Golding v. Painter

89 P.2d 1049, 59 Nev. 201
CourtNevada Supreme Court
DecidedMay 3, 1939
DocketNo. 3262
StatusPublished

This text of 89 P.2d 1049 (Golding v. Painter) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nevada Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Golding v. Painter, 89 P.2d 1049, 59 Nev. 201 (Neb. 1939).

Opinion

OPINION

By the Court,

Ducker, J.:

This case is before the court for the second time on appeal from a judgment overruling objections to the admission of a will to probate and from an order denying a motion for a new trial. On the first appeal the judgment was reversed on the ground of error by the trial court in striking certain testimony of appellant. In re Golding’s Estate, 58 Nev. 274, 76 P.(2d) 1099.

For many years Warren T. Golding conducted a trading post on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation, at Nixon, Nevada, where he lived with his wife, Clara O. Golding. She obtained a divorce from him in the Second [204]*204judicial district court of this state on July 16, 1927. The decree of divorce was filed at the hour of ten o’clock (10: 00) a. m. on that day.

In its findings of fact in the divorce action a written agreement entered into by the parties on the 15th day of July 1927, pursuant to which Warren T. Golding made and executed the will appellant is now contesting, was approved by the court. She is not provided for in the will or mentioned therein. After a certain bequest is made therein to Clara 0. Golding, in compliance with said agreement, the residue of his estate is devised and bequeathed to his brothers and sisters.

Appellant claims that after the divorce was granted she became the common-law wife of Golding and was such at the time of his death. The trial court decided that she did not become the common-law wife of Golding and accordingly made and entered the judgment appealed from.

The single question presented is whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain the judgment of the trial court.

A general review of the evidence is necessary. In addition to the facts stated above it appears that appellant, an Indian woman, was born at Nixon, Nevada. Her name was Mabel Wright. She was about thirty years of age at the time she claims she was married to Golding, and he was then about seventy years of age. When she was a girl, during the years 1912-13-14 she worked for the Goldings at their home in Nixon, doing the cooking and general housework. At first she was paid twenty-five cents a day and later fifty cents a day, and was given her meals. She also attended the school at Nixon during that time and slept at the schoolhouse.

Concerning the alleged marriage relation, appellant, who will also be spoken of as Mabel, or Mabel Wright, testified that on July 16, 1927, Golding asked her to marry him and she agreed to do so. Her counsel asked:

“What did he say to you at that time? A. He asked me to marry him.
[205]*205“Q. How were you to marry him — the Indian Custom? A. Indian custom.
“Q. A common law marriage ? A. Yes.
“Q. And ever since that time you have lived and cohabited together as husband and wife during his life time, up to the time of his death? A. Yes.”
Further in that regard she testified as follows:
“Q. You were married at the Reservation? A. Yes: “Q. At Nixon, Nevada? A. Yes.
“Q. On July 16, 1927? A. Yes. * * *
“Q. How do you remember you got married to him by your Indian custom in the morning? A. Well, he was coming along the road there, coming to Reno, and he asked me to marry him and I said yes, and that is how we got married.
“Q. About what time in the morning was it? A. I don’t know, about ten— nine—
“Q. About nine o’clock in the morning? A. Yes.
“Q. Of July 16, 1927. A. Yes.
“Q. And ever since that time you claim you are the common law wife of Mr. Golding. A. Yes, ever since I am his wife.”

Further she testified that after the marriage agreement she returned with Golding to Nixon on the same day and lived with him. “I lived back of the store where my husband owns everything. I got a house back there, and there is where he kept me.”

Concerning this she gave the following testimony:

“Q. You both went back together? A. Yes.
“Q. How long did you stay there? A. I stayed there to his house and we got back there, I stayed there a little while and then came back to my home.
“Q. Where did you live ? A. I live where my mother’s house.
“Q. At that time? A. But I go to his house often.
“Q. You live at your Mother’s house? A. Yes, and sometimes I go over and live with him.
“Q. And you went back and forth to Mr. Golding’s place. A. Yes.
[206]*206“Q. Did you do the housework for him at that time? A. Yes, I did the housework for him and washed dishes and everything, and cooked.
“Q. And when you finished you went back to your mother? A. Sometimes I stayed with him. I sleep with him night times.
“Q. There is a little place out in back? A. Little cabin.
“Q. Did you ever stay back there ? A. Yes.”

Concerning a change of residence by Golding from Nixon to Sutcliffe, and her relations with him there, she testified that after he sold his store in 1927 he went to the latter place to live.

“Q. Where did he live at Sutcliffe? A. He built a house over there. * * * I went over there and cooked for him and slept. * * *
“Q. You stayed with him all night. A. Yes.
“Q. Did you hear her (her mother) testify that you only went there in the day time and visited him ? A. She goes over there in the day time but I remain there in the night time to stay with him.
“Q. You didn’t go back with your mother? A. No.
“Q. Did you stay all the time? A. Stay there three or four days and he either take me back or my brother come after me.
“Q. Did you cook for him? A. Yes.
“Q. And take care of the house for him? A. Yes.
“Q. Did he pay you money? A. No.
“Q. Did he give you presents? A. No.”

She said, “I go and see him, whenever I want to stay, I stay.”

Golding moved from Sutcliffe, Nevada, to California. Concerning his going there and her relations with him in that state she testified: “When his people sell out this lot, well, he said, ‘Mabel I have to get out. I am going to take you along to Sawtelle, California.’ And he come to my mother’s house and he get everything ready and he ask my mother if he take me, and we all say yes, it would be perfectly all right.” She testified [207]*207to making several trips with him from Sawtelle, California, to Nixon and return, and one trip to Klamath Falls, Oregon, with him.

“Q. How long did you live in Sawtelle, California? A. I could not tell you how long because I made three trips with him back and forth.
“Q. Did he go into the Sawtelle Home there for a while? A. Yes, he stayed there for a while.

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Related

Catlett v. Chestnut, as Exr.
146 So. 241 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1933)
In Re Golding's Estate
76 P.2d 1099 (Nevada Supreme Court, 1938)

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Bluebook (online)
89 P.2d 1049, 59 Nev. 201, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/golding-v-painter-nev-1939.