37 Md. 567 | Md. | 1873
Lead Opinion
delivered the opinion of the Court.
■ Isaac Tyson, Jr., died on thé 23d November, 1861,and on the 29th of the same month, his will, bearing date the 7th of January, 1860, and three codicils attached thereto, dated respectively April 12th, 1860, January 15th, 1861, and May 9th, 1861, were .admitted to probate in the Orphans’ Court of Baltimore city.
On the 5th of June, 1871, nearly ten. years afterwards, the appellants, infant grandchildren of the testator, and children of his son, Isaac Tyson, 3rd, filed a petition in said Orphans’ Court, alleging among other things, that the codicils of April 12th, 1860, and January 15th, 1861,
1st. Whether said codicils were executed by said Isaac Tyson, Jr., when he was of sound and diposing mind, and capable of executing a valid deed or contract?
2d. Whether they were executed under the influence of suggestions, importunities, or misrepresentations, when his mind from its diseased or enfeebled state was unable to resist the same ?
3d. Whether they were procured by undue influence, fraudulent devices, importunities and deceits, practised upon the testator, which under the circumstances did not leave him free in the disposition of his estate?
4th. Whether at any time subsequent to the execution of said codicils, the testator was desirous of altering the same, and was prevented therefrom by management, fraud, and undue influence or importunities ?
At the trial below, the Court, upon the request of the defendants, instructed the jury that the plaintiffs had offered no evidence to warrant them in finding any of the issues in their favor, to the granting of which, and to the rejection of the several prayers offered by the plaintiffs, they excepted.
We do not. propose to review the many cases in which the question as to the legal sufficiency of evidence has been considered by this Court.
It is sufficient to say, they all hold the rule of law to be, that whenever the evidence offered is of such a character that no rational mind could infer the fact sought to be established by it, it is the duty of the Court, upon application, to instruct the jury, there is no evidence before them legally sufficient to warrant their finding the fact so attempted to be proved. Davis vs. Davis, 7 H. & J., 39; Cole vs. Hebb, 7 G. & J., 20; Harbeck vs. Hill,
The question then in this case, is whether, assuming all the evidence offered by the plaintiffs to be true, and adding thereto every inference which may be fairly and legitimately drawn therefrom, it was sufficient to warrant the jury, in the exercise of a reasonable intelligence to find any of the issues in favor of the plaintiffs? These issues involved testamentary capacity, fraud and undue influence.
As to the first, “the written law of this State, furnishes the rule, by which the capacity of a testator is to be measured.; and the inquiry must always be whether, at the time of executing or acknowledging the will and testament, he was capable of executing a valid deed or contract?” Davis vs. Calvert, 5 G. & J., 300; Code, Art. 93, sect. 300.
In regard to undue influence, it is equally well settled, that in order-to invalidate a will on this ground, it must he siich as deprives the testator of his free agency and subordinates his will 1o that of another, thus making the testamentary act not the will of the testator, hut that of the person exercising the dominion or control over him. Davis vs. Calvert, 5 G. & J., 302; Witman and wife vs. Goodhand, 26 Md., 95; Lovett vs. Lovett, 1 Fos. & Fin., 581; Earl of Sefton vs. Hopwood, 1 Fos. & Fin., 578; Stulz vs. Schaeffle, 18 E. L. and Eq. 576; Williams vs. Goode, 1 Hagg., 577, 3 Eng. Eccl., Rep., 254.
To sustain the issues then on the part of the caveators, it was incumbent upon them to offer reasonable evidence to show, that the testator was not of a sound and disposing mind and capable of executing a valid deed or contract at the time of the execution of the codicils of the 12th of April, 1860, and the 15th of January, 1861; or that they were executed by him against his will, in obedience to a dominion or control exercised over him, and which he was unable to resist.
1st. Because in cases of gifts or contracts inter vivos, the party benefited takes part in the transaction and whether he unduly urges his influence or not, in calling upon him to explain the part he took, and the circumstances under which the gift or contract was made, the Court is requiring him to make an explanation within his knowledge, but in the ease of a will, the legatee or devisee may have no knowledge of the act, and to cast upon him the burden of. showing how or under what circumstances the will was made, would he in most eases to cast upon him a duty he could not possibly discharge.
Secondly. Because the influence which is undue in cases of gifts “ inter vivos,” is very different from that which is required to set aside a will. In the former the natural, influence which such relations as those in question involve, is considered undue, provided it is exerted to obtain a benefit for themselves, whefeas in the ease of a will the influence which the law condem ns as unlawful, must he such as amounts to force and coercion, destroying the free agency of the testator.
But whether the doctrine of confidential relations applies to wills executed by parties standing in the relation of guardian and ward, client and attorney is a question not necessary to he decided here, for we think it is
We are of opinion therefore, the burden of proof both in regard to want of testamentary capacity and to the exercise of undue influence was upon the caveators.
If so, let us see whether there is any evidence, either upon the facé of the codicils, themselves, or the circumstances surrounding the execution of the same, the value and extent of the estate of the testator, the relative situation of the devisees and the testator, and the terms upon which he stood to them, from which a jury, in the exercise of a reasonable intelligence, could have found any of the issues in favor of the plaintiffs.
We find by the will of January, 1860, the testator bequeaths to each of bis three sons, Richard, James and Jesse, the sum of $25,000, and a like sum in trust for his son Isaac, the father of the plaintiffs, the income thereof to be paid to him for life, and upon his death, the whole sum to go to his children.
