Wofford v. James

163 S.W.2d 710, 204 Ark. 700, 1942 Ark. LEXIS 218
CourtSupreme Court of Arkansas
DecidedJuly 13, 1942
Docket4-6755
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 163 S.W.2d 710 (Wofford v. James) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wofford v. James, 163 S.W.2d 710, 204 Ark. 700, 1942 Ark. LEXIS 218 (Ark. 1942).

Opinion

Smith, J.

Bena Moore owned three lots in the city of Stuttgart at the time of her death May 3, 1937. She was survived by two children, a son named Alfred Wofford, and a daughter named Ida Mae Wofford. She had married Moore subsequent to the birth of these children. Ida Mae died intestate, and without issue, whereupon her brother, Alfred, being her only heir, became the sole owner of all the property owned by their mother. The father of Alfred and Ida Mae had been married prior to his marriage to Bena, their mother, and by that marriage had a daughter named Zelia Herbert, but as the lots here in question comprised an ancestral estate, Zelia claimed no interest in the lots as an heir-at-law.

Alfred died testate November 9, 1938, after having executed his last will and testament on the preceding day. This will reads as follows:

“State of Arkansas, county of Arkansas—
“Will
“Know all men by these presents, that I, Alfred Wofford, of the county of Arkansas and state of Arkansas, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, and being above the age of twenty-one, do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all wills by me at any. time heretofore made.
“First: I direct that my just debts be paid, and that the legacies hereinafter given shall, after the payment of my debts be paid out of my estate.
“Second: I give to Hattie Johnson lots 23 and 24, block 8, Washington Heights Addition to the city of Stuttgart, with all improvements and appurtenances thereon. (Fee simple estate.)
“Third: I give to my beloved aunt, Maggie Janies, all of lot in Flood’s Addition to the city of Stuttgart. (House located at 313 North Lowe.)
“Fourth: I give to my sister, Zelia Herbert, all of lot located 404 Cleveland street, Stuttgart, Arkansas.
“Fifth: I give all the residue of my estate which consists of household goods in each house to those receiving the real estate as above.
“Sixth: I constitute and appoint Hr. J. B. Bryant sole executor of this my will.
“In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of November, 1938, in the presence of E. C. Hughes, Sophronia Jones, who attest the same. at my request.
(Signed) “Alfred Wofford.
“The above instrument now subscribed by the testator, in our presence; and we, at his request and in his presence, sign our names hereto as attesting witnesses, and at the time of our signing, said testator declared said instrument to be his last will and testament-
(Signed) “E. C. Hughes,
(Signed) “Sophronia Jones,
“Witnesses.”

For brevity and convenient reference, we will refer to the property devised in paragraph second as lot 1; to that referred to in paragraph third as lot 2, and to that referred to in paragraph fourth as lot 3.

Dr. Bryant, named as executor, qualified as such,' and is still acting in that capacity. He filed a report of his administration, and the litigation appears to have had its inception in the exceptions filed by Hattie Wofford to the confirmation of his settlement. A decree was entered sustaining her exceptions, in which it was adjudged that she was the wife of Alfred Wofford; that-she took title in fee simple to lot 1 under the will, and was entitled to the possession of lot 2 as her homestead, and that she was entitled to the $450 allowed widows under §§ 80 and 86, Pope’s Digest. This decree was rendered July 8, 1940. A motion was filed to correct this decree, Avliicli was sustained, it being found and held that the court had decreed only that Hattie had married Alfred and Avas his Avidow.

Maggie James, to Avhom lot 2 Avas devised, was Rena’s sister, and, therefore, the aunt of Alfred. Zelia Herbert, to whom lot 3 Avas devised, was Alfred’s half-sister by his father’s first marriage, and no one questions her ownership of the lot under the terms of the will.

Maggie appealed from the decree finding that Alfred and Hattie had been lawfully married, but' the appeal Avas not perfected and Avas dismissed for noncompliance with rule 9 of this court.

Thereafter the matter Avas further heard on the exceptions of Hattie to the executor’s final settlement. Li this decree it was held that the court had determined previously that Hattie Avas the widoAv of Alfred and it was adjudged in the decree from Avliicli is this appeal that as such she Avas entitled to the statutory allowances of $450.

Hattie has never disavoAved the will, but has at all limes claimed, and does now claim, that her interest in the lots should be determined by the will, which, she says, devised lot 1 to her, and, in addition, she claims lot 2 under her right of homestead as Alfred’s widoAv. Her contention is that the will does not express the intention of depriving her of her homestead right in this estate, and that she is not put to an election Avhicli Avould require abandonment of the claim of homestead if she also claims under the will.

It is insisted that the testimony does not show7 that Hattie and Alfred were ever married; but the first decree above referred to is conclusive of that fact. Hattie’s name was Johnson when she married Alfred, and it wdll be noted that he referred to her by that name — and not ■as his wife — in his will.

The will was prepared by a well-known and very reputable lawyer, who wrote it' as he sat by Alfred’s bedside. A number of witnesses were present during the preparation and execution of the will. All of these, including the subscribing witnesses, testified that the' scrivener asked Alfred which of the women present was his wife, and Alfred answered that he was an unmarried man. Alfred then asked if he might give Hattie a portion of his estate, and was told that he could devise it to whom he pleased. Hattie did not assert that she was Alfred’s wife, although she was present and saw and heard everything that occurred while the will was being prepared. Tax receipts were produced to identify the lots, and that given Hattie was described according to the plat of the survey thereof as described in the tax receipts, the others by their street numbers.

There apparently was no controversy about the disposition of Alfred’s estate for a year or more, and the executor proceeded to discharge his duties under the will and under the law. An inventory was filed of the personal property, which is not questioned. Certain debts were probated and paid. The court authorized the purchase of a monument to cost not exceeding $150, and the final settlement of the executor showed a balance of $38.17 on hand after paying all claims against the estate and expenses of administration.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
163 S.W.2d 710, 204 Ark. 700, 1942 Ark. LEXIS 218, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wofford-v-james-ark-1942.