208 Mo. 314 | Mo. | 1907
This suit originated in the circuit court of the city of St. Louis, and was instituted to contest the validity of an instrument in writing, purporting to be the last will and testament of Edward K. Holton, deceased, on the grounds: First, that the testator was not of sound mind and disposing memory, and was, for that reason, incapable of making a valid will; second, that the instrument was caused to he executed by the undue and improper influence of his wife, Lillian M. Holton (now Cochran).
“I, Edward K. Holton, of the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do hereby make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking all wills by me heretofore made.
“First, -I give and bequeath to my brothers, Frank G. Holton and William J. Holton, each the sum of five hundred dollars.
“Second. I give and bequeath to my wife, Lillian M. Holton, the sum of five hundred dollars in trust for my brother, Albert S. Holton, and to be paid to him as his necessities may require.
“Third. I give and bequeath to my niece, Lillian M. Holton, the sum of seven hundred dollars, in token of her loyal services to my father and mother, now deceased.
“Fourth. I give and bequeath to my son, Birchard R. E. Holton, and to my daughter, Alice M. Bright, each the sum of five dollars.
“Fifth. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Lucinda B. Burrow, the sum of five thousand dollars.
“Sixth. All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, real, personal and mixed, wherever situated, I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife, Lillian M. Holton, to have and to hold the same to her and to her heirs and assigns forever.
“Seventh. I do name and appoint my said wife, Lillian M. Holton, executrix, and Charles A. Thompson, executor, of this will, without bond.
“In testimony whereof, I have hereto set my hand this 10th day of November, 1902.”
This instrument was duly signed by Edward K. Holton, and attested by three witnesses, namely, George Ringhausen, J. B. Corby and W. Edwin Corby,
Lillian M. Holton, the widow, was the only defendant who filed an answer. It admitted the execution of the will and alleged the testator was of sound mind and disposing memory at the time of its execution, and denied its execution was procured by undue or improper influence, exercised over his mind by his said wife, and terminated by alleging said instrument was his last will and testament.
The record in this case covers about twelve hundred pages of closely typewritten matter, and the abstracts thereof cover more than six hundred pages.
Appellant contends with much earnestness that the verdict of the jury is not only against the great weight of the evidence, but that there is no evidence whatever in this voluminous record to support the verdict. This contention calls for a somewhat extended statement of the evidence and the facts which the evidence tends to prove.
As to all the facts in the case which existed prior to the death of testator’s first wife, which occurred April 23, 1891, there is but little, if any, controversy; and whatever changes took place, if any, as to the testator’s mind and memory occurred subsequent to that time. They are as follows:
Edward K. Holton, the testator, was born December 17th, 1843, in the State of Wisconsin, and departed this life in the city of St. Louis, on December 2, 1902, from wounds inflicted by his own hand. He was a strong, vigorous man, weighed one hundred and eighty-five pounds. He dressed neatly and well and had the bearing and appearance of a military man. His first wife was Miss Carrie Birchard. They were married in the year 1867. Pie lived happily with her and raised a family of three children, namely, Lucinda, Alice and Birchard, the contestants. They were happy, con
His mother, Martha K. Holton, was of unsound mind for four or five years before she died, and lost her mind entirely four or five months before her death. His aunt, Eliza Bradley, his mother’s sister, was insane. His brother, Albert Holton, was insane and spent much of his life in an insane asylum and died therein. A cousin of his, Albert Kendrick, was insane, as was also one of Albert’s daughters.
Charles A. Thompson testified on behalf of defendant, in substance, as follows: Captain Edward K. Holton and his wife came to my office on November 10, 1902, at my request. I was in the railway supply business. I wanted him to go on my bond to the United States as security for my faithful performance of a contract to be entered into by me with the Government. Immediately upon entering the office Captain Holton, leaving Mrs. Holton in the main office, took me into the inner or private office and explained to me that he intended re-drafting his will and asked me to act as executor along with Mrs. Holton, whom he had named as executrix in a former will which he had with him, explaining that he wanted his wife to have the benefit of my advice in the administration of the estate. He showed me the will which he had made before then. (The witness did not remember the exact date of the will, but it subsequently appeared, by the testimony of Mr. Zumbalen, that it had been executed November 16, 1901.) Holton told me this former will had been drafted by Mr. Zumbalen, a lawyer. Captain Holton asked me for the privilege of having my private secretary or stenographer, Miss Laura Mayhugh, write out the new will for him, which I agreed to. We returned to the main office and Captain Holton sat down in that and dictated to Miss Mayhugh the matter which he wished embodied in the new will, holding the old one in his hand while he dictated. Miss Mayhugh took down the dictation in shorthand; afterwards wrote it out on the typewriter and handed it to Captain Holton, who handed the old will to me, and he and I read back to the old will with the new draft, comparing and checking back from the one to the other. The differences between the will of November 16, 1901, and that of
Captain Holton then called Messrs. J. B. Corby and William E. Corby and George Ringhausen up from the lower office and asked them to witness his will. He signed the paper in the presence of these three gentlemen and they signed it at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other, Captain Holton stating to them that this was Ms last will and testament. He then tore up the old one, threw the pieces into a cuspidor, and put the new document in his pocket. Upon the completion of the business of signing the will and bond, the Captain and Mrs. Holton left the office, having been there from three-quarters of an hour to one hour. Mr. J. B. Corby and Mr. George Ringhausen were clerks in the employ of myself. Mr. J. B. Corby was twenty-eight years old, and Mr. Wm. E Corby thirty years old. (Mr. Geo. Ringhausen’s age does not appear in the Abstract.) I was forty-two years old, Miss Mayhugh twenty-seven.
All of the parties above mentioned were sworn on behalf of defendant and testified that Mrs. Holton made no remarks or suggestions to the testator during the time the will was being drawn and executed.
This was the appellant’s case in chief.
Respondents’ Testimony.
The plaintiffs introduced evidence tending to prove the following additional facts:
That testator joined the army during the Civil War, at the age of nineteen years, and served for two years; that he was very fond of and affectionate to his children; that the death of his wife was a great mental shock to him, and after that he began to drink heavily and continued it to the day of his death; that frequently he would cry and rave against the Almighty and say there was no God nor Heaven, and that there was nothing in religion; that upon one occasion when his daughter-in-law told him she was a Catholic, he said there was nothing in it, that the Mohammedan religion was the only religion in which there was anything ; that during the first few months after the death of his wife he would break out in a laugh, would then become very profane and then burst into tears and cry, and again change from tears to laughter, and make remarks to his son or others who happened to be about him, “Ain’t I a damned fool?” or “I am a damned fool.”
That in December, 1891, his father-in-law died, which occurred about one o’clock a. m. On that night he raved and swore, and declared there was no God; that his language and conduct upon that occasion were so violent that his children became frightened and left his house about three p. m., and passed the remainder of the night at the house of one of his daughters ; that on the next day, when the children returned home, he made no mention of the occurrences of the previous night. Between the years 1891 and 18991 he remained single and during that time his daughter,
That in 1900 his mother died and he went to Milwaukee to attend the funeral, and while in the dining room, waiting for his breakfast, his brother came in and said to him, “Good morning,” and said, “Ed, haven’t you been to breakfast yet?” Whereupon he became violent in his actions and language, pounded upon the table with his fist, swearing and shouting at the waiter. That upon seeing some flowers his brother had brought to place upon their mother’s casket, he exclaimed, in substance, “Humph, rot; God-damned rot;” and later, while discussing the funeral arrangements, he said: “I don’t want any damn singing, and cut the services short, damned short; and let there be no prayers at the grave, and I don’t want anybody to take their hat off at the grave.” He was finally persuaded to let them sing the hymn, “Nearer My God to Thee,” and to' offer a short prayer at the grave. During the singing he paced the floor above like a caged animal, cursing under his breath. He carried on in this same way only more profane and was more unrea
That he frequently said he was getting tired of business and wanted to get out of it and take a rest; that he wanted to exchange his stock in the St. Louis Shovel Company for stock in the Ames Company, so he could sell the latter and thereby rid himself of all business; that he urged upon his chief associate in business, Julius Birge, to sell to the Ames Shovel & Tool Company at a less price than Birge thought it was worth, his object being to get out of business; that his associate, Julius Birge, persistently refused to sell for a price less than the business was reasonably worth, which greatly angered testator, and complained to him that he wanted to quit business-, that the consolidation with the Ames Company was finally affected, on a basis of five shares of the Ames stock for one of the St. Louis Shovel Company’s.
On December 29, 1891, Ezra Birchard, grandfather of testator’s children, died, and by his will he left his estate to these three grandchildren, share and share alike, the portion of Alice and Birch, who were minors, going to their father as trustee for them during their minority, the income and revenue to be used for their support and education. At the death of Col. Birchard, Capt. Holton was indebted to him in the sum of $10,000, evidenced by a note bearing eight per cent interest, and secured by one hundred shares of •stock in the St. Louis 'Shovel Company, of the par value of $100 each. Under his will, Col. Birchard gave his son-in-law, Capt. Holton, the option of cancelling said note and transferring said stock to his grandchildren, Alice and Birch, in payment of the debt. On March 10, 1893, Capt. Holton exercised the option and on that day received certificate No. 7 for fifty shares of said stock in his name, as trustee for his daughter Alice, and certificate No. 8 for fifty shares of said
On August 12,1901, the St. Louis Shovel Company, with four other concerns, consolidated with the Ames Tool & Shovel Company, a Massachusetts corporation, on a basis of the stockholders of the St. Louis Shovel Company receiving a fraction over five shares of stock in the Ames Company for one in the St. Louis Company. When this consolidation took place, Cap-tain Holton undertook to settle his trusteeship- and turn over to Alice and Birch the stock which had been left
That about the same time he visited his daughter Lulu, in Philadelphia, and advised her to sell a mortgage she held on property in St. Louis, and' when she told him she did not think it best to do so, he became very indignant, raved, swore at and cursed her and said that she did not trust him and that she was afraid he was going to steal her money, and that he became so violent that he took hold of her and shook her and did not cease that conduct until she yielded to his request; that about this same time he visited her again at Atlantic City, and he was sick and remained in bed for two or three days, and during that time he would beat his head, roll and toss in bed, tear the sheets and his nightshirts, and continually complain of his head.
