166 Ga. 329 | Ga. | 1928
Lead Opinion
Wills have always been a fruitful source of litigation. It would be unnatural if one’s claim to testamentary benefaction should not weigh heavily in the mind of the claimant, and that an adverse disposition should not seem unreasonable and unjust. Indeed, the latter is calculated in many instances to produce the perfectly honest opinion that the disposition made is convincing evidence that the testator was mentally unbalanced and without testamentary capacity, or that undue influence substituted the will of another for that of the testator. Slight facts assume exaggerated importance, casting suspicion upon very worthy and natural acts and motives. No one may justly complain if a testator, having testamentary capacity, shall freely and voluntarily execute a will
The testatrix in this case was an aged, wealthy widow. She had no children. With her husband she had been actively engaged in business pursuits for many years, sharing with him the direction and responsibilities of conducting banking and hotel businesses, the ownership and control of extensive farm lands, and apparently other business affairs. /Certainly they had'together, by close attention and good business judgment, amassed a fortune quite unusual for their day and in their theatre of action. It is clear from the evidence that she had for many years indulged “a dream” of philanthropy; that from the fruits of an active business life she would transmit a blessing to the mountain children of the northern section of her beloved Georgia. The principle of the Christian religion »had laid strong hold upon her. Thus she hoped that her life would not have been in vain; that the blessings she had received, that the rich reward which had. come to her, through her toil and vision, would live after her. In these “dreams” her husband fully shared. Their plans were jointly made and in' perfect accord. Before his death Mr. Hunt, the husband, had expressed a wish to so provide by testamentary disposition of his estate, but, owing to legal complications due to imminent death, he declared to an attorney, in the presence of Mrs. Hunt, after a discussion of the subject with her, that if the validity of leaving more than a certain part of his estate depended upon her consent after his death, he would “just let her fix it.” In her will she faithfully carried out. the joint plan and purpose. Mrs. Hunt also evidenced in -her life and in her will her devotion to Brenau, her alma mater. Her motor-trip of about ,500 miles to Florida shortly before her death was in the interest of a Brenau endowment, and the trip doubtless hastened the end of her days. Previously she had-been the benefactor of Brenau, and by both speech and performance' had ■evidenced the abode of one of her dreams. Being childless, she had very humanly showered affection upon the child of another, •Edgar B. Dunlap. A witness, close friend of Mrs. Hunt, testified: “She mentioned Mr. Dunlap’s name, Mrs. Dunlap and the
Another witness testified that on one occasion when Mr. Dunlap approached, Mrs. Hunt declared, “There goes my boy.” That Mrs. Hunt called for Dunlap to write her will, remembered his past services, bequeathed bounties to his children for their education, and made provision in her will as recompense for his services, were not indications of mental weakness or of undue influence. It was evidence of her sense of justice and her sentiment of affection which had endured without a break. from the very birth of Dunlap, whom she regarded, in her affections, as her own child-§Owing to the manifold interests of the Hunts and to the fact that no child, or perhaps because no near relative, was available, Henry Washington generously and freely rendered valuable services. Mrs. Hunt declared that he even purchased farm property from her for which he had no need, but really to place much needed cash in her hands, because it worried her to borrow. If this is true, it was an act of loyal friendship which should have bound her to him with hoops of steel. As to her he was like unto one who “swearetli to his own hurt and changeth not.” Whether true or not, it was her belief, and in such circumstances the making of Washington executor of her will was no evidence of mental incapacity or of undue influence. It was an act of gratitude for past favors, .by one convinced of Washington’s ability because of proved fitness. Much stress is laid upon her bounties to Dunlap and Washington; upon her private interviews with them, to the exclusion of all- others, when- discussing with them the making of her will. Properly viewed, these acts are consistent with sound judgment and reason. Interviews, such as those mentioned in the evidence, especially with regard to making a last will and testament, would seem to require privacy. The contrary would appear unnatural and unusual, more especially upon the part of an aged