The residuum of his estate, he divides into five equal parts, and directs that Richard, James and Jesse, shall receive absolutely one half part of the equal share thus set apart for each, and the remaining half to be held in trust for them under certain limitations therein prescribed. The whole fifth share to Isaac, he directs to be held in .trust, the income thereof to be paid to him during life, and upon his death to go to his children, subject to an annuity of $1,200 to be paid to his wife during- her widowhood. This will is conceded to be in all respects a valid testamentary paper.
By the codicil of April 12th, 1860, he revokes so much of his will as provides for the payment of the whole income arising from the one-fifth equal share devised in trust for Isaac, and in lieu thereof directs the trustees to pay to him only so much thereof, as they may in their judgment u deem proper in view of all the circumstances.”
By the codicil of January 15th, 1801, the provisions both in the will of January 7th, and the codicil of April 12th in favor of Isaac and his family, are revoked, and the testator bequeaths to his executors in trust, the sum of fifty thousand dollars, the income arising therefrom to be applied by them in their discretion to the maintenance of Isaac and his family and the education of his children. He then adds:
“In the bequest hero made by me, I have had regard to an estimate, according to my best judgment, of what my estate will probably authorize to be paid, having a due regard to the other members of my family. But inasmuch as it may so happen that such a division would not accomplish my wishes in this connection, and whereas my executors are fully informed of my will in this respect, I hereby authorize them to diminish, at their pleasure, the above sum of fifty thousand dollars during the life time of the said Isaac Tyson, 3d, so as not to reduce it below twenty-five thousand dollars,” &c.
In addition to the will and codicils thus offered in evidence by the caveators, they proved by G-. W. Norris, that for some years before his death, the testator suffered from palsy, was in a feeble state of health, was disposed to take a gloomy view of the value of his estate, and assigned as a reason, that he feared the discovery of chrome in Europe would impair the value of his interest in chrome land, and expressed an apprehension he might not be able to provide sufficiently for his family. About six years before his death, noticed a tendency to fall asleep during conversation on matters of importance to
He was the most affectionate of parents — spoke of his affection for Isaac’s children, and seemed to be more interested in them on account of their father’s habits which were known to him. at that time.
They also proved by Fanny H. Tyson, mother of the plaintiffs that she was married to Isaac in 1854; went to Rosemont, Virginia, to live ; left there because her husband was sent to sea; that the testator expressed doubts as to the propriety of Isaac’s going to sea, spoke of his feeble health, that it hung on such a thread that he did not know whether he should ever see him again. He referred to the misunderstanding between witness and the appellees, and how much he regretted it; .and spoke of his devotion to the children of witness; that he felt the same towards us as to his other children and grandchildren.
That in December 1859, she came to Baltimore to live, and soon afterwards all friendly relations between h.er and her husband’s family except the testator were interrupted, growing out of certain reports set afloat by a person boarding at the same house with witness. That she never visited the testator’s house after April 1860, and from that time received but one visit from him, during which, he expressed affection for witness, solicitude for Isaac and love for the children. Said he was sorry “he had seen so little of us; that he felt near and dear to us and especially to Isaa.c.” On leaving, told her he
That after the death of the testator, friendly relations with the appellees were renewed, they were kind, affectionate and generous in their manner. They alluded to the causes which had interrupted their friendly intercourse, and said they did not believe the stories about witness. Made her handsome presents, and allowed them, as she understood from her husband, between $7,000 and $9,000 a year.
They also proved by Doctor Gittings that he was called to attend the testator at his farm Olney, in Harford County, in the summer of 1861, and found him suffering from an attack of cholera morbus. His general health was feeble, seemed to be affected with softening of the posterior part of the brain, which affected his power of control over his muscles to a marked degree; trembled and had great difficulty of articulation. Visited him as many as thirty times, but saw nothing in his conversation with testator which induced witness to suppose that his mind was impaired in such a way as to render him {incompetent to make a will. The effect of his disease on the nerves and muscles need not have affected his mental powers, and with his then knowledge of the testator, would have attested his will.
They also proved, the testator died possessed of a large estate, consisting of lands, mines, mining privileges and personal property valued at a million of dollars.
In support of the allegations of fraud and undue influence, they offered in addition to the aforegoing facts, evidence to show the intimate and confidential relations existing between the testator and the appellees — that they were engaged with him in business, had opportunities of knowing the value and condition of his estate, and carried on the correspondence in regard to Isaac and his family.
In regard to the allegation, of fraud and undue influence, there is not a particle of evidence to show the appellees ever advised, persuaded or even spolce to the testator about his will, or had any hand whatever in the execution of these codicils, much less that they were executed by him against his own will, in pursuance of a dominion exercised over him by these appellees, such as he was unable to resist.
But the argument is, that the evidence thus offered, shows the testator intended to make an equal distribution of his property among his children, and feared lest a bequest of fifty thousand dollars in trust for Isaac, might defeat that purpose; and it is contended that the evidence was sufficient to prove one or the other of the two following propositions:
1st. That the testator did not possess a rational knowledge of the amount and condition of his estate, and was destitute of the first element of capacity to deal with it by contract or will.
