Ambruster v. Sutton

244 S.W.2d 65, 362 Mo. 740, 1951 Mo. LEXIS 697
CourtSupreme Court of Missouri
DecidedNovember 12, 1951
DocketNo. 42229
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 244 S.W.2d 65 (Ambruster v. Sutton) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ambruster v. Sutton, 244 S.W.2d 65, 362 Mo. 740, 1951 Mo. LEXIS 697 (Mo. 1951).

Opinion

WESTHUES, C.

Plaintiff Robert J. Ambruster filed this suit to contest the last will and testament of Edith E. Ambruster, deceased. It was alleged in the petition that the testatrix' was on the day she signed the purported avíII, thát is, September 29, 1948, of unsound mind. A trial resulted in a Addict that the paper writing offered in evidence Avas not the last will and testament of Edith E. Ambruster. From the judgment entered an appeal was taken. It was stipulated that the amount in dispute was over $250,000, thereby vesting this court with appellate jurisdiction.

Edith E. Ambruster died June 3, 1949; she Avas the AAÚdow of William Ambruster who died in 1916. Plaintiff, who was their only child, was born in August, 1894. Ruth Fleming Hollocher when an infant was taken into the Ambrusters’ home and reared by them. She was named as a defendant in this case but joined plaintiff in asking that the will be declared void. All of the persons mentioned in the will were made defendants. Marguerite Reno Sutton, a niece, Susie Cameron, and the Salvation Army Avere the principal beneficiaries. Lucy Eynck was given $5,000 and Alice Filkins was given $1,000. Rolla Lake and Myrtle Lake were mentioned in the will but were not given any bequest. Frank E. Morris, the administrator c. t. a., was also named as a defendant. The two respondents, plaintiff Robert J. Ambruster and the defendant Ruth Fleming Hollocher, [747]*747were mentioned in Articles I and II of tbe will. These articles read as follows:

“I.
“I am the mother of only one child, Robert J. Ambruster, and he is not to share in any part of my estate, although he does have my forgiveness.
“II.
“I took into my home, in her infancy, and reared one Ruth Fleming ITollocher, although she ivas never adopted by me, and it is my desire that she take nothing under this will.”

Marguerite Reno Sutton and the Salvation Army appealed from the judgment.

The principal point briefed by appellants pertains to the question of the sufficiency of the evidence to support the verdict. It is appellants’ contention that the question of mental capacity on the part of the testatrix should not have been submitted to a jury. Appellants say further that their instruction withdrawing from the jury the question of insane delusions should have been given. A few points were briefed as to the admission of evidence given by expert witnesses and the inclusion of matters in hypothetical questions.

William Ambruster, the husband of testatrix, established and conducted an undertaking business in the City of St. Louis. This business was incorporated in 1915. The shares, 20 in number, were divided among the family: AVilliam Ambruster 15, the testatrix 3, and plaintiff received 2 shares. William Ambruster died intestate. Testatrix and her son, the plaintiff, continued to operate the business. Plaintiff was paid a salary. A dispute arose as to the ownership of the shares in the corporation and plaintiff filed suit against his mother. The case was decided by this court in September, 1930. The court decreed that Mrs. Ambruster was entitled to 10.875 shares and the plaintiff was entitled to 9.125 shares of the corporate stock. This court also held that Mrs. Ambruster owed her son, the plaintiff, the sum of $2,475 as representing dividends. See Ambruster v. Ambruster, 326 Mo. 51, 31 S. W. (2d) 28. Mrs. Ambruster paid the judgment of $2,475 but disregarded her son’s share in the corporation as decreed by this court. Plaintiff, her son, did not attempt further to enforce his rights. Thereafter the plaintiff established an undertaking business of his own and Mrs. Ambruster continued to operate the business of the' William Ambruster Undertaking Company.

The evidence reveals that the testatrix was a woman of business ability and of a domineering nature. She was an active member of the Eastern Star, attended many of its conventions, and served a term as Grand Matron. She successfully operated two funeral homes for many years, one at 4053 Lindell Avenue and another at 4234 [748]*748Manchester Avenue. Henry A. Hamilton acted as her legal advisor in business matters. He had been the attorney for her husband. Except for the time that Hamilton served as a circuit judge in the 'City of St. Louis, he was a trusted friend and advisor of the testatrix. During the years often referred to as “the depression,” Mrs. Ambruster was heavily indebted. She owned much real estate which was mortgaged. Hamilton’s advice was often sought and he aided the testatrix in successfully bridging the depression to her financial advantage. The relations between testatrix and her son during all of these years were a little strained, not to the point of being unfriendly, however. They were on speaking terms and on one occasion when plaintiff was on a vacation, testatrix wrote her son many letters of a friendly nature. She was always concerned when she did not hear from plaintiff on her birthdays or on other occasions when friendly greetings were in order. There is no evidence that prior to 1946 either spoke ill of the other. There is evidence that testatrix objected to her son’s marriage; he was a competitor and he had dared to assert his ownership of stock in the William Ambruster Corporation which he had inherited from his father. The evidence justified the conclusion that Mrs. Ambruster secretly loved her son, in fact to a degree that she did not want to share his love — hence her objection to his marriage. One witness who had been in the employ of Mrs. Ambruster for many years described testatrix as a person who wanted “to possess you body and soul.” That she was pf a domineering nature is evidenced by the fact that she totally ignored the decree of this court in the above-ease as to the interest her son had in the William Ambruster Corporation.

There is no evidence in this, case that the testatrix brooded to an unusual extent over her husband’s death. We do not mean this as any reflection upon Mrs. Ambruster. The evidence justifies the statement that she accepted this unfortunate event in her life with courage and bravery. She carried on the business her husband had established and otherwise made herself a useful, active, and good citizen.

With the above background of the life of Mrs. Ambruster, leading up to the years 1945 and 1946, we come to the evidence on the question of whether she was of sound mind on September 29, 1948. She was 74 years old in 1946. Many witnesses testified that in 1945 and 1946 a change was noticed in the attitude of Mrs. Ambruster toward things in general. Mrs. Ambruster was a heavy woman; she suffered with arthritis, and used a cane to aid her in getting about. A maid who had been in her employ for a number of years testified that Mrs. Ambruster threatened to commit suicide a number of times; that on two occasions she attempted to commit suicide by inhaling gas fumes; that on one occasion she found her leaning over the gas stove with all [749]*749of the burners on but not lighted and papers so arranged that she could inhale the fumes.

On one occasion in 1947 she told Hamilton that there was no purpose in living any longer; that she had been to the cemetery where her husband was buried and she wished someone would come along and end her life so she could be with her husband.

The maid above referred to also testified that at times the testatrix would drink to excess; that the maid-was requested to prepare the drinks.

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Bluebook (online)
244 S.W.2d 65, 362 Mo. 740, 1951 Mo. LEXIS 697, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ambruster-v-sutton-mo-1951.