1. The testator's intent should be gathered from the whole will, but in ascertaining such intent the application of well established rules of construction must be considered.
2. It is a rule that all words contained in a will must be given effect so far as possible; that doubts must be resolved in favor of the testator having said what he meant; and that when words are plain and clear when read in their ordinary sense, they must control.
3. Where a testator has manifested an intent to vest an absolute fee-simple in the first taker, a subsequent limitation thereof is void as inconsistent with the rights of the first taker.
4. The first and second clauses of the testator's will gave to his wife an estate in fee in the testator's entire estate if she remained unmarried, or in one-third of it in case she should remarry. The third clause gave the estate to his children, share and share alike, after the decease of the wife. Held, the wife is entitled to possession of all the estate, as owner in fee, of which the testator died seized and possessed, subject to being divested of two-thirds thereof, in the event of her remarriage.
PER CURIAM.
The decree appealed from will be affirmed, for the reasons given in the opinion of Vice-Chancellor Fielder.
For affirmance — THE CHIEF-JUSTICE, TRENCHARD, PARKER, LLOYD, BODINE, DALY, VAN BUSKIRK, KAYS, HETFIELD, DEAR, WELLS, KERNEY, JJ. 12.
For reversal — CAMPBELL, CASE, DONGES, JJ. 3.