Lorts v. Wash

75 S.W. 95, 175 Mo. 487, 1903 Mo. LEXIS 74

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: June 9, 1903
• Status: Published

Opinion

FOX, J. J.

— This is a suit brought by appellant on the 12th day of May, 1900, to contest and set aside the will of Caroline Wash, who died on the 23rd day of February, 1900, the will having been executed on the 22nd • day of February, 1900.

STATEMENT.

The petition in the case, after averring the interests of the heirs and the execution of the will, makes the following allegations, viz.:

“The plaintiffs further state that said Caroline Wash was over seventy years of age when she died; that at and for sometime prior to the date of her death she was weakened, both in body and mind, by old age; that she, sometime prior to her decease, was under the direct influence and control of Eldorado Wash and Pierre Watson. That several days prior to her decease she was attacked by a deadly malady, and then and there became sick unto death, and so remained to the 23rd day of February, A. D., 1900, when she died; that on the 22nd day of February, A. D., 1900, she being then and there enfeebled by her old age and the ravages of the deadly disease aforesaid, and racked by excruciating pains, and while in the throes of death, the said defendants, Eldorado Wash and Pierre Watson, procured the preparation of a paper writing, and procured and induced the said Caroline Wash h> sign the same.”

By the terms of the will Eldorado Wash and Pierre Watson were made the beneficiaries of said will.' Said will was duly witnessed and probated, which was duly .averred in the petition. The petition further avers .that said instrument aforesaid “was not and is not the will of Caroline Wash. For that the said Caroline 'Wash, for a long time prior to her death, was debilitated both in body and mind, as aforesaid, and plaintiffs state and aver the fact that while she was under their influence and control, said defendants, for the purpose of influencing and poisoning the mind of said Caroline Wash against plaintiffs, made false, fraudulent, and fabricated reports and charges of and concerning plaintiffs to her, for the fraudulent purpose of inducing her to disinherit plaintiffs, and obtain for themselves a bequest of all her property; that for a long time prior to her death the said defendants unduly and artfully influenced her, the said Caroline Wash, so that she was completely under their influence and control up to the date of her death as aforesaid. That on the day of her death as aforesaid, the said defendants by their undue influence, artful designs, and fraudulent practices, induced and procured the said Caroline Wash, to sign the aforesaid instrument of writing, purporting and pretending to be her last will and testament. That at the time she, the said Caroline Wash, signed said paper of writing as aforesaid, she was in a dying condition, all as hereinbefore said, and her mind was so enfeebled and unsound as to render her totally incapable of understanding the matter in hand, and that she did not comprehend the purport of the instrument signed by her. ’ ’

The answer of defendants is in words and figures as follows:

“Now come the defendants, and for answer to plaintiffs’ petition, admit:

“First. That the parties plaintiff are the persons they represent themselves to be, and that their heirship in the estate of Caroline Wash, deceased, is as charged in the petition.

“Second. That the will of said Caroline Wash has been probated, as charged, and that the same now stands as the true will of Caroline Wash.

“And defendants, further answering, aver that the. will in contest is the true will of said Caroline Wash, and deny each and every allegation in plaintiffs’ petition contained not herein specifically admitted. Wherefore, defendants having fully answered, ask to he discharged with their costs. ’ ’

The will of Caroline Wash sought to be annulled by this proceeding, was as follows:

‘ ‘ State of Missouri, county of Phelps, In the name of God, Amen:

“I, Caroline Wash, being of sound mind and disposing mind, and knowing the uncertainties of life and the certainties of death, do hereby make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills and testaments made by me.

‘ ‘ First. I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter, Eldorado Wash, and to Pierre Watson all my personal property whatsoever kind I may possess at the time of my decease; except such part thereof as I give to the other persons hereinafter mentioned in this will; they, the said Eldorado Wash and Pierre Watson to share alike in said property.

“Second. I give and bequeath to William Lorts, Sallie Fuhring, Hannah Lorts, Genette Lorts, Lulu Lorts, Frederick Lorts, Herman Lorts, and Alexander Lorts, who are heirs at law of my daughter, Mary Lorts, •deceased, the sum of one dollar each, to- be paid within one year after my decease.

“Third; I give and bequeath to John Morris, Samuel Morris, Stephen Morris, James Alexander Morris, who are heirs at law of my daughter, Anna Mariah Morris, deceased, the sum of one dollar each, to-be paid within one year after my decease.

