This is an appeal from a final decree entered in the Superior Court in the above entitled cause. Said cause was heard in the Superior Court before the presiding justice, September 15, 1913, on the demurrers to the bill of complaint filed by Benjamin Hall, Jr., trustee, George Morton, Helen M. Morton and Hezekiah A. Cook, and upon hearing thereof said demurrers were sustained upon all points contained therein. On September 27, 1913, a final decree was entered in said Superior Court sustaining said demurrers upon all points and dismissing said bill as to said respondents with costs. Within the time prescribed by law, the complainant filed his claim of appeal from said final *Page 58 decree, together with his reasons therefor, and thereupon the papers in said cause were certified to this court for determination of said appeal.
This is a bill in equity praying that the defendant, Benjamin Hall, as trustee under the will of Hezekiah Anthony, be required to account as said trustee, that said trust be terminated and that the balance of said estate be paid to this complainant who alleges his right to the surplus of said trust estate as surviving husband of the life beneficiary.
The essential allegations in said bill of complaint are as follows: That Hezekiah Anthony, late of the city of Providence, by his will duly admitted to probate January 22, 1884, provided in Section 17 thereof, as follows: "I give, devise and bequeath to Sarah Ann Cook, in trust for Helen Cook, widow of Enos A. Cook, the sum of five thousand dollars, and also the house and land where said Enos A. Cook formerly lived on Almy Street, in Fall River, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to have and to hold the same to her the said Sarah Ann Cook, her heirs, executors and administrators for the use and benefit of Helen Cook, widow of Enos A. Cook, her heirs, executors and administrators with power to manage the same generally and if need be in her opinion to sell the same and reinvest the proceeds thereof and with power to change the investment thereof whenever in her opinion it shall seem best, and with power also to convey said real estate to her, her heirs and assigns at any time when she may think proper and with power to pay over to her said money or any part thereof according to her discretion."
The bill further sets forth that the will also provided in an unnumbered paragraph following Section 22nd as follows: "In all cases where I have given property in trust for the use and benefit of other persons, and have not specially provided for its disposition on their decease, my will is that the trustee holding such property shall on such decease pay and convey the same in fee simple discharged of all trusts to the persons who by the laws of the State of Rhode Island would inherit it had the persons for whose benefit it was so given died seized and possessed thereof in fee." *Page 59
It is further alleged that said Sarah Ann Cook qualified as said trustee and sold the real estate in Fall River, the proceeds from said sale becoming a part of the trust fund; that the original trustee died September 7, 1888, and by a decree of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of Rhode Island entered November 22, 1890, Hezekiah Anthony Cook was appointed trustee in her stead; that Hezekiah Anthony Cook died November 8, 1900, and by decree of said court entered October 14, 1901, Benjamin Hall, Jr., defendant in the present case was appointed trustee; that Helen Cook, the beneficiary under said trust, became the wife of the complainant, William C. Quinn, in September, 1905, and died intestate on April 3, 1911, said William C. Quinn being appointed as administrator of her estate.
The bill further alleges that on June 26, 1911, George Morton, Helen M. Morton, Frank Pierce, Sarah Pierce, Robert E. Maher, Hattie E. Maher, Hezekiah Anthony Cook, Jennie E. Cook, Hattie E. Cook, Stanley O. Holden, Nancy A. Holden and Reuben C. Small, brought a bill in equity, No. 2348, in the Superior Court of the State of Rhode Island, against Benjamin Hall, Jr., trustee, setting forth that said Joseph A.P. Cook, Helen M. Morton, Sarah A. Pierce, Hattie E. Maher, Hezekiah Anthony Cook, Jennie E. Cook and Nancy A. Holden were the sole heirs at law of said Helen Cook; that said trust had been fully completed and nothing further remained to be done in pursuance thereof and praying that "as there is no reason for the further continuance of said trust, a decree of this honorable court may be entered ordering the termination of said trust and a distribution of the trust funds among the several distributees to each one equal share, and further ordering the trustee discharged from further responsibility in the premises."
This bill further alleges with reference to the bill in equity, No. 2348, that said Benjamin Hall, Jr., respondent, therein waived issuance and service of subpoenas, admitted the allegations set forth in the bill of complaint, consented that the trust might be terminated, the trust fund be distributed, *Page 60 and prayed that he be discharged from liability thereunder. Following the above proceedings, a decree was entered in said cause on July 10, 1911, by consent, empowering and directing the trustee to sell certain shares of stock owned by the estate and to pay the trust fund in equal shares to the above named parties, and declaring the trust terminated, and the trustee discharged.
