way debased."

We had no intention of determining the title to any real property other than that described in the complaint. Neither did we intend to intimate whether Claire S. Williams took a fee simple, or a debased, title to the property described in Section 2 of the will.

We have studied the record with care and are satisfied that we have construed the will according to the expressed intention of Richard W. Williams, deceased. The petition for rehearing will be denied.

REHEARING DENIED.