That upon the consolidation of the St. Louis Shovel Company with the Ames Company, Julius Birge was elected manager of the St. Louis branch; testator went into his room and flew into a-rage, crying
That in the summer of 1902, at one of the hotels in Chicago, and at Mackinac Island,'where he had gone for his health, he met his brother, William, his son, Birch, and the latter’s wife, and in the conversation which followed he would jump from one subject to another and cry without any apparent cause; that he was drinking heavily and had been for two years past; that at the hotels he would order certain dishes and when the waiter would bring them he would curse and swear at him and say he had never ordered them, and talked loud and boisterously in the presence of all, notwithstanding that was the first time he had met his daughter-in-law, Birch’s wife; that shortly after he complained of being sick and went to his room and his son proposed to call a doctor — he cursed and swore and said he would kill the doctor if he came; that later he went down to the dining room with his daughter-in-law and two of her young lady friends, Miss Ferguson and Miss Jerome, who were strangers to' him, and at the dinner table he got into a violent altercation with the waitress and was very violent in his language, so as to attract the attention of everybody in the room. He told vulgar stories to those ladies, to their great shame and humiliation; that after dinner, in the absence of his son,, he invited his daughter-in-law and the two young ladies into a saloon to drink. In refusing the daughter-in-law said: “Birch would not like for his wife to do anything like that,” whereupon he said, “Wife, wife! You mean woman, don’t you?”
That in October, 1901, he was sitting in his chair in his office, when he complained of feeling badly, and
That in 1901, at the meeting of the stockholders of the various concerns which effected the consolidation of the shovel houses, he was unable to concentrate his mind for any length of time on any particular subject, and was exceedingly nervous and excitable, and threw up his hands and said, “Let me alone, I am going to pieces.” That he was irritable, excitable, unreasonable and without self-control. That during the last two years he was in business he could not concentrate and keep his mind upon his business — he would jump from one thing to another, and was unable to do his work as he did prior to that time; he would get tired easily, could not work all day, would come down to the office late in the morning and leave early in the afternoon, often leaving his work undone, and seemed unable .to do detail work during the last year he was in business; that he could not think or talk coherently upon any subject, but would jump from one subject to another.
That in 1901, upon returning’ home from one of the meetings which was called to consolidate the shovel houses, he threw up his hands and said in a most violent manner that “Julius Birge,” his old business associate, “was a skunk and like an anaconda, choking him to death,” and at the same time throwing out his hands as though pulling the snake from his neck, saying, at the time, “Thank God; I am through with it now.”
That after he was out of business he would talk to his friends about his family and business career. He would cry and say his wife and children did not love him; that they had gone back on him; that he
That during, the last year of his life he lost from thirty to forty pounds of flesh. He complained of being lonely, and was despondent and melancholy.
Dr, Spencer Graves, an eminent physician who had been practicing sixteen years in St. Louis as a busy practitioner, testified he was the family physician of Edward Kendrick Holton during his lifetime, covering a period from 1892 until his death; that during that time he was called to treat him on an average of three or four times a month when he was in the city; that during the last eighteen months of his life he was called upon approximately seven or eisflit times every month when he was at home and treated him for catarrh of the stomach, mostly; also neurasthenia, also a nervous condition, insomnia, various functional ailments, colds, and so on; said insomnia is an inability to sleep1; neurasthenia is merely a functional disturbance of the nervous system; that he was called to treat him about a. week before his suicide, and at the time of his suicide. That in the fall of 1901 he noticed a change in Captain Holton’s physical condition; that he had noticed little peculiarities in his character before he retired from business, but did not take any special notice of any change until after that; noticed no marked change until after he had retired from business. He had an idea that he was very much alone
Julius. G. Birge: President and manager of the plant of the St. Louis Shovel Company. Has been a manufacturer of shovels in St. Louis since 1867. President and principal stockholder of that company since its organization. He and his family owned seventy-live per cent of the stock. Testified that he had known Edward Kendrick Holton since 1867, and had been on close business and social relations with him during all that time; that their social relations were always pleasant. That he saw him every day at business, their business relations continued down to August 12, 1901, the time the St. Louis Shovel Company was transferred to the Ames Company, and Mr. Holton continued to come down to our place of business, for one or two months after that. Witness noticed no sudden change in his physical condition, but he did notice
I saw him at Atlantic City in the summer of 1901. I was there about two days; he was confined to his room. I ate at the table with him and his wife. I had conversation with his wife with regard to the stock that was to be issued in the consolidated company. She told me about what a hard time she had had on her trip to Europe with him, and I told her she ought to have some of that stock. She asked me to speak to Captain Holton about giving her some stock and I did. She stated that his condition made the trip a very hard one for her; that his condition was of such a nature that it required her constant attention for every moment.
During the negotiations preceding the organization of the Ames Company we had five or six meetings in New York, lasting four or five days each. Mr. Holton had for a year or two been very desirous of having a consolidation of the manufacturers which went into the Ames Company. All the manufacturers of
In July, 1901, at oue of the meetings he was drinking heavily, and one evening I went into his room, which was adjoining mine, to talk the matter over, and he was in such a rage that he was threatening and shook his fist in my face and called me names that I had never heard him call me before. I went up and got Mr. Rowland and Mr. Meyers, who were old friends of his, who had been watching him during the day, and they talked with him for hours, and, in the course of time, Mr. Holton says, “Yes, Birge is all right. He has always done right by me. We have been together, old friends, for thirty years,” and he put his arms around me and cried, and it was all made up> and the next day he was very- pleasant. Nothing had taken place to bring on that rage except, as I expressed it to him, he had become infatuated with the one idea of making the arrangements with those other parties to consolidate the plant regardless of any basis whatever. Mr. Holton never before expressed any lack of confidence in me. I don’t think he' ever accused me of personal unfaithfulness or perfidy in any form whatever up to that time.
That meeting adjourned and another was held about three weeks later. Mr. Holton, previous to the agreement, was not in a condition to- transact business. The man was in a delirium, as I supposed, from drink. We endeavored to hold him down from doing himself or anyone else violence. His talk was incoherent; he was cursing me because he thought I would not let Mm
We remained at the hotel another day. Mr. Holton would now and then go into the meetings a few minutes, and was entirely friendly with me next day, but he did not seem to have any distinct recollection of what had occurred.
On one occasion we had adjoining rooms at the Waldorf. About two or three o’clock in the morning he came into my room and sat on my bed; he was in a broken down condition. He began to talk with me about his affairs and he cried, shed tears on my bed. 1 suppose he was there for an hour and a half or two hours. He laid down on my bed a 'little while. I could not tell what he was shedding tears about. I asked him and he said, “You have a nice home, and here I am a poor, old fellow.” I could not understand why he was crying; he could not give any reason. “Q. He was married at that time and had' a wife? A. Yes, sir. Q. Did he relate any of his trouble to you? A. No; no point to. anything I could get about his troubles. He only felt badly. I think he cried nearly all the time he was there.”
At one meeting he called me out into the hall, around to a sort of retired place, and he talked to me very severely about my lack of promptness in accepting the proposition that had been made to us; said I was a darn fool for not taking it up. He used his usual profanity. He was very severe ; said he thought he had worked hard enough. He talked so loud that the other gentlemen who were at the other end of the hall complained. I was unable to keep him down. On that occasion I had, before coming to the meeting, stopped in Philadelphia to see Mr. Rowland. Mr. Myers was to be there and they did not
One Sabbath we were at Coney Island. Mr. Holton roomed with Mr. Meyers and someone else. They took a big bed room with three or four beds in it. He had been drinking during the night. I do not recall the conversation there. There was considerable conversation, but I do not recall the nature of it. I saw what he had been doing during the night; I saw his bottle. I guess it was as much as a pint; it was a fair-sized bottle; I did not handle it, but they said he had emptied it.
There were eight or ten occasions when he threw his arms around my neck, and cried, but I would not state when and where. It was when he would become angry and then get over it. “Q. You began to notice the change in his mental condition about 1900', now state in what way, other than already stated, that condition was manifested? A. I have stated a number of ways. I have stated that he would be unable to talk on business for any length of time without breaking down. He would generally throw up his arms and say, ‘Let me alone; I am tired,’ in that manner. Those
After his marriage to his second wife, he told me he was going to make a will and give two-thirds of his property to his children and one-third to his wife. That was within — -I think — was within three years of his death.
Mr. Holton was very demonstrative, very affectionate to his children and his whole family — he was to me. I knew very little of his domestic life the last year of his life, but I think his relations with his children, as far as I could see, were as pleasant during the last year of his life as at any time before. They had their troubles. He expressed himself on several occasions very bitterly towards his children by reason of their insistence on the amount of stock in the new company which was represented by their stock in the old. I cannot quote you verbatim what he said, but he said on two or three occasions that his childdren had gone back on him and I endeavored to reason the matter and he apparently wouldn’t listen to any reason or explanation.
