| Wis. | Apr 8, 1913
Lead Opinion
As often, and not too often, said, tbe testamentary right is one of tbe most important of tbe inherent incidents of human existence. It has been so regarded since tbe dawn of civilization. As an eminent text-writer put tbe matter, “It has been held sacred by all nations and under all conditionsand, we may add, it has in no time or place or condition been more significantly upheld than during tbe period of development in tbe countries blessed with, and characterized by civic growth, promoted by, principles of tbe common law. It is not a mere privilege which legislatures can directly or unreasonably regulate to destroy. It is not an incident of tbe possession of property which courts can deal with in any spirit of mere discretion. It is a right, absolute, which every person of mature mind and disposing memory may exercise, subject to some regulations to prevent abuse of it and to safeguard it, as be sees fit. Filial expectancy of profiting by inheritance, is proper. Eeasonable indulgence in it is natural and judicial conservation of tbe free exercise of volition to satisfy it, is demanded; but, in a very high de
The foregoing observations are deemed proper as pointing, in general, the attitude with which trial courts, and all courts, should consider a question presented as to whether a will, made with all the formalities prescribed by law to safeguard and evidence the free exercise of the testamentary right, especially where testamentary capacity is either not disputed or not successfully impeached, shall be judicially enforced as the real wish of the testator or suppressed as a fraudulent production; a creation of the volition of another, wrongly imposed upon the testator so as to give it the cast of the latter’s considerate effort. It is not infrequent that there is evidence in a trial record that the particular situation dealt with yras measured with rather an exaggerated idea of the rights of disappointed relatives, partially or wholly eclipsing the real right to be protected above all. Vance v. Davis, supra; Will of Rice, 150 Wis. 401" court="Wis." date_filed="1912-10-08" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/cowie-v-strohmeyer-8190650?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8190650">150 Wis. 401, 136 N. W. 956, 137 N. W. 778; Loennecker’s Will, 112 Wis. 461" court="Wis." date_filed="1901-12-17" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/consaul-v-loennecker-8187155?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8187155">112 Wis. 461, 88 N. W. 215; In re Butler’s Will, 110 Wis. 70" court="Wis." date_filed="1901-04-09" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/in-re-will-8186939?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8186939">110 Wis. 70, 85 N. W. 678; Will of Dardis, 135 Wis. 457" court="Wis." date_filed="1908-05-08" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/will-on-dardis-8189174?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8189174">135 Wis. 457, 115 N. W. 332.
The sole question in a will contest is, Does the purported will legally express the testator’s dying wish ? ITis right, not that of any survivor, is the dominant thing. The will may be very unlike what it would seem, from a moral standpoint, it ought to be, yet if it lawfully expresses the testator’s dying
“Breaking a will is very much like making one,” imposing on the testator a rule for the distribution of his estate “against his solemn wish in dying.” “Every one should have power to dispose by will, after his death, in accordance with, his own wishes, of whatever he may leave behind him in his own sole right, as he had in life to dispose of it by contract or gift. And it is as much the duty of courts to uphold his will after death, as to uphold and enforce his contracts made during life.”
It is not intended by the foregoing observations to suggest that there was any want of familiarity by the learned trial court in disposing of this case with the salutary principle expressed and so often illustrated in the opinions of this and other courts; or that there was any purpose to unmake the will of Mr. Ball and remake it along the lines of a statutory distribution, — thought to be more considerate, under the circumstances, of the moral claims of his children. The effect of the logic which led to the result complained of is the paramount question.
There are many evidentiary conclusions leading to the vital matter of fact in issue. It is contended by appellant that such evidentiary circumstances are, in some cases, without any evidence to support them, in others, contrary to the clear preponderance of the evidence, and, in others, in conflict with direct and circumstantial proof showing the contrary, and, that, in any event, the final inference of fact is wholly unwarranted. That is a severe arraignment of the findings and calls for pretty close examination of the record.
Before taking up, in detail, the numerous complaints as to the findings, it seems best to advert to some well séttled principles of law applicable thereto.
It must be appreciated that the alleged wrong sounds in fraud. Small v. Champeny, 102 Wis. 61" court="Wis." date_filed="1899-01-31" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/small-v-champeny-8186162?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8186162">102 Wis. 61, 68, 78 N. W. 407; Vance v. Davis, 118 Wis. 548" court="Wis." date_filed="1903-07-03" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/vance-v-davis-8187690?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8187690">118 Wis. 548, 95 N. W. 939; Loennecker’s Will, 112 Wis. 461" court="Wis." date_filed="1901-12-17" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/consaul-v-loennecker-8187155?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8187155">112 Wis. 461, 88 N. W. 215; Winn v. Itzel, 125 Wis. 19" court="Wis." date_filed="1905-05-02" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/winn-v-itzel-8188210?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8188210">125 Wis. 19, 103 N. W. 220; Gordon v. Burris, 153 Mo. 223" court="Mo." date_filed="1899-12-22" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/gordon-v-burris-8013397?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8013397">153 Mo. 223, 54 S. W. 546; Grove v. Spiker, 72 Md. 300" court="Md." date_filed="1890-06-18" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/grove-v-spiker-7898110?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="7898110">72 Md. 300, 20 Atl. 144; Mackall v. Mackall, 135 U.S. 167" court="SCOTUS" date_filed="1890-04-21" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/mackall-v-mackall-92769?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="92769">135 U. S. 167, 10 Sup. Ct. 705. Terms of apparently double meaning will be found used in respect to the '.subject, such as “fraud and undue influence;” “fraud or undue influence,” in connection with suggestions that the terms “fraud” and “undue influence” are not technically synonymous, though if there be any difference it is, probably, that between actual and constructive fraud.
In Will of Slinger, 72 Wis. 22" court="Wis." date_filed="1888-06-20" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/will-of-slinger-8182886?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8182886">72 Wis. 22, 37 N. W. 236, the late chief justice, speaking for the court, said: “Manifestly, it is a subtle species of fraud, whereby mastery is obtained over the mind of the victim by insidious approaches, seductive artifices, or other species of circumvention.” Note the judicial conception of the essentials of the wrong found in this case, “insidious approaches, seductive artifices, or other species of circumvention.” We could not put too much emphasis thereon to contrast therewith those perfectly legitimate influences between husband and wife, which will be later referred to and, in the light of which, the real facts of this case must be viewed.
