Estate of Edwards

STONE (S.J.), P.J.

The subject of this appeal is the interpretation of a provision in a will disposing of the principal of a residuary trust. We conclude that the trial court's interpretation of this provision is erroneous, and reverse.

Anna Edwards (Anna) died in 1931; she left no spouse or children, and had three brothers.

In a will executed in 1930, she created a residuary trust which reads as follows in pertinent part: "EIGHTH: All the rest, residue, and remainder of my property, real, personal, and mixed, and wheresoever the same may be situate [ sic ] or being, I give, devise and bequeath to Security-First National Bank of Los Angeles, a corporation, in trust nevertheless for the following uses and purposes: To collect, hold, manage, sell, lease, control and possess, invest and re-invest the same, and pay the net income therefrom to the following persons and in proportions as follows: ... [¶] One-seventh thereof to my niece, Abby Edwards Randall; [¶] One-seventh thereof to my niece, Dorothy Edwards; [¶] One-seventh thereof to my niece, Margaret E. Agnew; [¶] One-seventh thereof to my niece, Miriam B. Edwards; [¶] One-seventh thereof to my grand-niece, Patricia A.…