Ogle v. Stoops

Perkins, J.

Solomon Hasted died the owner of a tract of land situate in the state of Indiana. He left surviving him a second wife, to whom he had been married about *381 one year, and by whom he had had one child, which died soon after its birth, and before the death of said Solomon. Said Solomon left surviving him children and heirs at law by his first wife, but none by his second.

G. H. Voss, for the appellants.

The only question in this suit is, whether his second wife takes a fee or a life estate in one-third of her deceased husband’s land.

By § 18, 1 R. S. p. 250, it is enacted that if a widow marry a second time, and die, leaving children by a former husband, all real estate held by her, in virtue of her previous marriage, shall go to such children.

And by § 24, p. 251, of the same volume, it is enacted that if a man marry a second or other subsequent wife, and has, by her, no children, but .has children alive, by a previous wife, the land owned by him at his death shall go to his children, subject to a life estate in one-third of it, of such second or subsequent wife.

It thus appears that the legislature intended, as a general proposition, that the children of previous marriages should take the real estate of their deceased parent, in preference to subsequent husbands or wives. This is strictly equitable. The only exception made is, where a husband leaves children, or a child, surviving him, by the second, or any subsequent wife. The exception is not in a case where the husband has had children, or a child, by such second or subsequent wife, but where he has a child or children at the time of his death.

This is the fair construction of the statute, and accords with the decision in Martindale v. Martindale, 10 Ind. R. 566.

' Per Curiam.— The judgment is reversed with costs. Cause remanded with instructions to the Court below to proceed accordingly.