In Gordon v. Burris, supra, the court remarked, without qualification, that undue influence is a fraud, and in Grove v.
Thus it will be seen that, in a case of this sort, if there is-failure to appreciate that the gist of the attack upon the wiE is fraud, and the rule applies that, he who alleges fraud must establish it, — not by a mere preponderance of, but by clear and satisfactory, evidence, — the finding as to the vital fact is liable to fall within the rule before stated as to want of dignity because of having been reached without proper legal guidance.
The rule of clear and satisfactory evidence in fraud cases, as distinguished from mere preponderance of the evidence, is substantial and may, very properly, be the turning point, especially, when the matter rests in mere inference. As has been frequently said, while in ordinary civil matters the person on whom the burden of proof rests may rely upon evidence establishing the facts to a reasonable certainty, though the evidence be not, in all respects, clear and satisfactory, not so where fraud is the gist of the matter, then he must go further, — not to the extent of establishing the charge with the highest degree of certainty, but to that one which rests, not only in reasonable certainty, but on evidence which is clear and satisfactory. Though the difference may appear somewhat shadowy it exists and forms a substantial basis for a rule firmly intrenched in our jurisprudence. Lepley v. Andersen, 142 Wis. 668" court="Wis." date_filed="1910-05-24" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/lepley-v-andersen-8189929?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8189929">142 Wis. 668, 671, 125 N. W. 443; Harrigan v. Gilchrist, 121 Wis. 127" court="Wis." date_filed="1904-06-10" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/harrigan-v-gilchrist-8187902?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8187902">121 Wis. 127, 313, 99 N. W. 909. Its logic rests in a presumption against wrong akin to that of innocence in a criminal case. Whether the salutary rule was not lost sight of in this case, challenges attention for reasons which will, appear as we proceed.
Whatever of misleading character there is in. the expressions referred to, was intended to be eliminated from our jurisprudence in the treatment of the subject by the present chief justice, speaking for the court, in Winn v. Itzel, 125 Wis. 19" court="Wis." date_filed="1905-05-02" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/winn-v-itzel-8188210?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8188210">125 Wis. 19, 32, 103 N. W. 220, thiswise:
“We do not understand that the principle there approved changed the practice in fraud cases, or affected the order of the trial of such cases. Parties who charge fraud must prove fraud after as well as before that decision,” — referring par-*37 tieularly to Vance v. Davis. “They still have tbe burden of proof. It was simply held in that line of cases that when a plaintiff, charging fraud, had proven certain facts, he had made a p'ima facie case, though he might not have produced any direct evidence of fraudulent acts or words. . . . When the plaintiff makes a prima facie case, entitling him to relief if the proof stops there, the defendant must take up the burden and meet the case so made by other evidence. This is the case in all contests of fact. It is not peculiar to fraud cases. The rule of Davis v. Dean did not deny the long established rule nor did it tend to do so. It simply announced what facts would be considered as prima facie proof of fraud, requiring explanation by the defendant.”
Thus it will be seen, in a case of this sort, upon a prima facie case being circumstantially made calling upon the person charged with fraud to explain his conduct, there still stands the presumption against wrong doing, eclipsed for the time being by the adversary presumption, but, subject to be efficiently aroused by affirmative evidence, direct or circumstantial, so satisfactorily explaining the adversary circumstances that they no longer seem to exist by clear and satisfactory evidence. In the end, upon the whole case, the circumstances from which the alleged undue influence is infer-able as matter of law must stand upon such evidence. That is, the burden being upon the one charging undue influence, from first to last, to establish it by clear and satisfactory evidence, the rule goes to the existence of the circumstances; the effect of the circumstances is matter of law. Weaken the case as to any one of the vital major incidents so that it can no longer be said to exist by clear and satisfactory evidence; then the prima facie case once created is so far rebutted that the plaintiff cannot successfully stand thereon, but must go further.
A brief treatment of what constitutes undue influence and what circumstances are essential, where such evidence, alone, is relied upon by the person charging fraud, will aid in test
The general characteristics of undue influence are strikingly presented in Will of Slinger, before adverted to. The actor is treated as a wrongdoer, — one bent upon a reprehensible purpose; the other as his unwilling or unsuspecting, in any.event under the circumstances, powerless victim of the purpose effected by “that subtle species of fraud,” — where such helplessness to resist direct or indirect suggestion is produced by “insidious approaches, seductive artifices, or other species of circumvention.” Undue influence is the very antithesis of right influence. It exists only where there is practical destruction of voluntary volition, — at least, is moral coercion for an ulterior purpose. Anderson v. Laugen, 122 Wis. 57" court="Wis." date_filed="1904-05-10" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/anderson-v-laugen-8187938?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8187938">122 Wis. 57, 99 N. W. 437. This species of wrongful influence should never be confused with influence through affection or disposition to favor a member of one’s family produced by legitimate feelings of esteem, or gratitude.
One may be very strongly influenced by a wife, or other person standing in close relation to him, to prefer such person in the final disposition of his property. He may even be strongly importuned, his judgment appealed to and reason convinced by argument to a desired end, if there is no wrong influence, so long as he finally, by his own volition, carries his purpose thus arrived at into effect. In re Will of Jackman, 26 Wis. 104" court="Wis." date_filed="1870-06-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/in-re-the-probate-of-the-will-of-jackman-6600465?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="6600465">26 Wis. 104; Deck v. Deck, 106 Wis. 470" court="Wis." date_filed="1900-04-06" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/deck-v-deck-8186621?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8186621">106 Wis. 470, 82 N. W. 293; Mueller v. Pew, 127 Wis. 288" court="Wis." date_filed="1906-02-23" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/mueller-v-pew-8188428?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8188428">127 Wis. 288, 106 N. W. 840; Appeal of Turner, 72 Conn. 305" court="Conn." date_filed="1899-10-05" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/turners-appeal-from-probate-3323750?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="3323750">72 Conn. 305, 44 Atl. 310.
