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23 Iowa 306

Dodds v. Dodds

Supreme Court of Iowa

Decided December 9, 1867

Supreme Court of Iowa · decided 1867-12-09

Thomas Dodds died intestate, in Henry county, on the 2'lst of February, 1865, without issue, leaving surviving him his. widow, the plaintiff herein, his mother, Sarah, and five brothers and sisters, the present defendants and appellants. In October, 1866, the mother released and transferred to defendants all her interest in the personal estate of the said. decedent.

Decided 1867-12-09

Wright, 'J.

¶1The ease of Burns v. Keas (21 Iowa, 257) related to real property. The statute, however, declares that personal property shall be distributed to the same persons and in the same proportions as though it were real estate. Rev. § 2422. It was there held that the surviving husband — in this case the widow, for the same rule obtains (Rev. §§ 2477, 2479; Laws 1862, ch. 151, §§ 1, 3) — was entitled, there being no issue, to one-half, and the sisters, etc., of the deceased, to the other half of the estate. In other words the construction given to the statute was that the widow did not take both by dower and descent. And that case is decisive of this. Upon the suggestion of appellee’s counsel, the question has been re-examined, and we see no reason for changing the former ruling. It is proper to remark that the chief justice did not, nor does he now, differ from a majority of the court upon this point. His non-concurrence related alone to the rule governing the descent of the homestead.

¶2Beversed.

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