Mr. Holton held fifty shares of stock of the par value of $5,000 in the St. Louis Shovel Company as trustee for his daughter Alice, and fifty shares of the par value of $5,000 as trustee for his son Birchard. He was entitled as such trustee to receive stock of the Ames Company in exchange for this stock, $15,201.46, par value, preferred stock, and $10,128.20 in common stock, making a total of something over $25,000 par value he was entitled to* receive as trustee for his daughter Alice, and the same amount for his son Birchard. He had 173 shares of his own in the St. Louis Shovel Company, and for that was entitled to receive from the Ames Company something over $51,900 par value of preferred stock and $34,600 par value of the common stock, a total of something over $86,500 par
“Q. Did you notice any change in his facial expression? A. Yes, sir, I did. Mr. Holton’s facial expression was very variable, I thought. It was changeable from day to day. His eyes had an expression that was very unpleasant. The pupils seemed to be dilated and he had a wild, bad look. Sometimes, it was, I thought, expressionless. Q. Well, would there be any change from one to another in rapid succession? A. Very rapid indeed. He would be very much excited at one moment and his expression would indicate a desire to do violence, and his movements and everything, and in a few minutes he would be as affectionate as he was in his better days. He was always a very affectionate man; always was to me, at least. I don’t think I ever had a difference with Mr. Holton except over some temporary business matters, in my life, until, perhaps, one occasion. ’ ’
A meeting occurred in Boston. I think it was in October, 1901. Mr. Holton was present; all the stockholders or representative stockholders in the newly organized company were present.- I declined a nomination for vice-president. I was elected subsequently as manager of the St. Louis plant. I had no thought that Mr. Holton desired it, because he had always said
After the St. Louis plant became a part of the Ames Company, Mr. Holton came to the office, I think, on the 18th of November, 1901, and desired to settle up and be let out, and he was paid- all his salary and all that was due him as trustee for the children. He was paid his salary till January 1st. I paid it out of my own pocket. I think I had called at his house very soon after that. I had written him a letter concerning a mistake on an allowance which he had made to some jobbers, which changed the condition of the figures on the books, and which he had not advised me of. By making these allowances it would make a difference in the amount which should have been paid Mr. Holton of several hundred dollars. He never answered the letter. I called at his house. I don’t think I had it in mind speaking about the matter particularly, and I never did speak with him concerning the matter, al
Correspondence was introduced, Exhibits 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, showing that on November 18, 1902, a letter had been written to Boston directing the transfer of 195 shares of stock in the Ames Company from Mr. Holton to his wife, directing that the dividends on both his stock and his wife’s be sent to the Third National Bank of St. Louis, and stating, “Our bank account is a mutual one.” (The evidence showed they had no mutual bank account.)
That on November 19th a telegram had been sent to Boston as follows: “Express to my wife, Lillian M. Holton, stock certificates,” and on the same day a letter was written directing that the certificates be sent to his wife, Lillian M. Holton, whereas the letter the day before had directed them to be sent to 4126 Westminster Place. The letter of November 18th was in the handwriting of Mrs. Holton, but signed by Mr. Holton. In the telegram and letter of November 19th, the signature and body of both were in the handwriting of Mrs. Holton.
But the stock which was issued to the children, as I told him at the time, was not under his control, which ought not to be to that extent, and I went home and talked to my wife about the matter as to what I ought to do.
• It is not a fact that Captain Holton claimed to me
During the close of the deal for the trust, Captain Holton was drinking a great deal. He was drinking regularly every day. There were periods when he would evidently drink to a very great excess. He drank too much all the time. He drank so much that it overcame his will power. “Q. Made him tight? A. Well, I think I know the difference between a man who is intoxicated and the after-effects of a period of debauch.”
I was absent from the city when this letter apportioning the stock was written, and when Mr. Holton gave his reason for apportioning it as he had. He ^a'd +bat he was entitled to $70,000 preferred stock. His idea was that it belonged to him and he had a right to it; that he had a right to it by virtue of his having given his time to the business, I suppose, and his talents and energy for years, but during all these years he drew his salary as an officer of the company, for his services, the same as I did. I had talked with him about this matter after the stock was finally issued to the children. He said that the children had gone back on him, and he talked very bitterly concerning the actions of his children. He did not particularize in what respect the children had gone back on him, but there could not be anything else I suppose except this incident. I know of no trouble that they had. I en
“The Court: Did you tell him so? A. Yes, sir, I did. I always regarded him as a man of strict integrity. He was particularly so in his early life. I don’t know as I ever saw him do an act that was not very nearly square.”
It was Mr. Holton’s custom to take a bottle with him when he was away, to his room, and when we would have rooms together, and when we traveled together.
It was shown by documentary evidence, witness identifying handwriting and signatures, that Edward K. Holton exercised the option given him in the will of Ezra B. Birchard, to cancel a $10,000 note which he owed Birchard, and on which Birchard held $10,000 par value stock in the St. Louis Shovel Company, as collateral security, by'transferring to himself, as trustee for Alice M. Holton., now Bright, fifty shares of stock in the St. Louis Shovel Company of the par value of $5,000, and to himself as trustee of Birchard R. E. Holton, fifty shares of stock in the St. Louis Shovel Company, of the par value of $5,000'.
Mr. Holton’s income consisted of his salary in the St. Louis Shovel Company, $3,000' per annum; in the Seymour Manufacturing Company, of $800- a year; dividends ’of $300 or $400 a year in the Seymour Company, and dividends on the stock which he held, both individually and as trustee, heretofore mentioned, amounting to $40,924.80; between 1894 and November 18, 1901.
Witness did not think Mr. Holton was a man of sound mind the last year prior to November 10; 1902.
Charles H. Meyers, of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and Howard Rowland, of Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, were sworn on part of plaintiffs and1 stated that
William J. Holton, a brother of deceased, and one of the defendants in this case, to whom a bequest of $500 was given under the will, testified that he was manager of the oil stove department of the Standard Oil Company in Chicago. That his brother at the time of his suicide was in his sixtieth year. His father’s name was James Holton; mother’s maiden name Maria Kendrick. His brother’s middle name, Kendrick, was taken from his mother. That his mother’s mind was affected, and he thought it was caused by her anxiety and worry over his brother Albert, and also his father’s death. Witness saw his brother E. K. Holton in November, 1899, at the Plankington House, Milwaukee. His actions were boisterous and profane at table. Mrs. Holton threatened to leave the table unless he kept quiet. He acted to witness like an insane man. He certainly was not staggering drunk or anything of that kind. Witness said, I saw him the next day at the house, where he came to bid our father goodbye. He came into' the room in a sort of .boisterous way, and came up to father and told him he had to go back to St. Louis, picked him up in his arms, bid him goodbye, said, “You’ll pull through all right; cheer up.” Shook hands with me and left, and told
The next morning at the cafe in the Plankington House he received me very pleasantly, and seemed to have forgotton all that had passed the night before; in fact, met me with a smile, shook hands with me, and we sat down at the table together. In a moment he said to the waiter, “Where in hell is my breakfast, God damn it, where is my breakfast; why in hell don’t you bring my breakfast? I have been waiting here an hour.” The waiter says, “I beg your pardon, it’s only twenty minutes, and it has to be cooked.” He beat the table, and finally the waiter brought it in. I says, “Ed, don’t talk that way, why don’t you keep quiet?” After the waiter brought it in, he said, “That’s all right old man, here’s a quarter for you; don’t mind me — don’t pay any attention to me at all.”
After breakfast we went out to see mother together. He says to mother, “Now, mother, what do you want to do?” She says, “Well, I want to go to house-keeping.” He says, “Well, I don’t see how you can — no one but you and Lilly. You better board.” She says, “Well, I will not board here.” He says, “Well, by God, you will go where I want you to, here
“Q. Now, on the occasion that you refer to where he broke out against Julius Birge, what, after his outburst, as you describe it, did he do; was there any change then? A. Oh, he cried. He would cry; and order up drinks while there — in less than an hour he must have had seven or eight drinks.”
The next day uncle William Kendrick was there. He and my brother were examining father’s papers and he called for whiskey. There was a bottle of whiskey that I had bought for my father, a quart, but there had not been more than a whiskey glass taken out of it I guess. My neice, Miss Lilly Holton, got the whiskey for him, and, while we were sitting there, probably an hour and a half or two hours, he alone finished the balance of the quart. I saw him that night at the Plankington House; he was fuller then than I ever saw him in my life. In three quarters of an hour, he must have taken seven or eight drinks. I noticed him wabbling on his legs, the first time I ever saw him staggering. Still he was erect, with head up in the air, coat buttoned up, Prince Albert, silk hat, very commanding figure. Saw him the following Sunday, No
In March, 1900, I saw him the day of our mother’s funeral. I bought some flowers, and laid them on my
I saw him next at the Auditorium Annex, Chicago, August, 1902. I was thunder struck at his physical condition when I saw him; the change was so great. He seemed to have grown smaller, at least emaciated, stooped. He walked with a shuffling gait; wasn’t the same Ed as of old. He appeared to be mentally weak. I told him I was glad to see him, and said “Ed, you
Based on the facts he had enumerated to the jury, witness said he was of the opinion that his brother was insane. He had not only formed the opinion, but expressed it to the family and to others.
The evidence of William J. Holton was fully corroborated in the main by Lillian A. Bridge, nee Holton, the niece of the testator, mentioned in the will, and by Wm. H. Kendrick, an uncle of the testator.
Alice M. Bright, youngest daughter of Edward K. Holton, testified that she was born in December, 1875. That her father and mother attended church together, and after her mother died her father sent the children to Sunday school and church. That the home was kept together about a year after her mother died, and that one summer after that she kept house for her father. After that she lived with her sister, Mrs. Garnett, now
Testified to her father’s actions indicating his unsoundness of mind after the death of her mother and grandfather Birchard, substantially the same as shown by the testimony of Mrs. Burrow herein set forth. That the Christmas before her father married Miss Kelly (Mrs. Lenori) he said he would like to have Christmas dinner at her house with his children and gave her ten dollars to get the dinner. That while he was there he said, “Well, this will be our last dinner together; I am going to be married.” He asked us all if we would consent to the marriage, and we said if it would make him any happier we would be pleased for him to marry. I went to the wedding. We visited each other after the marriage about once a week. During the summer of 1901 my father had been drinking a great deal more than he had previous to that. I noticed a physical change in my father two years before his death. I noticed a change in his mental condition six months prior to the stock transaction, which was in the summer of 1901. When the St. Louis Shovel Company went into the trust, he said that I really was entitled to $5,000 of stock in the trust, and that he would give me $16,000, and that he would make me quite independent. He kept on changing about the amount he was going to give me, and I really didn’t know how much I was going to get, and he didn’t seem to be settled on the amount, so I thought I would inquire. I went to Mr. Birge and got an idea about how much
Witness identified Exhibit 8, a contract which her father had her sign when she became eighteen years of age, dated the 2nd day of January, 1894, in reference to her $5,000 stock in St. Louis Shovel Company. Said she knew nothing about the “whereases” in the contract. The contract was in substance that her father should hold this $5,000 stock in trust for her until she arrived at the age of twenty-five; that during that time he should pay her $400 a year (eight per cent interest on $5,000), and when she arrived at twenty-five the trust should be terminated, and he should re-assign the stock to her. The trust terminated by her reaching the age of twenty-five in December, 1900-, and she waited until October, 1901, for the re-assignment of this stock. Her father took the dividends thereon after she arrived at the age of twenty-five, which dividends she has never received.