The language of this court in the Jackman Will Case has been, in terms, or effect, reiterated here in numerous decisions and cited, time and time again, with approval elsewhere. The
Thus this court, and most courts, have spoken, to guard against wishes of disappointed relatives improperly disturbing the testamentary right, either because of a judicial failure to differentiate between undue influence and due influence, or to appreciate that the instrumentality for avoiding wills upon the ground of undue influence is, primarily, to ’ conserve the rights of the testator, not those who would profit from his estate by displacing his will. The danger of so far dignifying the incidental as to endanger the primary right, magnify suspicion into proof, and impair the capacity of a person to reward a wife or other relative for that care in the helplessness of old. age, sometimes accompanied with such infirmities as to require attention beyond the power of mere money to obtain, was adverted to in Vance v. Davis, 118 Wis.
“Influence gained by kindness and affection will not be regarded as undue if no imposition or fraud be practiced, even tbougb it induced tbe testator to make an unequal and unjust disposition of bis property in favor of those wbo bave contributed to bis comfort and administered to bis wants, if sucb disposition is voluntarily made.”
“It would be a great reproach to tbe law if, in its jealous watchfulness over tbe freedom of testamentary disposition, it would deprive age and infirmity of tbe kindly ministrations of affection, or of tbe power of rewarding those wbo bestow them.”
Tbe foregoing, as to tbe nature of undue influence, raises tbe question, logically, as to tbe essential circumstances for its establishment, where there is no direct evidence. That has been frequently, in terms or effect, answered. There must be a subject “unquestionably susceptible to undue influence,” a disposition to undue influence for tbe purpose of procuring tbe improper favor, opportunity to exert that influence and effect tbe wrongful purpose, and it must be exerted so as to deprive tbe victim of free agency “and constrain him to do not only what is against bis will, but what be is unable to refuse or too weak to resist.” That, in the Jackman Will Case (26 Wis. 104" court="Wis." date_filed="1870-06-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/in-re-the-probate-of-the-will-of-jackman-6600465?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="6600465">26 Wis. 104), has been, in effect, repeated many times. vThe law does not lay bold of and render tbe first three elements, prima facie, clear and satisfactory evidence of tbe accomplishment in advance of their being established with that degree of certainty. They cannot rest upon mere preponderance of tbe evidence or suspicion. This feature is important in anything like a close case. Tbe trial judge here reached tbe conclusion that sucb three elements existed. In that be proceeded by logical steps to tbe ultimate fact. Whether be appreciated tbe essential of certainty referred to does not appear from anything said in tbe opinion, and if we should conclude be did not from tbe findings themselves^ as before indicated, they should be shorn of tbe pre
In the foregoing legal environment of this case we .will proceed to examine the numerous complaints of the findings of fact.
The general effect of the exceptions is that the trial court viewed the case with suspicion from the mere fact that Mr. Ball, an old infirm man with three adult children, which he had ordinary regard for, took a second wife, lived with her a little more than a year in practical seclusion from his children, then deceased; having in his last sickness and about a month before the end left her by will all his property. The idea is that proponent’s case having been thus wrongfully regarded, many little actual or supposed incidents -were woven together to confirm such suspicion, some of such incidents having no support in the evidence and some found from the most unfavorable inferences the evidence would reasonably bear, resulting in many ordinary occurrences being given the east of “insidious approaches, seductive artifices, or other species of circumvention,” and proponent being convicted of having subverted Mr. Ball’s mind and destroyed his capacity to exercise his own volition in disposing of his estate, — contrary to direct evidence that he made his will while in full possession
In view of the general scope of the complaints made by counsel for appellant, it seems best to state here the general character of Mr. Balls life and his surroundings at the time of making the will, particularly the size of his estate and the legal and moral claims which, in the natural course of things, one circumstanced as he was would be likely to recognize.
Mr. Ball lived with his first wife happily, it would seem, from the time he was a young man until he was about sixty-five years of age. She bore him three children, two boys and one girl, and all lived at home until of age and two had secured homes for themselves. The daughter married before her mother died and became well located with a prosperous business man as her husband in a city some distance from her father’s home. The oldest son was some thirty-eight years of age when the will, was made. • He was without family and had lived apart from his father for some years though assisting him, for pay, in running the stable. He was accustomed to using intoxicants, but was in good health and abundantly able to take care of himself. The youngest son, at the end, was about twenty-seven years old. He lived with his father some three years after the mother died, then married and established a home of his own, in which he resided with his wife and child. He was possessed of an income of $1,800' per year. All were independent of the father. No one of them was so situated as to be able, conveniently, to make a home for him in his old age. He had- no reasonable expectation of that care from his children which he required on account of his age and infirmities. He had always been domestic in habits
True, the findings are to the effect that the net estate was of the value of $4,500, but that seems clearly contrary to the evidence to the extent of more than $1,500, as we shall see, even if the estate were of the ready-money value of the full inventory — which is not very likely, — leaving out of view expenses of administration and statutory allowances to the widow. Counting those matters, the probable result of intestacy and the probable result of attempting to turn such property as Mr. Ball had into money, as he must have viewed the matter when he made the will, the court placed the net estate rather more than twice the real value.