It is argued that she drank intoxicating liquors and was addicted to narcotic drugs. As already stated, she was an aged woman, physically weakened by disease. She suffered from high blood pressure, and angina pectoris. Her attacks caused intense pain. Her physician advised her to keep whisky on hand and to use it when necessary. He administered drugs to alleviate her suffering. It is not within the proprieties of this opinion for us to express any view as to the moral or legal aspect of the physician’s advice. There is no evidence which would authorize the jury to find that either intoxicants or. drugs had rendered the testatrix mentally incapable of making a valid will. Neither would they show undue influence on the part of persons who merely furnished or prescribed them. All of the attesting witnesses and three physicians who knew her and had treated her testified that she possessed an unusually strong mind. The attesting witnesses and one of the physicians swore that she was perfectly sane and calm at the time the will was executed. Another physician saw her an hour or two before she died, and swore to her sound mind. Many others who knew her in business and as employees unite in testifying to her sanity. It would be difficult to make a stronger case of complete mental capacity and freedom from the undue influence of others. The caveators introduced Erwin B.. Ledford as a witness, and proved by him that he was with Mrs. Hunt just after the Oglesby incident, the day the will was executed, and that he saw no whisky and no evidence of drunkenness except in the case of Oglesby, and that Mrs. Hunt “didn’t seem at all excited.” He was with her again the next day, the day of her death. He swore: “I never did see anything wrong with Mrs. Hunt’s mind; she was about as smart a business woman or 'man as I ever saw, . . could plan more between Saturday night and Monday morning than any dozen men I ever saw, and it was done right.” This witness was in charge of hotel improvements for Mrs. Hunt, to the extent of about $100,000. Caveators introduced C. C. Staton as a witness, and proved that he had known Mrs. Hunt ever since he was a boy
What appears as a conflict consists of the opinions of non-expert witnesses who were not present at the time the will was executed; and when the facts upon which these opinions were based are examined, no real conflicts appear. “Where there is no conflict in the evidence, and that introduced with all reasonable deductions or inferences therefrom demands a particular verdict, the court may direct the jury to find for the party entitled thereto.” Civil Code (1910), § 5926. Giving to the caveators the benefit of the most favorable view of the evidence as a whole and of the legitimate inferences therefrom, the verdict in favor of setting up the will was demanded. “The mere fact that there are conflicts in the testimony does not render the direction of a verdict in favor of a party erroneous, when it appears that the conflicts are immaterial, and that, giving to the opposite party the benefit of the most favorable view of the evidence as a whole and of all legitimate inferences therefrom, the verdict against him is demanded.” Sanders Mfg. Co. v. Dollar Savings Bank, 110 Ga. 559 (2) (35 S. E. 777);
The will makes numerous bequests to her relatives, while leaving the bulk of her estate to Brenau, her alma mater, and to the University of Georgia, 'that oldest of chartered State universities, from whose classic halls so many sons have gone forth to shed lustre upon their State. She remembered her church and the Baptist Orphans Home, her physician, her nurse, her business employee, her former maid. She provided for the establishment of six scholarships in Brenau and the University of Georgia for named girls and boys. She devised a large tract of land in Hall County to the University of Georgia, to be used as a memorial to her late “beloved husband, James H. Hunt,” upon which there should be established an “Industrial School” for the “mountain boys of North. Georgia,” or in lieu thereof that the land should be sold and the -proceeds used as “a loan fund for worthy North Georgia boys and known as the James H. Hunt Loan Fund.” She also provided that two fifths of the residue of the estate be administered by the trustees of said university for the loan fund. To read the will, which heretofore appears in full,- is to be convinced that Mrs. Aurora Hunt was not only possessed of a great mind but also of a great heart; that her heart burned to shed the light of education, the power of knowledge, among the girls and boys of north Geor
Judgment affirmed.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting. After a careful consideration of the evidence in this case, I am of the opinion that the trial judge erred in directing a verdict for the propounders. A trial judge can only direct a verdict “Where there is no conflict in the evidence, and that introduced with all reasonable deductions or inferences therefrom demands a particular verdict.” Civil Code, § 5926. It is true that immaterial conflicts do riot render the -directiori of a verdict erroneous. Sanders Mfg. Co. v. Dollar Savings Bank, 110 Ga. 559 (supra); Skinner v. Braswell, 126 Ga. 761 (supra). If, however, there is any conflict in the evidence upon a material issue in a case, the trial judge can not usurp the province' of the jury and instruct them to render a given verdict. This section ought not to be extended beyond the plain and literal meaning of its words. Williams v. State, 105 Ga. 814, 816 (32 S. E. 129, 70 Am. St. R. 82). A judge can not properly direct a verdict because he may think that the strength or weight of the evidence is on one side, or because he might grant a new trial if a verdict should be returned against what he thinks'is the preponderance of the evidence. Blackburn v. Lee, 137 Ga. 265 (73 S. E. 1). It can not be held that, because the evidence in favor of one party is weak and the evidence in favor of the other party is strong,' there is no conflict in the evidence. Such a case falls within this section. Trotter v. McKoy, 142 Ga. 820 (83 S. E. 857).