The evidence of Alice Bright was fully corroborated by that of Birch Holton and Lucinda Burrow, son and daughter of testator. And, among other things, Mrs. Burroivs testified to the following matters:
‘ ‘ Mr. Rule : At the time of the death of your mother was there any change in your father’s actions toward his children, immediately after the death of the mother? A. No. Q. Was there any change that you observed in his mental condition at that time? A. Yes, sir. Q. Just state in your own way what was done, what he said and did at that time? A. My mother’s death came so suddenly that for weeks and days following he wasn’t able to sleep or eat, until finally he said that his physician told him that the only rest he could get would be to take a European trip, which he did; and after he had been abroad about a month he
Witness further testified: He took more interest in his children after his first wife’s death, and was more affectionate towards them than before; I had letters constantly from him when abroad the first time; I noticed a change in my father’s mental condition, he was more excitable at the time of my mother’s death. He was very restless, irritable, despondent, unhappy, would get angry very quick, and the least thing would provoke him; he drank a great deal more than he ever had; my grandfather died on December 29,1891. “Q. Will you describe your father’s actions on that occasion? A. He was very much overcome at my grandfather’s death, and drank a very great deal that day and night, and he was just raving, nobody
‘ ‘ Mr. Rule : What was said by both parties, both your father and grandfather? A. When my grandfather was dying he wished to change his will. Q. Just state what he said? A. He said he wanted to change his will.”
“Mr. Reynolds: Were you there at the time? A. Yes, sir. We were all there, my brother, my sister, my father and myself.
“Mr. Rule: That was just six months after your mother died? A. My mother died in April and grandpa died in December; and grandpa said ‘Ed, I want to change my will. I wish to make somebody else the executor besides you.’ And he was dying when he said it, and in fifteen minutes afterwards he was dead. Q. What did your father say? A. Father said, ‘Oh, Colonel, that is all right. Don’t mind about that, I will take care of the children and your will.’ Q'. Did your grandfather give any reason why he wanted .it changed? A. He said father was drunk so much he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to execute it properly. Q. Said that to your father? A. To my father in our presence. It was almost his last words. Q. What was your father’s nervous condition after the death of your grandfather? Go on and finish the incidents of the night of your grandfather’s death. State what occurred there at the house. A. My grandfather died about one o’clock in the morning, and papa had been drinking very heavily all day and evening, and after his death he became so boisterous, and he quarreled and raved and fussed with everybody until I was so frightened I took my brother and sister and left the house and went to my own home on Thirty-third and Leonard avenue, and remained there until morning before I returned. Q. • Well, what did your father
Witness further testified as follows: My father lived at 3858 Washington avenue after my grandfather’s death; he kept house for about a year after that; a cousin of ours came to live with him and take care of the children and the house; he was extremely unhappy, drank a good deal, was very restless and miserable; after moving- off of Washington avenue he went to boarding, and lived at the Franklin Hotel; he married his second wife the 17th of January, 18991; I came tó St. Louis for Christmas dinner at my father’s house. He told us a-11 that he was going to marry a young lady, his stenographer, that he was very lonely; that he wanted a companion; that it was not a love match; he simply wanted someone to take care of him and be a companion for him; he wanted to know if we objected, and I told him if it would bring him any happiness I was very glad to see him married, and we all said about the same thing. He married á Miss Kelly; following the marriage they boarded a little while. I took a trip to Europe with my father and his second wife in April, 1900; the voyage took eleven days; during that time they quarreled and fussed all the way overto such an extent that everybody
Drs. M. A. Bliss, Frank B. Fry and Henry Herman, upon the hypothetical question set out in appellant’s abstract, said that they thought the subject of the hypothetical question was of unsound mind, that he had pre-senile dementia, accentuated and hastened by the use of alcohol; that the subject of the hypothesis had a weakened will and would be influenced in most any direction by a stronger will; would be most readily influenced by being lead, not by being driven, and influenced especially by those who, contributed to his creature comforts. Drs. Bliss, Herman and Pry were all three experts of the highest standing.
Plaintiffs introduced some ten or twelve other witnesses who testified that they had known Captain Holton for years, and then stated the facts upon which they based their opinions, and then stated that in their judgment he was of unsound mind at the time he executed the will, November 10, 1902.
The hypothetical question propounded to- said physicians covers some ten or twelve pages of printed matter and embraces substantially all the facts which plaintiffs’ evidence tendedlo prove. It is omitted from this statement because of its great length and because it will serve no' good purpose by setting it out in this statement.
Such additional facts as are necessary to be stated for the proper disposition of this case will be found in the opinion.
This was substantially all the evidence offered and introduced by plaintiffs, respondents here.
At the close of it, counsel for appellant asked the court to give these two instructions:
“2. ^The court instructs the jury that there is no substantial evidence in the case tending to show that defendant, Lillian M. Holton, exercised any undue influence over Edward K. Holton, her husband, in causing him to make the disposition of his property, as set out in the paper produced as his will. And as to this issue the jury will find for the defendants.”
The court refused to give either of said instructions, to which refusal appellant duly excepted.
The defendant below, appellant here, Mrs. Lillian M. Cochran, designated throughout the trial as Mrs. Holton, introduced witnesses who testified to the following effect:
S. 8. Gould, 58 years old, in the shovel manufacturing business for twenty-five years, and vice-president of and stockholder in the St. Louis Shovel Company. Had known Captain Holton since 18801, intimately associated with him in business, and socially, from 1886 to within two months before his death. Had met him frequently and continuously from 1886 until the 25th of September, 1902, which was the last time he had met him; met him then in St. Louis. Testified that there was no particular change noticeable in Captain Holton during all the period of his acquaintance, any further than incident to any man in the lapse of years. Considered him a very bright business man. Captain Holton was in active management of the business of the St. Louis Shovel Company until it went into the trust in 1901. No one in that company had more to do with the active management than he had. He was excitable at all times. Very demonstrative; gesticulated, talked violently, easily provoked to anger, very erect in his carriage, a fine dresser; was very
Dr. William Pennington, practicing physician in charge of the French Lick Springs Hotel, at French Lick Springs, Indiana, met Captain Llolton there in June, 1902, and then again in October of the same year. Knew Captain Holton professionally and socially; became very intimate with him. Captain Holton came there to be treated and put himself under the charge of witness. Made a thorough examination of the Captain physically on both occasions that he was there. Did not have to treat him for alcoholism. His trouble was with his stomach; witness had examined him carefully enough to say that he had no signs or symptoms of pre-senile dementia. First time witness met Captain Holton in June, he was under his charge for five weeks; the last time, in October, 1902, a little over two weeks. "Was a very striking looking man, erect, rather a military bearing, very neat, scrupulously neat in his dress, a very intelligent conversationalist, had traveled a good deal, well informed about general matters; con
John W. Estes, manager of Equitable Life Insurance Society for Missouri, before that traveling, man for Meyer Brothers Drug Company; in that employment had traveled all over the United States for about fourteen years and came in contact with a great many men. Met Captain Holton in October, 1902, at French Licks Springs. Was there with him about two weeks, every day. He and Captain Holton left there and came to St. Louis together. Captain Holton in a conversation about his son stated that his son had not done very much good for himself, that he had given him a good deal of money; that they had had a disagreement; that his son did not advise with him any more and that they did not get along well together. He was with Captain Holton at French Lick Springs until the 27th or 28th of October, 1902, and about two. weeks after, about the middle of November, 1902, met him in St. Louis. He had not changed any in appearance or manner from what he was when he saw him at the Springs. Looked as well or better than he did at the Springs, and witness had remarked so to him at the time. Captain Holton carried himself as any other man of his age. Was
Dr. Henry N. Chapman} physician, in active practice in St. Louis, graduate of various medical schools, had been assistant to Dr. E. W. Saunders, member of the hoard of health of the city and on the visiting staff of the City Hospital. Acquainted with Captain Holton and Mrs. Holton for three or four years before the Captain’s death. Met him at his house and at witness ’s office and on the street and at the houses of mutual friends. Had met him at least thirty times in the last three years. Last time he met him was about three weeks before he died, when he met him on the street and stopped and had quite a talk with him. The Captain was feeling very well at the time. Looked better than witness had ever seen him look, and witness remarked on that fact. Captain Holton was under witness’s professional charge during the summer of 1902; he consulted witness, and he was under the care of witness professionally for treatment for catarrh of the head. Observed his physical and mental condition; saw no traces of neurasthenia nor of arterial sclerosis; examined Captain Holton to such an extent as to be able to state what his physical condition was, and stated it. There never was a stage of dementia of any kind, senile or infantile or any other kind present in Captain Holton. From his observation of him and association with him and examination of him, was of the opinion that his mental condition down to the last time witness saw him was perfectly sound. Captain Holton occasionally spoke of the fact that his children had treated him badly. Did not state the particulars.
