Smith v. Kittridge

21 Vt. 238

• Court: Supreme Court of Vermont
• Decided: February 15, 1849
• Status: Published

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Poland, J.

The claim in favor of the plaintiffs against the estate of the testator is attempted to be supported upon two grounds;— 1, That it is a good donatio causa mortis; — 2, That it is good and binding upon the representatives of Joab Smith, as a debt, which can be enforced, either at law, or in equity.

1. As to the first ground, — was this a good donatio causa mortis 7 Under this branch of the case the first question, which presents itself, is, whether this note could be the subject of a good donatio mortis causa by the testator, who was himself the maker of the note. Although it was formerly doubted, whether the note of a third person could properly be the subject of such a gift, and many conflicting decisions are to be found Upon that point, the current of modern authorities is, without doubt, in favor of the doctrine, that a note of a third person may be transferred in this way. Such is the view expressed by the judge who delivered the opinion of the court in the case of Holley v. Adams, Adm’r, 16 Vt. 206; and we think the opinion well founded in principle, as well as by the authority of adjudged cases. Whether the testator’s own note could be the subject of such a gift is much more doubtful. In the case of Parish v. Stone, 14 Pick. 193, which was a case very similar in its features to the present case, it was decided by the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, that the donor’s owri promissory note, payable to the donee, could not be the subject of a donatio causa mortis. That case was very much discussed at the bar, and the whole subject is very closely and ably reviewed by Ch. J. Shaw, and' all the authorities relating to the question examined. The same question was before the Supreme Court of Connecticut, in the case of Raymond v. Sellick, 10 Conn. 480, and, after a thorough examination, the court came to the same conclusion -as that adopted by the Massachusetts court in Parish v. Stone. lit the recent case in England, Holliday v. Atkinson, 5 B. & C. 501, the same doctrine is laid down by Lord Tenterden, in giving the judgment of the court. These cases are cited by the court in Holley v. Adams, Adm’r, with evident approbation, although the point is not expressly decided in that case.

The only express authorities in favor of the proposition, that the donor may make a good gift of his own note causa mortis, are cases in New York. The first case is Wright v. Wright, 1 Cow. 598. In that case the testator made a note for $500 to the plaintiff, who w.as Iris brother, for the consideration of love and affection, and delivered it to him during his last sickness, ii®|H>ectation of his own dissolution, and as a gift causa mortis. 'J^^Bfintiff had obtained a verdict against the executor, and the cal^^Kse on a motion to stay proceedings after verdict, to enable theattendants to prosecute a motion for a new trial, on the ground that they had discovered evidence, to show that the note was a mere gift, and without consideration. Judge Walworth, to whom the motion was first made, denied it, upon the ground, that the defence was not a meritorious one, but merely technical, and that therefore the defendants were not entitled to be favored. From his decision it may be as well argued, that he thought the action could not be in strictness sup* ported, as otherwise. An appeal was taken from his decision to the Supreme Court, and. the defendants’ motion was there denied also; and it would seem, from what is stated by the court, that they considered, that the testator’s own note might be the subject of such a gift, though they do not say so in terms. The case does not seem to have undergone much discussion, or consideration, so far as can be ascertained by what appears upon the face of the report. No cases are cited, either by the counsel in argument or the court iji giving judgment, and no suggestion is made by the court of any distinction between the note of the testator and that of a third person, upon which so much has been said by other courts; but it appears to have been taken for granted, that they stand alike. Under these circumstances we think the case of Wright v. Wright cannot be considered as an authority, entitled to very much consideration beyond the limits of the State of New York, and that it is fairly open to as much criticism, as it received in Parish v. Stone and Raymond v. Sellick.

