Sommerville Estate

Lefever, J.,

This is one of the most vexing and controversial cases which has been before this court in the past 13 years.11 cannot bring myself to agree with the conclusion finally reached by the majority that the last 26 words of the 54-word residuary clause of testatrix’ one-page will should be interpreted to be meaningless or unnecessary surplusage, so as to give the bulk of her estate to the children of a deceased stranger to her blood rather than to her only child and next of kin under the intestate law.2

It is well settled that a will must be so interpreted as to give meaning to all of…