At this point a serious infirmity appears in the trial disposition of the case in the judge’s opinion, — much more so in the findings. It is significant that the expenses of administration and the rights of the wife as to statutory allowances and the unsecured debts were wholly overlooked,' especially in the findings. That might have had a very material bearing on the final result. In the opinion the net estate was placed at $3,500, while, as before indicated, the figures were raised to $4,500 in the findings, wholly overlooking the unsecured debts and other matters which would necessarily require the equity in the real estate to be sold in order to obtain money for their discharge. To say that Mr. Ball could have thought the effect of his will would be to net his wife $4,500, or half that sum or
In view of the general situation as above pictured, the theory of the decision that Mr. Ball made an unnatural disposition of his property must be unsound, unless there be sufficient in the detail circumstances of Mrs. Ball's conduct towards her husband and his conduct under her influence, to radically change the aspect of things. Without such efficient details, it looks as if he did about what a man seventy years of age, — of domestic habits, who had enjoyed a good home for about thirty-five years or so and been bereft of such for several years and, haviug a few more years in expectancy during which he would stand in great need of wifely care, and a small amount of property and taken for a companion a woman in honorable widowhood, strong in body and mind, of suitable age for the wifely duties he needed,- — might be expected to 'do, if such, knowing his habits, his infirmities, and his fortune, would be willing to enter into such a marriage contract. It is perfectly natural and by no means improper that such a union should take place, promoted only by mutual regard and expectation of the stronger party being remembered, pecun-iarily, in the end, and without any element of that personal nature characteristic of the flower of life. If Mr. Ball thought to reward his wife as well as he reasonably could for her services to him, and she thought to acquire and earn such pecuniary reward as her husband, under the circumstances, might be willing to bestow upon her when near the end and able to fairly measure the value of the consideration rendered by her, all was natural and proper. It would be a most lamentable state of things if, in responding to an appeal, in form, for protection of the testamentary right, the disappointed hopes of relatives, under such circumstances as we have here, should have such weight as to defeat the plan of an
So the feature of the decision, which evidently had great weight with the trial judge, found in this language:
“Her marriage to the deceased when he was nearly seventy years old, broken in health and burdened by age and his bad habit of alcoholism, was either very self-sacrificing on her part or the result of a design to financially profit by the marriage,”
was not entitled to such regard. The idea seems to be that, for a woman circumstanced as the one in question was to marry a man circumstanced like Mr. Ball, unless it were a case of self-sacrifice on the part of the former instead of anticipated pecuniary remuneration for physically caring for the latter, would be evidence of a design to exercise undue influence and so obtain the pecuniary element by fraud. That is unsound. There is nothing improper about such a marriage, intelligently entered into and characterized by mutual respect, enabling the parties to live peacefully and sympathetically together. There could not be mutuality of efficient adequate consideration in such a case, without the element which seems to have been supposed to be unworthy. There is nothing about such an element, by itself, to arouse even a suspicion of fraudulent intent. Therefore it was error to take such circumstance as a foundation badge of fraud and look thence for evidentiary details of a confirmatory nature.
On the point of whether the final disposition by Mr. Ball was unnatural we do not overlook the two incidents mentioned, that Mr. Ball did not recognize the moral obligation to reimburse his son Boy on account of the latter’s $600 in notes used by the former so many years before his death that the legal right to be paid therefor had been extinguished by the statutes of limitations, and the like moral obligation to his son Charles for $400 of borrowed money. Assuming absence of a clear preponderance of evidence against there being
We will turn from the general features of the case to the first of the three primary essentials of undue influence, viz.: opportunity to commit the fraud. .The trial court found that, easily, from the circumstance that Mr. and Mrs. Ball lived, mostly, by themselves from the time of the marriage-till the end. He was customarily, until near the last, during business hours, like any business man, away from his home. There was no unnatural exclusiveness in the home life, so far as we can see. Except for an incident of Boy’s wanting to speak with his father about business matters between them, and Charles calling once or twice when Mrs. Ball thought the father was resting and did not wish, or ought not, to be disturbed, there is nothing to show that they, or any one else, was not free to see and talk with the sick man upon any proper occasion. He associated with Boy every day before the last sickness, saw him once afterwards, and he was free, so far as appears, except for his own fault, to help take care of his father at any time. The reason why he did not offer to do so will appear later. That Mr. Ball was protected from disturbance, under the circumstances, and Mrs. Ball endeavored to have only such persons with him as were needed for his proper care, is the usual thing and may well have been advised by the physician. So, while there was opportunity for undue influence to the extent, merely, that Mr. and Mrs. Ball lived in the seclusion and exclusion of married life, such is not the kind of opportunity, in general, referred to in such cases as this. The ordinary privacy of married life is not to be looked upon as opportunity for one of the pair to commit a fraud upon the other. There must be pretty conclusive proof of active efficient efforts to improperly seclude the person,
On the next primary element in a case of this sort, — “a subject unquestionably susceptible to undue influence,”- — we are at a loss to discover any satisfactory evidence. Mr. Ball, by the uncontroverted evidence, even up to and for some time after the day when he made his testament, was a strong-minded, self-willed man. He gave very decided orders with reference to his business affairs, and firmly insisted upon their being carried out. There is no medical testimony, sufficient to carry any substantial weight, that up to the time the will was made his infirmities had seriously weakened his mind. There is no evidence that he was solicited to make the will or with reference to anything in it. The idea of making the will and the ideas which were embodied in it, appear, by all the direct evidence, to have been his own. He sent for the lawyer to draft the paper. True, he made his wife his messenger, but why not ? There is not even a ground for suspicion in that., He knew, with much definiteness, what he had to dispose of hy will, rightly thought it was but little, that he was under great obligations to his wife and was likely to be under still greater, before he died. He dictated what should go into the will, entirely separate and apart from her and with very full appreciation of what he had, what it was worth, and who were his heirs at law. All such matters were spoken of. Later the draft supposed to respond- to his wishes was read to, examined by, and decidedly approved by him. It was then executed without Mrs. Ball having any knowledge of what was in it or having anything to do with it, according to much and all the direct evidence, except that at the request of Mr. Ball she was the messenger sent to obtain presence of a person, suggested by him, for one of the witnesses. He was strong enough to arise from and sit on the edge of his bed
We might stop at this point, but it will emphasize the result which must be reached by referring to a few of the infirmities, in detail circumstances, which evidently had much to do with the decision below'. It is said, Mrs. Ball took Mr. Ball to her home to live when they intermarried and that it was some distance from where he formerly resided. What wrong was there in that, or suggestion of improper design under the circumstances ? She had a home and Mr. Ball did not. True, it was a few blocks from where he formerly lived, but was easily reached in a few moments’ walk. The circumstance, though given much significance in the decision, really seems too unimportant to cut any figure in the case.
