Shawvan v. Shawvan

| Wis. | May 21, 1901

Cassoday, C. J.

It appears from the record that Mary Shawvan, a widow, seventy-seven years of age, died intestate at her home in Milwaukee, February 7, 1900, leaving, her surviving, sis children, three of whom are plaintiffs in this action, and two of whom are defendants in this action, and the other, Kerillo, was a witness on the trial.

This action was commenced February 12,1900, for the purpose of setting aside and having declared void a deed, executed by the deceased January 29, 1900, of the house and lot where she resided to the defendant Douglas Shaw-vcm, and recorded on the same day, on the ground that the same was procured by the defendants by fraud and undue influence, and without any consideration. The defendants, Douglas and Oscar, each separately answered by way of admissions, denials, and counter allegations. The cause being tried, the court, at the close thereof, found as matters of fact, in effect: (1) That the mother died February 7,1900, at the age stated, leaving, her surviving, the six children named, as her sole heirs at law; (2) that February 12,1900, the son Kerillo, for value received, assigned, transferred, and set over all his right, title, and interest in and to all of the real estate owned by his mother to his brother Sobieshi by proper conveyance; (3) that in 1884 the mother purchased the real estate in question for $1,800; that the property at the time of her death was of the value of $2,500, and was all the property she possessed, except a small amount of personal property; (4) that in the fall of 1899 the deceased was taken sick, and gradually grew worse up to the time of her death; (5) that January 29,1900, the defendants, Douglas and Oscar, while present together at the home of the deceased, conspired together to procure a deed of the ■real estate from the deceased to the defendant Douglas, with the understanding between them that Oscar was to receive $500 from Douglas, and by means of fraud and undue influence, and in pursuance of such conspiracy, the defendants on that day caused a deed of the real estate to be signed, wherein Douglas was the grantee and the deceased was the grantor; that at the time of signing the deed by the mother she was physically weak from long-continued sickness, which somewhat weakened her will power, and her situation and condition at the time were such as to render her unable to resist the importunities and influences brought to bear upon her by the defendants, and that the deed was not the free and voluntary act of the deceased, but was procured from her by fraud and undue influence practiced upon her by the defendants; that the procuring of the deed was so accomplished by the defendants without the knowledge of the other heirs, and was kept a secret from them by Douglas and Oscar, and that all of them, with the possible exception of the plaintiff Mrs. Metz were on friendly terms with the deceased; that Kerillo and Solieshi — two of such heirs— were in the city, and near at hand, at the time the deed was procured, and could have been easily called in; that the deceased, just pi’ior to the signing of the deed, asked for Kerillo, but the inquiry was ignored by Douglas; (6) that at the time the deceased signed the deed she was not indebted to, or under any obligation whatever to, Douglas, the grantee therein named; that the allegations in the answer of Douglas that he had advanced large sums of money to assist the deceased to purchase the real estate were untrue; that, if he had advanced money, it was a very small amount, and was by the deceased repaid to him many years ago; that the $500 mentioned in the deed as consideration was not paid to the deceased, and that at the time of obtaining the deed the defendants well knew that the deceased could live but a few days or weeks at the furthest; (J) that the defendants caused the deed so obtained to be recorded in the office of the register of deeds January 29, 1900; (8) that in the summer of 1899 the deceased made her will distributing her property among all her children except Mrs. Metz; that her direction as to how she desired her will drawn, was written by herself, and clearly shows how she desired to dispose of her property; that Douglas caused such will to be destroyed a few hours before the deed was drawn, January 29,1900; that notice of the pend-ency of this action was filed; that all the other material allegations of the complaint were fully proven and true.

And as conclusions of law the court found, in effect, that the plaintiffs were entitled to a judgment against the defendants vacating and setting aside the deed from the mother, Mary Shawvan, to the defendant Douglas Shawvcm, dated January 29, 1900, and recorded on that day, and ordered judgment to be entered accordingly, together with the costs and disbursements of this action, to be taxed against the defendants. Erom the judgment entered thereon accordingly the defendant Douglas Shawvam, brings this appeal.

