Frohman v. Lowenstein

260 S.W. 460, 303 Mo. 339, 1924 Mo. LEXIS 754

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: March 22, 1924
• Status: Published

Opinions

GRAVES, J.

This is an action to contest the will of Abraham Lowenstein, deceased. The will was made in 1912, and testator died in 1919. The plaintiff is the daughter of deceased by his first wife (who died when plaintiff was young), and the defendants are the second wife (Mamie Lowenstein, the chief beneficiary) and her three children.

The petition charges (1) fraudulent conduct upon the part of Mamie Lowenstein, in an attempt to estrange Abraham Lowenstein from the plaintiff; (2) mental incapacity of .testator, and (3) undue influence of Mamie Lowenstein over the weakened mind of the testator. The cause reached this court from Division Two where an opinion was rendered dismissing the appeal for failure to comply with our rules as to abstracts of records. The only alleged defect of the abstract of the record was that the evidence, by questions and answers, was printed in full, rather than stated in substance and narrative form. This opinion was discarded by Court in Bane, and the case assigned for opinion In Banc, as if no opinion had ever been -written in the cause. However, there was a motion in Court in Banc to strike out another abstract of record filed by appellants in Court in Banc and this motion was taken with the case, and is here now for disposition. This second record prints the evidence in narrative form. This, of course, lies at the doorway, and must be disposed of before entering upon the merits.

On the merits, it will suffice to say, for this general outline of the case, that the answer placed in issue the divers charges in the petition, and the reply (in nature of a general denial) placed in issue any new matter, if such there was, in the answer. Upon a trial before a jury in Linn County, where the cause went upon change of venue, said jury returned a verdict in this language:

“We, the jury find that the paper writing offered in evidence is not the last will and testament of Abraham Lowenstein, deceased.

“JohN W. Lockhart, Foreman.”

From a judgment upon such verdict the defendants have appealed to this court. Further details are left to the opinion.

I. The motion to strike out the abstract of record filed in this court, after the transfer from Division Two, is of some length, hut raises but two questions; (1) that no new abstract of record can be filed after the transfer of a case from Division to Banc, and (2) that the only matter for consideration here is the sufficiency of the abstract filed in Division Two, and the sufficiency of such abstract had been adjudged by Division Two.

To give in their own language the idea of counsel, we quote: “The only issue to be determined was the one question of appellate practice, and it appears from the opinion In Banc that the Court in Banc either adopts the opinion rendered in a Division or rejects it, but does not render an opinion more extensive than the opinion in Division.” This doctrine, learned counsel say, is announced in Bank v. Kropp, 266 Mo. l. c. 227.

So much confusion in the practice has arisen since the publication of the original opinion in this case, that we shall discuss all features of the situation.

The opinion in Bank v. Kropp, supra, lends no aid to the contention made by learned counsel for respondent. That case does not rule, as they contend, that an opinion in Court in Banc cannot be “more extensive” than the opinion of the Division from which the case comes. Learned counsel rely upon a per curiam In Banc, by which the divisional opinion was adopted In Banc. Such per curiam reads:

“This cause coming into Banc from Division Two-, because of the pending there of the same question here involved, was re-heard In Banc and the foregoing divisional opinion of Faris, J., was adopted.”

It is true that the opinion relates to a matter of practice, but the per curiam adopting the opinion as the opinion In Banc, is no authority for holding that the Court in Banc might not have rejected the opinion and written a new one along wholly different lines. In fact the concurring opinion shows that there had been adverse views upon the same subject. Many times has Court in Banc written opinions wholly at variance with the divisional opinion, and in which the case is finally determined upon wholly different questions.

That a timely filed new abstract of record in a case coming from Division to Banc, is proper, has been so recently rnled, that we shall not re-diseuss that question, bnt leave it to onr last ruling thereon, and the cases forming the basis for such ruling. [Morris v. Kansas City Light & Power Co., 302 Mo. 475.]

In a sense we have three separate courts for the hearing of cases. We have Divisions One and Two, and the Court in Banc. But all this is suggested in the Morris Case, supra.