“Fourth. I give and bequeath to my son, James Alexander Wash, or to his heirs at law, the sum of one dollar to be paid within one year after my decease, provided the same is called for by him or those who legally represent him, and if the same be not called for as aforesaid, within one year after my decease, then the same is to revert to Eldorado Wash.

“Fifth. I give and devise to my daughter, Eldorado Wash, and Pierre Watson all my right, title and interest in and to the following described real estate lying, being and situated in Phelps county, Missouri, to-wit: The southwest quarter of section number five, in township number thirty-nine, in range number six, west; the south half of the southeast quarter of section five, township number thirty-nine, range number six, west; the northwest of the southeast quarter, west half of lot number one of the northeast quarter, west half of lot number three of the northeast quarter, lot number three of the northwest quarter, and the east fractional west half of lot number four of the northwest quarter, all in section number five, in township thirty-nine, range number six, west; and the north half of section number eight, in township thirty-nine, range number six, west; it being my intention to give and to devise to them all my interest in the above described lands, as is shown by my declaration, as the widow of T. A. Wash, deceased; they, the aforesaid Eldorado Wash and Pierre Watson, to share alike in the above described premises.

“Sixth. I hereby appoint my executors, Eldorado Wash and Pierre Watson, to act in settling up my estate without bond, and I hereby charge them to, as soon as practical after my decease, to pay all indebtedness that may exist against me at the time of my decease.

“Witness my hand and seal this 22nd day of February; nineteen hundred.

“(Seal) Caroline Wash,

“.In testimony whereof, we the undersigned witnesses hereby certify that the above named Caroline Wash signed the within document in our presence this 22nd day of February, A. D., 1900.

“Witnesses: J. A. Watson, C. C. Watson, S. T. Mitchell, J. J. Carter.”

A jury being waived, tbis cause was submitted to the-court, upon tbe testimony introduced.

It is unnecessary to burden tbis opinion witb a detailed statement of all tbe testimony offered in tbe cause; it is sufficient to dispose of tbe legal question involved, to simply say that there was testimony by both plaintiffs, and defendants, tending to prove the issues presented by the pleadings.

Tbe following declarations of law, as disclosed by tbe record, were given at tbe request of tbe plaintiffs:

“1. Tbe court declares tbe law to be that if it appears from tbe evidence that at tbe time the will in question was made, Caroline Wash was on ber death-bed, racked witb pain and disease, and feeble in mind and body from sucb sickness, and bad not sufficient understanding, and intelligence to transact ber ordinary business affairs, and to comprehend tbe transaction then in question, tbe nature and extent of ber property and to whom she was giving tbe same, then she bad not sufficient capacity to make a will, and tbe issues will be found for tbe plaintiffs.

‘ ‘ 2. Tbe court declares the law to be that tbe burden of proof is upon tbe defendants in tbis ease to prove tbe proper execution and attestation of tbe will in question, and that tbe testatrix was of sound mind at tbe time of tbe execution of said will; and unless .the defendants or proponents of said will have shown sucb facts by a preponderance of tbe testimony, tbe issues will be found for tbe plaintiffs. ’ ’

Instructions numbered three and four, requested by plaintiffs, were refused, which we will notice in tbe course of tbe opinion.

Tbe court found tbe issues for tbe defendants, and rendered judgment accordingly, sustaining tbe will. From tbis judgment plaintiffs have prosecuted their appeal, and tbis cause is now before us for review.

OPINION.

The attack upon this will is based upon two grounds:

First. It is alleged that the beneficiaries in said will, by the exercise of -an undue influence over the mind of the testatrix, procured the declaration and publication of the will involved in this suit.

Second. That Caroline Wash was, by reason of her physical and mental condition, incapable of making a will.

The first contention urged by the plaintiffs is that the court erred in overruling the motion filed, to strike out the answer of defendants. This motion was filed and the reasons assigned in it for striking out the answer of defendants, was that they refused to obey the command of a subpoena to appear before a notary public and give their depositions in this cause.

It will be observed that the error complained of in this motion was not called to the attention of the court in the motion for new trial. This motion to strike out was no part of the record proper and in order to subject the action of the court in overruling it to review, its attention had to be directed to it in the motion for new trial.

The action of the trial court upon this motion has not been properly preserved by this record, and is therefore not before us for review.

