Curtis v. Kirkpatrick

75 P. 760, 9 Idaho 629, 1904 Ida. LEXIS 83

• Court: Idaho Supreme Court
• Decided: February 16, 1904
• Status: Published

Opinion

STOCKSLAG-ER, J.

This is an appeal from the district court of Bingham county; defendant had judgment in the lower' court; from the whole of the judgment the appeal is taken. Plaintiff, as the administrator of the estate of John Garrett, deceased, commenced his action to cancel and set aside a certain mortgage, dated the sixth day of November, 1895, and a deed from said Garrett to John E. Kirkpatrick, dated the tenth day of November, 1898, for the reason and upon the grounds that grantor, John Garrett, was incompetent to execute and deliver the said mortgage and deed. John Garrett was the grandfather of defendant, the grantee. A jury was selected and forty-three questions were submitted to them to be answered and returned to the court, and much to their credit, they waded through the long list and answered each one of them. Thereafter, and after argument of counsel, the court adopted the findings of the jury with certain amendments, which améndments counsel for appellant claim were not warranted by the evidence.

Question 26, as submitted to the jury, is as follows: “Did John Garrett, on the ninth and tenth days of November, 1898, when he directed John Montgomery, his attorney in fact, to make the deed in question to John E. Kirkpatrick, know what, he was doing?” Answer: “Not fully.”

Question 31 follows: “Was John Garrett on the tenth day of November, 1898, possessed of sufficient mental capacity to understand an ordinary business transaction?” Answer: “Not fully.”

Question 41: “Was he possessed of sufficient mental capacity to understand the nature of the mortgage and the effect of its execution and delivery?” Answer: “Not fully.”

To the answers returned by the jury to questions 26, 31 and 41, the court in its findings adds to each the following language: “But sufficient for the purpose of making a valid com veyance of the property described in said deed to grantee, John E. Kirkpatrick.”

Twenty-eight errors are assigned by counsel for appellant, nearly all based on the theory that the evidence, taken as a whole, does not warrant the findings of the court that deceased, John Garrett, was mentally capable of executing and delivering the mortgage and deed to respondent. It is impossible to fully comprehend the issues involved and the facts upon which a judgment in this case was rendered without fully setting out the findings of the court which were the findings of the jury with the amendments heretofore referred to, which are as follows :