This argument, however, cannot apply to the codicil of April 12th, for it did not aifect the equality of distribution made by the will, but only authorized the trustees to withhold from Isaac during his life so much of the income of his fifth part as they might deem proper, the excess, if any, to be invested for his children, the caveators. There is no doubt the testator at this time intended to make an equal distribution of his property among his children, as he had said to Mr. Norris in the year previous, he should do, the only discrimination being that those who “knew how to take care of it he would leave free, and those who did not ho would leave in trust.” This intention is declared in express terms, both bf the will and codicil of April 12th.
But it is equally clear, that at the time of the execution of the codicil of January 15th, 1861, this purpose no longer existed. We may not be able to state with certainty all the causes which led to this change in regard to Isaac and ¡lis family. It is evident, however, from the codicil of April 12th, that some intervening circumstances had increased the testator’s distrust of the fitness of Isaac and his wife to use properly the income provided for them by the will of January 7th. The habits of Isaac subsequent to this time, tended not only to increase this distrust, but taken in connection with the relations existing between his wife and the family of the testator, furnish, we think, a reasonable explanation of the causes operating upon the mind of the testator at the time of the execution of the codicil of January 15th, and which induced him to make a more limited provision for Isaac and his family.
As far back as 1854 Isaac was intemperate in his habits, although as late as 1859, his father, says Mr. Norris, still
Having bequeathed fifty thousand dollars in trust for Isaac, upon an estimate of the value of his' property at that time, and for fear that this sum might affect the portions intended for the other members of his family, he authorizes his executors upon contingencies not expressed, but known as he says to them, to reduce the said bequest to a sum not less than twenty-five thousand dollars. What was the contingency upon the happening of which the executors were authorized to exercise this power, it is impossible for us to say. It was suggested in argument that this codicil was executed on the verge of the late civil war. The letters written by the testator to his European correspondents about the time of its execution, show how fully he shared the fears and anxieties of all thoughtful men in regard to the then impending political troubles. In the event of war, no human sagacity could foresee its effects upon the value of property, and especially upon mines and mining privileges, in this a border State. But whether or not this was the contingency contemplated by the testator, the caveators have entirely failed to show he did not possess a rational knowledge of the amount and condition of his estate, and was therefore incompetent to deal with it by contract or will. On the contrary, they prove he was of sound inind, and a man of uncommon business sagacity.
So, we say, admitting all the evidence offered on the part of the caveators to be true, and adding thereto every legitimate inference, it was not sufficient to warrant the jury, in the exercise of a reasonable intelligence, in finding any of the issues in favor of the plaintiff's. Not only is there an entire failure of evidence on their part, but the proof on the part of the defendants is perfectly conclusive on all the issues.
Mr. G-alloway Cheston had known him for many years ; had repeated interviews with him as late as May, 1861; saw him in his counting room in April. 1861, his mind was perfectly clear, he was as rational as he ever had been, and even in business matters in which his sons were equally interested, his was the master mind. He was eminently a sagacious man, whose opinion he would have taken upon any monetary question.
Mr. Francis T. King says, he was an intimate friend of the testator, and their intercourse was frequent and familiar. So late as the spring of 1861, in conversing about matters of business, investment of money, purchase of property, and about making his will, he never discovered the least impairment of his mind. He was a man of culture, of reading, of determination, of great self-government, and thought and acted on all questions for himself. These characteristics remained with him to the end of his life.
Then they prove by Thomas W. Webster that he was clerk to the testator from early in 1861 to the time of his death; that the testator was in the habit of coming to the office regularly until the latter part of June, 1861, when he
Entertaining these views it is unnecessary to consider whether the subsequent codicil of May 9th, 1861, and which- was not caveated, operated as an alteration, adoption and republication of the will of January 9th, 1860, and of the codicils of April 12th, 1860, and January 15th, 1861.
Rulings affirmed.
Dissenting Opinion
delivered the following dissenting opinion :
The last will and codicils of Isaac Tyson, Jr., were probated in common form, in the Orphans’ Court of Baltimore City, on the 29th of November, 1861, by his executors, James and Jesse Tyson, and the petition of the appellants, caveating the codicils of the 12th of April, 1860, and the 15th of January, 1861,'was filed the 5th June, 1871.
On the 28th of August, 1871, plenary proceedings having been instituted by the appellants, the Orphans’ Court directed several issues to be sent for trial, to the Superior Court of Baltimore.
These issues presented substantially the questions whether the papers dated the 12th of April, 1860, and 15th January, 1861, respectively, purporting to be codi
At the trial in the Superior Court, a verdict was found for the defendants, alter a series of prayers submitted respectively by the caveators, and caveatees ; those of the former being refused, and those of the latter granted ; to which action of the Court below the appellants excepted and prayed an appeal. The instructions granted at the instance of the appellees, among other propositions declared, that there was no evidence in the cause, that the testator executed the paper writings of the 12th of April, 1860, and of the 15th of January, 1861, purporting to be codicils to his last will and testament, under the influence of suggestions, importunities, or misrepresentations, when his mind from its enfeebled state, was unable to resist the same, and that the jury must find for the defendants on the second and fifth issues.
That there was no evidence in the cause, that the said paper writings were procured by undue influence, fraudulent devices, importunities, misrepresentations and deceits, practised upon the testator, which under the circumstances, did not leave him free in the disposition of his estate, and that the jury must find for the defendants on the third and sixth issues.
