Crawford v. Crawford

Francis A. Crawford (Francis I) died on 27 April 1922, leaving a will executed three days earlier. Nearly 50 years later, there came a time when the dispositive paragraph of the will came before the Circuit Court for Carroll County for construction. This appeal, brought by Francis I’s widow in her individual capacity and as executrix and by his only surviving son, challenges the result reached below.

In March 1971, Jessie Ethel Crawford (Mrs. Crawford), widow of Francis I, in the exercise of what she thought was a right conferred upon her by her husband’s will, had conveyed to a trustee title…