In Coutant v. Schuyler, 1 Paige 316, Chancellor Walworth, in discussing the question, whether the note of a third person could be the subject of such a gift, mentions the case of Wright v. Wright; bnt he does not discuss the question raised in that case at all, nor does he either approve or disapprove of the doctrine of that case. In Parker v. Emerson et al., decided by the Supreme Court of the City of New York, April, 1846, and reported in 9 Law Rep. 76, that court adopted and recognized the decision in the case of Wright v. Wright and followed it in their decision. Judge Vanderpool, however, in pronouncing the opinion of the court, does not undertake to sujgsiSSffeihe decision on principle, or by'authority, hut pjac.es it wholljaw'.'fip ground, that he considered the decision of their Supreme OcMT.binding there, until reversed by the same court. Indeed, it mayme fairly inferred from his opinion, that, were it not for that case, their decision of the question would be different. He expressly states the rule to be differently established in England, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

It is claimed, also, that the decision in Wright v. Wright has been recognized in Massachusetts, since the case of Parish v. Stone, in the case of Grover v. Grover, 24 Pick. 261. But, on examination of that ease, it will be seen, that Judge Wilde, who delivered the opinion, entirely mistook the decision in Wright v. Wright. The point decided in the ease of Grover v. Grover was, that a valid gift may be made, inter vivos, of a promissory note payable to the order of the donor, without indorsement; and Judge Wilde says, that the - decision accords with that in Wright v. Wright; but that the real doctrine of that case was not intended to be adopted is apparent from the fact, that Parish v. Stone, which effectually overruled Wright v. Wright in Massachusetts, is not mentioned, either by the court, or the counsel, in Grover v. Grover.

From this cursory examination of the authorities we are satisfied, that the weight of authority is entirely against the doctrine, that the donor's own note can be a good gift causa mortis ; and we think, also, that those decisions proceed upon a rational and sensible ground, viz., that the donor's own note is not a gift, — that it is merely the donor's written promise, that he will give, at some future time, and, in order to be available to the donee, still requiring the interposition of lavy to enforce it.

But even if the testator's note could be the subject of a donatio causa mortis, there are other insurmountable objections, in this case, to sustaining this claim on the ground of such a gift. Judge Story, in defining a donation mortis causa, — 1 Story's Eq. 611, — says, “It is properly a gift of personal property, by a party who is in peril of death, upon condition, that it shall presently belong to the donee, in case the donor shall die, but not otherwise.’-’ And again, page 613, he says, “We -have already seen, by our law there .can be no valid donation mortis causa, — 1, Unless the gift he with a'view to the do* nor’s death, — 2, Unless it be conditioned to take effect only on the donor’s death by his existing disorder, or in.lrigsexisting illness, — and 3, Unless there be an actual delivery of the ifinbject of the donation. Mr. Williams, in his work on the law of Executors and Administra* tors, vol. 1, p. 544, says, “That, to constitute a donatio causa mortis, there must be two attributes, — 1, The gift must be with a view to the donor’s death, — 2, It must be conditioned to take effect only on the death of the donor by the existing disorder.” Indeed, the above definitions are but the universal language of all writers and all decisions upon this subject; and it would be but a waste of time to quote farther in its support. It will be seen at once, that/under such a definition of this kind of gifts, this case cannot be supported upon any such ground. Nothing is reported by the referees in reference to whether the testator was well or ill at the time the note was made, or that the testator had any nearer apprehension of death, than is felt by all men at any period of their lives. ' Neither does it appear from the report of the referoes, that any power of revocation existed in the donor during his life time, if he changed his views in this respect; and indeed the facts reported would seem to negative any such right on his part, as the referees say, that he made and intended the note to be a valid and legal debt to the ' plaintiff, against his estate; which is wholly inconsistent with any, power of revocation remaining in the testator.

2. This leads us to consider the other and more important ques* tion involved in the case, viz., can this note be supported as a con* tract between the parties, or a debt against the testator? The case finds,'that it was the intention of the testator to make it a legal claim in favor of the plaintiff against his estate, but that the only consideration was love and affection. Is this a good consideration to support the note, so as to create a valid obligation against the testator, or his representatives, either át law, or in equity ? — for it is doubtless true, as argued by the plaintiff’s counsel, that, if the facts reported by the referees would justify a recovery, either at law, or in chancery, it was the duty of the county court, sitting as an apellate court of probate, to have sustained the action and given judgment for the plaintiff. But courts of chancery recognize the necessity of a sufficient consideration, in order to make a valid contract, with quite as much distinctness as a court of law; and if there be any difference between the two jurisdictions in this respect, it would seem, that courts of law are the most easily satisfied. Courts of chancery, (as will beógbserved in reports of their decisions,) when called upon to enforce contracts in specie., have often refused to do So, in cases where the consideration has appeared inadequate, or not meritorious, — even when the consideration was confessedly good in law, — and have turned the party over to a court of law, to seek his remedy in damages on such contracts. The doctrine of the law, in relation to considerations, is thus laid down by a very recent and very correct writer, — Chit, on Cont. 27, — “ A valid and sufficient consideration or recompense for making, or motive or inducement to make, the promise, upon which a party is charged, is of the very essence of a contract not under seal, at law and in equity, and must exist, although the contract be reduced to writing; otherwise the promise is void and no action can be maintained thereon.”