The complainant in this bill further alleges that he had no knowledge of the pendency of the above proceedings and no knowledge of the existence of said trust; that, upon the discovery of the same, he diligently filed a request to file a bill of review in equity which was granted, and that on July 8, 1912, he filed a bill of review in equity, No. 2603, which bill has been discontinued and dismissed. The complainant further states in this bill that at the time of her decease, and at the time of the institution of said suit, and the entry of final decree therein, it was well known to the trustee and other parties therein that the said Helen Cook, the life beneficiary, was the wife of William C. Quinn; that none of the parties to said proceeding made known to the court that said Helen Cook left a husband surviving her and living at the time of the said proceedings; that the complainant did not know of the existence of said trust nor of the pendency of said proceedings, and was not made a party thereto, and that the decree entered was a fraud both upon the complainant and upon the court.
The bill concludes with a prayer that said decree be reviewed, reversed, set aside and declared to be fraudulent and void, that an account be taken, the trust terminated and that the complainant be declared entitled to the balance of the trust fund.
It appears that the bill as filed named fourteen several respondents, of whom eight were not residents of the State of Rhode Island; that those eight non-residents appeared specially and severally filed their pleas to the jurisdiction of the court, on the ground of non-residence; that these pleas were sustained by a judge of the Superior Court and the bill *Page 61 was dismissed as to them; that of the remaining respondents, one was not served with process and entered no appearance; that there were consequently, five respondents left in the case. Three of these, namely, George Morton, Helen M. Morton and Hezekiah A. Cook, joined in a demurrer to the bill, stating their causes of demurrer as follows:
"FIRST. The complainant does not state a cause of action entitling him to relief.
"SECOND. It appears by said bill that the matters complained of, have been finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction.
"THIRD. It appears that the complainant's claims in said bill contained are stale.
"FOURTH. It appears that said bill was not brought within the time required by law.
"FIFTH. It does not appear in what county said cause in equity No. 2348 was brought.
"SIXTH. It appears that the complainant was not a party and was not a privy of a party to said cause in equity No. 2348.
"SEVENTH. It appears that the complainant was not a necessary party to said cause in equity No. 2348.
"EIGHTH. It does not appear that the complainant is entitled to any of the proceeds of said trust fund.
"NINTH. It does not appear that the complainant was aggrieved by the decree entered in said cause in equity No. 2348."
The respondent, Benjamin Hall, Jr., also demurred to the bill, on grounds which were substantially the same as those stated above. Both demurrers were heard before Mr. Justice Tanner on September 15, 1913, and a decision was announced sustaining the same on all points; and thereafter on September 27, 1913, a final decree was entered sustaining these demurrers upon all points and dismissing the bill; from this decree this appeal is taken, the reasons of appeal being set forth as follows: *Page 62
1. That said decree is against the law.
2. That said decree is against the rights of the complainant as disclosed by the pleadings.
3. That the court erred in sustaining the respondents' several demurrers to the bill of complaint and thereby deciding that the complainant was not entitled to the whole or any part of the trust fund therein described.