“Question 1. On the tenth day of November, 1898, at the time the deed in question was made, what was the age of John Garrett? Answer. Over 80 years of age. Q. 2. What relationship existed between John Garrett and the defendant? A. Grandfather to defendant. Q. 3. During the last five or six years of his life was John Garrett addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors, and to what extent? A. Yes, to excess. Q. 4. Was John Garrett during the last six or eight years of his life a firm believer in the doctrine of spiritualism? A. Yes. Q. 5. Did John- Garrett during the last five or six years of his life suffer with hallucinations or delusions, i. e., did he believe that he saw and heard, entertained and enjoyed the company of persons who were not in fact physically present, and who did not, in fact, exist physically? A. Yes. Q. 6. Was John Garrett in his later years filthy or ordinarily cleanly in his person? A. Filthy. Q. 7. Was he filthy, or ordinarily cleanly in his household? A. Filthy. Q. 8. Did John Garrett in the last five or six years of his -life accept the advice and follow the directions of supposed spirits against those of a practical surveyor or engineer, relating to the location of water ditches? A. Yes. Q. 9. Did John Garrett in the last five or six years of his life accept the advice and follow the directions of supposed spirits concerning the practical business affairs of his life, and if so, to what extent? A. Yes, to a great extent. Q. 10. Did John Garrett in his earlier life accumulate considerable property and in his later years spend some of it, without knowing or being able to state what he had spent it for, and if so, to what extent? A. Yes, to a great extent. Q. 11. Was John Garrett in his later life as prudent and careful in his money and business affairs as he was in his earlier life? A. No. Q. 12. During the last five or six years of his life was John Garrett physically sound or decrepit and feeble? A. Decrepit and feeble. Q. 13. Did he then walk with a firm and steady step, or with a shambling or stumbling gait? State how he walked. A. With a shambling gait. Q. 14. What was the mental capacity of John Garrett during the last four or five years of his life? A. Impaired. Q. 15. Was John Garrett during the last four or five years of his life, and immediately preceding his death, capable and competent to manage and transact his more important business transactions? A. No. Q. 16. Were the intellectual faculties of John Garrett more acute, or less acute, in 1898 than in 1894 and 1895 ? A. Less acute. Q. 17. Were the intellectual faculties of John Garrett weakened or lessened between the years 1894 and January 1, 1899? A. Weakened and lessened. Q. 18. Did John Garrett at any time after 1895 possess the full use of his mental faculties? A. No. Q. 19. Was John Garrett at the time the deed in question was executed competent to transact his own important business affairs? A. No. Q. 20. Was the said John Garrett at the time of the execution and delivery of the deed, dated November, 1898, mentally capable of understanding the nature of his act and the effects of the same? A. No. Q. 21. Was said John Garrett made acquainted with the contents of said deed at the time of its execution and delivery? A. Yes. Q. 22. By whom was John Garrett’s name to the deed in question signed? A. By John Montgomery’s clerk. Q. 23. Did John Montgomery sign the name of John Garrett to the deed in question? A. No. Q. 24. Did John Garrett, on the ninth and tenth day of November, 1898, direct John Montgomery to execute the deed in question to John E. Kirkpatrick? A.' Yes, on the 10th. Q. 25. If so, what instructions did he give him? A. To transfer as it is described in the deed. Q. 26. Did John Garrett on the ninth and tenth day of November, 1898, when he directed John Montgomery, his attorney in fact, to make the deed in question to John E. Kirkpatrick, know what he was doing? A. Not fully, but sufficient for the purpose of making a valid conveyance of the property described in said deed to grantee, John E. Kirkpatrick. Q. 27. Did John Garrett,, at that time, know what property he was conveying? A. Yes. Q. 28. Did he know to whom the property was being conveyed? A. Yes. Q. 29. Was it his desire and wish to convey the property in question to John E. Kirkpatrick? A. Yes. Q. 30. Did John Garrett at that time, understand the nature and effect, of the deed? A. Not fully. Q. 31. Was John Garrett on the tenth day of November, 1898, possessed of sufficient mental capacity to understand ah ordinary business transaction? A. Not fully, but sufficient for the purpose of making a valid conveyance of the property described in said deed to grantee, John E. Kirkpatrick. Q. 32. What was the consideration paid by John E. Kirkpatrick to John Garrett for the property in question, if anything? A. $650. Q. 33. Did John Garrett on the tenth day of November, 1898, give any reasons to his attorney in fact, John Montgomery, for making the deed in question, other than the money consideration? A. Yes. Q. 34. If so, what reason did he give? A. That they had been good to him. Q. 35. Did John Garrett on or about the sixth day of November, 1895, execute and deliver to John E. Kirkpatrick a promissory note?- A. Yes. Q. 36. What was the amount of and consideration of this note? A. Five hundred dollars ($500) with interest at ten per cent. Q. 37.. On the sixth day of November, 1895, at the time John Garrett executed and delivered the mortgage referred to in the complaint to secure the payment of a note for $500 to John E. Kirkpatrick, did he know what property was covered by the mortgage ? Yes. Q. 38. Did he know to whom the mortgage was given? A. Yes. Q. 39. Did he understand the nature and effect of the mortgage? A. Not fully. Q. 40. On the sixth day of November, 1895, at the time John Garrett executed and delivered tbe said mortgage, was he possessed of sufficient mental capacity to understand the nature and effect of an ordinary business transaction? A. Not fully. Q. 41. Was he possessed of sufficient mental capacity to understand the nature of the mortgage and the effect of its execution and delivery? A. Not fully, but sufficient for the purpose of making a valid conveyance of the property described in said deed, to grantee, John B. Kirkpatrick. Q. 42. Was any part of the principal or interest evidenced and secured by said note and mortgage ever paid before making the deed? A. No. Q. 43. What was the value of the land and water in question on November 10, 1898? A. Twelve and one-half dollars ($12.50) per acre.”