The old division of considerations, to support deeds, viz., valuable considerations and good considerations, is familiar to every member of the legal profession; and considerations of blood, and love and affection, which come within the denomination of good considerations, have always been held sufficient to support a deed of conveyance, as between the parties. But, says Mr. Chitty, in discussing this subject of considerations, “ We must observe, that the term good consideration, as thus applied to deeds, does not hold |n relation to simple contracts, — to support which, relationship, natural love and affection, will not be a sufficient consideration.”

In the English chancery courts another term has frequently been ¿applied to considerations for blood or love and affection, — meritorious ; and courts of equity there have often lent their aid to enforce ^trusts and deeds of settlement, where the only consideration was love and affection, when the object was to make provision for a wife, or child j and in such cases they have said, that it was upon the ground, that the consideration was meritorious. The industry of the plaintiffs’ counsel has collected a great number of dicta of chancellors and judges, where that expression has been used ; but, from a careful comparison of all those cases, it is difficult to extract anything like a definite settled rule on the subject. In England, owing to the peculiar manner in which their estates are held and distributed, such contracts and agreements afe much'more frequent, than in this country, and a much greater necessity exists, that they should be supported there, than here; and their courts of equity have gone to the farthest verge of the law, in their anxiety to sustain such contracts for the support of wives and minor children. We are not prepared to say, that a mere voluntary conveyance, or trust, might not be supported here, when made in favor of such persons, where it would not be, if made in favor of a mere stranger ; but we think, that courts of chancery in this country will hesitate, before going the length they have done in some cases in England; and under our laws and system of holding and distributing property, there seems no necessity for their doing so.

The only English case, which has been brought to our attention, in which it has been held, that love and affection is a sufficient consideration to support a mere simple contract, or note, payable in futuro, is the case of Williamson et ux. v. Losh, Ex’r, found in a note to Chitty on Bills, p. 75. That was an action of assumpsit on a promissory note in the following words, — “ I, John Losh, for the love and affection that I have for Jane Tiffin, my wife’s sister’s daughter, do promise, that my executors, administrators, or assignees, shall pay to her the sum of ¿£100 of money one year after my decease, and a cauldron and a clock, a wainscot chest, and a bed and bedclothes, seven pudden dishes, as witness my hand this 16th day of February, 1763. Witnessed by us, A. B. and C. D.;” — a verdict was taken for plaintiff, and a case reserved. The court held, that, the instrument being in writing and attested by witnesses, the objection of nudum pactum did not lie, and gave judgment for the plaintiff. This case was never reported, and the case, or at least the ground of the decision, was soon after denied, in Rann v. Hughes, 7 T. R. 350, n., and the case seems never after to have been followed, or even quoted as an authority, in England; and Mr. Chitty speaks of the doctrine of the case as one which formerly prevailed, and we think that case cannot be considered as law, even in England.