It is contended on behalf of the defendants that this is a bill of review; that therefore it should have been filed within one year after the entry of the final decree sought to be reviewed; and that being filed later, it cannot be sustained, citing Williams v. Starkweather, 24 R.I. 512, 25 R.I. 77,28 R.I. 145; that it is not brought in the same county where the original decree was enrolled, and therefore cannot be sustained; that being a bill of review, and being brought by one who is neither a party nor the privy of a party to the original suit it cannot be sustained. All these questions are raised under the grounds of demurrer, second to sixth, inclusive, above set forth, and must stand or fall together; they all depend upon the question whether this is a bill of review. In our opinion, after careful consideration of the briefs and arguments of counsel, this is not a bill of review; it is an original bill in the nature of a bill of review. It was long since held by this court in accord with well settled principles of equity procedure that a bill of review can be filed only by a party to the original cause or by one in privity with such party; and that "other persons aggrieved must proceed by original bill in the nature of a bill of review." Doyle, Petitioner, 14 R.I. 55, 56; and it is one of the chief grounds of complaint in this bill that this complainant was not made a party, although it was well known to the parties to said suit that the said Helen Cook named as a beneficiary in the will of Hezekiah Anthony had married the complainant and that he survived her; that by referring to said beneficiary by the name of Helen Cook, instead of by the name of Helen Cook Quinn, although knowing her to have married the complainant, and by neglecting to make this *Page 63 complainant a party to said suit, the parties to said original suit deceived the court; and the bill further alleges that this complainant had no knowledge of the proceedings by the parties claiming as heirs-at-law of Helen Cook to have the trust terminated and the fund distributed, and had no knowledge of the existence of the trust; and that upon discovery thereof he proceeded diligently to take action. It further appears that he first sought leave to file a bill of review and did attempt to file such a bill, which was afterwards dismissed; evidently the complainant discovered that a bill of review was not the proper remedy for him, and therefore he proceeded to file this original bill in the nature of a bill of review. There is no ground for the claim set up by the defendants that this complainant has been guilty of laches in filing his bill. It appears that he proceeded with diligence as soon as he was informed of what had taken place; and although his first attempt to file a bill of review was ill advised, it must at least have operated to give prompt notice of his claim to the parties in interest. It further appears by certain pleas on file in the case that the trustee, Benjamin Hall, Jr., distributed the trust fund in said bill mentioned, under the decree entered in said cause on the 10th day of July, 1911, during said month of July, 1911, to the parties named in said decree; so that it was impossible for this complainant, not being informed of said proceedings, to have filed his bill before said fund was distributed. It therefore clearly appears that the delay arising from this complainant's ignorance, and incident to his procedure, could have worked no harm to the parties respondent; and would not be a valid ground of defence to this suit.
This bill is based upon allegations of fraudulent concealment of the fact that this complainant was the living husband of the beneficiary, Helen Cook, named in Hezekiah Anthony's will, whereby it was made to appear to the court that the only parties in interest were the parties named in the original bill, and that the decree for termination of the trust and distribution of the fund was obtained by reason of such fraudulent concealment. *Page 64
The above facts constitute a complete and sufficient allegation of fraud in procuring the decree in the original suit. It was the duty of the trustee to fully advise the court as to all material facts affecting the distribution of the estate upon the determination of the trust.
"It is incumbent upon the trustee to satisfy himself beyond doubt, before he parts with the possession of the property, who are the parties legally and equitably entitled to it." Lewin on Trusts, 12th Ed. 402.
Likewise in instances of the distribution of a trust estate through court proceedings, it is stated that "Whether the trustee be plaintiff or defendant, he should take care before an order is made, that all proper parties are before the court, for if the trustee fail in his duty to point out the proper parties, it might be held that the order of the court under such circumstances did not indemnify him." Lewin on Trusts, 12th Ed. 422. See, also, Perry on Trusts, 6th Ed., § 924; Story Eq. Pl. 10th Ed., § 427.
In Story on Equity Pleadings, 10th Ed., § 426, the author says: "There is no doubt of the jurisdiction of courts of equity to grant relief against a former decree, where the same has been obtained by fraud and imposition; for these will infect judgments at law and decrees of all courts; but they annul the whole in the consideration of courts of equity." . . . Where a decree has been so obtained, the court will restore the parties to their former situation, whatever their rights may be." See, also, to the same general effect, Kerr on Fraud and Mistake, p. 293; Fletcher Eq. Pleading, p. 1005.
A bill impeaching a decree for fraud is an original bill in the nature of a bill of review.
The nature of the bill necessary to obtain relief in cases of this kind is defined in Story's Equity Pleading, 10th Ed., § 426, as follows: "Fourthly; bills impeaching decrees for fraud. A bill of this sort is an original bill in the nature of a bill of review. There is no doubt of the jurisdiction of courts of equity to grant relief against a former decree, *Page 65 where the same has been obtained by fraud and imposition; for these will infect judgments at law and decrees of all courts, but they annul the whole in the consideration of courts of equity. This must be done by original bill."
So in 3 Encyc. Pl. Pr. 608, it is stated as follows: "It is a well settled rule of equity jurisprudence that where a decree has been obtained by fraud or collusion between the parties it may be impeached by an original bill filed for that purpose."
The rule is stated in Daniell's Chancery Pleading Practice, 6th Am. Ed., Vol. II, p. *1584, as follows:
"If a decree has been obtained by fraud, it may be impeached by original bill, without the leave of the court; the fraud used in obtaining the decree being the principal point in issue, and necessary to be established by proof, before the propriety of the decree can be investigated."
