Adams v. Jeffcoat
| Decision Date | 19 May 1949 |
| Docket Number | 4 Div. 522. |
| Citation | 41 So.2d 183,252 Ala. 501 |
| Parties | ADAMS v. JEFFCOAT et al. |
| Court | Alabama Supreme Court |
Rehearing Denied June 30, 1949.
John W. Rish, of Dothan, for appellant.
J Hubert Farmer, of Dothan, for appellees.
Charles F. Jeffcoat, a resident citizen of Houston County, Alabama departed this life September 30, 1943, leaving a last will and testament in words and figures as follows:
'That I, C. F. Jeffcoat of Gordon, Houston County, Alabama, do hereby make and declare this to be my last will and testament, revoking any and all wills heretofore made by me at any time.
'1. I give and bequeath to my wife, Roxie B Jeffcoat, all of my property, real, personal or mixed, of which I die seized and possessed or to which I may be entitled at my death, subject however, to the following limitations:
'My said wife, Roxie B. Jeffcoat, shall have only a life estate in and to all real estate left by me. It is my desire that she shall use said property during her life time for the benefit and good of herself and my two blind children, viz Lillian Jeffcoat and Paul Jeffcoat. It is further my desire that if in the judgment and opinion of my said wife it shall become necessary to use any standing timber on said lands for the support and welfare of herself and the two said blind children, than she may sell any such standing timber or any part thereof as may be necessary for said purpose; likewise, she shall have the right and privilege of using said timber for the proper repair and upkeep of the permanent improvements of said land.
'2. At the death of my wife, it is my desire that said property bequeathed as aforesaid shall be divided equally among such of my four children as may be living at the time of said wife's decease, except that I wish to give ten dollars ($10.00) each to the children of any child of mine who is dead at the decease of my said wife. The said four children just referred to are Clio Jeffcoat, Lillian Jeffcoat, Alton Jeffcoat and Paul Jeffcoat.
'I nominate and appoint my said wife, Roxie B. Jeffcoat, to be the sole executrix of my estate and I hereby direct that she be exempted from giving an official bond.'
The will was duly probated and letters testamentary issued to the widow, Roxie B. Jeffcoat.
At the time of his death, decedent owned and was in possession of approximately five hundred acres of land in Houston County, Alabama, some seventy-five to ninety acres being in cultivation and the balance in standing timber.
On February 2, 1945, the widow, Roxie B. Jeffcoat, for and in consideration of the sum of $1,143.67, granted, bargained, demised, sold and leased to complainant, his heirs and assigns, all and singular, the timber suitable for turpentine purposes on two hundred and forty acres of said land with free use and enjoyment of the timber for turpentine purposes for and during the term of six years from that date. Complainant took possession of said land and timber and worked the same for turpentine purposes until the death of Roxie B. Jeffcoat, which occurred about December 1947. Since the death of Roxie B. Jeffcoat, appellees, the four children of C. F. and Roxie B. Jeffcoat, have undertaken to terminate the lease to appellant, denying his right, title or interest in the timber growing on the two hundred and forty acres of land, and forbidding appellant to further work said timber for turpentine purposes.
Under and by virtue of sections 156, et seq., Title 7, Code of 1940, appellant filed a bill of complaint in the Circuit Court, in equity, of Houston County seeking a declaration of the rights under the lease contract executed by Roxie B. Jeffcoat during her lifetime, and which contract had some three years to run at the time of her death.
The trial court simply denied the relief prayed for and dismissed the bill of complaint. Although we think complainant was entitled to a more specific declaration of rights under the pleading and proof, we take it that the denial of relief and dismissal of the bill is, in effect, a holding that the will of C. F. Jeffcoat did not give to his widow the power or authority to lease the standing timber for turpentine purposes. The parties so treat the decree on appeal, and we will so consider it.
As stated by appellant, 'the pleadings present only one issue on this appeal, viz., Did Roxie Jeffcoat, as trustee have the power and authority under the terms and provisions of the identified will to sell and deliver to the appellant the right and privilege of using a part of the timber upon the...
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Bell v. Killian
...surrounding him at the time of the execution of the will. Patterson v. First National Bank of Mobile, supra; Adams v. Jeffcoat, 252 Ala. 501, 503, 41 So.2d 183; Smith v. Nelson, 249 Ala. 51, 55, 29 So.2d 335; George v. Widemire, 242 Ala. 579, 7 So.2d 269. Further, the court will consider th......
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Love v. Rennie, 7 Div. 18
...7, Code 1940; Fillmore v. Yarbrough, 246 Ala. 375, 20 So.2d 792; Montgomery v. Montgomery, 236 Ala. 161, 181 So. 92; Adams v. Jeffcoat et al., 252 Ala. 501, 41 So.2d 183. But in both the cases last cited the will had been probated before the jurisdiction of the equity court was sought for a......
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Ide v. Harris, 7 Div. 237
...he executed the will. Thomas v. Reynolds, 234 Ala. 212, 174 So. 753; Kimbrough v. Dickinson, 247 Ala. 324, 24 So.2d 424; Adams v. Jeffcoat, 252 Ala. 501, 41 So.2d 183. * * * * * 'In connection with the procedure relating to the interpretation of wills, certain legal principles have been edu......
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