Hill v. Barge

12 Ala. 687 | Ala. | 1848

ORMOND, J.

The chancellor having refused to direct an issue of devisavit vel non, on the application of complainant, and it being insisted that this is not a matter in the discretion of the chancellor, but is the right of the heir, whenever the validity of a will is drawn in question in a court of chancery, we will first address ourselves to the consideration of that question.

In England, this right is conceded to the heir, and an issue to try the validity of the will, is directed, as a matter of course. This results from the fact, that the court of chancery has no power to pass upon the validity of a contested will, the ecclesiastical courts having exclusive jurisdiction of the probate of testaments of personal property, and the common law courts, of devises. [3 Woodesson’s Lee. 49, p. 286.]

At an early period in our history, this matter was regulated by statute. An act which was passed in 1803, and re-enacted in 1806, gave to the orphans’ court the exclusive jurisdiction of the probate of wills, both of real and personal estate, contains the following clause: Within five years from the time of the first probate of any will, any person interested in such will, may by bill in chancery contest the validity of the same, and the court of chancery may thereupon direct ail issue, or issues of fact, to be tried by a jury as in other cases; and in all such trials, the certificate of the oath of the witnesses, at the time of taking the original probate, shall be admitted as evidence to the jury, to have such weight as they may think it deserves: but after the expiration of the said five years, the original probate of any will, shall be conclusive, and binding on all parties concerned.” [Clay’s Dig. 598, § 15, and see the original act in Toulmin’s Dig. 887, <§> 55.] It is therefore very clear, that the English rule can have no influence in the settlement of this question. Its solution must depend upon the true construction of the act just cited, which not only conferred on the courts of chancery, a jurisdiction unknown to the common law, but also introduced other important changes, of the law on this subject.

This act passed under the review of this court, in Johnston v. Glascock and wife, 2 Ala. 218, where it was held, that when a will is thus contested in chancery, those claiming under the will, become the actors, and are bound to support it affirmatively. To the same effect is Johnson v. Hainesworth, 6 Id. 450. But in neither of these cases, did the question now under consideration arise, which, it is evident from what has been stated, must depend upon the proper construction of the terms employed in the statute, in reference to an issue of devisavit vel non: “ the court of chancery may, thereupon, direct an issue or issues of fact, as in other cases.”

The ordinary meaning of the term may, in a statute, when it concerns the public interest, or the rights of individuals, is must, or shall; and is obligatory, or mandatory, on the judge, or officer, to whom it is addressed. [Ex parte Simonton, 9 Porter, 395, and cases there cited.] In addition, the act proceeds to state what kind of testimony shall be laid before the jury, and the effect they shall accord to it, which would, not have been done, if it had been discretionary with the chancellor, to direct an issue, or not, as he might think proper. Further, by the act of 1821, when the validity of a will is contested, the orphans’ court is required to impannel a jury to determine its validity, (Clay’s Dig. 304,. <§> 35,) and it would be a strange result, if a party could obtain the probate of a will, without notice to the heir, or next of kin, in the orphans’ court, and thereby deprive him of the right to a jury trial in chancery. The effect of the exhibition of such a bill as this, is to require those claiming under the will, to offer it again for probate, and it seem to us, from our entire legislation on this subject, that whether the inquiry is had in the orphans’ court, or in chancery, the heir, or next of kin, is entitled to an issue if he demands it.

From this it results, that the chancellor erred in refusing to award an issue, when demanded by the complainant, and as the cause must be remanded, it is proper we should consider those questions of law, which have been argued by counsel, and which must necessarily arise in the further progress of the cause.

The will offered for probate was written by Dr. Barge, the husband of the principal beneficiary of the will. This fact undoubtedly creates a presumption against the validity of the instrument. Ordinarily, when a man of sound mind, and memory, executes a will, by signing, and publishing it, and calling on witnesses to attest it, the presumption is that he knew the contents, although it is not written by him. But when the will is written by the person intended to be bene-fitted by it, then, in the language of an eminent testamentary judge, “the presumption, and onus probandi, are against the instrument; but as the law does not render such an act invalid, the court has only to require strict proof; and the onus probandi may be increased by circumstances; such as .unbounded confidence in the drawer of the will — extreme ¡debility in the testator — clandestinity, and other circumstances, which may increase the presumption, even so much, as to be conclusive against the instrument. In the absence, however, of any circumstances of this sort, the demands of the law may be more easily satisfied. [Paske v. Ollat, 2 Phillimore, 323; see also Billinghurst v. Vickers, 1 Id. 199, and Ingraham v. Wyatt, 1 Hagg. 384.] The case of Paske v. Ollat, came under the review of the Master of the Rolls, in Raworth v. Marriott, 1 M. & K. 643, who also held, that where the drawer of the will took a benefit under it, a jury trying the validity of the will, should be satisfied that the testator knew its contents ; but he did not understand Sir John Nicoll, in Paske v. Ollat, to hold, that there must be direct, and positive proof of such knowledge, but that his knowledge of the contents of the will, might be established by circumstantial evidence.

