Edward Douglass White

“ Where it is possible to give a meaning, we should give it, that the will of the testator may be operative; and, where two or more meanings are presented for consideration, we must be well assured that there is no sort of argument in favor of one view rather than another, before we reject the whole. ”

“ It is true the heir at law shall only be disinherited by clear intention; but, if there be ever so little reason in favor of one construction of a devise rather than any other, we are, at least, sure that this is nearer the intention of the testator than that the whole should be void and the heir let in. ”

“ The intention of the testatrix as shown by the entire codicil is greatly fortified by considering that the context of the will and codicil establish, beyond cavil, that they were written by one familiar with the technical legal terms, and hence that the provisions found in both instruments were carefully made to conform to legal phraseology. Now, the thing revoked is called in the codicil 'the bequest' made in the will, which contradistinguishes it from the bequest and devise of 'all the residue and remainder' of the estate of the testatrix 'of whatever kind,' which the will contains. ”