Among the propositions submitted by the appellants and rejected by the Court were the following:
1. If the 'jury should find from the evidence, that in executing the codicil of the 15th January, 1861, the testator was influenced by an estimate of his estate, such as no rational mind would have made in view of the actual value of his estate, as shown by the evidence, the jury might find that he did not at the date of said codicil possess testamentary capacity, and so finding, their verdict should be for the caveators on the fourth issue, not
2. If the jury believed the alleged codicil of the 15th of January 1861, was executed by the testator under the influence of an estimate of his estate, and at that time,, and before, by reason of age and infirmities was unable to manage his property without the assistance of his executors, who in consequence of his debility, had been entrusted with the management of his estate, so as to enable them to know its real amount and value; and the testator so confided in them, that at the time of executing the said codicil, they possessed influence over him, and that the estimate of his estate, under the influence of which he executed said codicil, was false and inconsistent with its actual value, and the said executors derived advantage from the execution of the said codicil, and were aware that the testator in making the codicil was influenced by such false estimate, then, unless the jury believed the said executors informed the testator, the said estimate was erroneous, the jury might find the said codicil was obtained by fraud, notwithstanding they might believe the testator was of sound mind and capable of making a valid deed or contract-. And in ascertaining whether the testator was influenced to make said codicil by a false estimate of the value of his estate, the'jury might consider the original will and the first and second codicils, in connection with the other testimony in the case.
. 3. If the jury believed that the testator was induced to make the codicil of the 12th of April, 1860, by belief in
5. That there was evidence on the face of the codicil of January 15th, 1861, from which the jury might find, that the executors at the time of its execution, were aware the testator made the same on the basis of an estimate of his estate, and that the said estimate, and the effect which it would have upon the disposition of the estate oí' the testator, by the codicil, was also known to the executors at the time of its execution.
The last prayer was rejected “as unnecessary to be passed upon by the Court, seeing that the Court has already determined by the granting of the caveatees’ prayers, that there is no sufficient evidence upon which they can find for the plaintiffs — the caveators. A synopsis of the evidence offered by the caveators to support the issues, on their part, is necessary to enable us to judge of the correctness of the propositions submitted in their prayers and of the propriety of the action of the Court, in rejecting them and granting the instructions given by it, in favor of the caveatees. The evidence embodied in the bills of exceptions consists of written documents, letters, and oral testimony, too voluminous to be repeated, but its substance will be condensed as far as practicable in illustration of these views. Evidence was offered by the caveators, tending to prove that the testator was a gentleman far advanced in age, as far back as 1856 or 1857, in very bad health, tremulous, and palsied ; in consequence
His estate at the date of his will, 7th January, 1860, was worth nearly $800,000.
His family consisted of a wife, a daughter jind four sons, Jesse Tyson, Isaac Tyson, called Isaac the 3d, James W. Tyson and Richard W. Tyson.
Isaac Tyson the 3d, was married and had two children living at the death of the testator.
In a conversation in 1859, with a witness.'he said that he thought that such of his children as knew how to take care of their property, he would leave them their part free, but that the others he would leave in trust, and that nothing could induce him to make any other difference between his children ; that he did not think a parent had any right to make any other distribution than this between his children ; that, testator was the most affectionate of parents.
At this time, the habits of Isaac Tyson, the 3d, were bad. His father seemed to have more affection for him than for any other of his children.
He knew his habits when he stated his views of his duty to his children, and the habits had at that time been for some years as bad as they could be. He spoke of his affection for Isaac’s children and seemed to be more interested in them on account of the father’s habits.
Isaac Tyson, the 3d, had .become deeply embarrassed from improvidence or other causes. His family and himself were supported by his father. His household establishment in Virginia was broken up; he was induced to go t,o sea, (according to the evidence of the caveators) by the influence of his mother and brothers, against the wishes and advice of his father, and his wife arid children boarded in Baltimore.
In this state of affairs, the testator, shortly before the date of his will, (the 7th of January, I860,) called on his
He said be wanted-a shorter and less technical will, and witness accordingly drew a shorter paper in more familiar language. The testator’s counsel testified that the testator had frequently talked to him of' making a new will, but had done nothing towards carrying that purpose into effect, until he came to the office of the witness, bringing with him a draft of the will made by Mr. Talbott. He objected to the technical language of that will; and witness therefore expressed the same ideas in his own language. There was no alteration in the substance.
The will of the 7th January, 1800, modelled on one previously-drawn by Mr. Talbott was then executed.
This will, after making provision for his wife, devised to his three sons, Richard, Jesse and James, as trustees, in trust for his daughter, Mrs. H. A. Morris, twenty-five thousand dollars. To his sons, Richard, Jesse and James, $25,000 each.
After reciting that he had been engaged in partnership with his son Jesse in carrying on chrome works, and investing his executors with discretionary powers to continue the same, providing compensation to them for such services, he devised to the trustees in fee the residuum of his estate to be divided into five equal parts, and held in trust as follows: one-fifth in trust for Mrs. Hannah A." Morris, for her sole and separate use; one-fifth in trust for Richard W. Tyson; one-fifth in trust for Jesse Tyson; one-fifth in trust for James W. Tyson ; one-fifth in trust for his son Isaac Tyson, the 3d, for life, he to take and receipt for the income thereof only, but without power of anticipation or involuntary alienation; should he die without child, children or descendants, the said one-fifth to go to the brothers and sister of Isaac; should he leave
About four months after the execution of the will,.without any ostensible reason or apparent change in the conduct or condition of the devisees, the codicil of the. 12th of April, I860, was executed.
