Armor's Estate ( 1893 )

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Dean,

On the 10th of November, 189.1, Ruth B. Armor died, in the ninety-third year of her age. She left surviving her five children, Monroe Armor, Eliza G., intermarried with David M. Butts, Eudotia, Anastasia and Amanda, the last married to Samuel B. Miller.

At her death Mrs. Armor possessed an estate in lands and personalty to the value, probably, of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). After the death of her husband in 1877, her son-in-law, D. M. Butts, managed her estate under powers of attorney from her. The evidence shows, as well as his own statement, that his control of her affairs was dominant and practically exclusive of the owner and the other members of the family. This may have been altogether proper, and for the best interests of the estate. But in this condition of affairs, this aged woman, on the 20th of February, 1890, made her last will and testament which is now contested by all the children except Mrs. Butts. It is alleged that at the date of making the will she was: (1) Of unsound mind. (2) That the will was procured by undue influence on the part of David M. Butts.

To move the court to grant or refuse an issue, much testimony was taken bearing on the mental condition of testatrix, and as to the influence exercised over her at the time by her son-in-law, David M. Butts. While we have read and considered this testimony, the impropriety of any discussion of its weight or significance at this time, is so obvious that we shall not advert to it, except in so far as may be necessary to indicate the reasons for our decree.

There was extreme old age, and the ordinary infirmities, physicial and mental, incident to it, which of themselves do not constitute testamentary incapacity. But the contestants went further, and offered some evidence, particularly that of her family, physician, tending to show imbecility. The learned judge of the orphans’ court was of the opinion there was sufficient to send the case to a jury on this question, and as to whether there was testamentary capacity he directed that an issue be framed for trial.

We assume this was right; the appellants asked for it, the appellee complains not of error. But, taking this to be a good decree as far as it goes, we do not see how the learned judge refused the issue as to undue influence on this evidence. The evidence tending to show mental incapacity is so blended with that offered to show the will was procured by the son-in-law, that it is impossible to separate the conclusions. Let us illustrate our meaning: The court finds there is evidence on the question of testamentary capacity for the consideration of a jury; what evidence? That the testatrix surrendered the entire control of her estate for years before her death to David M. Butts; exacting from him no accounting; was incapable of comprehending the accounts if he had presented them. Whatever he directed, she performed or omitted; he said for some time she should not make a will, and none was made; he changed his mind and directed her to make one, and to have it drawn by a lawyer, and she obeyed. He admitted he advised her to charge her son Monroe with what he owed the estate, and says he wanted this done that his wife might have equal advantage with the son. This theory of the contestants is sought to be established all through their testimony; the extinction of all individuality of thought and action on part of testatrix, and the usurpation of her place as the owner and controller of her property by the son-in-law, and then a will made of it, not by her but by him. The absence of testamentary capacity is sought to be shown mainly by testimony that she yielded wholly to his will for years before her death; that he was not simply her agent, but her guardian or governor, as if she were imbecile.

The testatrix appoints him executor, and although all the children were of full age he is. also appointed trustee for all except his wife, whose share is given to her absolutely. Having had the control of the estate for thirteen years during the lifetime of the owner, substantially by the will this control is continued for the lifetime of the children.

In directing the issue as to testamentary capacity, doubtless the court noticed this testimony of the son-in-law : “ Q. Did you say anything to her about charging Monroe with what he owed the estate at anytime you talked with her? A. Not when I talked about the will. I told her if Monroe didn’t return what he owed the estate I would charge him with it. Q. Did you ever say anything to her about arranging matters so that Mr. Hiller would be cut out ? A. I did to Missn Eudotia Armor. Q. Now, Mr. Butts, was not that the reason you changed your mind in reference to her making a will ? A. Well, that was one reason. Q. Before that you were not in favor of her making a will? A. Well, didn’t say I was opposed to it; I said I wasn’t in favor of it; that circumstances alter cases— Q. In speaking about this matter, state whether or not you told Miss Armor you had a right to make this will ? A. Ob, I may have said it; I think I had a right to advise her to make her will. I think McManus told me at one time I had a right to advise her to do anything that was right.”

■ The result of not making a will was to leave the estate to descend under the intestate laws. The effect of this will is to put the legal title of a large portion of it in Mr. Butts during the life of the beneficiaries. Such a difference in consequences to both the children and the trustee is certainly a very grave one. It is argued that whether the estate should go as the law directed or as Mr. Butts directed, depended altogether on how “circumstances” in his opinion altered cases.

As to what right Mr. Butts assumed he had, in directing the disposition of the propert}*-, we quote again from his testimony: “ Q. You were a little excited when Mr. Bower asked you one question as to whether you had a right to make this will; now if you said that, state whether you meant you had a right to advise her? A. Well, I think I had a right to advise her of making a will, but I didn’t want to write it. She suggested that I should write it, but I said that I didn’t want to do that; she should go to a lawyer. Q. If there was anything of that kind said, did you mean that }rou had a right to indicate to her what disposition she should make of her property? A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you ever think that the power of attorney gave you power to indicate the disposition of her property ? A. Yes, sir.”

It is urged, that this assumption bjr Butts of control over the mind and property of his aged and infirm mother-in-law, her childish submission to the usurpation, is evidence both of testamentary incapacity and undue influence, and the conclusion drawn from the evidence necessarily points with as much probability to the one as to the other. We think this argument convincing; the case comes within the rule in Wilson’s Appeal, 99 Pa. 545, where an aged testator made a will largely in favor of his confidential adviser. There was conflicting evidence of mental capacity. The orphans’ court refused an issue to determine whether testator was of sound mind, but awarded it on the question of undue influence. In an opinion by Justice Green, reversing the court below, we held that in such cases both charg’es were necessarily so interwoven and connected with each other that the inquiry should extend to both.

Besides, as we held in Wilson v. Mitchell, 101 Pa. 495, where the testator, although possessed of testamentary capacity, yet is aged, infirm bodily, with mental faculties impaired, if his confidential adviser be largely a beneficiary under the will, there is a presumption of fact that undue influence was brought to bear on the mind of the testator, and the burden is on the beneficiary to rebut this presumption.

It is therefore ordered that, in so far as the decree of the court below refuses to award an issue to determine whether the alleged will of Ruth B. Armor was procured by undue influence of David M. Butts, it be reversed, and it is directed that the court below award such issue, the costs of this appeal to be paid by the appellee.