Wheeling Dollar Savings & Trust Co. v. Singer

Neely, Justice:*

These appeals present a question of first impression with regard to the doctrine of equitable adoption and arise from a declaratory judgment proceeding in the Circuit Court of Ohio County instituted by Wheeling Dollar Savings & Trust Co., to determine the proper distribution of a trust corpus. Amelia A. Welshans died January 19, 1923 and Item 3 of her will directed the executor to reduce the residue of the estate to cash and distribute it as follows:

Unto my sister Ada Hardman, I give and bequeath a one-sixth (1/6) part of such balance; unto my brother Benjamin Martin, I give…