Crane v. Young Women's Christian Ass'n

110 P.2d 81, 43 Cal. App. 2d 6, 1941 Cal. App. LEXIS 602
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedFebruary 13, 1941
DocketCiv. 2907
StatusPublished
Cited by29 cases

This text of 110 P.2d 81 (Crane v. Young Women's Christian Ass'n) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Crane v. Young Women's Christian Ass'n, 110 P.2d 81, 43 Cal. App. 2d 6, 1941 Cal. App. LEXIS 602 (Cal. Ct. App. 1941).

Opinions

GRIFFIN, J.

Appellants James L. Crane and Annette M. Crane, husband and wife, became acquainted with Ella M. Webster, deceased, a short time before or during the year 1933. At that time Ella M. Webster was a widow, crippled, and approximately 81 years of age. The meeting of the parties was occasioned by the rental of a flat owned by the deceased to the appellants herein, which flat was situated across a vacant lot from the home in which Ella M. Webster was then living. Friendship developed between the parties and appellant Annette M. Crane spent considerable time visiting and nursing Ella M. Webster because of her ill health and age.

In November, 1933, Mr. Crane determined that Mrs. Webster was “incompetent and required a guardian for her person and estate”. In January, 1934, he filed his verified petition for appointment of himself as her guardian, through his attorney, A, reciting that “she is not now capable of taking care of herself or her property or effects, but that by reason of old age and the infirmities of such age is unable unassisted to properly manage or care for herself or her property and by reason thereof is likely to be deceived or imposed on by artful and imposing persons”. He secured from her and attached to the petition a written statement signed by her which recites: “ ... by reason of my advanced years and weak physical condition, I am unable to properly care for my person and estate and request and petition the court that James L. Crane, an intimate friend and neighbor of mine, ... be appointed as the guardian of my person and estate”.

In February, 1934, Crane was appointed her legal guardian and took over the management of her property consist[9]*9ing of real and personal property of the approximate value of $45,000. On February 29, 1932, Ella M. Webster made her will devising certain real property and one-half of her bonds and securities to the Young Women’s Christian Association of San Diego, and certain other real property, and one-half of her bonds and securities to the San Diego Children’s Home, with the proviso that if either of the bequests should fail by virtue of the provisions of section 41 of the Probate Code the same should go to Mrs. H. P. Davison and Miss Mary Belle Williams in equal shares. R. F. Ruth, Jr., and Evan H. Curtiss were nominated as joint executors.

This will was prepared by Mrs. Webster’s own attorney, B. The record discloses that Ruth, a bond salesman who had advised with Mrs. Webster as to investments, and who was one of the executors nominated in the will, about October, 1933, procured another attorney, C, to draw a will for Mrs. Webster, in which he was named executor and was the beneficiary. Mr. Crane had knowledge of this fact. The record indicates that Ruth subsequently misappropriated some of Mrs. Webster’s bonds or stock and an action was threatened against his company. A .compromise was effected. Just prior to Mr. Crane’s appointment as guardian, Mrs. Crane consulted attorney B in reference to making a new will for Mrs. Webster, claiming that she felt “terribly tormented about this will that he had drawn . . . and it wasn’t the way she wanted it, and of course that was affecting her physical condition”. Immediately thereafter attorney B was present at the Webster home with a Dr. Carter, her regular physician, at which time a proposed will was read. The doctor was asked if he would attest the will. After propounding a few questions as to whether she knew what disposition was being made of her property he refused to sign as a witness because she was not “sufficiently clear on the subject”. Nothing further was done at that time.

From February 8, 1934, to January 18, 1939, Mrs. Crane was employed by Mr. Crane as nurse for Mrs. Webster at $15 per week, and subsequently he increased her salary. Mr. Crane also received compensation for acting as guardian during the same period. Shortly after Mr. Crane's appointment as guardian he again consulted attorney A about making a new will for Mrs. Webster. Attorney A informed tiim “that he did not feel that he could prepare a will for Mrs. [10]*10Webster, because he had knowledge of the fact that she had been declared incompetent and did not feel that it would be ethical for him to do it”. Through another party Mr. Crane was referred to attorney D. Attorney D visited Mrs. Webster and obtained a statement of her desires. Subsequently Dr. Carter was again called to witness the will prepared. After an examination of Mrs. Webster, Mr. Crane being present, he again refused for the same reason. He found her to be “suffering from senile dementia”.

Early in March, 1934, Dr. Andrews, a psychiatrist, who had had a previous interview with Mrs. Webster, was called to her home. Attorney D and Mrs. Crane “and perhaps Mr. Crane” were present. After some interview by the doctor, he decided that Mrs. Webster was competent to execute a will although he had no memory that she stated that she wanted the Cranes included in the will. Thereupon attorney D and his wife witnessed the will. The Cranes, although not present at the signing of the will, “were right around the house”. This will, dated March 28, 1934, provided: (1) That all former wills made by her were revoked; (2) that the Society for Crippled Children for San Diego County be given certain real property; (3) that the San Diego Children’s Home Association be given certain other property; (4) a certain portion was given to the Rest Haven Preventorium; (5) to Mrs. Davison $2,000; (6) the residue to go to James L. Crane; and (7) James L. Crane was nominated executor without bond.

On January 2, 1935, Dr. Andrews and attorney D were again approached by appellants to examine and interview Mrs. Webster and make a codicil to her will, changing the residuary legatee thereunder to both Mr. and Mrs. Crane. This was done and the codicil was signed and witnessed. Included therein was the following clause: “It has been rumored that another will or codicil subsequent to the one under date of March 28, 1934, has been signed by me. If true, I hereby revoke any such will or will and codicil. . . . ” Shortly after the execution of the will dated March 28, 1934, Mrs. Webster was removed from her home to a home owned by appellants and rent therefor was charged against Mrs. Webster’s estate for this accommodation.

The evidence shows that friends of Mrs. Webster were unjustly precluded from seeing her on many occasions and that when some of them did gain admission Mrs. Crane remained [11]*11in the room with them; that on one occasion Mrs. Crane was called to the phone and Mrs. Webster told the visitor that “I want to get rid of these people and I wish you would help me”. Another witness testified that while visiting Mrs. Webster she (Mrs. Webster) said “lam told I signed a paper, but I don’t know what was in it. I want to get rid of these people, and how can I do it”? Although conflicting evidence was offered, the voluminous record in this regard clearly indicates that appellants were quite apprehensive that Mrs. Webster’s friends might learn of her true condition and conclude that she was under the domination of the appellants. On January 18, 1939, Mrs. Webster died. James L. Crane offered for probate the will bearing date March 28, 1934, and the codicil dated January 2, 1935. On February 17, 1939, Evan H.

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Bluebook (online)
110 P.2d 81, 43 Cal. App. 2d 6, 1941 Cal. App. LEXIS 602, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/crane-v-young-womens-christian-assn-calctapp-1941.