A bill to impeach a decree for fraud is an original bill in the nature of a bill of review. Mussel v. Morgan, 3 Bro. Ch. 74; Ex Parte Smith, 34 Ala. 455; Person v. Nevitt, 32 Miss. 180; Seguin v. Maverick, 24 Texas 526[24 Tex. 526]. So in cases where, as in the case at bar, the decree is obtained without making the persons parties to the suit whose rights are affected, such decree is void as to those parties, and the remedy is an original bill in the nature of a bill of review.
In Dunklin v. Harvey, 56 Ala. 177, it was held that a decree in chancery was fraudulent and void as to persons who were not made parties to the suit and whose rights were known to be involved, and that an original bill in the nature of a bill of review, is the proper mode by which to impeach such decree for fraud, at the instance of a stranger to the original suit.
So in Bailey v. Holden, 50 Vt. 14, it was held that a person whose rights had been prejudiced by a decree in a suit to which he was not a party and as to the pendency of which he had no knowledge, might impeach said decree by an original bill for fraud. The real nature of the bill is to be determined by its substance rather than by its mere form. *Page 66
It has been suggested by the defendants that the use of the word "review" in the the prayer of the present bill of complaint and the application to a justice for leave to file the bill, renders it a bill of review and hence subject to the one year limitation. While the use of the word might equally point to the fact of its being an original bill in the nature of a bill of review, nevertheless under the authorities no doubt can arise.
In Ex Parte Smith, 34 Ala. 455, the court said: "The real nature of a bill is to be determined rather by its substance — that is, by its allegations and object — than by the title which the pleader chooses to give it. The bill in this case is called by the complainant, a bill of review. It is obvious, however, that it is not a bill of review, for that cannot be filed, except upon the ground of error on the face of the decree or of new matter which has arisen or been discovered since the publication of testimony in the original suit. Nor is it what is termed a supplemental bill in the nature of a bill of review, for this also is founded upon the occurrence or discovery of new facts. The object of the bill is to impeach a final decree for fraud; and this can only be done by an original bill filed for that purpose. Such a bill is sometimes called an original bill in the nature of a bill of review.
In Berdanatti v. Sexton, 2 Tenn. Ch. 704, the essential difference between a bill of review and an original bill in the nature of a bill of review is aptly stated as follows: "The object and effect of a bill for fraud, even if the fraud consist of want of notice, are to vacate the former decree in toto, not to retry the cause; whereas the object and effect of a bill of review are to reverse the decree, so far as it is erroneous, and to retry the cause upon the original record, or the original and new proof, according as the bill is for error apparent or newly discovered evidence."
In Gordon v. Ross, 63 Ala. 363, 365, the court said: "The objects and effect of a bill of review, and a bill impeaching a decree for fraud, are essentially different." . . . "If entertained as a bill of review, the former decree, so far as *Page 67 erroneous, would be reversed, and the court would proceed to retry the cause, rendering the decree the evidence would authorize. But, if fraud has infected the decree, it must be vacated entirely — there is no retrial of the cause."
One point raised by defendant's demurrers is that this bill is not brought in the proper county. It appears upon inspection of the papers on file that the original suit, in which the decree was entered ordering distribution of the trust fund and which said decree is now attacked by this suit, and sought to be set aside, was brought in the Superior Court in the County of Providence; and that the bill in this cause was filed in the Superior Court in the County of Newport. We think this is quite immaterial. By the Court and Practice Act, under which the Superior Court was created, Chapter 2, § 4, provides "There shall be a Superior Court which shall consist of a presiding justice and five associate justices." (Gen. Laws, 1909, Chap. 273, § 1.) Further sections of the same and other chapters provide for the holding of sessions of the Superior Court by a single justice in one or more places at the same time, and at stated times in the different counties of the state, and this is for the convenience of litigants. But as was said in Paull v. Paull, 30 R.I. 253, 256, "In this State the Superior Court is one court for the entire State." The various sessions in the several counties are held by the same justices; and it is customary for equity causes filed in one county to be heard in another for convenience of the court or parties. In fact it appears that the hearing of this cause, although filed in Newport County, was actually had in Providence, where the original suit was filed. Inasmuch as the complainant in this suit was a non-resident and the principal defendant, Benjamin Hall, Jr., trustee, was a resident of Newport County, this bill was properly filed in Newport County under the provisions of Gen. Laws, R.I., 1909, Chap. 283, § 2. If the decree attacked in this suit is set aside, there is no difficulty in making such an order as shall cause the decree in this suit to appear by way of a certified copy in the records of the County of Providence so *Page 68 as to effectually nullify the decree entered in said County of Providence.