This codicil revoked so much of the will as relates to the payments therein directed to be made to his son Isaac Tyson the 3d, and his wife, in the event of his dying before her, and directs the trustees to pay Isaac only so much of the income as in their judgment may he proper in vieio of all the circumstances, and instead of $1,200 to Ms wife, if she survived him, to pay her only such part oCs they may think proper; the excess of the income to be. held in trust for the benefit of Isaac, aad the excess of the allowance to his wife to be held in trust for the benefit of the children of said Isaac.
The Codicil of the 15th of January, 1861, was next executed.
It declares that its provisions in regard to his son Isaac Tyson the 3d, his wife and children, shall be substituted in lieu of the provisions made for them in his last will and testament,' which are thereby revoked and annulled. By this codicil the testator bequeathed $50,000 to his executors, etc., in trust, to be invested by them in their discretion,' in securities producing income, and held for the following purposes:
2dly. At the death of said Isaac, the sum of $50,000 shall be held by his executors in two sums of $40,000 and $10,000, respectively. So much of the income of the sum of $40,000, as may he allowed for the purpose by the Orphans’ Court of Baltimore city, to he paid to the guardian of the children of said Isaac, living at the time of his death, for their education a,nd maintenance; the surplus to he invested for the benefit of the children.
3dly. At the death of his son Isaac the income of the sum $10,000 to he paid to his widow, so long as she remains sole, and on her death or marriage, the principal to be added to the fund of $40,000, for the benefit of the children.
It was further provided, should Isaac survive his children, then on his death and that of his widow, the sums of $40,000 and $10,000 above devised, should become a part of the residuum of his estate, and divided as already provided, except that the residuum should be divided into four parts and not five, the codicil being intended to provide for his son Isaac, as aforesaid, “who under my original will was to receive a fifth part of the residuum.”
The codicil concludes with this remarkable clause: “In the bequest here made by me, I have had regard to an estimate, according to my best judgment, of what my estate will probably authorize to be paid, having a due regard to other members of my family. But inasmuch as it may so happen that such a division would not accomplish my wishes in this connection, and' whereas my executors are fully informed of my will in this respect, I hereby authorize them to diminish at their pleasure, the above sum of $50,000 during the lifetime of Isaac the 3d, so as not to reduce it below $25,000; and the above mentioned sum of $40,000, after his death, so as hot to reduce
The third and last codicil, dated the 9th of May, 1861, declares that, having by his will appointed certain duties to be performed by trustees, and being satisfied his will would be simplified by making the same persons executors and trustees, he directs that the executors named in his will, shall be also trustees, and invested with all the powers conferred on the trustees, his purpose being to concentrate-in his executors the powers and duties in his will and codicil divided between the executors and trustees.
The counsel of the deceased, who drafted the will and codicils, testified that when he prepared the codicil of the 15th January, 1861, the habits of Isaac Tyson, the son, were referred to by the testator as a reason for making that codicil. The consequences to. ensue from making it were never a subject of discussion. They never talked about the efiect the codicil would have on the children of his son Isaac.
It was further in evidence on the part of the appellants that Isaac Tyson, the 3d, was sent to sea in the year 1859, by the conjoint advice and influence of Jesse and James Tyson and their brother, contrary to the 'wishes of their father, and that the wife and children of Isaac Tyson the 3d, came to Baltimore, and were established at a boardinghouse ; that James and Jesse wanted the wife to go to the country-seat of their father, and occupy the overseer’s house, whilst their father wished her to occupy the farmhouse.
Soon after her arrival in Baltimore a misunderstanding arose between James and Jesse and their families, and the wife of Isaac the third, the mother of the appellants, in consequence of certain defamatory rumors uttered
The testator continued affectionate in his manner toward the wife of Isaac, and expressed his solicitude for her husband and her children.
During the residence of the wife of Isaac Tyson the 3d, at this boarding-house, her husband returned from sea, but did not visit her for sometime, and an attempt was made by one of the executors, and her husband, to take her children from her and carry them away.
During this estrangement between the sons and executors of the testator, and the wife of Isaac Tyson the 3d, the codicil of the 12th April, 1860, was executed, whereby the provisions-of the will giving annually to Isaac Tyson, the 3d, during his life, the whole amount of the profits accruing to him from his portion of the testator’s estate, and also to Fannie Tyson, wife of said Isaac, in the event of his death, twelve hundred dollars, as an annuity to be paid to her during her widowhood, was revoked, and the executors were directed to pay to Isaac Tyson the 3d, so much only of the income of his fifth part of the estate as in their judgment might be proper in view of all the circumstances, and in lieu of $1,200 to be paid to his wife, should she survive him, to pay to her, in their discretion only such part, if any thereof, as they might think proper.
An experienced physician, who visited the testator, in the summer of 1861 professionally, as many as thirty times, deposed that the testator’s general health was very feeble; he seemed to be affected with softening of the posterior part of the brain, which in his opinion was of some years standing. It was the strongest case of the kind the witness had ever seen; he had a history of the case from Dr. Norris, and knew that it had been coming on for several years.
The witness said he saw nothing in his conversations with the testator which would have induced him to suppose his mind was impaired in such a way as to render him incompetent to make a will'. The effect of his disease on the nerves and muscles need not have affected his mental powers.
