Burnham v. Grant

24 Colo. App. 131
CourtColorado Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 12, 1913
DocketNo. 3572
StatusPublished

This text of 24 Colo. App. 131 (Burnham v. Grant) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Colorado Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Burnham v. Grant, 24 Colo. App. 131 (Colo. Ct. App. 1913).

Opinion

Hurlbut, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

Action begun in Teller district court January 7, 1909. We .have read with painstaking care the entire abstract of record, seven hundred, pages. The record discloses a hotly contested controversy over the probating of a will, and we are not surprised to find the evidence decidedly conflicting upon the material issues. The law has imposed a duty upon the trial judge or jury of .determining all issues of facts. That duty was performed in this case by a lawful jury, which decided the issues in favor of the proponents of the will. The verdict of the jury and decree of the court were to the effect' that the paper or writing in controversy was the last will and testament of Prank J. Burnham, deceased.

It now becomes our duty to examine the record and ascertain therefrom whether or not any reversible error was committed by the trial court in the proceedings before it.

Appellants (contestors) in their petition allege that the writing was not the last will and testament of the testator; that at the time of its signing testator was in a dying condition, unconscious, irrational, and unable to know and understand the contents or purpbrt of the same; that he never became conscious or rational after the said writing was prepared and presented to him, and if he did sign such writing he did so by reason of persuasion, arguments, physical effort, and undue influence of other persons; that he was not at the time of sound mind and memory, and had not been of sound mind and memory for several years prior to that time.

[134]*134The answer of appellees (proponents) formed issue upon each of the above allegations. As to the truth of such allegations the verdict of the jury indicates they were not sustained. Some thirty witnesses testified, but no good purpose would be accomplished by separately commenting' on their testimony. There is sufficient evidence to support the verdict. A verdict for contestors could be equally sustained by the evidence.

Frank J. Burnham, the testator, left surviving him as sole heirs at law, a brother living in California and sister living in New Hampshire. The evidence tends to show that from early in 1902 up to. February 24, 1909, the testator had been living continuously with the Nevitt family at Florissant, Colorado, and during all that time had been treated by them as though he were a member thereof; that he was of an advanced age (68 years) and was seriously crippled by reason of an accident which had resulted in a broken leg; that for about nine'or ten months after he joined the family he used a cane in walking, and was incapacitated by reason of the accident from performing any physical labor of moment; that while living with the family he was ill a number of times, sometimes being confined to his bed; that during such illness his meals were provided for him and generally taken to his sick chamber by Mary Rebecca Nevitt, the devisee; that during all of the six years residence with the family he at all times was treated with kindness ■ and consideration by the various members thereof, was furnished by Mary Rebecca Nevitt and her husband with food, shelter and necessary clothing, and at times with modest amounts of money; that some time after joining the family testator volunteered to work for Mr. and Mrs. Nevitt (who were at that time conducting a hotel); that he cut and carried wood, carried water, went on errands, and performed other services of like nature in and about the hotel; that two or three months before testator’s [135]*135death the hotel occupied by the Nevitts was burned to the ground, after which they occupied other houses in Florissant, but he continued to make his home with them in their new abodes; that testator at all times spoke in kind and appreciative. terms of the Nevitts, particularly of Mary Rebecca Nevitt, often addressing her as “Aunt Nevitt,” or “Aunt Becky”; that during his entire residence with the family the utmost harmony and friendship existed between them and the testator; that testator at different times had stated to disinterested persons that the Nevitts’ domicile was his only home, and they would get what little he had in case anything happened to him; that the only moneys received by testator during his six years’ residence with the Nevitts was about $400, and' at his death he had in his possession about $75; that prior to the time he joined the Nevitts he received $2,000 from the sale of his ranch, but lost the same in ill-advised investments; that during his entire residence with them he received no moneys or support from either his brother or sister with the exception of a dollar or so sent him by his sister at Christmas time on several occasions; that before joining the Nevitts he was in the county hospital under treatment for the accident mentioned; that testator was of the impression that his brother did not care much about him, and was not much interested in what he did, or what his condition was; that his sister was not very much interested in his welfare; that the executor, Grant, at the request of testator, wrote the will and read the same to him before it was signed, and that shortly after testator signed the will May Horrigan had a conversation with him in which he gave her the names arid addresses of his brother and sister, and stated he did not want her to telegraph them at that time, as he thought he would be better in the morning. The evidence further tends to show that testator’s mental faculties were normal at the time, and for a considerable [136]*136period before the will was signed, and that he knew he was devising all his property to Mary Bebecca Nevitt, and thus disinheriting his brother and sister. We are unable to find anything in the record showing that Mr. Grant, Mary Bebecca Nevitt, or anyone else, used any undue influence to induce him to sign the will, or any physical or other force to compel him to do so. The evidence does not suggest moral turpitude on the part of Grant, or any of the Nevitts, by reason of anything done or said by them concerning the making and execution of the will. We do not overlook the fact that at and just prior to the time the will was signed by the testator, the five persons around his bedside were all relatives of the devisee, Mary Bebecca Nevitt. It is reasonable to presume this fact was impressed upon the minds of the jury in argument. They were authorized to, and probably did, scrutinize with caution the testimony of such relatives bearing upon the circumstances surrounding the execution of the will. Under such circumstances the law does not impute to relatives or interested witnesses less honor or integrity than that possessed by other classes of witnesses. Experience, however, has taught that such witnesses áre more prone to be influenced by their personal interests or kindred ties, in giving testimony, than would be'the case if they were entirely disinterested or indifferent witnesses. Courts generally direct an attentive ear, and give vigilant attention, to testimony of such witnesses, and are quick to detect fraud or undue influence if suggested by evidence adduced at a judicial inquiry into Executions of wills. If impressed that bad faith is shown, they will promptly interpose and prevent the threatened wrong. There is no more shocking fraud known in human affairs than that effectuated by inducing one to convey or will away his property against his will or consent, while under the influence of artifice, un[137]*137lawful persuasion, or duress practiced upon him by those «who profit thereby.

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Bluebook (online)
24 Colo. App. 131, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/burnham-v-grant-coloctapp-1913.