Edwardson v. Gerwien

171 N.W. 101 | N.D. | 1919

Lead Opinion

Grace, J.

Appeal from the district court of Mountrail county, North Dakota, Frank E. Fisk, Judge.

The action is one which involves the construction of a will. A full statement of the facts will greatly aid in understanding the case. Herman Fred Gerwien of Mountrail county, North Dakota, died the 24th day of February, 1.916, at Powers Lake, North Dakota. He left a will in writing which was his last will and testament, in which he appointed II. E. Edwardson as executor. His heirs at law were his father, five sisters, two brothers, and a niece. The testator died seised of certain real and personal property. The testator by will divided and bequeathed all his real property to Ruth Gerwien, daughter of Lydia Gerwien, and Lydia Gerwien, by specific bequests as shown by the will, and all of the personal property to Ruth Gerwien. The. petition shows the probable value of the real estate to be $3,500, and the yearly rents, profits, or income of the probable value of $100. It also shows the value of the personal estate to be about $1,600.

Objections were filed to the petition to prove the will by Lydia Ger-wien, Fred W. Gerwien, Fred Gerwien, and Edward H. Gerwien. The cross petition was interposed by Edward II. Gerwein, Lydia Gerwein, Fred W. Gerwien, and Fred Gerwien. The case was first tried in the county court and decree entered therein. From that decree, appeal was taken to the district’ court of Mountrail county by all the respondents excepting Lydia Gerwien and Euth Gerwien. The trial was had in the district court and judgment was rendered admitting the will to probate and adjudging that the will was duly executed and published. From that judgment, the appeal was taken to this court by certain of the legal heirs other than Lydia Gerwien and Euth G'erwien.

The questions presented in this appeal are: First, whether the testator made sufficient publication of his will; second, whether he had sufficient mental capacity at the time of the execution and making of the will to make the same. As to the first question relating to the proper and legal publication of the will, we are fully convinced, after a thorough examination of the evidence and the law relative thereto, that there was a sufficient publication of the will. Subdivision 3 of § 5649, Comp. Laws 1913, reads as follows: “The testator must, at the time of subscribing or acknowledging the same, declare to the attesting witnesses that the instrument is his will.”

The will was properly executed. The testator properly signed it in the presence of two witnesses, each' of whom witnessed the same in the testator’s presence. What is the signification of the word “declare” as used in the above section? We are of the opinion that the word “declare” as used there signifies any act on the part of the testator which would show or make known to others, such as witnesses to the will or other persons present, that the instrument which the testator signed is his will, and that he understands and intends it as .such. In declaring the same to be his will, the testator is not required to do so by words, but he may by other means than the use of words, such as the use of signs, gestures, or any other means by which the testator can convey and make known to the witnesses or others present that the instrument which he signs is his will. Lane v. Lane, 95 N. Y. 494. The word “declare” as used in our statute does not mean that one must speak. It means to make known, to signify, to show in any manner either by words or acts. This must be true, otherwise there would be many cases where the testator, having capacity to make a will, could not make one if the word “declare” in our statute means what appellant contends, which, in substance, is that the testator must audibly declare by spoken words that the instrument which he signs in the presence of tbe witnesses thereto is bis will. A person may have entire capacity to make a will, bis mind may be clear, active, and intelligent, and we will assume that bis capacity to make a will is sucb that it cannot be questioned; let us suppose, however, be has no power of speech by reason of paralysis; that bis vocal organs are paralyzed and that be has no use of bis tongue; that be has no power of articulation, tbe voice gives forth no sound. Can it be said that such a one, otherwise having full capacity to make a will, could not, in some- other manner than by spoken words, make known to tbe witnesses to tbe will or others present that tbe instrument, which be has tbe power of reading and understanding and fully comprehends, is- bis will ? We think it is self-evident that sucb one could by any other act which would convey bis assent, and make known bis understanding and approval of tbe instrument which be signs, declare tbe same to be bis will, and a declaration thus made would be perfectly proper, entirely legal, and in harmony with tbe word “declare” as used in our statute. Tbe testimony in tbe case by Edwardson, who was named as tbe executor of tbe will, Hesla and Olson, tbe attesting witnesses, is quite clear and convincing that tbe testator, by acts and signs other than spoken words, plainly and unmistakably declared tbe instrument, which he signed in their presence, to be his will. Authority which upholds what we have said in this regard is as follows: 40 Cyc. 1115-1116; 30 Am. & Eng. Enc. Law, 596; 1 Scbouler, Wills, Exrs. & Admrs. 329; Rogers v. Diamond, 13 Ark. 474; Schierbaum v. Schemme, 157 Mo. 1, 57 S. W. 526, 80 Am. St. Rep. 607.

