Chase v. Smith

153 N.E. 452, 257 Mass. 252, 1926 Mass. LEXIS 1320

• Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
• Decided: October 14, 1926
• Status: Published

Opinion

By the Court.

This is a petition in equity to determine the ownership of a bank book. James F. Chase, the testator, had a deposit in a savings bank in his own name. On December 7, 1923, he changed the deposit to the account of “William R. Chase or James F. Chase or the survivor.” There was testimony to the effect that the testator told William R. Chase what he had done about the deposit in the savings bank, and that William R. Chase assented to the deposit and thanked him for his kindness, and that the testator stated to a third person that he had deposited money in the savings bank for William R. Chase, after having thought it all over carefully. The treasurer of the savings bank testified “that he informed James F. Chase on the date that he transferred the money to a joint account and before said transfer that either he or William would have a right to it and that it was subject to attachment against either and that James F. Chase thoroughly understood what he was doing when he made the transfer.” William R. Chase never had actual possession of the bank book, but saw it either before or shortly after the death of the testator.

The probate judge found as a fact that the testator made a valid gift unequivocally declared and executed in favor of William R. Chase who assented thereto.

On this evidence and finding, the case at bar is governed by Battles v. Millbury Savings Bank, 250 Mass. 180.

Decree affirmed.