Meckley's Estate
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Appeal from the decree of the Orphans’ Court of Lehigh county. The material question in dispute in this case related to the construction of a part of'the •will of John Meckley, Senior. The portion of the will in question was as follows :— “I give and bequeath unto my son John, his heirs and assigns, for ever, the plantation which he has in possession, about 92 acres, in Lancaster county.
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Appeal from the decree of the Orphans’ Court of Lehigh county. The material question in dispute in this case related to the construction of a part of'the •will of John Meckley, Senior. The portion of the will in question was as follows :— “I give and bequeath unto my son John, his heirs and assigns, for ever, the plantation which he has in possession, about 92 acres, in Lancaster county. He shall pay thirty dollars for each and every acre; on the first day of April, each year, one hundred dollars, until the whole amount is paid; and there is a dower on the aforesaid plantation which my son…
1Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
Black, C. J.
Here were exceptions filed by a husband to protect the rights of his wife against an auditor’s report upon the estate of her deceased father. An objection is made that he had no authority to meddle with the business. But this is a mistake. It is not only the right but the duty of a husband to conduct the legal affairs of his wife. What if he has no immediate personal interest in her property which is the subject of litigation ? The marriage relation makes him her guardian, and he needs no letter of attorney to authorize him to defend her…
2Cited by2 opinions
- Monongahela Natural Gas Co. v. Ellwood Natural Gas & Oil Co.Superior Court of Pennsylvania · 1910
- Potter v. GrimmSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1915