Mr. Ball, it is said, endeavored to have his wife named as beneficiary in the policy of insurance. No such subject is mentioned in the opinion, but it is given significance in the findings as if it required explanation by Mrs. Ball in addition to her positive direct testimony that she had nothing to do with it. Why such matter required explanation, is not perceived. Mr. Ball, as before indicated, took out the policy in favor of his first wife in the usual way. After she died, regardless of the real status, that he thought the policy belonged to him, and supposed that he had a right to carry out his pri
It is found that Mrs. Bull took much interest in her bus-band’s business and, did so increasingly, as bis infirmities progressed. Why should not a wife take an interest in her husband’s business affairs, more or less, according to bis ability to attend thereto without her aid ? Would a capable wife omit to do so under sucb circumstances as Mr. Ball was in? Instead of sucb an incident as tbe court referred to being regarded as indicative of a fraudulent design, should it not be looked upon as tbe very thing to bave been expected under tbe circumstances, — tbe thing wbicb both parties probably bad in contemplation in making tbe marriage contract ?
Mrs. Ball caused tbe arrest of Boy in order to exclude him from tbe barn, tbe findings suggest. We fail to discover support therefor. Instead, it appears that Mr. Ball rightly regarded Boy to be unsuitable to leave in control of the business and that it was essential to place some one else in charge. He came to that without interference by bis wife, so far as tbe record shows. He consulted bis former partner, Mr. Schlies-man, in respect to the matter three days after tbe will was made, resulting in tbe latter procuring tbe man Mr. Ball desired to employ, to call. Mr. Ball then acted entirely for himself in making tbe contract of employment; tbe employee,
The last of the three visits by Mr. Schliesman was four days after the will was made and he expressed the opinion that Mr. Ball then was as clear in mind as ever. If there be anything, characterizing the affair of Boy’s being compelled to leave the bam, indicating that his father did not masterfully direct it himself and according to his own ideas, we cannot find it in the record. Why the suggestion that Mrs. Ball acted vindictively in the matter because she carried out her husband’s directions, where necessary to aid what he, for good reasons, desired to accomplish ?
The further circumstance is mentioned to show that Mrs. Ball perverted her husband’s mind as to his children, that she gave her two-year-old claim against Charles for laundry work to a lawyer for collection. The debt was contracted before her marriage. Charles made no claim but that he owed it and testified that his father probably sanctioned her effort
As indicative of undue influence having been exercised and being active and efficient after the will was made, an incident of Mr. Ball having spoken in a very complimentary way to Mr. Schliesman in regard to the manner his wife was caring for him, considering his very bad condition which required close attention and services of a nature very difficult to obtain or render, all of which Mr. Schliesman had observed for himself; also the fact of Mr. Ball having requested that the making of his will might be kept secret, which was a perfectly natural thing, and other matters which, from our viewpoint do not fairly admit of any inference unfavorable to the proponent of the will.
It does not seem necessary to prolong the discussion. The only fair excuse for treating the case with so much fulness as we have is the fact, as it seems, that efficient undue influence was found from many circumstances which, as we look at the matter, hardly are of sufficient weight to arouse suspicion. Some really convincing evidentiary circumstances or direct evidence of undue influence is necessary in a case of this sort, particularly, where the alleged wrongdoer and the victim were husband and wife. Setting aside a man’s will is a
By the Court.- — The judgment is reversed, and cause remanded with instructions to reverse the judgment of the county court and to establish the will and remand the proceedings to such county court with directions for the settlement of the estate under the will. Costs taxed in this court to be paid out of the estate.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). In the opinion of the court it is in substance said that to exert undue influence over a person who is about to make a will amounts to the perpetration of a fraud, actual or constructive; that such fraud must be established by clear and satisfactory evidence; that the trial court acted upon the theory that the use of undue influence might be established by a preponderance of the evidence only; and that the judge having acted on a wrong conception of the law in arriving at his conclusions on the facts, the rule that findings of fact will not be disturbed unless against the clear preponderance of the evidence has no application to the case. Starting from this fundamental basis, the court proceeds to discuss the evidence as though the case were being tried de
The writer has never been impressed with the soundness of the rule that fraud must be proved by clear and satisfactory evidence. It is not a rule of universal acceptance, nor is it one that has always found favor in this court. It throws a protective mantle over the prima facie wrongdoer and enables him to profit by his own wrong if the party claiming relief is unable to make out a strong case of injury. The reason for the rule, it is said, is that there is a presumption against wrong doing — of innocence, so to speak, — and that in order to overcome this presumption a higher degree of proof must be forthcoming than is ordinarily sufficient to warrant a recovery. It might, I think, be said with equal force that there is a presumption that the individual will not violate his contract or eommit an assault and battery, or the crime of seduction under promise of marriage, or do a multitude of other things. Yet, where an action is brought to recover damages resulting from any of these acts, a preponderance of evidence is a sufficient basis for a recovery. This much is said, not because the writer thinks the rule of evidence in reference to fraud should now be changed by the court, but because it is thought that- the rule is somewhat arbitrary and illogical, so much so that it should not be extended so as to cover a class of cases to which it has not been heretofore applied. If I read our decisions correctly, it is now held for the first time that a will cannot be set aside on the ground of
The sanctity of a will by which a testator disposes of his property is not greater than is that of a deed by which property is disposed of, in so far as the heirs or relatives of the deceased person are concerned. The cases all recognize the rule that the heirs at law of a decedent can set aside a deed or a will executed as a result of undue influence on precisely the same showing. The circuit judge in his opinion stated that the contestants made a prima facie case of undue influence, and, having done so, the burden was upon the proponent to show that the will was the testator’s voluntary act. The opinion of this court is to the effect that, while this error might be excusable in view of what the court said in the cases of Davis v. Dean, 66 Wis. 100" court="Wis." date_filed="1886-05-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/davis-v-dean-6605180?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="6605180">66 Wis. 100, 26 N. W. 737; Disch v. Timm, 101 Wis. 179" court="Wis." date_filed="1898-11-22" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/disch-v-timm-8186067?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8186067">101 Wis. 179, 77 N. W. 196; and Vance v. Davis, 118 Wis. 548" court="Wis." date_filed="1903-07-03" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/vance-v-davis-8187690?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8187690">118 Wis. 548, 95 N. W. 939, still those cases, correctly understood, do not support the conclusion of the trial judge; and it is further said that if any misleading expressions were used in these cases they were eliminated from our jurisprudence by the decision of this court in Winn v. Itzel, 125 Wis. 19" court="Wis." date_filed="1905-05-02" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/winn-v-itzel-8188210?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8188210">125 Wis. 19, 103 N. W. 220, from which a lengthy quotation is made.