Our attention is next directed to the error complained of in the exclusion of testirqony. During the progress of the trial, Dr. Johnson of Rolla,' Missouri, was introduced as a witness. He had never visited Mrs. Wash during her illness. He testified as follows:

“Q. Now I will ask you if in your experience you have treated old people, that is, over the age of sixty or seventy? A. A great many.

“Q. Are you acquainted with or from your experience do you know, the effect of this disease upon old people? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. Now, I will ask you, doctor, if a woman seventy-three years old, sick with lagrippe and pneumonia from Sunday till Saturday morning; delirious on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a temperature on Sunday of 103, on Tuesday of 105; delirious on Wednesday and Thursday, her temperature 101, pulse 120 and in a sinking condition and in considerable pain; Eriday morning delirious, pulse less than 100, temperature 105, and dead the following Saturday morning, would be of sound and sufficient memory on Thursday evening to realize and comprehend the extent of the business of making a disposition of her property?

“The defendants .objected to this question for the reason that the witness had not qualified himself sufficiently to be authorized to answer that question, and for the further reason that it is not based upon the facts as heretofore developed in the trial, and for the further reason that it is not within the pale of human testimony to determine the condition of man’s mind, which objection was by the court sustained; to which action of the court in sustaining the said objection of the defendants, the plaintiffs, by counsel, in open court, objected and excepted at the time.”

The,court was clearly correct in excluding the answer to this question. In the first place, the answers to the preliminary questions do not show that the doctor had any opinion as to her mental condition.. He may have, from his experience in treating pneumonia, formed a very correct opinion generally, as to the effects of that disease upon the system; but he does not pretend to say that he could give an opinion as to her mental condition at the time she executed this will. This question was clearly incompetent.

■ Complaint is also made that the court excluded competent evidence offered by plaintiff, tending to im■peach, witness J. A. Watson, the attorney who wrote the last will of Mrs. Wash. This testimony, • offered :for the purpose of impeachment, consisted of a circular, ■issued by Watson while he was a candidate for some •office. It is as follows:

“TO THE VOTERS OF PHELPS COUNTY.

“Rolla, Missouri, April 15, 1900.

“As some of my opponents are circulating a report do the effect that I, as attorney, drew up a will for the late Carry Wash, deceased, in which I fraudulently had her give my brother a portion of her estate, and as they are also circulating various fraudulent reports .about the same, I desire to take this method to say to the voters of this county that said reports are absolutely false and without any foundation whatever, and are being circulated by my opponents for the express purpose •of misleading the people of this county, and thereby to injure my chances for nomination to the office of prose■cuting attorney. The facts in the case are shown by the following affidavit, which is signed by Eldorado Wash, a daughter of the deceased, and by.S. T. Mitchell and ■J. J. Carter, who were present when said will was drafted by me, and who were also witnesses to the same.

■“ ‘State of Missouri, county of Phelps, ss.

“ ‘On the 15th of April, 1900, before me, W. D. .Jones, a notary public, within and for the county of Phelps and State of Missouri, came Eldorado Wash, S. T. Mitchell and J. J. Carter, and state the facts to- be that they were present at the residence of the late Carry-Wash, deceased, on the 22nd day of February,- 1900; when-she made her last will and testament; that she fold J. A. Watson, as her attorney, in our- presence 'how she desired to dispose of her property, and that he wrote her will exactly as directed; and that she signed the same in oúr presence, and that the said J. A. Watson did nothing whatever but write said will as her attorney as she directed, and reports of whatever nature- to the contrary are to our knowledge and belief absolutely false.

“ ‘Eldorado Wash,

“ ‘S. T. MitcAell,

“ ‘J. J. Carter.

' “ ‘Subscribed and sworn to- before- me, this 13th day of April, 1900.

“ ‘ (Seal) W. D. Jones, Notary Public.

“ ‘My commission expires April 16, 1900.’

“Permit me to- say in conclusion, that I never in my life spoke a word to Mrs. Wash or she to- me about what disposition she was to make of her property except what was said between us in the presence of the; above named parties, as above stated. I also desire to-further state that I have tried to make this race fairly and squarely on my merits as a lawyer and a man, and I have not expected,, nor do-1 expect, to get into- office-, by slandering and abusing my opponents, as they are trying to do me, and no matter to me what the result of this primary election is, I shall stand, as I have ever stood, true to the grand old Democratic parts’-,' true to its-flag, true- to its principles, and true to its nominees.

