Crippen v. Adams

Michigan Supreme Court

Crippen v. Adams

92 N.W. 496, 132 Mich. 31, 1902 Mich. LEXIS 545

CourtMichigan Supreme Court

DecidedDecember 16, 1902

DocketDocket No. 72

StatusPublished

Cited by1 cases

This text of 92 N.W. 496 (Crippen v. Adams) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Crippen v. Adams, 92 N.W. 496, 132 Mich. 31, 1902 Mich. LEXIS 545 (Mich. 1902).

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Opinion

Montgomery, J.

Abram Shear died February 7, 1901, at the advanced age of 85 years. The immediate cause of. his death was bronchial pneumonia. He was stricken with this disease on February 4th, and the disease apparently progressed steadily until the 7th, when, at about 4 o’clock in the afternoon, he died. On Wednesday, the 6th, he was possessed of his faculties, and at that time expressed the desire to his niece, Mrs. Moon, that the defendant Mrs. Adams should receive $500 out of his estate. Mrs. Adams had been a domestic in the decedent’s household for some years at a salary of $1.50 per week, and decedent evidently desired to reward her faithfulness. On the morning of the 7th, Mrs. Moon undertook, at the suggestion of defendant’s son-in-law, to provide a means for decedent to complete his gift. Mr. Bennett, the cashier of the Plymouth Savings Bank, was sent for, and produced four certificates of stock in the bank, standing in the name of Mr. Shear, representing an aggregate value of $4,500, which were indorsed by him in pencil. This bill is filed to set aside this transfer on the ground [33]*33that the decedent never intelligently and understanding^ made such disposition of the stock. On the trial below, complainant and the heirs expressed entire willingness to carry out the expressed desire of decedent, and allow her to retain $500 in par value of this stock. The court so decreed, but found for complainant in general, and set aside the transfer as to the balance. Defendant appeals.

We are satisfied with the holding of the circuit judge. The testimony leaves no doubt in our minds of the merit of the case made by the bill. While no fraud was intended, it is apparent that some one blundered, and that, in an attempt to make a provision of $500 bounty to the defendant in accordance with the wishes of Mr. Shear, there was an apparent nominal transfer of $4,500, which was accomplished, so far as it was accomplished, without the intelligent assent of Mr. Shear.

The decree is affirmed, with costs to complainant.

The other Justices concurred.

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Montgomery, J.

Abram Shear died February 7, 1901, at the advanced age of 85 years. The immediate cause of. his death was bronchial pneumonia. He was stricken with this disease on February 4th, and the disease apparently progressed steadily until the 7th, when, at about 4 o’clock in the afternoon, he died. On Wednesday, the 6th, he was possessed of his faculties, and at that time expressed the desire to his niece, Mrs. Moon, that the defendant Mrs. Adams should receive $500 out of his estate. Mrs. Adams had been a domestic in the decedent’s household for some years at a salary of $1.50 per week, and decedent evidently desired to reward her faithfulness. On the morning of the 7th, Mrs. Moon undertook, at the suggestion of defendant’s son-in-law, to provide a means for decedent to complete his gift. Mr. Bennett, the cashier of the Plymouth Savings Bank, was sent for, and produced four certificates of stock in the bank, standing in the name of Mr. Shear, representing an aggregate value of $4,500, which were indorsed by him in pencil. This bill is filed to set aside this transfer on the ground [33]*33that the decedent never intelligently and understanding^ made such disposition of the stock. On the trial below, complainant and the heirs expressed entire willingness to carry out the expressed desire of decedent, and allow her to retain $500 in par value of this stock. The court so decreed, but found for complainant in general, and set aside the transfer as to the balance. Defendant appeals.

We are satisfied with the holding of the circuit judge. The testimony leaves no doubt in our minds of the merit of the case made by the bill. While no fraud was intended, it is apparent that some one blundered, and that, in an attempt to make a provision of $500 bounty to the defendant in accordance with the wishes of Mr. Shear, there was an apparent nominal transfer of $4,500, which was accomplished, so far as it was accomplished, without the intelligent assent of Mr. Shear.

The decree is affirmed, with costs to complainant.

The other Justices concurred.

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Bluebook (online)

92 N.W. 496, 132 Mich. 31, 1902 Mich. LEXIS 545, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/crippen-v-adams-mich-1902.

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