William, R. Hodges testified he was 64 years old, in the granite business in St. Louis; member of the city council; had known Captain Holton for thirty years. Knew him intimately for the last eighteen years of his life. "Was one of the pall-bearers at his first wife’s
Jolm J. Cantwell testified he had been in the shovel business since 18391; knew Captain Holton in his lifetime, had known him for from thirty to thirty-five years; transacted a great deal of business with him, and that continued down to 1898, when witness went out of that line of business. Met Captain Holton- very frequently after that; had many conversations with
David G. Evans, sixty-three years old, had lived in St. Louis since 1866; had known Captain Holton nearly forty years ago. They were boys together in Wisconsin and came to St. Louis within a few months of each other. His acquaintance with Captain Holton was entirely social and personal. Met him two or three times a week between the time of his return from French Lick
James 0. Churchill, sixty years of age, Special Deputy United States Surveyor of Customs, formerly Collector of Customs, been a clerk of the United States Court and United States Commissioner. Had known Captain Holton for 15 years. Met him frequently, possibly every Saturday afternoon, for a number of years past. Had many discussions with him over current events, different matters, the tariff question and such things as men usually talk about. Had played cards with him. Captain Holton’s manner was very positive. He was given much to gesticulation. Vehement in his talk; he was very erect in his carriage, neat in his dress and of rather commanding figure. Met him about a week or ten days before his death. Did not notice any change in him then from what it had always been; considered him a man of sound mind.
Ford Smith, sixty-two years of age and a lawyer; lived within sixty feet, two doors, of Captain Holton; in the last two years of Captain Holton’s life had seen him from eight to twelve times a week. Conversed with him on all sorts of matters; rode up and down town with him in the street cars, which was a ride of about thirty minutes. He talked in a very intelligent manner and expressed himself very intelligently. Considered him a man of sound mind.
John H. Heimbucher, testified he was sixty-two years old, engaged in business in St. Louis since 1881; is in the iron and steel business. Acquainted with Captain Holton since early in the 70’s. First met him, in Pittsburg, when Captain Holton came to see him in connection with some business matters; knew Captain Holton intimately and did business with him after he came to St. Louis in the fall of 1881 down to the time that Holton ceased to be actively engaged in business,
F. B. Northrop. In the oil business; acquainted with Captain Holton for ten or twelve years. Boarded at the- same hotel with him for a month or two. Sold him oils for use in his company. Captain Holton did the buying and contracting for his company. He was a very shrewd dealer and witness dealt with him until 1895. After that kept up his acquaintance and met him frequently. Last time he saw witness to have any conversation with him was a week or ten days before he died. Conversed on business matters, current events. Through the years 1901-1902 had many conversations with him. He was a quick talker, a very proud, dignified man, very well in his personal appearance; always very neat, always walked very straight, in military style. Witness had not noticed any change in the mode and manner of Ms conversation ,and the trend of his
August Gehner. Title investigator, dealer in real estate, connected with' the Gehner Realty & Investment Company, German American Bank, and a number of other institutions. Is 57 years old; had lived in St. Louis since 1859. Had known Captain Holton seven or eight years before his death. Met him outside of St. Louis at French Lick Springs, Indiana, in July 1902, where witness was for about four days and spent about three hours a day with him there. Had known him in St. Louis before then and had transacted business for him in connection with a real estate deal. Witness had his son with him at French Lick Springs on that occasion, and Captain Holton remarked that he was sorry that he could not travel with his children, but that he had some dispute with them. Captain Holton said he would like to go back into business or use his means in active business. He conversed like any business man would. Witness walked around with him those three or four days, three or four hours a day, and they talked about all sorts of matters. After returning from Flench Lick Springs he had met Captain Holton possibly a dozen times or so in St. Louis on the street, at the St. Louis Club and other places; played pool with him; had conversations with him about a week prior to his death. Had also met Captain Holton at'Mackinac in the summer of 1902; they were at the same hotel; met him daily sitting on the veranda, chatted and talked with him. They were there together about a week in August; had many conversations with him on that occasion; talked about business investments, old war times, current events. Captain Holton talked like any sensible busi
George W. Taylor testified: Am thirty-four years old; in the life insurance business in St. Louis; the nature of his business caused him to observe people very closely. Met Captain Holton in French Lick Springs in June, 1902. Was there with him about ten days; had many conversations with him, mostly about the Captain’s travels, places he had been to, people he had met, countries he had visited. They walked around together a good deal there; Captain Holton carried himself in a military manner. Very neat in his dress, very emphatic in his conversation, a man of very fixed opinions. Met him in St. Louis after that a few days before his death. He looked then much as he did in French Lick Springs. In his opinion he was a man of sound mind.
Lloyd G. Harris testified: Am sixty-three years of age, in the manufacture of handles for tools and shovels, dealt in lumber, lived in St. Louis since 1871. Became acquainted with Captain Holton forty years ago, when they were playmates together in Milwaukee. They both went into the army and were in the same company for a while; met during their army service. Did not meet after that until witness came to St. Louis and started in the manufacture of hickory handles and wagon woodwork. Witness’s company had business transactions with Holton’s company, commencing in 1871. Transacted the business with Captain Holton; he was a very shrewd business man, a very positive man, very intelligent and very'quick. After their business association ended, they were thrown into
Otto II. Witte, fifty-seven years old, hardware merchant. Had known Captain Holton about thirty years. Bought shovels, spades and. everything of the kind that the St. Louis Shovel Company could make; always bought from Holton. He was the general manager of that company. His dealings with Captain Holton were large and lasted twenty-five or thirty years and continued down to the time Holton left the business in 1901. Witness seldom came in contact with anyone else in that concern except Holton. Saw no change in his business character in all the years that he knew him down to the time he quit in 1901. He
William B. Bean, seventy years of age, in the grain business in St. Louis; had lived here since 1865'; became acquainted with Captain Holton twenty-five or thirty years ago; his acquaintance was social, friendly and a family acquaintance. Last time he saw Captain Holton was in St. Louis in August, 1902. Met-him frequently before that; met him in French Lick Springs in July, 1902. Was there with him about ten days — with him every day while there. Had conversations with him in regard to his trip to Europe; discussed the waters he had been drinking when on his trip to Europe. Had some talk about his children. Said his daughter had married a man who had treated her badly, and that he had aided her to get a divorce. Said something about his son, conveying the idea that his son’s conduct was not entirely satisfactory to him; did not speak about Ms daughter Alice. Said he regretted having gone out of business when he did; needed active employment. He was a very emotional man, talkative, carried himself erect, a good dresser. Noticed no change in his mental condition the last time he saw him from what
Otto Weik testified. Was acquainted with Captain Holton; met him in French Lick Springs the 14th day of June, 1902. Had known Mrs. Holton before her marriage, and Mrs. Holton introduced him to the Captain. They discussed business, had conversations on many subjects. Afterwards met him at his home in St. Louis; the last time within a week before his death. Considered him of sound mind. Was a good dresser, sprightly man for his age, carried himself very erect, looked much younger than his years. The last time he met him, he said, on cross-examination, witness asked him why he should go into business when he had plenty of money to live on. Captain Holton said yes, but that wasn’t it, and he said that his children had caused him lots of trouble; did not say in what way, nor discuss it.
Edward Remington testified, is the manager for W. L. Douglas shoe concern in St. Louis. Lived here since 1889. Had known Captain Holton for five years previous to his death. Got acquainted with him through his acquaintance with Mrs. Kelley, whose daughter was Captain Holton’s second wife. Witness had boarded with Mrs. Kelley. After the marriage of Captain Holton and Miss Kelley, witness visited him frequently, while Captain Holton was alive, as much as once or twice á week. Usually took Sunday dinner there. Knew the family very well. His acquaintance with Captain Holton was entirely social. Spent evenings there and had many conversations. Was there with other guests and Captain Holton conducted himself in a gentlemanly manner. Sometimes he was drinking and very rough in his manner, again when he was sober he was not rough. Can’t say he ever saw him drinking to excess. When drinking
Dr. Wm. Conrad testified that he was a practicing dentist; had been practicing his profession in St. Louis for twenty-six years. Had known Captain Holton since 1893, since which time he had attended to Captain Holton’s teeth. Captain Holton had been in his dental rooms many times from that time until a short time before his death; about five weeks prior to his death. Witness had had many opportunities of observing him while he was under his treatment. He was under his treatment possibly every four to six months, and from four to six weeks at a time. If there had been anything peculiar about him witness could not have failed to observe it, as he was obliged to observe his patients carefully. There was nothing in Captain Holton’s appearance or demeanor out of the ordinary to attract attention. Witness had had many conversations with him during this period on a great variety of matters, and on the subject of the treatment of his teeth and the symptoms he had. Considered him a man of sound mind. On cross-examination Dr. Conrad was asked if he thought that a man who complained to a dentist of how a tooth aches, must necessarily be of sound mind, and D'r. Conrad said, not necessarily so, but he would say that insane people don’t ever complain of their teeth. He knew that from his experience of from fifteen to twenty insane patients during his practice of twenty-six years.
Miss Grace Grupe, assistant to Dr. Conrad, during the period stated, had known Captain Holton since 1891; was a very punctual man; had seen him a great many times in the office; had conversations with him such as she ordinarily had with their patients, and saw nothing unusual in his appearance to attract attention. The last time she had seen him was the 11th
Hon. Horatio V. Wood testified that he is one of the judges of the St. Louis Circuit Court; had been acquainted with Captain Edward K. Holton for the last fifteen or sixteen years of his life. Had met him and had very many conversations with him during these sixteen years. Conversation on social matters and matters of current news and general subjects that men would converse about. Holton always carried on these conversations in an intelligent manner, the same as any one else. The last time witness saw him was some time between the end of September and the first of December, 1902; had noticed no change in Captain Holton’s mental character in the latter years of his life. Had seen him in meeting at their army society every month. There was no meeting at which they did not have some conversation on some subject or other; that had been the case for the past fifteen years, down to the date of his death. When counsel for appellant asked Judge Wood if he had an opinion as to the soundness or unsoundness of mind of Captain Holton, counsel for respondent asked leave to cross-examine Judge Wood upon his opportunities to see and observe the conduct of the testator, before he expressed an opinion. The court gave respondents’ counsel that opportunity. Asked at the conclusion of this cross-examination if he had an opinion and could give it based on his intercourse as to the soundness or unsoundness of mind of Captain Holton, Judge Wood anwered that he had such opinion and that in his opinion he was a man who was perfectly sound in mind.