“Being asked the hypothetical question, that if he had known at the time he saw him, that the testator was a very wealthy man, and that his estate was sufficient to-pay the sum of $50,000, without being seriously impaired, and that the testator’s estimate of its value was such as to make him apprehend that such a sum or a less one could not be paid from it to one of his children without endangering a due provision for the other four, would he have attested his will? The witness answered, no; he would have considered him crazy, and that he had not a reasonable knowledge and opinion as to his estate."
The appellants gave in evidence the list of debts returned by the executors 22d October, 1862, showing sperate debts to the amount of $459,801.40 ; doubtful debts, $40,182.65.
Among the debts in the schedule of the sperate, due by the children of the testator, were,
Jesse Tyson........................ $13,092.84.
Jas. W. Tyson..................... 132,505.77.
Jesse Tyson & Co................. 162,146.12.
Among the debts reported doubtful was
Isaac Tyson......................... $28,340.84.
The caveators, assuming they had shown by sufficient evidence that the testator, being of sound mind and memory, and capable of disposing of his estate by last will,
The prayers of the caveators presented the affirmative of these propositions, and those of the caveateesthe negative, with some particular exceptions; the general effect of the whole being as stated in the record that the Court determined by granting the caveatees’ prayers, that there was no sufficient evidence upon which the jury could find for the plaintiffs, the caveators.
The effect of these prayers was to withdraw the facts from the consideration of the jury, and submit to the Court the question, whether, conceding all that had been offered in evidence on the part of the caveators to be true, and all inferences reasonably deducible from them, they were sufficient in law to support any of the issues in favor of the caveators. In other words, the prayers were demurrers to the evidence, and subject to the same rules and limitations, and can only be proper where the demurrer to evidence would be. As to the latter, the following principles are established:
“ If the plaintiff or defendant give in evidence matter of record or parol evidence on which a doubt in law arises, the other side may demur to the evidence; othemvise if there be a doubt whether the fact be well proved, for the jury may find it on their own knowledge. 2 Stephens N. P. Tit. Evid., 1792; Buller N. P., 312, (a;) Coke Litt., 72, (a.)
“In Wright vs. Pindar, Aleyn. 18, it was resolved, ‘that he that demurs upon the evidence ought to confess the whole matter of fact to be true, and not refer that to the judgment of the Court; and if the matter of fact be uncertainly alleged, or that it be doubtful, whether it-be true or no, because offered to be proved only by presumptions and probabilities, and the other party will demur thereupon, he that alleges this matter cannot join in
The books also agree that if parol evidence be offered, and the adverse party demur, he who offers the evidence may join in the demurrer if he will. But the language of the old books is very indistinct upon the question whether the party offering ¡the parol evidence shall be obliged to join in the demurrer. Tidd’s Prac., 866; Stephens’ N. P. supra.
On demurrer to circumstantial evidence the party offering the evidence is not obliged to join in demurrer, unless the party demurring will distinctly admit upon the record every fact and every conclusion which the evidence offered conduces to prove. Gibson vs. Hunter, 2 H. Black., 187; 6 Bro. P. C., 255, cited by Stephens.
“On the demurrer to evidence, the only question for the consideration of the Court is, whether the evidence given be such as ought to be left to the jury in support of the issues joined; and no objection can be made to the declaration or other pleadings in' that stage of the cause ; for the party ought to admit the whole effect of the evidence, and not merely the facts which compose it; so that, if it be only presumptive, he must distinctly admit every conclusion, which the jury might have drawn from it.” 2 Hen. Black., 187, cited in 2 Stephens’ N. P., 1793.
The jealous regard for the maxim of the common law, “ad questioned fa, di respondeant jur atores,” shown by the preceding authorities, upon demurrers to evidence, is indirectly, if not so emphatically expressed, in the decisions of this Court, as to the circumstances under which they feel authorized to withdraw the facts from the consideration of the jury, and the concessions to be made by the party asking the Court to declare the law upon the facts given in evidence.
In Cole vs. Hebb, 7 G. & J., 20, this Court referring to the same subject, define their duty thus:
“An issue is made up of one or many facts according to circumstances; and where the evidence does not establish all the facts, either directly or by rational deductions, as where there is a failure of evidence in respect of any. pne material, fact involved in the issue, in such case, the evidence is not legally sufficient to warrant the jury in finding the issue which it is offered to sustain, and it is the duty of the Court to instruct them accordingly.” .
In the earlier case of McElderry vs. Flannagan, the following propositions, were announced: “The jury alone are competent to decide on facts of which contradictory evidence may be offered. ' Before "the Court can legally give an absolute instruction to the jury on the prayer of one of the parties, they must admit the truth of the testimony offered by the other, and that also offered by the first, which may operate in his opponent’s favor, and the existence of all material facts which a rational mind can deduce therefrom, even though contradicted in every particular by the testimony of him who seeks the instruction. Upon no other principle can the cause be withdrawn from the consideration of the jury.” 1 H. & G., 308.
In Ferguson vs. Tucker, 2 H. & G., 183, the Court defines the power to instruct the jury in these very forcible terms: “The prerogative of the Court which authorizes them to withdraw from the jury, the consideration of the facts, is never exercised but in cases where the
The conditions on which Courts of law in this State,« exercise what is called their prerogative, to withdraw the facts from the consideration of the jury are, it would appear from the foregoing decisions, and many others that might be cited, the same that govern the Courts of England upon demurrers to evidence viz: Every fact, and every rational inference from the facts proved by the party offering the evidence, must be conceded to be true, without reference to the opposing testimony, and the evidence must be so light and inconclusive that nothing but licentious speculation could induce a jury to pronounce the verdict sought for.