I think the circuit judge stated the law correctly and that it has been the settled law of this state for a long time that where one person stands in a relation of confidence and trust to another, and where the opportunity to exercise undue influ
Such was the rule before Winn v. Itzel was decided. It has been the rule since that case was decided, and nothing is said to the contrary in that case, as I read it.
In Davis v. Dean, supra, it was said:
“We do not say that fraud and undue influence were proved affirmatively, but only that the circumstances suggest them. If the burden of proof is upon the plaintiffs to show such fraud or undue influence, probably we could not disturb the findings of the circuit court which negative their existence. But under the circumstances of this case the burden of proof is not upon the plaintiffs. Because Mrs. Sparrowk stood in loco parentis to George, and their relations to each other were those of trust and confidence, and because of the suspicious circumstances under which the conveyances were made, and the injustice which will be inflicted iipon the heirs of the grantor if the conveyances are held valid, the law casts upon the grantee the burden of showing that the conveyances are untainted with undue influence or other fraud, but were the intelligent and deliberate act of the grantor. This rule is to protect the weak and unsuspicious from the cunning and fraud of those who stand in confidential relations to them, and has its foundation in good morals and sound public policy. The grantee has failed to satisfy the requirements of the rule, and the presumption of injustice, fraud and wrong stands against the conveyances, which he must remove before the court is authorized to say that they are valid. This he has not done, and for that reason, also, his deeds must be canceled and held for naught.”
In McMaster v. Scriven, 85 Wis. 162" court="Wis." date_filed="1893-05-02" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/mcmaster-v-scriven-8184263?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8184263">85 Wis. 162, 55 N. W. 149, the above rule was recognized, but was held not to apply to that case because the beneficiary in the will did not stand in a fiduciary relation to the testatrix, and therefore the burden of showing undue' influence was upon the contestant of the will.
“The general principle is that where, from the nature.of the transaction and the situation and relation of the parties, fraud and imposition may be presumed, unless their presumption be rebutted, relief will be granted in equity, although fraud in fact he not proved.”
That portion of the opinion in Davis v. Dean above quoted is also quoted in the opinion in this ease and is approved.
In Doyle v. Welch, 100 Wis. 24" court="Wis." date_filed="1898-05-24" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/doyle-v-welch-8185945?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8185945">100 Wis. 24, 27, 75 N. W. 400, it is said:
“The salutary rule that, where a voluntary conveyance is made by an aged person of his entire property, without consideration, to one who stands in a position of trust and confidence to him, under circumstances of secrecy, the burden of proof is upon the grantee to show that the conveyance was untainted with undue influence or fraud, has been frequently laid down by this court.”
In Disch v. Timm, 101 Wis. 179" court="Wis." date_filed="1898-11-22" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/disch-v-timm-8186067?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8186067">101 Wis. 179, 77 N. W. 196, the case of Davis v. Dean was again considered, and the doctrine quoted therefrom was expressly approved, and the principle is approved in Will of Slinger, 72 Wis. 22" court="Wis." date_filed="1888-06-20" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/will-of-slinger-8182886?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8182886">72 Wis. 22, 37 N. W. 236.
In Small v. Champeny, 102 Wis. 61" court="Wis." date_filed="1899-01-31" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/small-v-champeny-8186162?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8186162">102 Wis. 61, 78 N. W. 407, the court uses the following quotation taken from the case of Disch v. Timm, supra:
“When opportunity and the disposition to influence the act of another are shown, a presumption of undue influence arises, and the burden of proof is then on the party charged therewith to show that such other acted intelligently and voluntarily.”
In Fox v. Martin, 104 Wis. 581" court="Wis." date_filed="1899-11-24" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/fox-v-martin-8186450?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8186450">104 Wis. 581, 80 N. W. 921, the rule is again fully recognized, but was held not to apply in that case because the beneficiaries under the will did not stand in a confidential relation to the testator.
In Loennecker’s Will, 112 Wis. 461" court="Wis." date_filed="1901-12-17" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/consaul-v-loennecker-8187155?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8187155">112 Wis. 461, 467, 88 N. W. 215, the court again held that in order to raise a presumption of undue influence in making a will, which throws the burden
“When these facts are shown to exist, and especially when they exist with other facts out of the usual course of business transactions of such a nature, the presumption will arise which will put the beneficiary to his proof of good faith and freedom from undue influence. Whether the testimony shows these preliminary facts with sufficient clearness and certainty is a matter to be decided by the trial court.”
In Vance v. Davis, 118 Wis. 548" court="Wis." date_filed="1903-07-03" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/vance-v-davis-8187690?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8187690">118 Wis. 548, 551, 95 N. W. 939, the court used the following language:
“Absence of such direct proof is, however, not final, for, in apparent contradiction of the ordinary rule requiring clear and direct proof of fraud, this and other courts have recognized the necessity of casting the burden of negative proof upon one who profits from a position of confidence and control by a conveyance of such character and made under such circumstances as to suggest improbability that it is the free act of the grantor, and probability that it is due to influence of the beneficiary, which his confidential relation makes easy, but renders difficult or impossible of direct proof.”
