Magnus v. McGregor

176 N.W. 450, 209 Mich. 339, 1920 Mich. LEXIS 613
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 27, 1920
DocketDocket No. 44
StatusPublished

This text of 176 N.W. 450 (Magnus v. McGregor) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Magnus v. McGregor, 176 N.W. 450, 209 Mich. 339, 1920 Mich. LEXIS 613 (Mich. 1920).

Opinion

Moore, C. J.

This is a will contest. The contestant introduced no evidence. At the conclusion of the testimony offered on the part of the proponent both' parties asked for a directed verdict.

The claim of the contestant was stated as follows:

“We request the court to direct the jury to return a verdict that this was not the last will and testament of the deceased. The testimony affirmatively shows that the testatrix did not know the contents of the will as she did not dictate it, neither was it read to her nor by her, but the testimony in this case shows [340]*340that she was not acquainted with- its contents after the same was drafted. * * * The burden of the proof is upon the person offering the will, and the testimony offered in this case shows affirmatively and beyond any question of doubt that at the time when it is claimed that this will was signed that Mrs. Magnus was not acquainted with the facts- in the will.
“The testimony in this case is that after the will was prepared by Mr. Devereaux they all went into the room, nothing was said, and it was signed and witnessed as the witnesses claim, but there is nothing to show that she knew the contents of that will at the time it was signed, and the presumption is in this case that she must have known the contents of the will, but it is affirmatively proven she did not know what it was. Not read to her or by her. We ask the court to direct the jury to return a verdict for the contestant.”

The judge declined to direct a verdict in favor of the contestant and charged the jury in part as follows:

“Gentlemen of the jury, this is a matter brought to this court on appeal from the probate court of Saginaw county.
“Wilhelmina Magnus on the 26th day of May, 1917, signed an instrument which purported to be her last will and testament. About a month subsequent to the time of her signing .that instrument, Mrs. Magnus died and the will was later offered for probate in the probate court for Saginaw county, and objections were filed to the offering of the will, and this matter was heard and determined by the probate judge, and the will was allowed as and for the last will and testament of Mrs. Magnus. * * *
“The proponent of the will is Ernest Magnus who is one of the heirs- at law, the devisee under the terms of the will, by his. counsel makes proof of the execution of the will, and produced the attesting witnesses, and you have heard the testimony of these witnesses upon the trial of the case.
“At the close of the testimony of the proponent of the will, the contestant, Mrs. McGregor, through her attorneys, moved the court for a directed verdict in favor of the contestant and against the allowance [341]*341of the will, claiming that among other things that there was no evidence that Mrs. Magnus understood the provisions of the will, and that as a matter of fact the will was not read over to her, and that any presumption that might exist by reason of the attestation clause or the proper execution of the will, was overcome by the testimony in the case which the contestant claims shows that Mrs. Magnus did not know the contents of the will. This motion was denied by the court it being the judgment of the court that there is no testimony in this case that warrants the conclusion claimed for by the contestant.
“The will was properly executed, and that any presumption that attaches that she knew the contents of the will, or it was read over to her, which follows the proper execution of the will, has not been overcome by testimony in the case. There is absolutely no testimony in this case that this will was not read over to her, or that she did not know the contents of the will. And the contestant has no proof that has so far been introduced in the case upon which to base her contention that that will was not understood or that it was not read to Mrs. Magnus before the testatrix executed it. On the contrary the conditions were such surrounding the execution of the will, and the proper execution of the will, of such a character that the presumption attaches that she did know the contents of the will, and that it was read over to her. There is no proof in this case to the contrary in the judgment of the court.”

Thereupon the jury rendered a verdict in accordance with the instructions of the court sustaining the will.

The contestant now claims:

“(1) The court erred in not submitting the case to the jury under proper instructions.
“ (2) The record clearly shows that it was impossible for the deceased to have known at the time she asked Mr. Devéreaux to sign her name to the claimed will, its contents and the court’s decision that it was her last will and testament, and its execution established under this record, is contrary to the facts and law in the case, and he committed error therein.”

[342]*342The will in controversy was drawn by a reputable attorney who unfortunately died before the will was offered for probate. The other two witnesses testified in relation to the execution of the will by Mrs. Mag-nus ; we quote from their testimony.

Ada Kent testified in part as follows:

“I signed my name to the paper three different times. After Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Magnus got through with their dinner I went into the bedroom and talked with Mrs. Magnus, his mother, a little while. I couldn’t say how long, a few/minutes, when I went out to go home. Went back'into the kitchen and she asked Ernest to have me‘"come in there. I went back into the room. She asked me if I would wait a little while and witness her will. I said I would, and I went back into tne kitchen and waited until I was 'called in the room. It might have been half an hour before I was- called again, or a little longer. I couldn’t say who called me. I went back into the room. In the meantime Mrs. Bounds had come over. Mrs. Bounds, Mr. Devereaux and I went into the bedroom where Mrs. Magnus was.
“Q. How did you come to sign your name on this paper? Explain it to the jury.
“A. Well she was to sign her name. She said ‘My arm is lame.’ She asked Mr. Devereaux to sign her name as her arm was shaky and couldn’t. Mrs. Bounds was present. Mr. Devereaux then signed her name. When she told Mr. Devereaux to sign her name he said ‘All right.’ He signed her name and signed his own name. I saw him.
“Q. What if anything was then said to you?
“A. I sat on the edge of the bed somewhere. It was quite a small room. - Mrs. Bounds, I think, signed her name. I signed. Mrs. Magnus asked her if she would sign it. * * * My name appears on page 3 under the head of witness. I signed it at the request of Mrs. Magnus. I put my name there in the presence of Mrs. Bounds and Mr. Devereaux and Mrs. Magnus. She was there all the time. She asked me to witness her will. She didn’t say anything more. Mr. James P. Devereaux signed his- name at the bottom of the page on line 25. On line 28 of the third [343]*343page and then also on the first page I signed the same. Mr. Devereaux and Mrs. Bounds signed their names. I saw Mr. Devereaux sign his name on the side, as it appears here. I also saw Mrs. Bounds siga her name.

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Bluebook (online)
176 N.W. 450, 209 Mich. 339, 1920 Mich. LEXIS 613, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/magnus-v-mcgregor-mich-1920.