The case of Bowers v. Hurd, 10 Mass. 427, has been very urgently pressed upon us, as an authority to sustain the present action. That was assumpsit on a note given by the defendant’s intestate to the plaintiff, for love and affection, and in lieu of a legacy,as she desired to avoid the expense of a will. The case states, that the intestate expressed a strong anxiety to leave something to the plaintiff, as she had been very kind and attentive to her, and she felt under obligation to give her something. A verdict was taken for the plaintiff, and the case was carried to the supreme court. The court sustained the verdict, and put the case mainly upon the ground, that, inasmuch as the note was expressed for value received, the defendant was not at liberty to show, that there was no consideration for the note, when given. The same court, however, in the subsequent case of Hill v. Buckminster, 5 Pick. 390, have expressly overruled the doctrine, upon which the case of Bowers v. Hurd was decided; although Ch. J. Parker takes occasion to say, that that case was decided right, but should have been placed on other ground; but he does not state upon what ground it should have been placed; — and Ch. J. Parker, in a subsequent case, Amherst Academy v. Cowls, 6 Pick. 427, repeats what is said in Hill v. Buckminster. In the case of Parish v. Stone, 14 Pick. 198, which was an action upon a note, executed by the defendant’s testator, for $600, to the plaintiff, (who was his son-in-law,) payable in one year after his death, the note was given, as appeared at the trial, as well for the purpose of compensating the appellee for certain services he had previously rendered, at the request of the testator, as of equalizing more effectually the distribution of the testator’s property among his children. The jury, under the direction of the court, found a verdict for the plaintiff to the extent of his services included in the note; and the case having been carried to the supreme court, it was, after a very full examination, determined, that there was not any sufficient consideration for the balance of the note, and that the plaintiff could not recover. The supreme court in Connecticut have established the same doctrine, in a similar case, after full argument and consideration. Raymond v. Selleck, 10 Conn. 480.

This same question has recently been before this court, in the ease of Holley v. Adams, Adm’r, 16 Vt. 206. That was an action on a note executed by the defendant’s intestate to the plaintiff’s wife, (who was his daughter,) during his last sickness, and a few days before his death. The note was in the following words,— “ For value received, and for the consideration of love and affection that I have towards Minerva Holley, I promise and agree that she shall have and receive out of my estate fourteen hundred dollars, to be paid to the said Minerva Holley, or her heirs, after my decease.

Bristol, March 16, 1841. (Signed) Riley Adams.”

This court held in that case, that the note was void for want of a legal and sufficient consideration. It is attempted to distinguish the present case from the case of Holley v. Adams, upon the difference in phraseology of the two instruments; and it is said, that the writing, or note, in Holley v. Adams, is more in the nature of a testamentary disposition of property, than a note; but on a comparison of the two instruments we see very little difference in their legal effect; neither of them, though in the general form of a note, contemplated any payment, or any effect upon the maker’s estate, or property, until his decease ; and both, in fact, were given to affect the distribution of the maker’s property after his decease, and in that sense may be said to be merely testamentary papers. The decision in Holley v. Adams does not go upon any such distinction, but decides, that such a paper cannot be a good donatio causa mor~ its, and is not recoverable as a debt, for want of sufficient consideration.

The case of Holley v. Adams seems to have been decided upon good consideration; and it deserves to be remarked, that both the present chief justice of this court and the late chief justice were present and concurred in that decision; — and even if we were not entirely satisfied with the grounds of that decision, we should be very reluctant to decide this case so as to conflict with the doctrine of that case. But, on a careful revision of that case, we are satisfied, that it was decided in accordance with well established principles and authorities, and that is a full and complete authority for this case. We are also satisfied, that, as a rule of policy merely, it is better to require, that the provisions of our statute, in relation to testamentary dispositions of property, should be observed, and that, if such obligations as the one attempted to be supported in this case were to prevail, they would lead to the mischievous results anticipated by the judge, who gave the opinion in the case of Holley v. Adams.

We have felt constrained to give this case a much more full and critical examination, than we should have done after the recent decision in Holley v. Adams, in consequence of the research and ability, with which this case has been presented and argued. Upon the whole case we are fully satisfied, that this note cannot be supported upon any of the grounds, on which the plaintiff’s counsel place it, and the judgment of the county court, which was for the defendant, is affirmed.

Note by Poland, J. Since the opinion in the above case was furnished to the reporter, the case of Craig et al., Ex’rs, v. Craig et al., 3 Barbour’s N. Y. Chancery Reports 76, has come under my observation, where the same doctrine, held by the court in the above case, is fully established. Chancellor Walwobtbc reviews all the cases upon the subject at great length, and the case of Wright v. Wright, 1 Cow. 598, is distinctly overruled. The same question has also been raised, and decided in the same way by the supreme court of the fifth judicial district in New York, in the case of Harris v. Clark, 2 Barbour’s Sup. Court Rep. 94 ; which decision, I am informed, has been affirmed by their court of appeals, but not yet reported. I find also that the same doctrine has been established in the state of New Hampshire. Cobb v. Sawyer, 6 N. H. 386.