II. So much uproar was occasioned by the dismissal of the appeal in this case in Division Two, that notice to the sufficiency of the abstract there held vio-lative of our rule should be taken, for the information of the bar, and especially those members thereof who may -now have on file

similar abstracts of record in their cases. . The sole objection to the abstract of record was that it set out in full the evidence by questions and answers. In our service of eighteen years upon this bench there have been quite a number of motions to dismiss appeals for the reason that the evidence was not reduced to narrative form as far as practicable. The records in the clerk’s office will so show, but the records will further show that this court always overruled such motions. The advent of new judges seems to have encouraged the repetition of such motions. It was after several of such motions that we said in Vaughn v. Vaughn, 251 Mo. l. c. 445:

“ (a) The appellants in their abstract seem to have printed the bill of exceptions in full, giving questions and answers, where oral evidence was taken. The first ground of the motion strikes at this method of abstracting the evidence. The point is not well taken. We have always held that the printing of all the evidence in form of questions and answrers, was not a violation of the rules. This point is therefore overruled.”

The contention of counsel is based upon that portion of Rule 13 of this court which reads:

“The evidence of witnesses shall be in narrative form, except when the questions and answers are necessary to a complete understanding of the testimony. Pleadings and documentary evidence shall he set forth in full when there is any question as to the former or as to the admissibility or legal effect of the latter; in all other respects the abstract must set forth a copy of so much of the record as is necessary to be consulted in the disposition of the assigned errors.”

They contend that the use of the word “shall” makes the rule mandatory. As said we have never so construed' the rules. On the contrary we have continuously overruled motions to dismiss appeals when bottomed upon that view of the rule. We venture the assertion that, since our advent upon this bench, at least seventy-five per cent of the oases determined would have been determined by dismissing the appeal under counsel’s view of the rule.

But the very fact that the rule leaves it to counsel to determine when they should give the evidence in nar: rative form, and when by question and answer, demonstrates that the word “shall” was not used in a mandatory sense. It was never intended by the rules of this court to place an iron jacket around counsel in the exercise of his judgment as to whether or not the evidence should appear by question and answer. According to contention of learned counsel this court would be compelled to'go over every abstract (if such be challenged by a motion to. dismiss the appeal) and see if the appellant’s lawyer had put in narrative just a certain portion of the evidence, and put in by question and answer that portion wherein the questions and answers were necessary to the full understanding of the evidence. Counsel’s contention of the rule would place lawyers in a very precarious situation. If they did not put in narrative form all of the evidence which should be placed in narrative form their appeal would be dismissed. On the other hand if they put in narrative form some portions of the evidence which should be by questions and answers, out would go their appeal. Every lawyer would abstract his case at Ms peril. If Ms judgment failed Mm, out would go his appeal. Not only so, but this court would be trying “abstracts” under our rules, rather than the cases of litigants. Up to this case the court had never so viewed our rules. We must read all of our rules, and not merely a small portion of one rule. We have four rules pertaining to abstracts of record, viz., Rules 11, 12, 13 and 14. Rule 11, as found in Mo. Reports, vol. 294, speaks of abstracts of record when the appeal has been perfected by a short transcript under Section 1479, Revised Statutes 1919. The last paragraph of the rule is not applicable to the question here involved. Rule 12 relates to abstracts of record in cases where a complete transcript of the record has been filed, rather than the short form mentioned in Rule 11. Rule 13 pertains to the contents of abstracts of record, whether it be the one mentioned in Rule 11 or the one mentioned in Rule 12. The latter paragraph of this rule has no bearing upon this case. Both Rules 11 and 13 were amended in 1920, and the last paragraph in each is the result of the amendments. It suffices to say that these three rules deal with abstracts of record, but they are not all the rules so dealing. We have Rule 14, which reads:

“A printed and indexed transcript duly certified by the clerk of the trial court may be filed instead of a manuscript record, and in all cases printed, indexed and un-certified copies of the entire record, filed and served within the time prescribed by the rules for serving abstracts, shall be deemed a full compliance with said rules and dispense with the necessity of any further abstracts.”