“Respectfully,

“J. A. Watson.”

We have carefully read the testimony of Watson,, both direct and on cross-examination, and we find no-error in the exclusion of this circular. It was purely a circular, applicable to a political campaign, and did not, in fact, impeach the witness upon the- material parts-of his testimony.

This leads us to the contention of the plaintiffs, that the court' erred in refusing instructions numbered 3 and 4, as requested by'thé plaintiffs. That we may fully appreciate the application of the- instructions, as to the '’fáctAas- developed by the testimony, we here quote them ; aáffól'lows:

“3. The court declares the law to he that in determining whether nndne influence was used to- procure the execution of the paper writing offered as the last will of Caroline Wash, it will take into consideration her mental and physical condition at the time of executing it, the will itself and the provisions therein, and if from all the facts and circumstances in evidence, it appears that Pierre Watson and Eldorado Wash, the beneficiaries of said will, were constantly with Caroline Wash for sometime before and during her last sickness, and were active in procuring said will to be written, and that they or either of them, mentioned the names of the disinherited grandchildren of the said Caroline Wash; and that they were present and either of them assisted in dictating or mentioned the names of the disinherited grandchildren to the said Caroline Wash, or to the said scrivener, then and in that' case, said will was not the will of said Caroline Wash, and the issues will be found for the plaintiffs.

“4. The court declares the law to be that in order to constitute a sound and disposing mind, ,the testator must not only be able to understand that he or she has by his or her will given the whole of his or her property, to one object of his or her regard, but must also have capacity to comprehend the extent of his or her -property, and the nature of the claims of others who by his or her will he or she has excluded from all participation in that property, and that he or she- must at the timé be capable of recollecting who those relations are-, and of understanding at the time their respective claims iipon his or her regard and bounty, and must be of suffi-cient mind and judgment to deliberately form an intelligent purpose of excluding them from any share in his or her property; and in this case unless it appears from the evidence that the testatrix was of sufficient strength of mind and memory to comprehend the extent and description of her property interest, as well as to remember and give to the scrivener writing her will the names of each of her grandchildrén entitled to participate in her property, the issues will he found for the plaintiffs.” •

We will simply say as to instruction number 3, that the testimony in this case did not warrant any such instruction. After a careful examination of all the testimony, there is an entire absence of any substantial testimony tending to show any undqe influence exercised over the mind of Mrs. Wash in procuring the will involved in this suit. In the case of Jackson v. Hardin, 83 Mo. 175, Philips, C., in a very able and forcible opinion, announced very clearly the true rule as applicable to this subject. He says:

‘ ‘ The influence denounced by law must be such as amounts to overpersuasion, coercion or force, destroying the free agency and will power of the testator. It must not be merely the influence of affection or attachment, nor the desire of gratifying the wishes of one beloved, respected and trusted by the testator. [Rankin v. Rankin, 61 Mo. 295; Higgins v. Carlton, 28 Md. 115; 1 Redf. on Wills, pp. 522, 523.] While the extreme age, helplessness and consequent susceptibility of the testator are important facts in the ascertainment of the undue influence, yet it is not to be inferred from either age, sickness or debility of body if sufficient intelligence remains. [Higgins v. Carlton, supra.]”

He also very appropriately adds in discussing this question:

“As neither courts nor juries can make wills for men they ought to. be careful in unmaking them.”

There was ho error in refusing instruction number 3.

As to instruction numbered 4, it will suffice to say that dt is not in all respects in harmony with the' approved precedents 5 it requires a test of capacity, which would render most people incapable of disposing of their property. While the instruction in the main is correct, yet it undertakes to add tests to the approved precedents which, render it objectionable. Aside from ' this, instruction number 1 given at the request of plaintiffs, embodied sufficiently the features as urged by this refused instruction. This was a trial by the court, and instruction number 1 indicates very clearly the theory upon which the case was tried, and pointedly shows that the court applied the tests of capacity sanctioned by the well-settled law on that subject.