We have seen that in England, where the issue is to be supported by circumstantial evidence or presumptions, the party offering the evidence could not be compelled to join in the demurrer to evidence, •
Because the demurrer would only lie where the facts were ascertained, or certain, or there was a fixed standard to be appealed to, to determine their sufficiency to establish the issue to be proved. The Court would not undertake to draw inferences from facts.
Erom the principles on which demurrers to evidence, or instructions to juries that the evidence is not sufficient, are founded, the fact or issue to be found, must be one of a certain defined character, the constituent elements of the proof of which, are established and defined by law. In the case of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore vs. Williams, speaking of a prayer asking the Court to instruct the jury that if they believed certain facts, then the deed was void for fraud, this Court said, “This prayer has been resisted, upon the ground that there is
Adverting to the issue of fraud, and the testimony necessary to support it, they thus announce the law. “ Fraud vitiates every thing with which it is connected. A will or testament obtained by fraud is void, and though fraud,is never to be presumed, yet it is not necessary to prove it by positive and direct testimony. But being usually wrapt up in mystery, if well concerted, it is generally by circumstances only, by inductions of particulars, some of them often apparently trivial, that it can be brought to light and defeated.. And in a question of fraud, any fact, no matter how slight, bearing at all on the point at issue, and not wholly irrelevant, may be admitted. But the circumstances when combined and considered by the jury, should be so strong as to satisfy them of
The remarks above cited, as their context implies, were made upon the rejection of certain items of evidence in the progress of the trial, but if the law requires every circumstance tending to prove the issue, however slight to be submitted to the jury, does it authorize the whole evidence, when collected, to be withdrawn from their consideration, by an instruction, in the nature of a demurrer to evidence, declaring there is no evidence to support issues, (involving an infinite variety of facts ánd inferences) but the jury mud find for one or the other of the parties to the cause ? What difference in effect, upon the right of trial by jury, is there between rejecting the evidence in mass, after the testimony has been closed, •and rejecting it in detail, as the trial progresses? The several items of evidence, could only have been admitted upon the presumption they tended to prove some of the issues joined, and when collected, they could not be of less weight. Their admission presupposes their competency in law ; their sufficiency in fact, is a question exclusively for the jury.
Conceding that where an issue is made up of one, or many facts, according to circumstances, and the evidence does not establish all the facts, either directly or by rational deductions, as where there is a failure of evidence in respect of any one of the material facts involved in the
The power can only be exercised, without infringing on the province of the jury, where the measure and quantity of proof are established by law.
Fraud and undue influence, are facts to be deduced from an infinite, undefined and undefinable variety of circumstances, which the Courts have refused to limit and prescribe, lest the ingenuity of evil, might assume other shapes to avoid the ban of the law, and escape its vigilance. The legal maxim “Dolus crescit in orbe” denotes its prevalence, and under whatever mask it may appear, its devices, however specious, are defeated.
This Court has recently in a series of much litigated cases on the subject of negligence laid down very clearly the principle which should control the Court, in my judgment, upon application, for instructions to the jury on the. legal effect of evidence.
In the case of the Balto. & Ohio R. R. vs. The State use of Dougherty, 36 Md., 377, the defendants endeavored to procure a prayer from the Court, instructing the jury what constituted negligence; the plaintiffs resisted the prayer on the ground that negligence was a fact for the consideration of the jury. Quoting from preceding decisions 21 Md., 275, 24 Md., 53, for the general proposition that what constitutes negligence was properly referred to the jury, they proceed: “Negligence, in a case like this, is not so much a question of law, as it is a question of fact, depending
“It is very true, negligence may in many cases become a question of law, to be determined by the Court, upon a given state of facts, either admitted or to be found by the jury.”
“It is not, however, the duty oí' the Court te draw inferences and make deductions from evidence. To do that falls within the well defined province of the jury, that Courts should ever be careful not to invade.” 29 Md., 420.
Fraud is not be considered as a single fact, but a conclusion to be drawn from all the circumstances of the case. Brogden vs. Walker, 2 H. & J., 285, per Hanson Ch.; 6 H. & J., 442; Davis vs. Calvert, 3 G. & J., 269,
A plea of fraud, at law or in equity, never sets out the facts and circumstances which constitute the fraud. A demurrer could not be filed to such a plea, because there is no legal standard of what amounts to fraud. For the same reason a demurrer to the evidence could not be sustained if there is a particle of testimony tending to prove it.
It may not be unworthy of consideration that the issues in this case, were sent from the Orphans’ Court, under a statutory provision, intended to secure to suitors in that Court, the right of trial by jury in all cases in which issues of fact arise.
The law never designed that the trial of facts should be transferred from the judges of the Orphans’ Court to the judges of the Courts oí' law, but to engraft upon the limited jurisdiction of the former, the trial by jury, that suitors might have the protection and benefit of that mode of ascertaining facts, and the Orphans’ Court be aided and assisted by the verdict.