We have italicized the vital portion. Up to the comma following the words “manuscript record” the rule authorizes a certified “printed and indexed transcript” instead of a manuscript transcript. Under the old practice the Clerk of the Circuit Court made out and certified a full transcript of the record, which included the bill of exceptions and evidence. When we began the practice of law this was the only method of perfecting an appeal. This transcript was filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Court, and the docket fee paid and the appeal was perfected. Later the short transcript was authorized by law. Rule 14 permitted the lawyers to have printed and indexed a full transcript of the record, and this, when certified to by the clerk of the trial court, could be filed in lieu of the old manuscript transcript. But the rule does not stop there. It proceeds: “and in all cases printed, indexed and uncertified copies of the entire record, filed and served within the time prescribed by the rules for serving abstracts, shall be deemed a full compliance with said rules and dispense with the necessity of any further abstracts.” Note the word “rules.” The plural is used. The reference is to Rules 11, 12 and 13. They are the ‘ ‘ rules ’ ’ covering the question of printing and serving abstracts. Rule 14 in plain terms says that the appellant can print the whole transcript or record of a case, and serve and file it within time, and such shall be deemed a compliance with our rules as to abstracts. It says “all eases” — not merely cases brought here by full transcript rather than short transcript. It refers to “rules” and not to Rule 12 in particular. In other words this Rule 14 places all litigants upon the same basis. If the litigant appeals by short transcript he may print the full transcript or record of his case, and it shall be deemed a full compliance with the “rules” as to abstracts. The litigant filing the full transcript can do the same thing and satisfy the rules. So we have said in our own Rule 14, and being the later rule it would govern. But this Rule 14 is but expressive of the meaning of the previous rules. It demonstrates that Rule 13 was never intended to be mandatory. The abstract first filed was within our rules.

III. Groing now to the merits of the case, we find that there was a motion to strike out certain portions of the petition, and it is insisted here that there was error in refusing to sustain such motion. In the view that we have of the case, we need not pass upon this matter. We can take the petition and its allegations in the fullest, and yet we are forced to a- single conclusion. It is trne that the petition in addition to the nsnal grounds of mental incapacity and nndne influence further charges fraud and duress in procuring the will. However, when counsel for plaintiff come to submitting their case to the jury they rely only upon mental incapacity and undue influence. Fraud and duress are abandoned. We need consider only the question submitted, in this situation of the case. Learned counsel for appellants insist that there is no substantial evidence upon which to submit mental incapacity, or undue influence upon the part of Mrs. Lowen-stein. We have read carefully the voluminous record in this case and have concluded that the contention of appellants will have to be sustained. Proper peremptory instructions were offered in the trial of the case at all proper times, and the refusal of these by the trial court was error in our judgment. The details upon each question we take up in the following paragraphs. We have always urged that the trial of will cases stood upon the same plane as the trial of other cases. That is, if there was substantial testimony upon the issue to be submitted, the jury should determine the facts. [Goodfellow v. Shannon, 197 Mo. l. c. 277; Major v. Kidd, 261 Mo. l. c. 617.]

As stated in the Major Case, supra, courts scan with care the evidence upon mental incapacity, to see that the witnesses detail facts from which they can express an opinion upon mental incapacity. This as to the lay witnesses.

If there is no substantial evidence upon which to submit the question of mental incapacity it is error to submit such question, as it would be in any other kind of a law suit.

IY. Before reading the evidence in this case, we wondered why distinguished counsel for respondent so earnestly pressed their motion to dismiss the appeal. We understood when we read the record, and we read the full record, not the narrative form record filed in Banc. The trial court permitted the jury to make a will for Lowenstein. Upon what ground the jury proceeded we do not know, but we shall take the question of mental incapacity first. The case took the usual course. By the prima-facie case it is shown that the testator was of sound mind at the execution of the will. The plaintiff then placed upon the stand Dr. Grace, who was the family physician for Mr. Lowenstein, and treated him from 1910 up to the time of his death. He says that the testator came to him in 1910, or early part of 1911, and he found him suffering from bulbar paralysis, which he said was incurable, and usually ran its course in from two to four years, but that in this case it ran along for nine years. He says: “A person can be helped considerably, but not cured.” He also says: “The disease does not affect the mind.” Pressed by counsel for defendants the physician said:

“Q. Doctor, during all the time that you have testified about, from 1910, ’ll, ’12 and ’13, just state to this jury from your observation of Mr. Lowenstein any conversation with him and your treatment of him as a physician as you described to the jury, state to the jury whether he was of sound or unsound mind? A. Sound mind.

