Humes v. United States (276 U.S. 487)


Humes v. United States (276 U.S. 487)
by Louis Brandeis
Syllabus
877390Humes v. United States (276 U.S. 487) — SyllabusLouis Brandeis
Court Documents

United States Supreme Court

276 U.S. 487

Humes  v.  United States (276 U.S. 487)

 Argued: March 9, 1928. --- Decided: April 9, 1928

Under Revenue Act 1918, § 403, par.(a), subpar. 3 (Comp. St. § 6336 3/4 d), present value of contingent bequests to charities in will, as determined by combination and adjustment of mortality tables as to whether 15 year old girl would marry, or, if she did, would die without issue before age of 30, 35, or 40, is not deductible from gross amount in determining value of net estate in computing estate tax, since neither taxpayer nor revenue officer could do more than guess at value of contingency.

Mr. A. Lowry Humes, of New York City, for petitioners.

[Argument of Counsel from page 488 intentionally omitted]

Mr. W. D. Mitchell, Sol. Gen., of Washington, D. C., for the United states.

[Argument of Counsel from page 489 intentionally omitted]

Mr. Justice BRANDEIS delivered the opinion of the Court.

Notes edit

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States federal government (see 17 U.S.C. 105).

Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse