194 F. 275 | U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Northern Mississippi | 1911
Mrs. Amelia W. Alcorn originally brought this suit individually and as executor and trustee under the will of james L. Alcorn, deceased, in the chancery court of Coahoma county, ALiss., to annul a deed executed by her on October 14, 1895, by the terms of which she conveyed to her son, James Alcorn, reserving to herself a life estate, the remainder in fee, to Eagle’s Nest planta
The original bill in this cause was filed March 30, 1905, in the said chancery court of Coahoma county, Miss., and at the return term of said court, on account of the diverse citizenship of the parties, on petition of the defendants, was removed to this, the United States Circuit Court for the Western Division of the Northern District of Mississippi.
The original complainant, Mrs. Amelia W. Alcorn, died in November, 1907, leaving a will by which she devised the said Eagle’s Nest plantation, share and share alike, to her daughters, Mrs. Rosebud Rector, Mrs.. Gertrude Russell, Mrs. Justina Swift, Angelina Alcorn, now Angelina Corley, and James L. Alcorn, defendant herein, the son of James Alcorn, who died November 30, 1898, leaving surviving him his widow, the defendant May Yates Alcorn, and a minor child, the said James L. Alcorn.
A short time after the death of Mrs. Amelia W. Alcorn, on a bill of revivor filed by her daughters and her executors, Messrs. E. W. Rector, P. B. Russell, and W. A. Glover, the cause was revived, and now stands in their names as complainants.
The relationship of the parties to this suit is as follows: Gov. Al-corn was the husband of Amelia W. Alcorn. The issue of this union was the four daughters, Mrs. Rector, Mrs. Russell, Mrs. Swift, Angelina Alcorn, and James Alcorn (the only son), who died in November, 1898, leaving a widow, May Yates Alcorn, and a minor son, James E. Alcorn, the grandson of Gov. Alcorn and Mrs. Amelia W. Alcorn.
The property involved in this litigation is Eagle’s Nest plantation, a valuable body of land in Coahoma county, Miss., upon which is situated the family residence erected by Gov. Alcorn, and known as the Eagle’s Nest mansion house.
By her original bill, complainant sought cancellation of the deed of October 14, 1895, by which she conveyed the said Eagle’s Nest plantation to her son James Alcorn, deceased, reserving to herself a life estate, upon the following grounds: (1) That under the terms of the will of Gov. Alcorn, the property had been devised to her for the equal benefit of their children; in the form of a “precatory trust.” (2) That this deed of October 14, 1895, had been secured by her son, the said James Alcorn, deceased, in an “unconscionable manner,” and by “absolutely unfounded and fraudulent representations,” and by the “overpowering and dominating influence exercised over her by her said son.”
The first ground relied upon by complainant for cancellation of said deed was not presented on argument, nor is it now presented for the consideration of the court, because of the decision of the Supreme Court of Mississippi in the case of Rector et al. v. Alcorn, 88 Miss. 788, 41 South. 370, to the effect that:
“From an examination of the entire will of Gov. Alcorn, we do not take the view that the words in reference to Mrs. Alcorn are precatory.”
Complainant’s first ground of relief haying been thus eliminated, the issue is narrowed to the sole contention that James Alcorn, de
The defendants, answering, deny each and every allegation of the bill.
In this case a picture is presented wherein fraud and undue influence go hand in hand, interwoven and blended, and whose light and shadows vividly portray the defenseless citadel of a mother’s heart stormed by a crafty, avaricious, and thankless son, armed with a great two-edged sword, “sharper than a serpent’s tooth,” and wielded with a bold, merciless cruelty, shocking to the sensibilities and proclaiming the monster.