“Q. Doctor, state to the jury whether or not this bulbar paralysis, if it isn’t a fact that it is a disease that doesn’t affect the mind. A. Not necessarily; a man looks as if he is silly, looks very peculiar, but it is on account of the paralysis that draws his lips down; his mouth is usually drawn.

“Q. Mr. Lowenstein’s mind was sound, wasn’t it-Doctor; wouldn’t you say Mr. Lowenstein’s mind was sound up within thirty days of his death, or probably six months of his death? A. Well, yes, I would think it was; he was worried, but he wasn’t insane.

“Q. And never was at any time? A. Never was insane. ’ ’

In 1907, Mr. Lowenstein, during the great panic of that year, had lost heavily — $75,000 according to his statement. He took a dose of laudanum, with suicidal intent, the latter part of that year, and assigned his financial reverses as the reason therefor, but having been fonnd in time his life was saved, and he continued in active business life from 1907 to 1913, when he disposed of his business. His business was no small affair. He did as much as $100,000 or more in a single year. Such sums in 1912 and 1913. During the time he was executor of a large estate. He dealt with bants and large-business firms.

In August, 1912, he visited his daughter, Mrs. Josie Frohman in Danbury, Connecticut, and returned the latter part of the month. He had made a previous will in 1901, in which he gave this daughter one-third of his property and some life insurance which he carried in her name. It is claimed, but disputed, that when he returned to his home town, Chillicothe, he did not go home, but went to Fannie Lowenstein’s residence near his home. Mrs. Shirley so testified. She further testified :

“Q; Did you have any talk with Mr. Lowenstein himself? A. No, I never talked to Ab.

“Q. Did you speak to him? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. Now, did you observe him there at that time? A. Oh, yes.

“Q. What was his physical condition? A. He seemed to be very feeble, set with his hands like he always did, he would fall asleep if anybody would be taking to him and slobber run out of his mouth before company.”

Mrs. Fannie Lowenstein was an aunt. The deposition of one Moses Alexander was offered. In that the witness said he visited testator in 1916. This was four years after the will was executed. His disease was a progressive one, and this witness says:

“Q. From your acquaintanceship with Abraham Lowenstein, from your observations of him, and from conversations with him at the time you last saw him, state whether he was, in your opinion, of sound or unsound mind? A. Unable to accurately answer. My impression, at the time I last saw him and talked with him, was that he was quite weals physically and mentally.”

So, too, Homer Reynolds says that at one time in 1916 he saw Mr. Lowenstein on the street, and that he was lost and asked the way home. He was some two blocks from home and was bare-headed and in his shirt sleeves.

As said in 1912 he visited his daughter and she was a witness. The father was with her from'August 2nd to the 20th of the month. She accompanied him to Buffalo, N. Y., and got an acquaintance, who was going to Chicago, to help Mm on the trip from Buffalo to Chicago. This she said she did on account of his enfeebled condition. Being pressed she testified in exact terms as follows :

“Q. Just state what his condition was, you can’t state why you accompanied him, state what his condition was physically? A. It was very bad for papa to undress and dress himself. I had been taking care of him, I really couldn’t see how he was going to get home very well, at least I felt so; from Buffalo to Chicago he was accompanied by a business acquaintance; I met this gentleman at the station and I asked him if he would be kind enough—

“Q. Well, you put him in charge of this man? A. Yes, sir, I asked this gentleman if he would try to look after him, papa wasn’t able—

‘ ‘ By the Court : Don’t state the conversation.

“A. I will have to say I placed him in charge, I suppose.

“Q. You put him in charge of this man? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. And arranged for his being taken care of? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. Now, Mrs. Frohman, you might state what was his physical condition while he was there with you; just state to the jury what his physical condition w'as ? A. It was bad for him to navigate, bad for him to get up, you would realty have to start him; he lost the saliva from his mouth, he dozed and didn’t seem to be able to concentrate his mind for some length of time on any subject—

‘ ‘ By Me.. Maeshall : We object to the 1 ast statement.

“By the Couet : Overruled. To which ruling of the court the defendants then and there excepted at the time and still except.