Dissenting Opinion
delivered the following dissenting opinion:
In addition to the reasons urged by my brother Bowie, in his dissenting opinion, in which I fully concur, there are other considerations, which weigh with me, looking to the relative duties of the Court and jury ; and the right of litigants, under our system of jurisprudence, to claim as matter of strict law the benefit of a trial by jury.
Suggestions as to the feelings and prejudices of juries, and the supposed greater freedom from such influences on the part of the Court, have no application to the determination of- the question. Its solution is solely dependent upon its constitutional and legal bearing.
It is a maxim of the common law, that it is the province of the Court to determine questions of law in the "trial of causes, and of the jury to weigh and consider the import and bearing of facts. •
Under our present Constitution, the parties litigant may refer both duties to the Court, but without their mutual consent, neither party can be deprived of his right of trial by jury.
Some question had perplexed the Court as to the proper application of the relative duties of the Court and jury in criminal proceedings ; but that was set at rest by the constitutional provision that in criminal cases the jury were to be judges of the law as well as of the fact.
Under our testamentary system, issues may be framed, to be sent by the Orphans’ Court to a Court of law for trial by jury.
It is manifest that where issues of fact are involved, and the right of a party to a trial by jury is insisted upon ; to justify the Court in the exercise of its prerogative, in withdrawing the consideration of the evidence from the jury, when it is competent and admissible, and tends to establish the issue it seeks ; the case should be so barren of proof as to leave no room for doubt or hesitation upon the subject; and if, upon such facts, a jury uninstructed should find a verdict, the Court would instantaneously set it aside.
Without meaning to intimate what effect the testimony on the part of the caveators should have had upon the minds of .the jury, it certainly occurs to me that if it had been submitted to the jury, without instruction from the Court, and they had found for the caveators upon certain of the issues; it is not such a case, as would have authorized the Court upon that ground to have granted a new trial.
In Davis vs. Barney, 2 G. & J., 382, it is announced as the general rule, that where there is any legal admissible evidence, tending to prove the issue, the effect of that evidence is solely for the consideration of the jury.
The Court say, i£ there seems to be an impression that this Court has held the measure and quantity of proof to be a question of law, and the case of Davis vs. Davis, 7 H. & J., 36, is relied upon in support of such doctrine.”
££ We, by no means mean to shake the authority of that case, but think it has been misunderstood.”
<£ When there is no evidence applicable to the issue, or tending to prove any material fact, a total failure of evidence, the Court will direct the jury accordingly; and that we conceive to bo the doctrine of Davis vs. Davis.”
l£ The expressions used are intended to be applicable to the facts of that case ; and so applied they are not opposed
In Ferguson vs. Tucker, 2 H. &, G., 182, the same doctrine is reiterated; and it is emphatically stated that it by nojneans follows, even if the verdict would not be satisfactory to the minds of the Court, that they would feel themselves^authorized to withdraw from the jury the consideration of the facts — this prerogative of the Court is never exercised, but in cases where the evidence is so indefinite and unsatisfactory, that nothing but wild, irrational conjecture, or licentious speculation, could induce a jury to pronounce the verdict, which is sought at their hands ?
In the case of Cole vs. Hebb, 1 G. & J., 20, in which the antecedent cases are reviewed, and the doctrine of Davis vs. Barney, explained, the conclusion of the Court appears to have resulted in the announcement that evidence offered to a jury, has a two fold sufficiency — a sufficiency in law and á sufficiency in fact — its sufficiency in law is for the Court — its sufficiency in fact is a question exclusively for the jury — if, upon the ordinary principles of human judgment, a rational mind could draw from the proof the conclusions sought to be proved by it, then is its legal sufficiency established; and it must be submitted to the jury, who only are the judges of its sufficiency in point of fact.
“ Whether the testimony be weak or strong ; conclusive or inconclusive ; sufficient or insufficient, to prove the facts or warrant the inferences, for the establishment of which it was offered, are questions for the exclusive cognizance of the jury.”
As a fair and legitimate criterion of the relative duties of the Court and jury, in doubtful questions, as to the sufficiency of the proof in point of law; the Court further say, the testimony should never be withdrawn from the jury, whose province it is to decide upon its sufficiency in
In the case of Green vs. Ford, 35 Md., 82, recognizing the granting or witholding a new trial, as a fair and sensible test as to the nature of the proof and its sufficiency, the Court re-assert the principle, “that however unsatisfactory it may have appeared to the mind of the Court, yet if the jury could reasonably have reached a different conclusion, it should have heen considered by them ; the Court should not take the case from the consideration of the jury, unless the evidence is so trivial as to admit of no rational conclusion therefrom, applicable to the issue before them — if the Court would have refused a new trial, under such circumstances, it ought not to take the case from the consideration of the jury, upon the ground that no sufficient evidence had been introduced.”
Certainly if the question is one of doubt, the Court should not hesitate to refer the facts to the jury.
The danger and difficulty in deciding upon the sufficiency of evidence as a matter of law, is that the province of the jury may be invaded, and the rights of litigants unjustly affected.
The tendency of all bodies now-a-days, it seems to me, is too much in the direction of the extension of their own powers; however conservative theirfinclinations ; and this Court as the high and judicial resort in the State, should be careful, as I am sure it is, to guard against encroachment upon the province and rights of others.
Although the question now involved has been repeatedly discussed, and much perplexity in the abstract, has been the result; yet it will be found, by reference to all the cases, that rarely has the prerogative of the Court been exercised; and according to my judgment this case