The probate of the will was caveated upon the grounds that it was executed in consequence of undue influence exercised over the testatrix, and that the testatrix was mentally incapable of executing the same. Certain undisputed facts appear in the record. The scrivener was the counsel and confidential adviser of testatrix. J. Henry Washington was her confidential business adviser, and is the nominated executor of the instrument propounded as her last will. These parties had an engagement to meet in the lobby of the hotel at which the testatrix resided, at ten o’clock on the morning of the day when the instrument was executed, for the purpose of preparing the same. When the .scrivener reached the
The nominated executor is to receive a bequest of $15,000, under the seventh item of the instrument offered for probate. This item recites the existence of a confidential relationship between testatrix and the nominated executor. By the eighth item of this instrument the scrivener is to receive the sum of $5000. By the thirteenth item the testatrix gives to the two sons of the scrivener the sum of $5000 each, and makes the scrivener trustee of these funds. By the twenty-fourth item the scrivener is appointed attorney for the nominated executor. This item further provides that, irrespective of any legal matters such attorney may have to perform, he is to receive the same commission as is allowed the nominated executor. Thus these parties, who are unrelated by blood or marriage to the testatrix, are to receive larger benefits under the alleged will than all the blood relatives of the testatrix combined. The scrivener and the nominated executor had great influence over the testatrix. The scrivener had previously advised the testatrix to make a will, when she informed him that she had already done so. The will was executed about 4.30 p. m. on April 11, 1927. The testatrix died the next day. She was sixty-eight years of age, at the time the will was executed. She had been a sufferer from angina pectoris from 1914 to the date of her death. The attacks of this disease became more frequent and more distressing during this period. She suffered a severe attack on April 10, 1927, the day before the will was executed, when her physician thought she would die. These attacks greatly weakened her, She went to Florida in
The jury was authorized to find the following facts: The scrivener had assured the testatrix, after the death of her husband, that he could secure her social position in the city of her residence. He furnished the testatrix with intoxicating liquors. The niece of testatrix requested him not to furnish testatrix with such liquors. He replied that testatrix needed no chaperon. He advised testatrix to get rid of this niece, who had been residing with her, and this was done. This niece frequently saw testatrix and the scrivener drinking at the hotel where she resided. This niece
Mrs. Howard, a niece of testatrix, testified that she visited her aunt at the hospital after she had been operated-upon on March 9, 1927. Testatrix told her that the operation was for an old rupture which had taken place a good many years before. She found testatrix in a very weak condition both physically and mentally. Her mind was very weak and unbalanced, and she seemed doped or suffering from mental prostration. She went again to see testatrix, but the nurse would not let her see her aunt, stating that she was not allowed to have company. Testatrix returned from the hospital about March 23, or 24, 1927, and went to her room in the hotel. She saw testatrix on Saturday, March 26, after her return from the hospital, and found her condition very much worse. She was very weak in body, though she could walk some in her room, but she kept in bed most of the time. She did not seem natural or like herself. It was very clear that her mind was failing, and she talked and acted strangely. She had fallen off greatly in flesh, and looked very bad. Her talk was flighty and rambling, and she cried at times. She saw testatrix
Mrs. Laura Trentham, another niece of testatrix, testified that testatrix was operated upon for hernia at the Downey hospital, that she visited her in the hospital. She found her in a very weak physical and mental condition, and her mind was very weak and unbalanced. She seemed to be doped or suffering from mental prostration. She later visited her, and was refused permission to see her, because she was not allowed to see company. She testified that testatrix returned from the hospital on March 23 or 24, 1927, and went to her room and occupied this room until her death. She saw testatrix the day of her death, and she seemed very weak in body, but could walk around; her'mind was weak, and she talked flighty, and it was clear to witness that the mind and strength of testatrix were failing fast. She seemed very weak and upset, and in the opinion of the witness testatrix was not capable of making a will. Testatrix stated to this witness that she had made a will and was not satisfied with it, and she intended to get hold of it and destroy it. Her mind seemed to he wavering, and she seemed flighty. This niece thought that testatrix was under the influence of some strong dope.