“Q. You say that he had to be started? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. He had to be helped up? A. Yes, sir, when he wanted to arise in his chair; I had to put on his shoes and lace them for him, put on his collar and tie his tie, cut his meat at the table, and in general waited on him pretty much as you would a child.

“Q. Did you notice when he was walking, how he walked? A. Well, he—

‘ ‘ Q. Can you describe his walk, how he held himself, what was his appearance? A. He had sort of a shuffling gait, his hands was in that position, what was apparently a symptom of the disease he was suffering from.

“Q. You conversed with him then? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. Just tell the court about his conversation? A. Well, it was a great source of pleasure to my father and myself to be able to have an unrestricted visit.

‘ ‘ By Me. Maeshall : I object to that.

“By the Couet : Sustained. To which ruling of the court the plaintiff then and there excepted at the time and still excepts.

“Q. State as to whether or not he could carry on a connected conversation, or not ?

“By Me. Maeshall: I object to that.

‘ ‘ By the Couet : Overruled. To which ruling of the court the defendants then and there excepted at the time and still except.

“Q. Did he carry on a connected conversation? A. He met friends of mine, he did not seem to remember them.

“By Me. Maeshall: I object to that, it is not responsive to the question.

“By the Couet : Overruled. To which ruling of the court the defendants then and there excepted at the time and still except.

“Q. Go ahead. A. He didn’t seem to be able to settle down very much, he did talk of his business affairs and what his desires were in regard to some of his holdings and property, and so on, I don’t know if I can relate exactly the conversations, I can relate one conversation, I don’t know why my father spoke of wanting to make a will, and said that he had been wanting to do it, that he had made a will many years ago, but his wife was not aware of the fact, he said he wished me to have what he had willed to me, because—

“By Mb. Marshall: I object to the statement of the contents of the written instrument—

“By the Court: Overruled. To which ruling of the court the defendants then and there excepted at the time and still except. .

“Q. Go ahead? A. He said he wanted me to have one-third of his estate, and the will he showed me in 1910 was still standing in 1912; he said he really wished me to have it because the foundation of his wealth was acquired through my mother.

“By Mr. Marshall : I object to that.

“By the Court: Overruled. To which ruling of the court the defendants then and there excepted at the time and still except.

“A. (witness continuing) That was one of the conversations I had with my father.

“ Q. Go ahead, what did he say was the relation why he wanted to give you one-third? A. He said he wished to give me one-third because the foundation of his money had come from my mother; at the time he married her, he had very little.

“ Q. I believe you stated that you waited on him all the time he was there? A. Yes, sir.

‘ ‘ Q, Will you tell the jury what was the condition of his bed and pillow? A. His pillow was always wet from saliva from his mouth, and at my request my father consulted a physician, who told me.”

The witness was prevented from telling what the physician told her. In 1913 this plaintiff came to Chilli- cothe, Missouri, and met her father there. She was there two or three weeks and saw her father each day. The father was running his business at the time. The business, as should have been stated sooner, was a produce and commission business. This witness gave no testimony on mental condition in 1913. Chris Boehner, one of the defendant’s witnesses, says:

“Q. I will ask you to state — based upon your business dealings with Mr. Lowenstein and your conversations with him, and observation of him as you have detailed them to the jury, and based upon the matters you have detailed to the jury — state whether he was of sound or unsound mind1? A. Well, at times seemed like he talked rather like he was of sound mind, and yet there was sometimes a little doubt in my mind as to whether he might be or might not be, I couldn’t say he wasn’t.

“Q. Along in 1911, T2 and T3, his business judgment — A. Well, along, about that time, of course, I could-n’t recall, because I didn’t come in contact with him; as I stated before that was about the time I gave up my business, I think it was right along about that time, and 1 noticed he was failing somewhat, but, that is, he complained a whole lot.

“Q. But until the time he went out of business, and the first time you visited in his home after that, Mr. Boe-hner, would you then state that he was of sound or unsound mind at that time? A. I didn’t hardly discover anything in his talk at the house; of course, we did not tali much about any regular routine of business, we just simply talked about other things mostly, and I didn’t have a very good chance to sound a man along that line, just from what little conversation we had.

“Q. I mean up until the time he went out of business and the first you saw of him after he went out of business at that time, Judge, what would you say then as to his mind? A. Well, to my best knowledge and belief his mind was reasonably clear; there wasn’t very much said, in fact, I didn’t stay with him very long, perhaps, thirty or forty minutes, probably an hour.”

