Forehand v. Sawyer

136 S.E. 683, 147 Va. 105, 1927 Va. LEXIS 289
Supreme Court of Virginia·Decided January 20, 1927·Published·Cited by 23 cases

Opinion

Burks, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

Wiley Sawyer was sixty-one years • old, his wife seventy-six. He owned a small tract of thirty-three acres of land in Norfolk county, upon which there was a [107] dwelling house assessed for taxes at $1,000. He also owned a pair of mules, some farming implements, household and kitchen furniture and had $300 in bank. He had been married to his wife thirty-four years, but they had no children. His nearest relative was a half brother, in business for himself, and in no way dependent upon Wiley. His wife was a faithful, frugal wife and carefully managed her household affairs. A few years after their marriage he purchased this small tract of land upon which they resided and which he managed and cultivated till the time of his death on December 26, 1924. Some three or four years before his death he became acquainted with the plaintiff in error, Pattie V. Forehand. She and her husband were frequent visitors at his house, and he often visited her at her home. For some reason, not disclosed by the record, he seems to have become infatuated with her, and was greatly solicitous about her at a time when she had a spell of sickness, and employed and paid his own doctor to attend her. On June 12, 1924, he executed a will by which he devised his whole estate, except a pair of mules, to the said Pattie Y. Forehand, subject to an annuity of $200 per year in favor of his wife, which was charged upon the land. The will further provided, “and likewise said Pattie Y. Forehand shall pay any necessary doctor’s bills of my said wife and reasonable burial expenses of my said wife.” This will was admitted to probate ex parte by the clerk of the Circuit Court of Norfolk county, and from that order an appeal was taken to said circuit court by the widow and half brother. On the appeal, the will was assailed on the ground of undue influence and the lack of mental capacity. There was a trial before the court and a jury, and a verdict and judgment against the validity of the will, and to that judgment a writ of error was awarded by one of the judges ofjthis court.

[108] In 1921 the testator fell from a run-away wagon, lighting on his head and shoulder, which caused unconsciousness for about half an hour and injured his shoulder temporarily.

The testator made a number of wills. In 1898 he made a will by which he gave his whole estate, real and personal, to his wife. In the spring of 1924 he executed a will by which he gave “all of his real estate to his widow, Mrs. Ida Sawyer, as long as she lived, and after that time to the Baptist Orphan Asylum at Salem, Virginia.” About two weeks thereafter he came to the scrivener and stated that the former will did not suit him, and requested him to prepare another will, which was done. In this draft he had the name of the beneficiary left blank. He declined to tell the scrivener the name of the beneficiary. “He said he would have that put in later.” On April 19, 1924, he gave directions to an acquaintance to prepare another will. This was done and on the following day he returned and the will was read over to him two or three times, and explained to him, and he approved it and executed it in the presence of two witnesses. He gave the directions for the preparation of this will. The second, third, fourth and fifth clauses of this will were as follows:

“Second: I loan to my beloved wife, Ida W. Sawyer, for her support and maintenance during her natural life, all of my estate, both real and personal, after the payment of my debts as aforesaid.
“Third: After the death of my wife, Ida W. Sawyer, I give my estate, both real and personal, to my friend, Pattie V. Forehand, to be free and clear of incumbrances and without being molested by anyone whomsoever.
“Fourth: My beneficiary, Prattie V. Forehand, and executor hereinafter named are to pay out of the estate any debts, doctor’s bills and burial expenses of my wife above mentioned.
[109] “Fifth.: I nominate and appoint nay friend, Pattie V. Forehand, to be my sole executor of this my last will and testament.”

This will appears to have been delivered by the testator to Mrs. Forehand, who took it to her lawyer, Mr. Jas. G. Martin, for inspection and advice, and he suggested a change which resulted in the execution of the will in controversy, dated June 12, 1924, which is copied in the margin.1

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Forehand v. Sawyer, 136 S.E. 683, 147 Va. 105, 1927 Va. LEXIS 289 (Va. 1927).

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