Are the findings sustained by the evidence ? It appears that the deceased had been a widow for more than twenty-seven years. She had raised a family consisting of the six children mentioned. All of them, except Douglas, had families of their own. Kerillo had practiced law in Milwaukee for twenty-one years. Einard had been a lawyer for twenty-two years, and was located at Dennison, Iowa. Sobieski had resided in Janesville for eleven years, and was a traveling man. Oscar had resided in Belvidere, Illinois, for twenty years. • Mrs. Metz had for some time resided in Chicago. Douglas was unmarried. Eor some time prior to May, 1884, he had been in the employ of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway Company as a switchman and brakeman, and stationed at St. Paul. May 14,1884, he came from Elroy to Milwaukee, and a month afterwards went to Chicago, and entered the employment of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company, and continued in such employment until April, 1881; and since that time had been in the employment of the D. M. Perry Company as traveling agent. December 5, 1888, be bought a farm of bis brother Oscar, for which he was to pay $1,600. Between 1888 and 1893 he bought two tracts of land, the bank carrying him on a good deal of his paper. In the meantime the deceased — the mother of those children — had secured a homestead at the price and for the value found by the court. It was all the property she possessed, except a small amount of personal property. Some time prior to August 12, 1899, she conceived the purpose of making her will, and so wrote to her son Kerillo, requesting him to draw her will, and to bring it over at his leisure, and stating therein just how she wanted to dispose of her property, and to the effect that she had “ thought of it long, and considered it in all its bearings,” and then, after stating that she wanted to give certain articles of personal property named to Sobiesld, Rinard, and Douglas, respectively, she said: “ All the rest of my property I want sold and divided as follows: It shall be divided into six parts: one part to Sobiesld, one part to you, Kerly, one part to Rmard, one part to Douglas. Of the remaining two parts I want you, Kerly, to have one hundred dollars, and the balance of the two parts I want to go Oscar. In case either of the above-named should die before a final settlement of this instrument is completed, the part which would have been theirs I wish divided equally with those that are living. Mary Shawvan.” August 12, 1899, she wrote to Rmard to the effect that she had so far experienced a very unpleasant summer; that she had not raised a hoe in the garden since she planted in the spring; that she had got Kerillo to write up the way she wanted her little effects disposed of in case she left any behind her; that it was, as she thought, all right; that it suited her anyhow; that she thought “every one ought to do so when they are able;” that it would “ neither shorten nor prolong life.” It is conceded that she made her will as stated in her letter to Kerillo, thus distributing her property to her children in substantially equal parts, except that sbe left out her daughter, aud gave Oscar nearly double any of the others. In October, 1899, she was taken sick. She was then living alone at her home in Milwaukee. She wrote to her son Rvna/rd in Iowa, and he came; and in the last of October he took her to the home of his brother Sobieski, in Janesville, where she remained until January 25,1900. During that time she gradually grew worse. December 20, 1899, she again wrote to Rmard, to the effect that she experienced no particular gain; that the family had been very kind, and done all they could for her, but that eight weeks were long enough; that So-bieski, who was a traveling man, had been home only two days, but would be there for Christmas; that Douglas would finish work in the South, and would be there about January 12, 1900, and then she would go home with him. Douglas did not get to Janesville until January 17, 1900, and he •claims that his mother proposed to deed to him the house •and lot if he would promise to quit work, and remain with her, and take care of her. Sobieski was then absent from home, traveling. The next day after Douglas so reached Janesville, he wrote his brother Kerillo a letter as follows:

“Janesville, "Wisconsin, 1-18, 1900.

“AT. SJmvrocm, Deas Bro. :

“ Mother is very low. The doctor tells me she may pass •off at any time. But, to save her, she should be moved. This noise will kill her. Now be here (Sunday) sure. I will not work any more this year if I can get her home. The doctor says she can be moved all O. K. with no more danger of losing her life than one heavy noise. Now, in the name of humanity, come, and help me get her home, and I will stay there and care for her. Your Bro. Douglas.

one Jenow I wrote.”

On the same day he wrote his brother Rmard this letter:

“ Janesville, Wis., Jan. 18th, 1900.

Mr. R. Shcmvan, Dermison, Iowa.

“Dear BeotheR: I got here yesterday after the doctor had left. To-day he came at noon, and has just left. The conditions are this: Mother has dropsy. It started in her feet, and has gone upwards, until now it is about the hips, and may cause death at any time. It is your duty to come here now. Come prepared to stay for lour or live days. There are many things 1 cannot write. This is or should be enough. Come and come at once.

“Tour Bro. D. ShawvaN.”

Four days afterwards the deceased wrote to Rina/rd as follows:

“ Have been and am still very sick. Got a good Dr., who says in a few day I can be removed to Milwaukee, which I am terribly anxious to do. Now, I’ll wire you when he says I can go. Will you come and help remove me ? Dud is here taking care of me, and must go to Milwaukee before long, and, in order to have proper care, I will go with him; but it will not be until I get Dr.’s consent. I am not intending to talk this to Bede's family. Please write if you will be at liberty to help. Dr. says he hopes in three or four days I will be able to go.”

Three days after that, being Thursday, January 25,1900, she was taken to her home in Milwaukee by Douglas.