Present counsel for plaintiff represented deceased in 1914 as Ms lawyer in a lawsuit and had a written contract of employment. In 1913 the same counsel on the other side of a big will contest case made a settlement with Abraham Lowenstein for $25,000. His sanity was not questioned seemingly.

The foregoing is the case on mental capacity, so far as plaintiff is concerned. A.mass of evidence for the defendant showed a sound mind and good business capacity, even after he quit business in 1913. This evidence came from his near neighbors and constant associates. On this record the question of mental incapacity should not have gone to the jury. The demurrer to the evidence to this effect should have been sustained.

V. There is less evidence upon which to bottom the charge of undue influence. It does appear that plaintiff and her mother had not been on friendly terms since the latter part of the year 1905, but up to that time they had lived in the same house. Who was at fault does not appear clearly from this record. If does appear that Lowenstein’s estate was worth about $30,000; that in addition to plaintiff he had a wife and three cMldren; that including the wedding expenses of some $1100, he had given the daughter and her husband something near $8000. By the will plaintiff and the other three children were given $100 each. As to plaintiff it is mentioned in the will that the $100 is i£in addition to advances heretofore made.” All the remainder of the estate was given to the wife absolutely. The will was made shortly after the return of deceased from the visit to plaintiff in 1912, although he had talked to his lawyer about writing this will before he made the visit in 1912. The will bears date September 7, 1912, and deceased returned from his visit the latter part of August. The will was prepared and signed in his lawyer’s office, and Mrs. Lowenstein was not present. This is peculiarly a case of facts rather than one of law., The applicable law could not be disputed. It is fixed by many previous rulings. If this will was the product of undue influence upon the part of Mrs. Lowen-stein, as undue influence is defined in the law, then the writing is not the will of deceased. It is a useless task to review our cases. There is no evidence in this record of the wife making any effort to get her husband to make a. will. She and her step-daughter were unfriendly, hut that does not prove undue influence. Nor does the fact that she got all the property, when she had three children to support and educate, and herself to maintain, in view of the amount of the estate, and the advancements to plaintiff, look had. But if the will was not the product of undue influence, and the testator was sound in mind, this case is ended, notwithstanding the alleged inequitable disposition of the property. It is true that there were some letters from the father to the daughter (the plaintiff) indicating that the home life of deceased was not pleasant. In one instance, further, that it was unbearable. This letter was after the making of the will. These letters, whilst competent to prove mental condition and the state of the affections of the testator, are no evidence of the facts of the home life of deceased. So too as to oral statements of deceased. There is no competent evidence in the case showing any unpleasant home life, or the domination of the testator by the wife. It does appear that, after the will, he transferred some property to her, and changed some insurance policies, but this accorded with the views expressed in the will. He told his lawyer when the will was written that his idea was to protect the three younger children, and that in view of what he had advanced to plaintiff these other children should have what was'left. The record is silent as to any attempt upon the part of the wife to procure the.making of this will or any other will.

Learned counsel make much over the fact that Mrs. Lowenstein, although present, did not testify. In the first place, the burden was upon plaintiff to show undue influence, and if she failed, as we rule, then there was no necessity of Mrs. Lowenstein taking the witness stand upon that question. We are cited to that line of cases where fraud is charged, and the defendant, charged with the fraud, failed to testify. Those cases are not in point here. It is true that plaintiff did attempt to charge fraud and duress, hut abandoned both in the evidence and in the instructions. The evidence in plaintiff’s behalf failed to show either-fraud or duress, and she abandoned that issue in her instructions. The burden was upon plaintiff to establish fraud and duress, and if she failed, as she did, no .convicting inference can be drawn against Mrs. Lowenstein for failing to testify upon those matters. Being unproved, they needed no denial. No fiduciary relation is shown. The relation of man and wife is all that appears.

The trial court has erroneously permitted the jury to make a will for the testator in this case. The instructions in the nature of demurrers to the evidence should have been given.

The judgment is* therefore reversed and cause remanded with directions to the trial court to enter up a judgment sustaining the will.

All concur, David E. Blair, J., in separate opinion.