Eeferring now to the case of Winn v. Itzel, 125 Wis. 19" court="Wis." date_filed="1905-05-02" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/winn-v-itzel-8188210?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8188210">125 Wis. 19, 103 N. W. 220, I do not understand that it lays down any doctrine that is contrary to the cases above referred to. It simply holds that, where the party attacking a will or a deed has made a prima facie showing, the other party must offer evidence to show that no undue influence was exercised, and that on the whole case as thus made up the burden of proof rests upon the plaintiff to prove the undue influence. The words “burden of proof” as used in the prior cases are not of course to be understood in their exact technical sense. The plaintiff in any case has the burden of proof on his affirmative allegations of fact from beginning to end of the case; strictly there is no shifting of this burden, but when the plaintiff has made his proofs and the defendant takes up the
The case of Boyle v. Robinson, 129 Wis. 567" court="Wis." date_filed="1906-11-07" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/boyle-v-robinson-8188610?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8188610">129 Wis. 567, 109 N. W. 623, is to the same effect.
In the still later ease of Quinn v. Quinn, 130 Wis. 548" court="Wis." date_filed="1907-01-29" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/quinn-v-quinn-8188705?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8188705">130 Wis. 548, 110 N. W. 488, it was held that in case of a conveyance»by an aged person susceptible to undue influence, of his entire property without consideration, to one in a position of trust and confidence, under suspicious circumstances which satisfactorily suggest the wrong, accompanied by proof of opportunity and disposition on the part of the beneficiary to exert influence, there arises a presumption that the conveyance was so induced, unless the grantee can negative that fact by direct proof. This was an action brought by the heirs of a deceased intestate to set aside a deed made by decedent in his lifetime.
I think the circuit judge is accused of carelessness in making findings of fact of which he is not guilty. I quote:
“In the opinion [of the circuit judge] the net estate was placed at $3,500, while, as before indicated, the figures were raised to $4,500 in the findings.”
And further: “The findings are to the effect that the neb estate was of the value of $4,500, but that seems clearly contrary to the evidence to the extent of more than $1,500,” etc.
It is said that the estate is not worth, above debts, to exceed $3,000, and that the matter of expense of administration and of an allowance for the widow pending settlement was entirely overlooked. This latter statement is mere surmise.
Turning to the findings which are said to be in conflict with the opinion rendered, they neither pass upon nor purport to pass upon the net value of the estate. The reason for this is obvious. The contestants were successful. The largest unsecured creditor was the proponent herself. Her claim exceeded the claims of all the other unsecured creditors combined. The court was careful not to make any finding in reference to claims which would stand in the way of contesting any unsecured claim. What the court does find is that the testator “had accumulated property which at the time of his death was of the value of about $6,500, against which there was an indebtedness of $2,000 secured by mortgage on his real estate." The proof showed that there were outstanding real-estate mortgages on which there was $1,900 principal and $100 interest due. There was no disposition, apparently, to question the bona fide existence of this indebtedness, so the amount of it was stated.
The circuit judge found (1) that the opportunity existed to unduly influence the testator; (2) that he was susceptible to such influence; and (3) that such influence had been exerted upon him. If these conclusions of fact are not against
There is no doubt that the proponent of the will, living alone as she was with the testator who was on his death bed, had all kinds of opportunities to influence him if she so desired.
I think there is little doubt that the evidence warranted the conclusion that the testator was susceptible to undue influence. He was past seventy years of age when he made his will. He had daily consumed large quantities of alcoholic liquors for twenty years or more, gradually increasing the amount of consumption as he grew older. His drinking habits produced cirrhosis of the liver, as well as a badly diseased condition of the stomach and bowels, from which he died within less than a month after the time of making his will. He was also suffering from an open fistula. Diseased as he was, whisky was necessary to his existence up to the end. of his life, so much so that his physician prescribed its use in moderate quantities. He was suffering much pain. While occasionally there were flashes of the old fire, it was very apparent that his once strong and robust constitution had become shattered by the long and excessive use of intoxicants and by the complication of diseases that resulted therefrom. These facts are undisputed and indisputable. The strong, self-reliant, and positive character had fought a long battle with a more powerful enemy than himself, and towards the end, with shattered nerves and three badly diseased vital organs, he was forced to succumb in the unequal contest. It may be admitted that he talked sensibly and naturally to the
Susceptibility to influence as well as opportunity to influence having existed, the last, and, it may be admitted, the closest, question remains to be considered, and that is, Was advantage taken of the opportunity ? The exercise of undue influence can rarely be proven by direct evidence. It is not usually exerted in the presence of a third person. The proponent and the testator were living alone, so that direct proof was impossible. In most of the decided cases upon this ques
Perhaps the strongest fact shown was that the proponent married the deceased. At the time of the marriage he was sixty-nine years old and she was some eighteen years younger. She had been twice married and had some property, at least a house and lot, and $900' which she loaned to the testator before the marriage. After the first Mrs. Ball died in 1906, proponent kept house for the deceased for two and a half years. She knew that he was old and that he had been a steady heavy drinker for many years; that in all probability he was past reformation, and that without it his days were practically numbered. He might live a few months, possibly a few years, but the chances were very much against his being able to live very long. She hardly married him for love. She did not need to marry him for a home, because she had one of her own. She'might have taken pity on him and thought she could reform him, but she probably had better sense at her age in life. At least the most plausible explanation of her action is that she knew she would at least get some of his property and perhaps all of it. If the task was uninviting, the time of it might be short and the reward ample. This inference may be obnoxious, but it does more credit to her good sense and good judgment than any other that occurs to me.
The testator made an unusual if not an unnatural disposition of his property. Its value, after deducting claims filed and mortgages, was substantially the amount found by this court, if it be conceded that proof that claims to a stated amount were filed against the estate is prima facie proof of their correctness. All of the property was given to the widow. The deceased left a life insurance policy which was payable to his first wife or her heirs, on which $1,100 was collected, which sum was divided among the three children.