Many reasons are assigned why deceased, Garrett, was mentally incapacitated to make the convej’-ances in controversy. Old age; his firm belief in spiritualism; excessive use of intoxicating liquors; the loss of his wife a few years before the execution of the conveyances — are all urged as reasons for unbalancing his mind and rendering him incapable of knowing and fully understanding the effect of the conveyances. A great volume of evidence is before us of persons who were well acquainted with deceased for a number of years before his death. We have the evidence of Dr. J. W. Givens, superintendent of the asylum for the insane at Blackfoot, as an expert on the subject of insanity. Then we have the evidence of those who were acquainted with his daily habits. We do not feel justified in referring to this evidence very extensively in this opinion, for the reason of the well-established rule that when a case comes to this court on appeal from a judgment, based upon disputed facts in the lower court either where the trial was with or without a jury, the judgment will be affirmed. As has been so often said by the courts of last resort, the trial court has many opportunities to see and know things connected with the trial that cannot be brought to this court in the record; they have the' opportunity of observing the manner and conduct of the witnesses and their means of information; all evidence looks alike on paper and then, under the rules, we get it in an abbreviated form. The district courts are the trial courts for actions of the character under consideration. Thus, unless it is very plain that the judgment is fatally defective for want of sufficient evidence to sustain it, it should not be disturbed in this court. With these views we have carefully examined the evidence in the ease at bar, and find many conflicts as to the physical and mental condition of deceased Garrett, dating from the early settlement of the country surrounding Blackfoot up to the time of his death. One witness testifies to an acquaintance with him dating back to 1863, and numbers of them, for both plaintiff and defendant, testifying to an acquaintance dating back twenty or more years. It is shown by the evidence, beyond controversy, that in the later years of his life he was addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors to excess; that he was a firm believer in spiritualism; made many statements as to conversations with spirits; prominent were Cleopatra and Socrates, and claimed that his company was from the spirit world; that they, naming many of them, were frequently his visitors, and that he was never lonesome for this reason.

This may be considered evidence of insanity by some and by others as a high order of intelligence and advancement in religion or science. It is shown that he was an educated man, and read other books than those treating on the subject of spiritualism — in fact, was what is termed a great reader — did not ignore politics, and was informed on and ready to discuss the current events of the times. It is also shown by the evidence of Mr. Gagon, who took his acknowledgment to the mortgage, that he believed him capable of knowing and fully understanding the nature of the transaction. Also by the evidence of Mr. Montgomery, who was his attorney in fact at the time of the execution of the deed, that he believed he fully understood the transaction; and by the evidence of Mr. George L. Wall, who took his acknowledgment, to the power of attorney appointing Norman Jones his attorney in fact, Mr. Wall says: “I explained to him what it was and he said he knew what it was, a power of attorney firing J.-S.-and giving Norman Jones charge of his affairs, or words to that effect.” Frank W. Beane testifies to business transactions and conversations with deceased, some of them but a short time, about three •weeks, before his death and pronounced him sane. On the other hand, a number of witnesses, who had known deceased as long and as intimately as those who testify to his sanity, are of the opinion that he was incapable, by reason of his mental condition, of transacting business for himself or of fully knowing and comprehending the nature and effect of the execution and delivery of the mortgage and deed to respondent. Dr. J. W. Given testifies as an expert on the subject of insanity. He is a recognized authority on this subject, not only in this state, but wherever he is known, and his evidence necessarily carries much weight with the court and jury.

It will be observed that his answers were based upon the testimony of other witnesses and hypothetical questions, and not upon any knowledge or experience with the deceased. We have said the evidence on the material issues involved in this case was very conflicting. We find it so much so that we do not feel that we would be justified in saying that the findings of the court should be set aside and a new trial granted on this account.