There is a reverse side, however, upon which is painted the fond old mother, glorified with the beautiful qualities and attributes of a mellow age, one whose lines had been cast in pleasant places, who had been the life partner of a distinguished lawyer, soldier, and statesman, leaving an indelible impress upon his state and country’s history, a man whose heart had been ever overflowing with attachment to his family circle, though never attempting to conceal his boundless affection and extreme partiality for his only son, James. Though cold in death, the tender attestation of this overwhelming affection speaks through his will with a solemnity and pathos which can but touch the heart: *
“My son .Tames has treated me with great affection, and I love him with dee]) affection, and I request my wife, Amelia, to whom I bequeath my estate. shall treat him with the favoritism and partiality which I well know her heart inclines her to do.”
So well was this message heeded that, as long as this favorite child and son lived, he was the -idol of his mother’s heart.
“In strictness ‘undue influence’ and ‘fraud’ are distinguishable. Tn one ease, the mind of the testator is so overmastered that another will is substituted -for his own. In the other, he is, in a. sense, a free agent, but is deceived into acting upon false data.” Terry v. Buffington, 11 Ga. 337, 56 Am. Dec. 423.
But more often is it a mere question of a choice of terms. Ginter v. Ginter, 79 Kan. 721, 101 Pac. 634, 22 L. R. A. (N. S.) 1024.
It is elementary that frattd is never presumed, but must be affirmatively proven. The presumption, if any, is in favor of innocence, and the burden falls on him, who asserts “fraud,” to establish it by “proving every material element” of the cause of action by a “preponderance of evidence.” Thus the burden rests on him to prove the falsity of the representations, the scienter, the intent to deceive, and his reliance on the representations to his damage. 20 Cyc. 108, J, with authorities cited.
It is equally true that, where one seeks to establish undue influence in order to set aside a will or conveyance, the burden of proof is on
Further, under this authority it is stated that:
“"Where one seeks to set aside a conveyance on the ground of undue influence, the evidence must show the influence so great as to overcome the will of the grantoi jC testator.
“It must show that the undue influence was exercised at the time the act referred to was done.
“That the deed was executed by reason of the influence resulting from affection is insufficient if the free agency of the testator or grantor be not impaired.
“That the distribution made by a testator of his property among his children by deed, is unreasonable or unjust does not alone establish undue influence.”
Counsel also recognizes the doctrine, as announced by the same high authority (3 Pomeroy, Eq. J. [3d Ed.]), that-. ,
“It is impossible to formúlate a single definition whicli shall embrace all forms and phases of undue influence; each case must largely depend upon its own circumstances.”
In applying the latter principle, it should not be overlooked that contracts and business dealings between parent and child are not per se fraudulent, but they must be treated just as 'are transactions between other persons, and, where the bona fules of their transactions are attacked, the fraud must be clearly proved. 29 Cyc. 1657, A, with authorities cited.
From a careful reading of the testimony and hearing argument of counsel, unusually interesting, and able, the court is of opinion that Mrs. Alcorn, at the time she deeded Eagle’s Nest plantation to her
Mrs. Alcorn at that time was endowed not only with those feminine graces and accomplishments which had enabled her to shine resplendently as mistress of Eagle’s Nest, but took a keen interest in everything going on about her, and, from the death of her illustrious husband to that of her son James, constantly availed herself of advice in respect to the management of her estate, discussing her affairs freely with the members of the family, other relatives and friends, including one of her sons-in-law, a lawyer of distinction whom she visited and who visited her frequently, and with whom she maintained correspondence, receiving the benefit from him of a broad experience and a trained legal mind.
In July, 1895, Mrs. Alcorn entered into a contract and agreement to convey Eagle’s Nest plantation to her son James, reserving to herself a life estate, under the terms of which certain benefits and advantages would accrue to her should James fulfill his obligations as fully set forth therein. This contract and agreement was drawn by counsel heretofore referred to, acting for both parties. Ju pursuance of this prior contract and agreement, Mrs. Alcorn directed her attorney to prepare the deed of conveyance of October 14, 1895.
