
    WILLS.
    [Hamilton (1st) Circuit Court,
    March 6, 1909.]
    Giffen, Smith and Swing, JJ.
    George H. Bishop, Exr., v. Charles Rider et al.
    “Next of Kin” be Construed in Technical Sense, Where it is not Known-Whet her Certain Relatives are Living or Dead.
    Where it appears that a testator was uncertain as to whether certain relatives were living or dead, it will he presumed, in the absence of any reference to the statute of descent and distribution, that he intended by the use of the words “next of kin” to designate a particular class of persons related to him in an equal degree of consanguinity.
    
      Yeatman & Yeatman and E. C. Pyle, for the executor.
    Frank Dinsmore, for Charles Rider.
    RobertRamsey, for cousins of the testatrix.
   GIFFEN, J.

’ The only question involved in this case is the construction of item eighteen of'the last will and testament of Julia C. Giles, deceased, which is as follows:

“And lastly all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal of whatsoever kind or nature, I give, devise and bequeath to my next of kin, their heirs and assigns forever.”

It appears from the pleadings and the evidence that the defendant, Charles Rider, an uncle of the testatrix, is one of the next of kin, •and that it was unknown to her and is ;even now unknown to the defendant, •Charles Rider, and the executor whether the :two aunts, ..Harriet Ryder and Isabella Ryder, are living or dead, the presumption, therefore, in the absence of any reference in the will to the statute •of descent and distribution, is that the words “next of kin” were used in their technical sense to designate a particular class of persons related to the testatrix in an equal degree of consanguinity, and do not imply the principle of representation. Clayton v. Drake, 17 Ohio St. 368; Mooney v. Purpus, 70 Ohio St. 57, 65 [70 N. E. Rep. 894].

Decree accordingly.

Smith and Swing, JJ., concur.  