This being the law applicable to this case, it will be the duty of the jury to say, whether the testator knew the contents of the will. The most usual, and most satisfactory mode of making this proof, is to show that the will was written pursuant to instructions given by the testator. Nothing of this kind appears in the testimony sent up with the record. It also appears, that the testator, at the time the instrument is alledged to have been made, was in a átate of extreme debility, and had been for some time previous — that he labored under a most painful disease, to allay the anguish of which,, he took large doses of opium — and that the drawer of the will was in possession of his confidence. These are all circumstances calculated to awaken suspicion, and increase the presumption which the law makes, from the mere fact that the will was written by the principal beneficiary, and increase the demand which the law exacts, of proof of knowledge on the part of the testator.

Still, it must be borne in mind, that all these circumstances, of suspicion, and presumption of unfairness, may be removed by either positive, or circumstantial proof, of knowledge on the part of the testator of the contents of the will, and that it was written pursuant to his directions. But this proof should: be so satisfactory, and convincing, as not to leave a reasonable doubt on the minds of the jury, that the testator knew its contents at the time of its execution.

It is further contended, that the will was not attested by the witnesses in the presence of the testator. The statute of this State, which, in respect to this matter, is substantially a copy of the 29 Charles 2d, requires, “ that such last will and testament, be signed by the testator, or testatrix, or by some person in his, or her presence, and by his, or her directions ; and attested by three, or more respectable, (reputable) witnesses, subscribing their names thereto, in the presence of such divisor.” [Clay's Dig. 597, § l.J

The construction of this statute, is settled by numerous decisions, English, and American. The design of the statute, in requiring the attestation to be made in the presence of the testator, was to prevent the substitution of a surreptitious wilh In the presence of the testator, therefore, is within his view.He must be able to see the witnesses attest the will, or to speak with more precision, their relative position to him, at the time they are subscribing their names as witnesses, must be such, that he may see them if he thinks proper to do so, and satisfy himself by occular demonstration, that they are witnessing the very paper he designed to be his last will. They may subscribe their names in the same room with the testator, and yet there may be such a physical barrier, or obstruction, between him, and them, tha the could not see what they were doing, and although in the same room with the testator, would not be in his presence, within the meaning, and intention of the statute. [Neil v. Neil, 1 Leigh, 6.] So also it has been held, that when the testator desired the witnesses to go in another room and attest his will, in which there was a window broken, through which he might see them, it was held, the will was well attested. [7 Bac. A. 10 see also, Casson v. Dade, 1 Bro. C. C. 99, and Davy v. Smith, 3 Salkeld, 395, to the same effect.] Lord Ellenborough, in Doe v. Manifold, 1 M. & S. 294, referring to Casson v. Dade, held, that it was not necessary the testator should actually see the witnesses attest the will, but that he must be in such a situation, that he might see, and their in favor of the attestation, it would be presumed that he did see. [Todd v. Winchilsea, 1 Mood. & M. 12, and same case, 2 C. & P. 488.]

In this case, it appears from the testimony, that the witnesses attested the will, at the request of the testator, in the same room with him, and but a short distance from him. He was lying in bed, his head propped up with pillows, his face turned from the attesting witnesses. Some of them say he did not see them attest the will, as their backs were towards him, and that by turning his head he could have seen them standing there — there was no obstruction intervening between him and them. It has already been stated, and shown by the cases cited, that it is not necessary to prove that the testator actually saw the witnesses subscribe their names— this would, in most cases, be impossible to be shown. It is sufficient, if from their relative position, he could have seeri them. If then, the testator, by moving his head on the pillow, could have seen the witnesses subscribe their names to the paper designated by him as his will, it will be an attestation in his presence, within the meaning of the statute. It will be for the jury to determine this fact, also, from the evidence which may be adduced.

Testimony was taken on both sides, as to the capacity of the testator to make a will, at the time this will was executed, but no question of law is raised in argument on this point. The jury must be satisfied from the proof, that the testator was of sound mind, and disposing memory, before they can find the instrument a valid testament.

Decree reversed, and cause remanded.