The sole further question of importance in this case is whether the complainant has by the allegations of his bill shown that he has an interest in the disposition of the trust fund formerly held by the defendant, Benjamin Hall, Jr., as trustee for complainant's deceased wife. At the outset, under the will of Hezekiah Anthony, the trust estate consisted of $5,000, and of a house and land in Fall River, Massachusetts. Under the will the trustee was authorized to convert the said house and land into money and reinvest the proceeds. It appears that this conversion was made by the original trustee, and that thereafter and down to the death of the said Helen Cook Quinn, the trust fund consisted solely of money or other personal property and was such at the time when it was finally distributed under the decree of July 10, 1911.
The will of Hezekiah Anthony has been construed in Cook v.Dyer, 17 R.I. 90, wherein it was held that under the provisions of the seventeenth and twenty-second clauses of the will, Helen Cook took an equitable life estate and that upon her decease the property would pass under the last portion of the twenty-second clause of the will. The question as to the parties entitled to take upon the termination of the equitable life estate was not before the court nor considered by it, and is now, for the first time presented for determination.
The contention of the complainant is, that as husband of the life beneficiary, he is entitled to take the entire balance of the trust estate.
The last part of the twenty-second clause of the will is as follows: "In all cases where I have given property in trust for the use and benefit of other persons, and have not specially provided for its disposition on their decease my will is that the trustee holding such property shall on such decease pay and convey the same in fee simple discharged of all trusts to the persons who by the laws of the State of Rhode Island would inherit it had the persons for whose benefit it was so given died seized and possessed thereof in fee." *Page 69
The substantial question involved is the determination of the testator's intent as to the disposition of the trust estate after the death of Helen Cook. The respondents contend that the word "inherit" should be construed in its technical signification, so that the heirs-at-law as such are entitled to the final distribution of the trust fund, and that the complainant is barred from taking at the death of his wife. An examination of the will, however, shows that the word "inherit" was not used in any such sense, but rather as equivalent to "take," it being the intent of the testator that the property should pass as the intestate property of Helen Cook.
It may be admitted that in its strictest technical sense the word "inherit" means to take as an heir-at-law, by descent. While words are to be construed according to their technical meaning whenever possible, nevertheless, the courts have not hesitated to adopt a broader interpretation whenever necessary to effectuate the intent of the testator. Especially is this true in the case of the word "inherit" which is very commonly used to describe some method aside from descent, by which property is taken on one's death.
In Dohn's Exc. v. Dohn, 110 Ky. 884, it was held that the word "inherit" as used in a clause in the will which, after providing that the estate shall be divided in single parts among children or their heirs, provides that the issue of the children dying shall inherit the share of the parent, is not used as a word of limitation to indicate that the issue of the dead child shall take from and through the parent and not from a testator, but loosely in lieu of "take," the court saying (p. 898,) "Indeed, it seems probable that the word inherit is loosely used in lieu of take as frequently occurs in wills."
In Kohl v. Frederick, 115 Iowa, 517, the word "inherit" as used in an antenuptial agreement, evidenced by a writing made after the marriage between the husband and wife, both of whom had children by a former marriage, that neither of the parties should inherit any claim, right or interest in *Page 70 or to any estate of the other, will not be used in its strict technical sense, but in the sense of "take" or "have" and thus the wife was excluded from taking a dower interest in the husband's estate.
In Graham v. Knowles, 140 Pa. St. 325, the court construed a will wherein the testatrix devised and bequeathed, "all my estate, both real and personal, that I shall inherit as my portion after my father's death." The court held that "the word `inherit' was not used in a technical sense, but that it often means `to become possessed of' and in that sense was doubtless employed by the testatrix."
In Hill v. Giles, 201 Pa. St. 215, it was held that the words "shall be inherited by," were used as the equivalent of "go to" or "be received by."
So in Harris v. Dyer, 18 R.I. 540, this court held that the word "inherit" as there used in a will would not be used in its strict sense of taking by descent, but merely as equivalent to "take."
It is evident from the will itself that the testator did not use the word "inherit," in its technical legal significance as denoting the passing of title to real property by descent, and that the prima facie presumption as to the meaning of the word is rebutted by the actual intent of the testator as shown by the internal evidence of the will itself.