Counsel for appellant in the oral argument relied on Allore v. Jewell, 94 U. S. 506, 24 L. ed. 260. This was a ease where an old, feeble woman conveyed her property to a stranger on certain conditions. of payment, and before any payments of consequence were made she died. It was shown that when she made and delivered the deed no one was present except the grantee, his agent and his attorney. The property was worth at the time of the conveyance between $6,000 and $8,000. It is said in this case: “In November, 1863, the defendant obtained from her a conveyance of this property. A copy of the conveyance is set forth in the bill. It contains covenants of seisin and warranty by the grantor, and immediately following them an agreement by the defendant to pay her $250 upon the delivery of the instrument; an annuity of $500; all her physicians’ bills during her life; the taxes on the property for that year, and all subsequent taxes during her life; also that she should have the use and occupation of the house until the spring of 1864, or that he would pay the rent of such other house as she might occupy until then. The $250 stipulated were paid; but no other payment was ever made to her. She died in a few weeks afterward.”

The opinion then discusses the evidence as to the habits of deceased, certainly showing a much worse condition of mind than is shown of the deceased in the case at bar. It was not shown that the defendant — respondent—ever attempted to exert undue influence over the deceased, Garrett, or asked him to make the deed. He says, and it is not contradicted, that he wanted his money due him on the mortgage, but that his grandfather insisted on giving him the deed. It is shown that Mr. Montgomery, who was attorney in fact for deceased at the time of the execution of the deed, refused to make it when he was first requested to do so by the deceased, and on the next day deceased came back and insisted that the deed should be made, and when asked for his reasons, said they had been good to him — evidently meaning the Kirkpatrick family. From this evidence it is shown, not only that deceased knew just what he wanted done, but when asked gave his reasons for the course he was taking. Many authorities are cited by counsel for appellants to the effect that whenever there is a great weakness of mind arising from age, sickness or other cause, in a person executing a conveyance of land, though not amounting to absolute disqualification, and the consideration given for the property is grossly inadequate, a court of equity will, upon proper showing and seasonable application of the injured party, or his representatives or heirs, annul and set the conveyance aside. We do not think this rule can be questioned, but under the facts as established in this case and the findings of the court largely depending on the findings of the jury, it does not come within this rule.

Counsel for respondent rely on the case of Kelly v. Perrault, 5 Idaho, 221, 48 Pac. 45. This opinion was written by Mr. Justice Quarles, concurred in by all the members of the court; it says: "There is absolutely no evidence in the record before us which shows that at the time the deed in question was executed the grantor was under undue influence, but, on the other hand, the evidence of the subscribing witnesses to the deed, and of the witnesses to its delivery, as well as that of other witnesses, shows conclusively that the execution and delivery of the said deed was the free and voluntary act of the grantor, and made by him in pursuance of his preconceived determination to give the property conveyed by it to the grantee.” It is urged by counsel for appellant that the instruction given by the court, to wit, “The opinion of an expert is not entitled to much weight, as against the testimony of persons who are familiar with the party and the transaction, and who testify as to the facts from which the competency of a grantor is to be determined.” This instruction was copied from the language of the opinion in Kelly v. Perrault, and in support of this position that opinion cites Rutherford v. Morris, 77 Ill. 297, and Burley v. McGough, 115 Ill. 11, 3 N. E. 738. These three cases are very instructive on the question under consideration. The language may be strong, but we do not think it was error. A number of errors are assigned, but owing to the fact that it is stated in the brief of appellant that the question upon which this case must be determined is whether or not deceased, Garrett, was so incapacitated at the time he executed the deed as to render him incompetent to know the effect of his act, and all the evidence having been aimed at that feature of the case, we deem it unnecessary to pass thereon.

It is urged by counsel for appellant that if the court had adopted the findings of the jury, as they were returned, the judgment would have been in favor of appellant. The court had the right to adopt all the findings of the jury or any portion of them, or reject any or all of them and prepare its findings independent of theirs, and there was no error in the amendments to the findings of the jury complained of.

We find no error in the record, and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed. Costs are awarded to the respondent.

Sullivan, C. J., and Ailshie, J., concur.