Cheek v. Royston

216 S.W.2d 866, 214 Ark. 364, 1949 Ark. LEXIS 557

• Court: Supreme Court of Arkansas
• Decided: January 10, 1949
• Docket: 4-8642
• Status: Published

Opinions

GeieeiN Smith, Chief Justice.

Relying on continuous payment of taxes under color of title and adverse possession for more than seven years, Royston alleged in his suit to quiet title that Mary Etta Cheek claimed an unknown interest in an unoccupied lot.

The intervention and cross-complaint of Edna Edwards as guardian admitted there was no actual adverse occupant, but charged forcible ejectment. The lot had formerly belonged to Will Cheek, Mary Etta’s father, who died in possession, presumptively intestate. After Will’s death Mary Etta obtained a warranty deed to a sister’s interest and was an occupant until dispossessed by Royston in 1945. It was also charged that Royston caused removal of a house valued at $1,000.

In accounting for failure to pay taxes the guardian set out that Mary Etta became mentally incompetent in 1928 or 1929, and was later admitted to State Hospital.

Title transactions affecting the lot show forfeiture for 1930 general taxes and certification to the State, with confirmation in 1935. Searcy Street Improvement District 13 had foreclosed on two occasions. Royston purchased these titles.

' From a decree dismissing the intervention and cross-complaint for want of equity, and confirming Royston’s title, the guardian has appealed.

In the absence of express decretal findings it is not clear whether want of equity rests upon a determination that appellant’s ward was insane, or whether the interest contended for was not established by appropriate evidence, hence we do not consider applicability of Act 329 of 1939 and construction given its retroactive provision. Watson v. Anderson, 201 Ark. 809, 147 S. W. 2d 28; nor do we decide whether the intervention was direct in its nature or a collateral attack. By Sec. 7316 of Pope’s Digest, insane persons have three years after recovery to appear and “except” to proceedings. We express no opinion regarding the right of appellant’s ward to question legality of the District foreclosures .

Appellant argues a single point: Mary was insane when her property rights became impaired, and has continued so. Appellee injects a second issue: that irrespective of insanity, paramount title in Mary Etta was not shown, hence an incorrect determination of competency would be of no advantage to the intervener.

Although appellant’s ward had on two occasions been admitted to State Hospital, an adjudication of insanity was not shown. But in the circumstances here, with affirmative evidence by numerous witnesses and hospitalization any presumption arising because there were no Court orders was of a negative nature and would not control the Chancellor’s action. Schuman v. Westbrook, 207 Ark. 495, 181 S. W. 2d 470. An examination of this case, and comparison with testimony presented by the guardian for Mary Etta, show that the quantum of evidence here supporting the guardian’s assertion of incompetency was at least equal to that offered in behalf of Anna Laurie Westbrook.

The factual balance is further tipped when consideration is given the deposition of Dr. Gr. W. Jackson, State Hospital Superintendent, claimed by appellee to have been inadmissible. Dr. Jackson did not have personal knowledge of Mary Etta, and his answers to interrogatories and cross-interrogatories were from Hospital records. The full record was not offered in evidence.

Counsel for appellee think the Superintendent testified as an expert without having qualified as such. Conceding that in certain aspects replies were conclusions drawn from medical knowledge of mental diseases, there remains the undisputed fact that the record, as distinguished from conclusions, accounts for essential information. The patient was suffering from dementia prae-cox, paranoid type. To the extent that Dr. Jackson testified to these factual indorsements, the evidence was competent. Act 238 of 1921, Pope’s Digest, Sec. 5143, 3 Ark. Stats. (1947), § 28-907. Certified copies of the entire record “or any excerpts” may he used. Appellant was entitled to show the Hospital determination of insanity, and this, when taken into account supplementing other testimony, preponderates in favor of the guardian’s plea of incompetency. 1

We must therefore reverse the decree and remand the cause for proceedings under which the incompetent intervener may undertake to establish any rights she may have, within the issues.

Mr. Justice George Bose Smith dissents.

1 Appellee Boyston’s cross-interrogatory to the deposition of Dr. Jackson shows this question: “If you state the record of said'Hospital shows that Mary Etta Cheek was examined during the years 1933, 1934, and 1938, state whether or not you made such examination or examinations and the record or records thereof, and if you did not, then state who made them: whether in your presence or under your supervision.” Answering that the examinations were not made by him or under his supervision, Dr. Jackson in effect said that the information he gave was from the record. Answering negatively in one instance, Dr. Jackson said, “The record does not show.” (Members of State Hospital Board, whose duty it is to require maintenance of the records, must take the constitutional oath of office. Act 240 of 1933. See Amendment No. 33 to the Constitution for matters relating to terms of Board members, tenure of office, etc.)