The general character of the will does not tend to strengthen any presumption that the words are used in a technical sense. As pointed out by this court in Cook v. Dyer, 17 R.I. 90, this particular will was not drafted in a precise or careful manner, nor with regard to the careful use of words, supposed to be used in a technical sense. Thus the court points out with reference to clauses seventeen and twenty-two of the will, that "The two clauses, instead of coalescing, exhibit an irreconcilable repugnancy, owing to the words of inheritance and representation that are added to said Helen's name," and further, "the clause indicates that the testator used the words `heirs, executors, and administrators,' very indefinitely, and that, at any rate, he did not regard them as *Page 71 words by which the disposition of the trust estates was specially provided for after the decease of the persons for whose benefit they were the more immediately given."
The failure to use words in their strict technical sense, is apparent from an examination of the twenty-second clause in connection with the seventeenth clause of the will. The testator uses the word "inherit" which the respondents claim is used to denote the class who would take title to real property by descent from Helen Cook. It is evident that the testator by this twenty-second clause intended to provide a method for complete disposition of the trust property upon the termination of the life estate. Even at the inception of the trust, said estate consisted in part of personal property, and as to this part, and the accumulations of rents and profits from the real estate, the word "inherit" would have no strict application since no one would "inherit" the personalty, the same passing to the next of kin, or to the surviving husband. Furthermore, the testator by vesting in the trustee an express power to sell the real estate contemplated the conversion of the realty into personalty during the life of the life tenant, in which case the word "inherit" would have no technical applicability. As a matter of fact, as shown by the allegations of the bill, the power of sale was exercised by the trustee during the life time of the life beneficiary and the trust property at the time of her decease had been actually and entirely converted into personalty in the form of cash and securities.
That the testator contemplated that the trust estate would be personalty either in whole or in part, at the time of the death of Helen Cook, is shown by the direction that upon such decease, the trustee holding such property shall "pay" and "convey." Obviously the word "pay" can have no application other than to personalty as to which the word "inherit" in its strictest legal sense is without significance.
It is an established rule of construction that where the estate to be divided is in the form of personalty the words "heirs" or "heirs-at-law" shall be held to mean those entitled to succeed to personal estate in case of intestacy. *Page 72
Thus in Lawrence v. Crane, 158 Mass. 392, the will provided "When my estate shall finally be disposed of by my said trustees, or the survivor of them, and all collections made that can be made, then my said trustees, or the survivor of them, shall dispose of the net proceeds in their hands by dividing the same among my heirs-at-law as provided for by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts." The court said: "When it is contemplated that real estate shall be changed into money before going to the heirs-at-law, then those words are held to mean those entitled to succeed to personal estate in case of intestacy."
In Kendall v. Gleason, 152 Mass. 457, the court said: "On the death of Stillman A. Gleason the trust terminated as to his share, which then immediately became payable `to his legal heirs.' The will contemplated a change of the real estate to personal property in the hands of the trustees, and that it should go to the heirs in the form of personal property. The words `legal heirs' must, therefore, be construed to mean those who would take personal property under the statute of distribution."
So in Houghton v. Kendall, 7 Allen, 72, it was held that where the word "heirs" is used in a gift of personalty it should primarily be held to refer, not to those who would take realty by descent, but to those who would be entitled to take intestate estate of the person whose "heirs" they are called.
The inference as to the intent of the testator in these cases is aptly stated in White v. Stansfield, 146 Mass. 424, 436, as follows: "Where a testator establishes a fund consisting of personal property for the purpose of providing an income for life for his son, and this is apparently his principal object, and when after his son's decease he directs it to be paid over to the son's `heirs-at-law,' his intention is not so much to make a bequest of it, or direct further how it shall go, as it is to surrender the disposition of the fund, as if it were actually the son's, to those upon whom the law would in such case devolve it." *Page 73
In regard to these cases last above cited it is to be noted that in Lawrence v. Crane, Kendall v. Gleason, and White v.Stansfield, supra, where the words "heirs-at-law" were used, it was nevertheless held that not only the next of kin under the statute of distributions, but also the "widow, as a person entitled under the statute" would be entitled to share in the fund to be distributed.
