Succession of Zacharie

43 So. 988, 119 La. 150, 1907 La. LEXIS 449
CourtSupreme Court of Louisiana
DecidedApril 15, 1907
DocketNo. 16,487
StatusPublished
Cited by29 cases

This text of 43 So. 988 (Succession of Zacharie) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Succession of Zacharie, 43 So. 988, 119 La. 150, 1907 La. LEXIS 449 (La. 1907).

Opinion

LAND, J.

James S. Zacharie died February 12, 1906, leaving an estate appraised at $44,657.13. The decedent left a last will and testament by which, after making certain special legacies, he bequeathed the residuum of his estate to his brother and sisters and his niece, Florence Ellis. Among the special legacies was one to his sisters, Emma and Florence, of a policy of life insurance for $5,000 and $5,000 in money.

This will was executed on March 13, 1903. It appears from the evidence that the policy was in favor of the two sisters, and was collected July 20, 1904, and placed to their credit in the Germania Savings Bank & Trust Company.

On September 5, 1905, the sum of $8,000 was placed to the credit of the same account.. This amount represented the price of certain real estate belonging to James S. Zacharie, which was collected and deposited by his sister Emma, acting as agent, during; his absence in Europe. After his return. James S. Zacharie, with a full knowledge of' all the facts, permitted this money to remain to the credit of his sisters, and this-was the situation at the time of his death. The two sisters were unmarried, and had lived with their brother for a number of years.

James S. Zacharie represented a number-of nonresident landlords as agent for the-purpose of leasing houses and collecting rents. At the time of his death he had in dispossession a large number of rent notes belonging to his clients and owed them an, accounting of moneys collected.

William J. Hardee, one of the executors, resigned, leaving Emma C. O. Zacharie sole-executrix. By consent of all parties in interest the executrix proceeded informally to-settle the claims of the creditors, and a few months subsequent to her appointment filed an account, styled “provisional,” showing the-liabilities and assets of the succession.

This account was opposed by three of the-residuary legatees on various grounds. Many of the objections were leveled against the-form of the account, assailing it as incomplete, obscure, and indefinite. The real crux of the opposition, however, was that the sum of $8,000, collected by Emma O. O. Zacharie,. as agent, as already stated, should be placed on the account as an asset of the succession.

The opposition was sustained as to a number of minor items, but was overruled as to-the principal demand. The opponents alone-have appealed from the judgment. The answer of the executrix appellee, filed after the-submission of the cause in this court, comes, too late, and therefore cannot be entertained. Code, Prac. art. 890.

[153]*153The account was provisional, and the existence of the liabilities was not disputed. The objection that the account did not show what credits the decedent was entitled to •in the settlements made with the creditors was removed by the evidence, and proper •deductions were allowed therefor in the judgment of homologation. The account •being merely provisional, the opponents will have hereafter an opportunity to insist on a full and complete accounting at the hands •of the executrix. The object of the provisional account seems to have been to show ■the liabilities of the estate, paid or to be paid, pursuant to the agreement of all the parties in interest.

The real matter in litigation is the demand ■of the opponents that the sum of $8,000, collected and deposited as aforesaid, be adjudged to belong to the succession. The objection to urging such a demand by way of •opposition to a provisional account has been waived by the written consent of the opposing parties that the issue be determined in •this proceeding.

The sisters, Emma and Florence, claim •said amount as a manual gift. These two ladies lived with their brother, who always manifested a solicitude for their welfare. Prior to 1903 James S. Zacharie, insured his .'life in favor of his two sisters. In the testament of date March 11, 1903, a policy for $5,000 and a like sum in money was specially bequeathed to them. On the death of the testator another policy for $2,000 in favor •of the same sisters was found among his papers.

The policy for $5,000 was in favor of the two sisters, and when it matured, in July, 1904, the proceeds, amounting to $6,812.50, was collected by Emma Zacharie and deposited with the Germania Savings Bank & 'Trust Company to the joint credit of the two sisters. This particular fund seems to Pave been administered by James S. Zacharie as the agent of his two sisters. The pass book shows that moneys were withdrawn, and moneys were deposited, and also that sundry notes were deposited for collection. James S. Zacharie withdrew moneys from this fund on the written orders of his sisters and on presentation of the pass book, as required by the rules of the institution.

In the summer of 1905 James S. Zacharie, on the eve of his departure for Europe with his sister Florence, constituted Emma Zacharie as his agent, for the purpose of signing an act of sale of certain real estate and collecting the price, amounting to, $8,000. On August 21, 1905, Emma C. O. Zacharie withdrew $800 from the savings bank and used the money in the payment of certain bills due by her absent brother. On September 5, 1905, she collected the $8,000 and deposited the same in the savings bank to the joint credit of herself and sister. On the same day she drew $800 out of the personal funds of her brother in another bank and deposited the same in the savings bank to the credit of herself and sister.

Emma G. O. Zacharie testified that her brother instructed her to sign the act of sale, to collect the price, and to pla'ce the money in the Germania Savings Bank to the account of herself and sister Florence.

Florence D. Zacharie testified that her brother, while in Europe, received a letter from her sister Emma, stating that she had been paid the money for the house, and had put it in the Germania Savings Bank to the credit of herself and sister, and that her brother said:

“That is all right. I told her to put it to that account.”

On his return from Europe James S. Zacharie, with a full knowledge of the facts, did not withdraw any part of said fund or change its destination. On the contrary, he caused the pass book to be balanced on December 31, 1905, and the accrued interest to [155]*155be placed to tbe credit of his sisters. He died on February 12,1906, with tbe pass book in bis possession.

While as a general rule testimony as to the oral declarations and admissions of a dead man are of but little weight, we think, with the judge a quo, that in the instant case the testimony of the two sisters is so strongly corroborated by the actions and conduct of their brother that their statements are entitled to full faith and credit. James S. Zacharie had for years manifested a tender solicitude for the future welfare of his two dependent sisters, members of his household.

The deposit of this $8,000 to their credit was but a continuance of his - benefactions and was well within his means. His other sisters were married and settled in life, and his sole brother was a lawyer of prominence. All the facts and circumstances show an intention to give, consummated by a real delivery. Civ. Code, art. 1539. There can be no question of the fact of delivery, since the fund was placed in the power and possession of the two sisters. Civ. Code, art. 2477. The fund was put beyond the control of the donor, and he could not withdraw the same, or any part thereof, without the written consent of the donees.

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Bluebook (online)
43 So. 988, 119 La. 150, 1907 La. LEXIS 449, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/succession-of-zacharie-la-1907.