It is further insisted by plaintiffs that defendants should have introduced all the subscribing witnesses. This contention is most appropriately answered by this court, in the case of Craig v. Craig, 156 Mo. l. c. 361, where it is announced that: “Our statute requires that a will be in writing, signed by the testator, or by some one by his direction in his presence, and be attested by two or more witnesses subscribing it in the presence of the testator. [Sec. 8870, R. S'. 1889; Idem, sec. 4604, R. S. 1899.] But the law does not make the proof of the will dependent alone on the testimony of the subscribing witnesses or render their testimony absolutely essential. ’ ’

To the same effect is Mays v. Mays, 114 Mo. 541: “The law does not place the validity of these important muniments of title at the mercy of those who may be called upon to verify their execution. ’ ’

While the general rule is as announced in Craig v. Craig, supra, that all the subscribing witnesses should be introduced, it does not follow that a failure to introduce them would constitute error. That rule is announced as a suggestion of the appropriate method of procedure in cases of this character. On the other hand, the rule is well settled that all that is required of those claiming under the will is to make out a “prima facie” ease.

Judge Black, in Norton v. Paxton, 110 Mo. l. c. 462, in speaking of the method of procedure, announced this very plain and simple rule: “It is sufficient for those who claim under the will to' make out a prima facie case in the first instance. There is a presumption that every adult person is compos mentis, but the presumption is one of fact only. It may be that the production of a will, reasonable on its face, with proof of due execution and attestation, and that the testator was of full age, will make out a prima facie ease on the part of the proponents,- thus giving full force to the presumption, though the usual course is to offer some evidence of mental capacity. The parties claiming under the will having made out a prima facie case, the contestants must bring forward their evidence. But it does not follow from all this that the burden of proof shifts. It remains with those claiming under the will. ’ ’

It was not absolutely essential to introduce all the witnesses attesting the execution of this will.

It is earnestly insisted by plaintiffs that the finding of the trial court was not sustained by the proof. We are unable to concur with the views of the learned counsel as to this claim. Upon a careful consideration of all the testimony, we are of. the opinion that the judgment in this cause was amply supported by the testimony. As was elsewhere said, “courts can not make wills,” and the unmaking of them ought to be based upon reasonably satisfactory evidence.

Marshall, J., in the ease of Sehr v. Lindemann, 153 Mo. l. c. 288, very clearly states the rule, and the application of it. The testimony in that case was m some respects similar to the evidence in this case. He says:

“Under the Statute of Wills the owner of property is permitted to dispose of it as he chooses after his death. If he malms no- disposition of it by will the Statute of Descents disposes of it for him. When a will is contested it devolves upon the proponents to prove the execution of the will, that the testator was of requisite age and that he was sane. 1 This makes out a prima facie case, and it then devolves upon the contestants to establish incompetency or undue influence. By competency is meant intelligence sufficient to understand the act he is performing, the property he possesses, the disposition he is making of it and the persons or objects he makes the beneficiaries of his bounty. Imperfect memory caused by sickness or old age, forgetfulness of the names of persons he has known, idle questions or requiring a repetition of information will not be sufficient to establish incompetency, if he has sufficient intelligence remaining to fulfill the above definition. Mere opinions of witnesses that the testator was ‘ childish, ’ or acted ‘funny,’ or was ‘worse than a child,’ or that there were ‘inequalities in the will,’ unaccompanied by any testimony showing any particular act or fact evidencing incompetency, do not make out a case of incompetency when the testimony shows that the testator ‘knew what he was doing and to whom he was giving his property.’ By undue influence is meant such influence as amounts to force, coercion or overpersuasion which destroys the free agency and will power of the testator. It is not merely the influence of affection or desire to gratify the wishes of one who is near and dear to the testator. And ‘affirmative proof of such undue influence is required to be made, either by direct facts shown, or by facts and circumstances from which undue influence results, as a reasonable and fair inference and not a mere conjecture.’ ”

The testimony in this case fails to show any undue influence as contemplated by law, in procuring the making of this will. The testimony upon the issue as presented, of incapacity to execute the instrument, on the part of the plaintiffs, is very slight and of a very unsatisfactory nature.

The doctor who testified and expressed an opinion does not pretend to be an expert upon nervous diseases or diseases of the brain, and even his testimony upon cross-examination and upon answers to.questions propounded by the court, indicate that Mrs. Wash was capable'of executing the will and disposing of her property.

Tbe testimony on the part of the defendants not only make ont a prima facie case, bnt by a clear preponderance of testimony, established the capacity of Caroline Wash to execute the will before’us.

The court had the witnesses before it, in this case, and doubtless observed their conduct and demeanor. Sitting as a jury, its province was to determine their credibility, and the weight to be attached to' their testimony. Its findings will not be disturbed. The judgment will be affirmed.

All concur.