In these circumstances was there any issue of fact to be passed upon by the jury? In the first place, was there any issue of fact upon the question of undue influence ? The presumption is strong against the party preparing a will, who takes a benefit under it; and although it will not be declared void on that account, strong evidence of intention in such case will be required. Beall v. Mann, 5 Ga. 456 (2). Where one who writes a will takes a large interest under it, and he is a stranger to the blood of the testator, the presumption of law is that the testator, although signing the will, does not know its contents. The onus, then, is upon him who propounds the will, to rebut and overcome this presumption by showing that the testator does know the contents of the will. Hughes v. Meredith, 24 Ga. 325 (71 Am. D. 127). When a will was prepared by one who takes a large benefit under it, it can not be set up without strong proof that the testator understood its provisions and assented to them. Adair v. Adair, 30 Ga. 102. “The presumption is strong against an act done by the agency of the party to be benefited, especially when the capacity of the testator at the time the will was executed was in any.degree doubtful.” Davis v. Frederick, 155 Ga. 809, 817 (118 S. E. 206). “Where a will is written or drafted by a person who takes a lagacy or devise thereunder, a presumption of undue influence is created, which he has the burden of rebutting; and this is especially true where the beneficiary writing the will also occupies a confidential relation to the testator/- 40 Cyc. 1153. “Incapacity opens the door to undue influence, and when opportunities for such influence are shown, and the favored devisees are the beneficiaries of a will unnatural in its provisions, to the exclusion of others
“Where a person who initiated, or directly or indirectly participated in, the preparation or execution by the testator of a will in 'which he was named a beneficiary, occupied at the time relations of confidence with testator, the proponent of the will had the burden of proving that the will was not induced by coercion or fraud, directly or indirectly exercised by such'person, and, where the will was procured through the undue influence of such person, the undue influence operated against all the beneficiaries,” Smith
Was there an issue of fact as to the mental capacity of the testatrix to execute this will? Three witnesses for the caveators testified that in their opinion the testatrix did not possess sufficient mental capacity to make a will. Two of these witnesses were nieces of the testatrix, and the other a disinterested witness. All three witnesses gave the reasons for their opinions that the testatrix did not possess sufficient mental capacity to make a will. Mrs. Howard, a niece of the testatrix, testified that testatrix did not have the capacity to make a will at any time after her return from the hospital. She stated the facts on which she based this opinion, and these facts are set out above. Mrs. Trentham, another niece of the .testatrix, testified that in her opinion the testatrix was not capable of making a will on Tuesday, April 12, when, she saw her in her bedroom at eleven o’clock in the morning, nor at any time when she saw her after she came back from the hospital. She gave the facts upon which she based this opinion, and these facts are set out above. Mrs. Banks, a disinterested witness', testified that in her opinion the testatrix was incapable of 'making a will at any time for a week before her death. The facts on which she based this opinion are fully set out above. Where witnesses state the appearance, conduct, conversation, or other particular facts from which the state of testator’s mind may be inferred, they can express their belief or opinion upon his mental capacity, as the result of those facts. Potts v. House, 6 Ga. 324 (supra). Where the issue is devisavit vel non, the witnesses, whether attest
In view of the familiar principles of law above stated, the conclusion seems inevitable that there is conflict in the evidence in this case upon the issues raised by the caveat. Witnesses who had known testatrix for many years, who had observed her appearance and conduct, and who had heard her talk, testified that in their -opinion shé was mentally incapable of making a will. The facts upon which these opinions were based are given. In .the -cases referred to above this court has held that' these facts -authorized the witnesses to give their opinions based thereon; and that the weight to be given these opinions was a matter for the jury, and not for the court. Thus we have competent opinions based upon competent facts. In these circumstances it must be huid that there is .conflict in the evidence; and this is especially