Appellant read in evidence the deposition of Dr. A. Paggi, who testified that he was forty-nine years old, practicing physician, resides in Florence, Italy; received his education at different institutions he named; been in active practice since 1879. Knew Captain
John R. Cook, witness for appellant, testified that he is assistant cashier of the Third National Bank of St. Louis, has been such for the past ten years. Was in the banking business thirty years; knew Captain Holton; he was a depositor in the bank, transacted business with him in that connection, but his business was more frequently with the tellers. Last business witness transacted with Captain Holton was on the 11th day of November, 1902, when he came to the bank and got a letter of credit. Was about to go to Europe or Japan and wanted a letter of credit whereby he
Mr. Henry Weaver, witness for appellant, testified that he is in the hotel business. Runs the Planters’ Hotel in St. Louis, also runs the Grand Hotel at Mackinac. Was proprietor of that hotel during the season of 1902. Been in the hotel business since he was twelve years old. Remembers meeting Captain Holton at the Grand at Mackinac in the summer of 1902. His conduct at the hotel was all right. Did not notice any peculiarity in him other than in any other guests. He was there some time; can’t say how many times he met him. His wife was there with him. Often had conversations with him on everything in general; had known him in St. Louis and was glad to meet him at the Island. There was nothing peculiar about his conversation. They conversed about politics, and about boats, golf and riding around. Witness was there when Captain Holton left and settled his bill. Had met him in St. Louis a number of times since he returned from Mackinac. Did not talk with him as long as he had up in Mackinac. Up there they talked half an hour at a time. There was nothing out of the way in his appearance, he always dressed tidy; his deportment was good, he walked upright, and g*ot around as well as witness did. There was nothing strange or peculiar in his action, and witness considered him of sound mind. On cross-examination he said Captain Holton might have been sick in the hotel at Mackinac before Mrs. Holton came there, but as a rule he, witness, would hear of such things, because a report is made in ease of sickness, and he had
Dr. Oman Duesmenil testified in behalf of appellant, that he is forty-seven years old, practicing physician in St. Louis for twenty-six years. A college graduate; specialist of skin diseases; has had a general medical practice. Knew Captain Holton during the latter part of 1901, and the last time he saw him was December 9, 1901. He was under his treatment for a skin disease and inflammatory trouble of the face, produced by trouble of the stomach; intestinal troubles and alcoholic stimulants. Treated him for it. He came to witness’s office every fortnight for a year and a half; saw him about thirty times. In that period he was rather lively in his conduct and witness noticed nothing' strange or different in his conduct than in other patients. Had no other business transactions than that; he paid cash every time he came.
Charles A. Thompson, recalled for appellant, testified that he had known Captain Holton about eighteen years, and his relations with him were very close in business, as well as socially; exchanged opinions freely, and relations were intimate. First knew Captain Holton when he was connected with the St. Louis Shovel Company, and witness was with Mr. Andrew Warren. All his business with the old company was carried on through Captain Holton until the formation of the trust in 1901. The social relations began in 1892 and naturally resulted from the business relations. Purchased large amount of goods from the Shovel Company, and all through Captain Holton. There was no change or difference in Captain Holton’s conduct in business matters from 1885, when they commenced, after 1891, when his wife died, or down to 1901, when he went out of business. On the 10th of November, 1902, Captain Holton was in his office by
Joseph H. Zumbalen testified on behalf of appellant. Is an attorney at law and practicing in St. Louis
On cross-examination, witness said that it was at his suggestion that the reason for making the small bequest for Alice and Birch had been left out of the will. It was not left out because Captain Holton agreed that it was not true. He maintained that it was true. Captain Holton had showed witness the letter of December 6, 1901, from Alice and Birch to him, and he was considerably wrought up over it, as he said it indicated to his mind that his children had a fixed determination to insist upon the last penny, and, as he thought, to dictate to' him how he should distribute his estate. Witness distinctly remembered seeing this letter, but could not recall when it was Captain Holton showed it to him.
On re-direct examination, witness said that Captain Holton had urged with great persistency his right ■to the increase in the Shovel Company stock that had come to it from the Ames Company. Had not asked
Mrs. Lillian M. Holton testified on her own behalf. This testimony is in the record and appellant submits it to the court. It appears in that testimony, that, when witness was recalled to the stand on the second day of her examination, she stated that when she had given her name when first put on the witness stand as
Dr. Edward Francis Brady, a physician, fifty-one years old, with twenty-seven years practice, testified on a hypothetical case submitted to> him by attorneys for appellant that the subject of it was of sound and disposing mind.
This was practically all the testimony in the case.
The suggestion was made of the change of name of Mrs. Lillian M. Holton to Lillian M. Cochran, and' it was changed, of record accordingly, but all through the trial and in the bill of exceptions and abstract, Mrs. Cochran is referred to as Mrs. Holton.
At the conclusion of all the testimony, the.appellant asked the court to instruct the jury that there was no substantial evidence of the incompetency or unsoundness of mind of Edward K. Holton, or of any ¡undue influence having been exerted over him at the time he executed the instrument read in evidence, and that the jury will find that the instrument was the last will and testament of said Edward K. Holton. The court refused the instruction, and appellant, Lillian M. Cochran, duly excepted.
At the instance of plaintiff, respondent here, the court gave instructions marked 1, 2, 2a, 3, 7, 8 and 9 ; to the giving of each of which appellant duly excepted; and on its own motion gave an instruction as to the number of jurors necessary to concur in the verdict, which are as follows:
“1. The issue submitted to you in this proceeding is this:
“Is the paper writing here produced and offered
“If, under tbe instructions given, you find from the evidence that said paper writing here produced,» is the will of Edward K. Holton, deceased, you will return your verdict in this form:
“ ‘We, the jury, find that the paper writing produced and read in evidence is the will of Edward K. Holton, deceased.’
“If, under the instructions given, you find from the evidence that said paper writing here produced is not the will of the said Edward K. Holton, deceased, then you will return your verdict in this form:
“ ‘We, the jury, find that the paper writing produced and read in evidence is not the will of Edward K. Holton, deceased.’
“2. In determining the issue of sufficient soundness of mind or testamentary capacity possessed by the testator to make a will, before you can find in favor of the proposed will, you must believe from the preponderance of the evidence that at the time of the signing and execution thereof said testator had sufficient understanding to comprehend the nature of the transaction he was engaged in, the nature and extent of his property, and to whom he desired to, and was giving it, without the aid of any other persons, and unless the defendants have shown by such preponderance of evidence that Edward K. Holton did possess all these requisites, you should find the issue in the negative and against the will.
“2a. In determining the issue of sufficient soundness of mind or testamentary capacity possessed by the testator to make a valid will the will itself and all its provisions may be considered by the jury in con-, nection with all the other facts and circumstances given in evidence.
“3. Although the jury may find from the evidence
“An insane delusion is a fixed and settled belief in something that, in fact, had no existence, which no rational mind would believe.
“7. You are the exclusive judges of the evidence and of the credibility of the witnesses; you will take the law as given you in the instructions of the court.
“In weighing and reconciling the testimony, you should look to the manner and demeanor of the witness in testifying; to his or her readiness and willingness, or tardiness and unwillingness, in answering upon the one side or the other, if such be the fact; to the interest or want of interest of any witness in the case; to whether the witness has any bias or feeling, or not; to his or her relationship to any of the parties in interest; to the witness’s means of knowledge of the
“8. Under the law, the opinions of expert witnesses are admissible in evidence, and are to he given such weight and value as the jury may think right and proper under the circumstances. The value of an expert opinion depends not only upon the qualifications and experience of the witness, but upon the facts which he takes into consideration, and upon which he bases his opinion. If the facts assumed, and which are made the basis of the opinion, are not established by the proof, then the opinion would have no basis upon which to rest, and would he of no value; and in weighing such opinions the jury must look to see whether the facts assumed are established by the proof or not; and you cannot take the facts assumed by the witness to he true simply because they are so assumed, hut you will look to the proof to determine whether they are proved or not.
“9. By the expression used in the instructions in this case, ‘preponderance or greater weight of the evidence,’ is not meant the mere number of witnesses who have testified for or against a given question of fact in issue before you. Such expression means that áfter you have fully and carefully considered all the evidence in the case, you should decide any one of the questions of fact in favor of the party with whom you find the proof of such fact to have the most convincing effect upon your minds, after you have fully consi d
The defendant, Lillian M. Holton, otherwise Cochran, asked the court to give instructions number first, third, four and sixth, which are as follows:
“First. The issue in this case is whether or not the document produced and read in evidence of date November 10, 1902, is the will and testament of Edward K. Holton, deceased.
“Under the law of this State every male person being twenty-one years of age and upwards may dispose of all his estate by will — saving to the widow her dower — in such manner as he sees fit and proper, provided he is, at the time he makes the will, of sound mind, and provided the will is in writing, or typewritten, which is the same thing, and is signed by him and is attested by two or more competent witnesses subscribing their names thereto' in his presence.
“If, therefore, the jury believe from the evidence in the case that the' writing produced and read in evidence was formally executed by Edward K. Holton, according to the above requirements of the law, and that two or more of the subscribing witnesses thereto have testified to the sanity of Edward K. Holton, and that he was of proper age to make a will then the court instructs you that a prima-facie case in favor of the will is made out and it then rests upon the contestants, that is, the plaintiffs in the case, to overcome this prima-facie case by substantial evidence. By prima-facie case, as here used, is meant such a case, as, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, is held to be true.