Oscar testified to the effect: That Saturday, January 27, 1900, he came from Belvidere to his mother’s house. That the next day (Sunday) Douglas introduced the subject of getting the deed from his mother. That a good deal transpired between himself and Douglas in respect to the matter. That he (Oscar) was to help Douglas get the deed, for which he was to receive $500. That the first step was to get the will which Kerillo had drawn the August before. That Douglas wanted to get the will to destroy it. That for that purpose he (Oscar) went to Kerillo’s house that evening about eight o’clock to get the will. That Kerillo promised to come over to his mother’s house that evening, and did, but did not bring the will. That the next morning (Monday) Douglas, in order to get the will, talked to his mother in regard to it, and said to her in Oscar's presence: “ I am going to quit the ranch. I can’t stay any longer. I am throwing away my time. The rest will come here and get this property, divide it up, and I won’t have anything in it. I am not goi ng to stay.” That Douglas then got ready to go, and his mother ashed him {Oscar) what to do; and he told her to “ give him the deed, that is the only way you can do.” That the agreement between him and Douglas was that Dou,glas was to pay him $500, and that he had already received from him $210.

Kerillo testified to the effect that when Oscar came to his house for the will on Sunday evening his older brother, So-hieski, was there; that Oscar said that his mother wanted him to bring the will over; that he got there about half past nine; that Douglas asked him if he had the will, and he said “ No; ” that Douglas swore at him because he did not bring it; that he requested the privilege of speaking to his mother privately, but Douglas refused to leave the room, and became boisterous and more or less profane about it; that he asked his mother if she wanted to change her will, as he had brought paper with him; that she then expressed a desire to see her will, and he then promised to bring it to her the next morning, and did about ten o’clock; that, as he went in, Douglas asked him if he had the will, and when he told him that he had he said he wanted it; that he told him he could not have it, as it was his mother’s will, and thereupon gave it to his mother, and requested' Douglas and Osca/r to leave the room, and allow him to speak to his mother privately, which Douglas declined to do, with profanity ; that he then asked his mother if he should let Douglas take the will, and she said “Yes;” that Douglas then took the will, and read it partly through, and then said it should be destroyed; that he then told him he must not destroy his mother’s will, and handed it back, and he placed it in his mother’s lap, and she tore it partly through, and told them to burn it, and Oscar took it out of the room. Rudzinski, a notary public, testified to the effect: That Oscar came for him to draw the deed from his mother to Douglas. That when he came in Douglas said to his mother r “ This is Mr. Rudzinski. He is to draw the deed.” She said* “ Where is Kerly ? ” Douglas said, “We don’t need Kerly. We brought Mr. Rudzinski because you know him, and you claim more confidence in him than any stranger.” She said, “ I thought Kerly was coming.” He said, “ We don’t need Kerly.” That he then drew the deed, and it was executed by the deceased. That when they got through he heard .footsteps coming on the side of the house, and Douglas said: “Hurry up. Get out of the room. We will have trouble with Kerly; ” and they went out.

SohiesJd testified to the effect that he called at his mother’s house a little before noon on that same Monday, January 29, 1900; that Douglas and Oscar were there, and the doctor was fixing his mother’s limb; that he started to go-in to see it; that Douglas shut the door, and said, “You keep out; ” that he protested, and that Douglas became very abusive and profane, and his mother said twice, “Don’t, boys,” and so he bid his mother good-by, and left. Mrs. Metz testified to the effect that she went to her mother’s house February 2, 1900, and found Douglas and Oscar there; that. Douglas refused to allow her to go in to see her mother, and said that her mother did not wish to see her; that she told him she had come to take care of her mother, but he said they did not need any assistance; that she finally was allowed to see her, and talk with her, but was not allowed to care for her, except that, after her mother requested it, she was allowed to bathe her mother’s hands and face. February 2, 1900, and four days after the execution of the deed, Douglas sent this telegram to Dinard: “ Mother dying. If you want to see her alive, come.” Five days afterwards she died.

The transaction of destroying the will and obtaining the deed was not only bold, but disgraceful. The will was made with thought and deliberation, and expressed the mother’s desire in respect to the distribution of her property among her children. There is no evidence of any change of her feelings or judgment in respect to any of her children after the making of her will. Nine days before her death her helpless and impaired condition was such that she could no longer withstand the threats and artifice of Douglas and the persuasion of Oscar, who had his price; and, with the other children barred from her presence, she was compelled to yield to the dominating influence of her two sons. Such a transaction cannot have the sanction of law. Will of Slinger, 72 Wis. 35; Disch v. Timm, 101 Wis. 191, 192, and cases there cited. The evidence seems to be sufficient to support the findings that the deed was procured by fraud and undue influence.

By the Court.— The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.