For other cases where the word "heirs," used in a will relating to the disposition of personal property, has been held to mean those entitled under statutes of distribution as in case of intestacy, and including widows; see Wright v. MethodistChurch, 1 Hoff. Ch. N.Y. 202, 212; Freeman v. Knight,37 N.C. 72; Hascall v. Cox, 49 Mich. 435; Corbitt v.Corbitt, 54 N.C. 114; Kiser v. Kiser, 55 N.C. 28; Eddings v. Long, 10 Ala. 203; Jacobs v. Prescott, 102 Me. 63;Trenton Trust, c., Co. v. Donnelly, 65 N.J. Eq. 119; West'sEstate, 214 Pa. St. 35.
It has likewise been repeatedly held that, under a settlement in trust or a will disposing of personal property, using the word "heirs," the husband of a beneficiary is entitled to the wife's interest as in case of intestacy, where the statute gives him the right to her intestate property or a portion thereof; Sweet v.Dutton, 109 Mass. 589. "In cases where the word `heirs' in deed or will has been construed to mean distributees of personal property under the statute of distributions, and that statute has given the whole or a part of the personal property of a deceased husband or wife to the wife or the husband, they have taken the property in the same manner as under the statute." Lavery v.Egan, 143 Mass. 389, 393. See, also, Lincoln v. Perry,149 Mass. 368, 374; International Trust Co. v. Williams,183 Mass. 173; Gray v. Whittemore, 192 Mass. 367, 381-383; Eby'sAppeal, 84 Pa. St. 241, 246; Turner v. Burr, 141 Mich. 106, 110.
The language used by the testator at the conclusion of the twenty-second clause of the will, and which has already been decided to be applicable to the final disposition of the trust fund held for the benefit of Helen Cook (Quinn), *Page 74 (see Cook v. Dyer, supra), is as follows: "In all cases where I have given property in trust for the use and benefit of other persons and have not specially provided for its disposition on their decease my will is that the trustee holding such property shall on such decease pay and convey the same in fee simple discharged of all trusts to the persons who by the laws of the State of Rhode Island would inherit it had the persons for whose benefit it was so given died seized and possessed thereof in fee."
The trust fund, as above shown, was all personal property, the real estate originally included therein having been lawfully converted into personal estate by the first trustee long before the death of the beneficiary and so remaining. The above quoted language plainly shows the testator's intention that the trust fund should, after the death of Helen Cook Quinn, be paid over to the persons who would take the same had Mrs. Quinn been possessed of the fund in her own right at the time of her decease, had she died intestate.
Gen. Laws of R.I., 1909, Chap. 312, § 10, provides as follows: "Sec. 10. Administration of the estate of a person dying intestate shall be granted as follows:" — . . . "Second. If the deceased was a married woman, to her husband, if competent, who shall not be compelled to distribute the surplus of the personal estate, after payment of her debts, but shall be entitled to retain the same for his own use."
Substantially the same statute was in force at the time of the making of testator's will and of the probate thereof, and has continued in force ever since. (Pub. Stat. R.I., 1882, Chap. 184, Sec. 7.) This statute was considered in Kenyon v.Saunders, 18 R.I. 590, and was held to be a reenactment of the Statute of 29 Charles II, and to be declaratory of the common law rule, that "Under the common law the personal estate of the wife became the husband's and on her death he could administer on her estate and retain the surplus after paying her funeral charges; and if another administered he held the surplus as trustee for the husband;" the only changes brought about by subsequent legislation being *Page 75 power in the wife to dispose of her personal estate by will, and the liability of her estate for her debts. See, also, Castwell v. Robinson, 21 R.I. 193.
In view of these authorities it is beyond question that if Helen Cook Quinn had been possessed in her own right of this trust fund at the time of her death, it would have gone to her husband, the complainant in this case, under the statute above quoted; and that, under the terms of the will as above set forth, such must be deemed to have been the testator's intention. This statute gives to the husband the exclusive right to the surplus of the personal estate of his deceased intestate wife, and it is immaterial that such provision is not contained in the statute of descent and distribution, so-called. Careful examination of the briefs for the several defendants discloses nothing which in any wise tends to affect our opinion as above expressed as to any point discussed. We find that the Superior Court erred in sustaining the several demurrers to the bill and in dismissing the bill by the decree from which the appeal is taken. The complainant is entitled to the fund formerly held by the trustee, Benjamin Hall, Jr., for the benefit of Helen Cook Quinn, and should have been made a party to the original bill for the termination of the trust and for the disposition of the trust fund.
The decree appealed from is reversed; the complainant is entitled to the relief prayed for in his bill, and may present a decree for the approval of this court in accordance with this opinion.