We pi’oceed to consider the second main question in the case. The appellant very strenuously contends that the testator at tbe time of tbe making of tbe will in question, was without capacity to make it. This, for the reason that the testator is claimed to have been of unsound mind, in this that he was laboring under certain insane delusions, prominent among which, appellants claim, is that be believed that bis, relatives were striving to get bis property away from him, and to starve him, and other alleged insane delusions which testator was claimed to have bad for considerable length of time prior to and including the time of tbe making of bis will. There was considerable testimony introduced at tbe trial for the purpose of proving that tbe testator was possessed of tbe insane delusions referred to. Tbe very serious question is: Even accepting all of such testimony at face value, giving to it full credence, is it sufficient as it now stands to prove, as a matter of law, the possession of such insane delusions by the testator at and before the time of the execution of the will? We will discuss but a single one of these alleged delusions and in the discussion endeavor to formulate the rule of proof that must be present to prove the actual existence of an insane delusion. We will assume it, therefore, to be a fact that, long prior to the time of the execution of his will and continuously up to and including the time of the making, of his will, the testator did claim and did state in the presence of others and to others, that his relatives, other than the legatees, were striving to get his property from him. This is the strongest position that can be assumed for appellant’s contention. Was this proof sufficient to prove an insane delusion in this regard ? We certainly think not. We are of the opinion the appellants would have to go much further and prove that what was claimed to be an insane delusion, that is, that his relatives were striving to get all his property from him, was in fact false; that such statements of the testator with reference thereto had no basis in fact, and were not founded in reason or probability; that the matters claimed to constitute a delusion had no real existence, but were purely a product of the imagination. It would seem, if there were any evidence even though slight or inconclusive, which may have contributed to the belief held by one, claimed to be afflicted with the delusion, then his belief cannot be said to be a delusion. As we view the matter in this regard, there is a failure of proof. The appellants should have gone much further and have proved that there was no foundation in fact, none in reason or probability for the belief held by the testator; to wit that his relatives were striving to obtain his property. The delusion of which it was important to have copious proof in this case, such as we have indicated, was that relating to his relatives striving to get his property away from him. This, for the reason that the will dealt exclusively with that property. As it appears to us, the appellants have failed to furnish such proof as would warrant the court in saying that the belief of the testator in this regard was an insane delusion.

Neither can the court say that the testator was insane at the time he made his will. It must be presumed that he was sane until the contrary appears by competent proof. There is no such competent proof in this record. It is true the evidence shows to some extent that the testator was filthy. Filthiness is not necessarily an evidence of insanity. The appellants also rely upon the circumstances that the testator for as much as two weeks at a time would lie in bed with his clothes on, including his overcoat, and for three or four days refused to eat. Keeping in mind the unfortunate condition of the testator, which existed at least for some considerable period of time,, that he was afflicted with that most dreadful malady, pulmonary tuberculosis, it is not at all strange that he would lie in bed several days, nor that he kept his overcoat on at those times. There is no doubt but that his vitality was exceedingly low, more than likely his appetite was exceedingly poor. These and kindred symptoms as common knowledge tells us accompanying such a dread disease would be sufficient explanation for such matters as lying in bed in the manner claimed and refusing to eat, etc. Authority which intelligently discusses insane delusions may be found in 40 Cyc. 1013, 28 Am. & Eng. Enc. Law, 80. Neither is there any merit in the contention that the insane delusion which we have discussed finds any proof of existence in the fact that the testator willed all his property to Ruth Gerwien and Lydia G'erwien, her mother, the niece and sister of the testator, and was particular in his will to exclude all other relatives. The clause excluding the other relatives was a very proper one if he desired to exclude them from participation in his property, and the fact that the testator included that provision in his will in no manner strengthens the appellants’ contention.

We are fully convinced that the judgment of the District Court should be affirmed, and it is affirmed, with statutory costs.

---

Concurrence Opinion

Christianson, Ch. J.

(concurring specially). Appellants contend that the will involved in this controversy is invalid: (1) Because there was no sufficient publication thereof; and (2) because the testator was insane and hence incapable of making a will. Both questions were decided against the contentions of the appellants both by the county and the district courts. And, in my opinion, the findings of the trial court are amply sustained by the evidence, and the judgment should be affirmed.