“Third. The court further instructs you that! there is no legal evidence in this case tending to prove that Lillian M. Cochran possessed any undue influence over the mind of Edward K. Holton as the term ‘undue influence’ is used in the law, or that she exerted
“Fourth. The court further instructs you that it requires no greater mental capacity to make a valid will than to transact any ordinary business, and that the owner of the property, who is of sound mind, as sound mind has been explained to you, has a lawful right to dispose of his property by will as he sees fit and proper, save as to such rights of dower as are in the wife. The natural objects of one’s bounty, in law, are a man’s wife, his children, and those united to him by blood or marriage; but, if, being of sound mind, as heretofore defined, and recollecting his chilidren or kin, he chooses to disinherit them or give them or any of them a less share in his estate than they would have under the law if he had died without making a will, or to deprive those nearest to him in blood of all benefit of his estate, he has a right to do so and to determine what provision he desires to make for them, and such disposition of his property is valid, whether the jury consider it reasonable or unreasonable, just or unjust.
“If, therefore, the jury believe from the evidence in the case that Edward K. Holton, recollecting and knowing who his children and the natural objects of his bounty were, chose to entirely disinherit any of them, or to leave them- or any of them a comparatively •small portion of his estate or less than he left to others or less than under the law they would have been entitled to if he had died without making a will, he had a
“Sixth. The court further instructs you that the fact that Edward K. Holton may have committed suicide shortly after making his will in itself creates no presumption that he was insane when he committed suicide or that he was insane when he is alleged to have executed the paper produced as his will.”
The court gave each of said instructions except the sixth, which it refused to give, to which action in refusing to give said sixth instruction said defendant, by counsel, then and there duly excepted.
The said defendant also asked the court to give instructions marked defendant’s second and fifth instructions, each of which the court refused to give, but modified each of them by adding thereto the following-words, in italics, “without the aid of any other person,” and gave them in that modified form; to all of which the appellant duly objected and timely saved her exceptions.
Said instructions as modified and given are as follows:
“Second. The court further instructs you that this prima-facie case being assailed and the validity 'of the document as the will of Edward K. Holton being-attacked, on the ground of the alleged unsoundness of mind ofi Edward K. Holton at the time when he is alleged to have executed said paper, it is for the defendants — or proponents of the will, as they are called —to prove that Edward K. Holton was of sound mind at the time when he is alleged to have executed the paper produced, of date November 10, 1902.
“In determining the question of whether or not Edward K. Holton possessed testamentary capacity, as it is called, that is, whether or not he was of sound mind, as that term is used in reference to the capacity to make a will, on November 10, 1902, the date when
“Firth. The court further instructsyou that, even if you believe from the evidence in the case that Edward K. Holton drank to excess, or was suffering from disease, and either of these to such an extent as to weaken or impair his mental faculties, yet, if you find that at the time when it is alleged he executed the paper produced as his will, he was sufficiently sober, and sufficiently in possession and control of his mental faculties to know and understand and comprehend the fact that he was then signing and publishing and declaring said paper as his will,. and so as to understand and comprehend the nature and extent of his property, and who were reasonably within the range of .his bounty, and to whom he was giving and how he was disposing of his property, without the aid of any other person, then the court instructs you that you should find he had sufficient mental capacity to make a will, and, if you so find, your verdict will be in favor of the defendants and you will find that the paper produced of date November 10,1902, is the last will of Edward K. Holton. ’ ’
Afterwards, on April 1, 1904, during the February term of said court, the jury, under the evidence and instructions given, found the issues for the plaintiffs,
In due time defendant, appellant here, filed her motion for a new trial, which was, by the court, overruled, to which action and ruling of the court she duly excepted, and, in due time, appealed from said judgment, and has brought the case to this court for review.
OPINION.
I. The evidence of the subscribing witnesses tended to show the testator was of lawful age and of sound mind, as well as the due execution of the will. This made a prima-faeie case for the proponent. [Harris v. Hays, 53 Mo. l. c. 96.] The burden then of establishing incompetency of the testator to make the will, or that its execution was the result of undue influence exercised over his mind by others, was shifted to and rested upon the contestants. [Harris v. Hays, supra.]
This brings us to the first proposition contended for by the appellant, namely, that there is no substantial evidence in this record to support the verdict, and, for that reason, the trial court erred in refusing appellant’s instruction in the nature of a demurrer to the evidence, asked at the close of respondents’ case in chief.
The legal test of the requisite mental capacity to make a valid will is measured by the following well-established rule: “The rule in this State is, that one who is capable of comprehending all his property and all persons who reasonably come within the range of his bounty, and who has sufficient intelligence to understand his ordinary business, and to know what disposition he is making of his property, has sufficient capacity to make a will.” [Riggin v. Westminster College, 160 Mo. l. c. 579.] Measured by this rule, let us look
The evidence shows that prior to the death of his wife the testator was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and business ability, and that he was not only capable of transacting his ordinary business affairs but that he was also very successful in all his business enterprises.
The contestants introduced a large number of witnesses, about twenty-five in. number. They consisted of his family physician; three medical experts; the three children of the testator, and several other blood relations; all his business associates, with probably one exception; a number of gentlemen with whom he had business transactions, extending over a period of many years; and several of his neighbors and personal friends and old acquaintances. All the physicians who testified in the case' stated that the continued and excessive use of alcoholic liquors would affect the mind, and, if continued for a sufficient length of time, would eventually destroy it entirely. That,
Dr. Graves, the testator’s family physician, who appears from his evidence to be an unusually bright and well-posted physician, testified that he had attended Captain Holton, professionally, for nine or ten years just prior to his death, and treated him on an average of three or four times a month during that time, excepting the last eighteen months of his life, and that during those months he treated him seven or eight times a month while the testator was in the city. In substance he testified that Captain Plolton prior to the death of his wife was a moderate drinker, but subsequent to that event he used alcoholic liquors to an excess, and that the quantities consumed by him increased as time passed, down to the time of his death; that this excessive use of alcoholic liquors had materially affected his mind and that for two years prior to- his death he was suffering from neurasthenia, catarrh of the stomach and senile dementia, brought on by excessive drink; that senile dementia was a general and progressive breaking down of the intellectual faculties, and that the testator was of unsound mind at the time he executed the will in question, and that he had been so for inore than two years prior thereto. He also testified that he attended Captain Holton in his last hours, and that he died of gun-shot wound, self-inflicted.
Drs. Bliss, Pry and Plerman were witnesses in behalf of contestants, and testified as experts in the case. A hypothetical question of great length, detailing in substance all the material facts which the evidence tended to prove, was propounded to each of them, and, in answer thereto, they state that in their judgment the testator was suffering from pre-senile dementia, and was of unsound mind at the time he signed the will.
All of the members of his family and blood rela
He could not understand the simple duties of his trusteeship of his children’s estate; he could not see by what right they could make him account to them for $40,000 stock in the Ames Company, which was four-fifths of their stock in that company, given to them for their $10,000 stock in the St. Louis Shovel Company.
During the last year or so of his life his wife did most of his correspondence, and signed his name to some of the letters; she looked after his bank account and drew his checks; and she looked after and attended to the exchange of his stock in the St. Louis Shovel Company for. that in the Ames Company, and the evidence shows she was none the worse for having done so. This record discloses that what little business he had to transact during the last two years of his life, she attended to the most of it for him.
The first will executed by him was drawn, from a memorandum in her hand-writing, and the will in question was dictated from that one with but few changes, which were principally in her favor.
■ He repeatedly stated that he intended to will one-third of his property to his wife and the other two-thirds to his children, and subsequently stated' to various parties that he had provided well for his children and his insane brother, while, in fact, he had given the former nothing by his will, and had given the brother the munificent sum of $500, to be paid to him by his wife as his needs might demand.
The record shows she had him to transfer to her áll his life insurance, the amount of which does not clearly appear, but somewhere between $5,000 and
There are a few facts in this record which stand out in bold relief, and among them are the following':
Every witness, without an exception, introduced by respondents, most of whom were either blood relations or business associates, testified that in their opinions the testator was of unsound mind at the time he executed the will and had been for about two years prior thereto; the sincere love and devotion Captain Holton entertained for his first wife and all of his children; in fact, the loss of his wife was really the primary cause of his excessive drinking and downfall, and at the same time increased and intensified his love and affection for his children; the unjust and illegal claim he made to the major portion of his children’s stock in the Ames Tool & Shovel Company, and their disinheritance by him because they would not yield to his unlawful and unjust demands; and this record does not show Captain Holton entertained any special love for his second wife, or that she entertained much for him.
Upon this state of the record, the question naturally presents itself, Why did he disinherit his children, whom he loved better than all others on earth, and give that which naturally belonged to them to another, who was a wife but in name, and for whom he entertained but little respect and less affection? Why did he have his children assign to her the insurance policies on his life and payable to them? Why did he reduce the bequest of $10,000 made to his daughter Lulu in the first will to $5,000 in the second or last will?
We are, therefore, of the opinion that the contention of appellant, that there is no evidence in the case to support the verdict, is not well founded, as the facts and evidence disclosed by this record abundantly show.
We have carefully read every word and line of the voluminous abstracts of record in this case, and find much strong and creditable testimony introduced on the part of appellant tending to prove the sanity of the testator, and to show that he was mentally capable of making a valid will; yet, most of her witnesses did not bear the same close family, social and business relations to the testator that the respondents’ witnesses bore to him, and for that reason they did not possess the same favorable position and opportunities of see
The marked changes in his- social and business habits, mind and love and devotion for his children are strong evidences of unsoundness of mind. As well said by G-antt, J., “Insanity is indicated by proof of acts, declarations and conduct inconsistent with the character and previous habits of the person.” [Knapp v. Trust Co., 199 Mo. 1. c. 665.]