The parties bad been married but fifteen months at tbe time tbe testator died and all of bis property bad been acquired before tbe marriage. There was testimony tending to show that tbe proponent was not only endeavoring to prejudice tbe deceased against bis children, but that she succeeded in doing so. At about tbe time the will was made or within a day or two thereafter she had tbe son Boy arrested because be refused to leave tbe livery stable and be was fined a .few dollars and sent to jail in default of payment of tbe fine. Tbe other son, Charlie, testified that she told him she would fill Boy full of lead if be came around tbe house.
During part of tbe two and a half years that she acted as housekeeper Charlie lived in tbe family with bis father and she did tbe family washing. A short time before the will was made she placed a bill for the washing in tbe bands of her attorney for collection. Charlie further testified that when bis father was first taken ill she told him point blank over tbe telephone that she would not allow him to see bis father, and that be was unable to see him until ten days or two weeks thereafter, at which time be was very low and paid little attention to what was going on.
Tbe testator and his children bad always been good friends until a few months before tbe death occurred. Roy bad contributed $600 to tbe livery business which bis father carried on at one time, but tbe claim is now barred by tbe statute of limitations. Charlie bad contributed $300. His claim is also barred. Tbe making of the will was kept secret. This in itself, if not a badge of fraud, “is surely a badge of undue influence.” Watkins v. Brant, 46 Wis. 419" court="Wis." date_filed="1879-01-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/watkins-v-brant-6602804?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="6602804">46 Wis. 419, 425, 1 N. W. 82; Cole v. Getzinger, 96 Wis. 559" court="Wis." date_filed="1897-06-24" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/cole-v-getzinger-8185603?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8185603">96 Wis. 559, 572, 71 N. W. 75; Fox v. Martin, 104 Wis. 581" court="Wis." date_filed="1899-11-24" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/fox-v-martin-8186450?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8186450">104 Wis. 581, 593, 80 N. W. 921. Tbe proponent was active in securing the execution of tbe will. This
It is true that the proponent denied or explained the most damaging testimony that was given by the two sons, but it is none the less true that there was a question of veracity involved between the witnesses and that the court saw them and heard them and might believe the sons and disbelieve the widow. I am unable to arrive at the conclusion that the inference that undue influence was exercised upon the testator is against the clear preponderance of the testimony, and I think the judgment should be affirmed.
The following opinion was filed April 21, 1913:
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). The circuit judge who tried this case tried it with his usual care and ability, and wrote a comprehensive opinion which demonstrates his close study of the case. In my judgment there is no foundation for the thought that he applied any. wrong rule of law to the case. The rule is that when a plaintiff or contestant in such a case as this has shown (1) a person unquestionably subject to undue influence, (2) opportunity to exercise such influence, (3) a disposition on the part of the person charged to exert the influence, and (4) a result clearly appearing to be the effect of the supposed influence, he has established a prima facie case of undue influence which must be met, or it will prevail. I do not understand that this rulé is shaken or questioned in this case.
As to the first fact he says:
“Examining the evidence in this case, I find that the testator was at the time of and just before making his will a person susceptible to the influence of one in whom he might repose confidence or upon whom he might be dependent^
“He was seventy years old, was and for some time had been greatly enfeebled by disease, had for many years used intoxicating liquors excessively, particularly in the later years, his alcoholism had brought upon his fatal and now rapidly progressing disease of the liver, the final stage of which is cirrhosis and cessation of function. His physical system, was giving out in many particulars. For months he had been’unable to go to his place of business except by conveyance, and two days before making his will retired to his home and his bed, never again to leave his room alive. There can be no doubt that in his then enfeebled condition, no matter how strong had been his character before, he must have felt helpless and dependent and easily subject to any strong influence that might be brought to bear.”
A fact about which there can be no doubt must certainly be one that is proven by clear and satisfactory evidence.
As to the opportunity there is no dispute; as to the disposition the judge says:
“It appears that the proponent had the capacity and disposition to exercise strong influence. She was a vigorous and strong-minded woman of fifty-one years. Her marriage to the deceased was her third. She appears to have considerable business capacity. Her marriage to the deceased when he was nearly seventy years old, broken in health and burdened by age and his bad habit of alcoholism, was either very self-sacrificing upon her part or the result bf a design to financially profit by the marriage. It seems to me it was the latter. She took the deceased completely into her charge and to her*68 own borne and showed a disposition to disconnect him from his children, particularly as he neared the end. Her employment of an attorney to collect of the son Charles a laundry bill, claimed to have'been incurred two or three years before, without previously asking for payment and without Charles knowing that he was indebted, seems much like an effort to put Charles at arms’-length. She made herself acquainted with the business of the deceased, and about the time of the execution of the will, or soon after, acted vindictively in dismissing the son Boy from the livery business. From the time when deceased became confined to his house until after he was too ill to consider business the sons had no opportunity to see the father, and opportunity was by proponent at least on two or three occasions refused. She was active in making arrangements for the drawing of the will, and the attorney was called whom she had personally employed to collect the laundry bill against Charles. All things considered, I feel that the ability and disposition on the part of proponent to get from the deceased all property she could, existed.”
The array of facts above stated, all of which are amply proven, point irresistibly to the conclusion that the disposition to influence existed in this case, and I construe the circuit judge’s words as meaning that he so concluded.
As to the fourth fact he says: “Lastly, the will made and here propounded appears clearly to have been the effect of some strong influence on the deceased,” and he then collates the facts which seem to him to demonstrate this fact.
So we have the second of the necessary facts, i. e. opportunity, admittedly existing, and of the other three we have the circuit judge’s deliberate statement that as to the first there is “no doubt,” as to the third “it appears,” and as to the fourth “it appears clearly.” In view of these declarations of the trial judge, it seems to me there is no room to say that he applied any wrong rule of law to the case.
No one questions the sacredness of a will, nor the importance of upholding the right of every man to make his will and have its provisions faithfully carried out. It should be re
The trial judge decided, -after seeing the witnesses and carefully considering the evidence, that the latter case was the case presented here. I think his decision should be affirmed unless we are ready to say that our oft repeated declarations of the dignity to be given to a circuit judge’s findings of fact are to become mere sounding proclamations.