Is it reasonable to consider Mrs. Alcorn, under the conditions outlined, as being so overmastered that another mind was substituted for her own, or that while she was, in a sense, a free agent, she was deceived into acting upon false data? Does it not seem more natural and probable that, after entering into the preliminary agreement to deed the property to her son upon his complying with the obligation therein stipulated, he did comply therewith, or substantially so, or in a manner entirely satisfactory to her, and in full knowledge of all the facts as explained to her by her son and her son-in-law, the latter acting as her attorney in this matter, Mrs. Alcorn freely, voluntarily, and willingly signed the conveyance?
Upon the proof, Gov. Alcorn’s estate owed debts at his death of some magnitude, that two years prior to his decease his planting operations had not been successful, and that the outlook occasioned by the prevalent and hitherto unprecedented low price of cotton was gloomy. At this juncture James Alcorn took sole charge of the estate under these adverse conditions, and, whatever ill may be related of him otherwise, he undoubtedly instituted such a system of economy and prudent management as to enable him to discharge practically the indebtedness of the estate, finally turning it back to his mother free of incumbrance.
During this time, and until his death, his mother trusted him implicitly, and apparently needed not Gov. Alcorn’s admonition that she
It is conclusively shown that James Alcorn desired Eagle’s Nest plantation, a most natural wish, and it may be that, in pursuance of his desire, he was led into conduct and undertakings which sometimes lacked delicacy and propriety; yet is it sufficiently in evidence that his actions, however open to the criticism of occasional indelicacy and impropriety, descended in any instance to the slimy depths of fraud? We do not so consider.
“The undue influence which -will avoid a deed is an unlawful or fraudulent influence which controls the will of the grantor. The affection, confidence, and gratitude of a parent to a child which inspires a deed or gift is a natural and lawful influence, and will not render the deed or gift voidable unless such influence has been so used as to confuse the judgment and control tfíe will of the donor.” Sawayer v. White, 122 Fed. 223, 58 C. C. A. 587.
Applying the above rule to the consideration of the case at bar, is the proof sufficiently convincing that James Alcorn exercised such an unlawful and fraudulent influence as to confuse the judgment and control the will of his mother in securing this deed? Rather was it not the affection, confidence, and gratitude moving a fond mother’s heart and inspiring the wish for her only son to enjoy after her death the property, which the proof shows he managed and served and extricated from, the weight of heavy incumbrances? This son remained her only protector, filling in a measure his father’s place. How well he did so is of record in this cause, and a reading abundantly discloses that she at no time during his life questioned his fidelity to her interests. Neither does it appear that there was a time during the years subsequent to Gov. Alcorn’s death to the day of the death of James Alcorn that he was compelled, had he been disposed so to do, to resort to fraud to induce his mother to a compliance with his wishes.
She did “what her heart inclined her to do,” and which was only a “natural lawful influence” bubbling from that unfailing fount, the purest, a mother’s holy love, which has been beautifully characterized as “boundless as the sunlight, as deep as fathomless sea.”
Meanwhile with Mrs. Alcorn old age creeps on apace, and, with it, its attendant train of infirmities. The dead husband fades into a memory, and the son, whose lips are cold in ..death, has none to plead his cause. Unhappy differences since his death have arisen, and relations with her son’s widow and her grandson have been strained to the breaking point. The living are present and very dear, becoming dearer, and naturally so, as life’s shadows lengthen. In this decline, the living become the dearest, and in their direction the pendelum of their mother’s affections swung, culminating in the attempted disposition of that property which she, in another more unclouded day, bestowed upon her dead son.
In view of the foregoing, the court is of opinion that the complainants should be denied the relief sought in the bill.
The entire record of the case No. 700 in the chancery court of Coa-homa county, made a part of the record in this cause, establishes beyond controversy that Mrs. Alcorn recognized the deed of October 14., 1895, to her son James as did her daughters and relatives, besides friends of the family and employes of the estate, and that in bringing this suit her conduct is certainly inconsistent with an intention of avoiding it. On this ground alone, the relief sought should be denied. The further application of the principle of acquiescence and equitable estoppel would tend only to strengthen this conclusion; the doctrine and principle of laches, however, would have no application.
Let a decree in accordance with this opinion be entered, taxing the complainants with the costs of this cause.