We are, therefore, not only unable to say the verdict is against the weight of the evidence, but in our judgment there is not only substantial evidence in this record to sustain the verdict, but if it was within the province of the court to weigh the evidence, and if we were called upon to do so, we would unhesitatingly say the preponderance of the evidence was on the side of the respondents. ,
We are, therefore, of the opinion the trial court correctly refused appellant’s demurrer to the evidence.
II. The second, assignment of error made by the appellant is the action of the court in giving respondents ’ third instruction. That instruction, in effect, told the jury that even though they might find the testator possessed many of the mental requisites which were necessary to qualify him to make a valid will, yet if they further find that he'was laboring under an insane delusion that his son Birch and his daughter Alice had exacted of him and that he had turned over to them a greater amount of stock in the Ames Company than
Counsel for appellant seem to misconstrue the meaning of this instruction. Their contention is, that this instruction confused the minds of the jury and was contradictory in itself; for, if he had the mental requisites to make a will, he could not have had an insane delusion; and, if he had an insane delusion, he had not the mental requisites to make a valid will. Counsel seem to he laboring under the erroneous impression that this instruction told the jury that even though they found from the evidence that the testator possessed all of the mental requisites necessary to qualify him to make a valid will, yet if he was laboring under the delusion then they would find that it was not his will.
But by reading the instruction, it will be seen that it does not malee use of the word “all” in connection with the mental requisites one must possess in order to make a valid will, but it uses the word “many” in that connection, which makes the instruction read and mean, that even though he may have possessed many of the mental requisites, yet if he still had an insane delusion, and that delusion controlled him, then it was not his will. This, we understand to be a correct statement of the law, because he must possess all of the requirements of the rule, namely, must be “capable of comprehending all his property and all persons who reasonably come within the range of his bounty, ar l who has sufficient intelligence to understand his ordinary business, and to know what disposition he is making: of his property.” [Riggin v. Westminster College, 160 Mo. 1. e. 579.] This rule makes four requisites, and one must possess all of them before he is capable of making a valid will; and the instruction complained of
A second objection lodged against this instruction is, that it practically told the jury that there was no basis for Captain Holton to claim anything over the $5,000 referred to. "We have very carefully read all the evidence in the record bearing upon this claim of the testator, and have failed to find any evidence whatever tending in the remotest degree to support any legal or moral right he had to any portion of the "bequest made to his son and daughter, or to any of its increase. The only pretense set up by him to said fund is, that he was an officer and stockholder in the St. Louis Shovel Company, and that through bis efforts the value of the children’s stock therein had greatly increased, and for that reason he was entitled to all, or, at least, a portion of that increase. But the evidence conclusively shows that he was the father and trustee of said children, and that he was paid a fair consideration for whatever- services he rendered the company, and that he received not only the dividends declared upon his own stock in the company but also all of those on the children’s stock, over and above eight per cent interest, which he paid them annually in lieu of the dividends, which greatly exceeded the eight per cent by nearly $8,000. Besides this, the evidence shows be was but one of a number of gentlemen who contributed their valuable services to this company, and through whose efforts the stock was made so valuable. In fact, be was by no means the controlling spirit in that company, and had it not been for the dogged tenacity of
This pretended claim of the testator was so destitute of merit, and so devoid of all justice and equity, the irresistible conclusion must be reached that no sane man, with the love and affection he unquestionably entertained for his children, would have so persistently asserted it as he did, nor would have disinherited them, and forever banished them from his presence, simply because of their denial of that unreasonable and unjust claim, and especially is this true where the evidence shows they were practically without means, and that he had plenty and was living in'affluence.
We are, therefore, not only of the opinion that Captain Holton was of unsound mind at the time he executed the will, as stated in paragraph one of this opinion, but we are also of the opinion that there was substantial evidence tending to prove he was laboring under an insane delusion that his son and daughter had unjustly exacted of him. and that he turned over to them a greater amount of the Ames stock than they were lawfully entitled to demand from him as their trustee, and that such delusion controlled his will and judgment in the execution of the instrument offered as his will, and that there was no error in the action of the court in submitting that issue to the jury. If that delusion existed and dominated him in making his will, as the jury found, and in which we concur, then Captain Holton was incapable on that account of making a valid will. [American Bible Society v. Price, 115 Ill. 1. c. 632; Knapp v. Trust Co., 199 Mo. 640, 1. c. 667; Lancaster v. Lancaster, 87 S. W. 1137; Benoist v. Murrin, 58 Mo. 1. c. 319; Thomas v. Carter, 170 Pa. St. 272; Boardman v. Woodman, 47 N. H. 136.]
Instruction number two given for respondent, in effect, told the jury that in determining the testamentary capacity of the testator to make a will, they must believe from the evidence that he had sufficiént understanding to comprehend the nature of the transaction he was engaged in, the nature and extent of his property, and to whom he desired to and was going to give it, without the aid of any other person, and' unless she has shown by the evidence he possessed all of these requisites, then they should find against the will.
The particular objection urged against this instruction is directed against the words, “without the aid of any other person,” which are found therein italicized. Counsel for appellant contends that “if it is meant by the use of those words to include that as a test of the validity of the will, then it is an injection of a qualification not set out in the Statute of Wills.” [R. S. 1899, sec. 4602.]
Counsel clearly misconceive the meaning of this instruction. It is not meant by the use of those words to add an additional qualification to those prescribed by the rule of law, declaring what the mental requisites are which a person must possess in order to be qualified to make a valid will. They are employed for the sole purpose of indicating to the jury the degree or strength of the mind which was necessary for the testator to possess at the time of the execution of the will, in order to stamp it with validity. If the testator’s mind was not strong enough “without the aid of some other person” to comprehend all his property and all the persons who naturally came within the
A man would have to be almost an idiot or a raving maniac if he could not, with the assistance of others, recall to mind his property and the natural objects of his bounty, or be made to understand he was making a will and to realize to whom he was giving his property. But if let alone and unassisted, he could be wholly incapable to call all of those things to mind, and comprehend the nature of the transaction, and the disposition he was making of Ms property. The instruction in question was bottomed upon the doctrine announced in the case of Crossan v. Crossan, 169 Mo. 1. c. 641, in which the court, speaking through Gantt, J., said, “At the time of signing and executing the will, the testatrix, had sufficient understanding to comprehend the nature of the transaction she was engaged in, the nature and extent of her property, and to whom she desired to, and was giving it, without the aid of any other person.” That case and the authorities upon which it is based are decisive of the question here presented.
Appellant’s instructions two and five asked were, in effect, the same as respondent’s number two, just discussed, with the words “without the aid of any other person” omitted therefrom. The court refused the instructions as asked, and then modified them by inserting the words, ‘ ‘ without the aid of any other person, ’ ’ and gave them in that modified form, to which action of the court the appellant excepted. According to the law as declared, in passing upon instruction number two as given for respondent, we must hold that there was no error in the action of the court in refusing said'
IY. It is next insisted by appellant that the trial court erred in permitting*, the hypothetical question propounded by respondents on the subject of the testator’s insanity or the unsoundness of his mind, to be asked or answered. It is contended that the question “failed to present the principal and controlling facts; many of the facts presented are incorrectly grouped and incorrectly stated; and that they were stated in a misleading manner.”
The question is very lengthy and would probably cover ten or twelve pages of one of our reports, if set out in full, which we believe is unnecessary. We have, however, carefully examined the facts assumed in the hypothetical case, and are of the opinion that it embodies substantially all of the material facts relating to the subject under consideration. Counsel for appellant have, not pointed out to us in what particular the facts are improperly grouped, or in what manner they are misleading to the jury. We have re-examined the question with those suggestions in mind and have failed to discover the error complained of in that regard. If, however, the question is subject to the criticisms made by appellant, it is her fault in not calling our attention to the specific objectionable features. [Longan v. Weltmer, 180 Mo. 1. c. 340.] If the hypothetical question substantially embraces the facts disclosed by the evidence, that is sufficient and all the law requires. [State v. Baber, 74 Mo. 1. c. 297; Clevenger’s Medical Jurisprudence, 544.] And “counsel in propounding a hypothetical question to an expert witness may assume any state of facts which the evidence tends to establish and may vary the questions so as to cover and present the different theories of facts.” "[Hicks v. Railroad, 124 Mo. 1. c. 125.]
"While it may he true that the mere fact he committed suicide would not raise a presumption that he was insane at the time he signed the will, or at the time he took his own life, yet the evidence abundantly shows that there was a strong predisposition to insanity in the testator’s family, which fact and the act of suicide, the physicians testified would have a good deal of weight in determining the condition of his mind at the times in question. Under this state of the evidence the instruction would have been misleading to the jury, and would have virtually eliminated from their consideration the fact of suicide, which fact they had the right to consider and weigh with all the other facts and circumstances in the case. If the fact of suicide was admissible at all in the evidence, then the jury, should have been left at liberty to weigh that fact just as they would any other fact in the case, without any special attention being called thereto, on the one side or the other. The jury was not told that suicide would raise such a presumption, and, clearly, there was no error in the court’s action in refusing to give to the jury the instruction mentioned.
YI. It is finally contended by appellant that the admission of the evidence of the action of Captain Holton at the time of the death of his wife and father-in-law, which occurred in 1891, had no tendency to establish the condition of the testator’s mind at the date of making the will in 1902.
In this contention we cannot lend our concurrence. Judge Sherwood tersely and clearly stated the law
VII. There are several other minor reasons assigned for a reversal of the judgment, based principally upon the rulings of the court regarding the admission and rejection of testimony.
We have carefully examined all of them, and find no substantial merit in any of them, and it would he a useless prolongation of this opinion, which is too long now, to further review them.
In our opinion the cause was well tried, and the conclusions reached are in harmony with the right and justice of the case.
The judgment of the circuit court was for the right parties, and it is, therefore, affirmed.