Opinion
June, 1902.
E.M. Doughty and R.W. Doughty, for proponents.
Thomas Watts, for contestant.
The instrument offered for probate was executed by James E. Munger on November 12, 1901. He died February 12, 1902, at Fishkill Landing, after a long illness of consumption. The evidence shows that the disease assumed a most serious form in September, 1901, and progressed gradually until death ensued.
The testator left surviving a widow, with whom he had not lived for sixteen years, and a married daughter, with whom he had corresponded at intervals, both of whom resided at Middletown, Orange county, N.Y.
The will gives the testator's property, estimated to be worth $6,400, to his grandniece Eva Gertrude Linson Moore "for the reason that I wish to show in the best way I possibly can my appreciation of her faithful care for and unselfish interest in me for a long time past. I feel that I cannot even in this way recompense her sufficiently for what she has done for me."
Probate has been opposed by Ella F. Marshall, the testator's daughter, and an effort has been made to show the testator's lack of testamentary capacity and the existence of undue influence alleged to have been exerted previous to and at the execution of the instrument. Although the contestant's case rests mainly upon innuendo and inference, it presents such an equitable side that it commands a careful review of the case to determine whether the diversion of all interest in the estate from one of the objects of the testator's benefaction — his only child — was the result of improper influence or insufficient capacity.
The testator was about sixty years of age in 1901. He had been supervisor of the Town of Fishkill for eight years, and postmaster of Fishkill-on-the-Hudson for one year. He also conducted a lumber and building business for many years, and notwithstanding that he was in the incipient stages of consumption from 1899, he led an active life in business, politics, and the enjoyment of society of numerous friends down to the summer of 1901. From the early part of September, 1901, until his death, he was practically confined to his room in the Holland Hotel, Fishkill Landing, where he was visited daily by many friends and relatives, both before and after the execution of his will. The beneficiary, his grandniece, who was then about twenty-six years of age, was his nurse, and evidently the most favored of all his relatives.
He attempted no secret of his regard for her and appreciation of her services, and his freely expressed intention of leaving her his estate to the exclusion of his wife and daughter is in my judgment the strongest support of the will, which faithfully reflects those intentions.
Two years ago he stated to Charles Munger, a cousin, that he intended to give his property to Gertrude, as his relatives did not care for him, and he did not propose to give them anything.
In August, 1901, he said to a friend that Mrs. Moore had been kind to him, and he thought a good deal of her, and he intended she should have all he had to give. She was not with him at this time. The testator also stated to Mrs. Gordon, wife of the proprietor of the Holland Hotel, before he had made the will and before Mrs. Moore had come to take care of him in his last illness, that what he had should go to Mrs. Moore.
He also said he did not wish to see his wife or daughter, and they made no effort to see him for a long period previous to his death, although living within twenty-five miles, and the contestant was at Fishkill Landing shortly before he died.
There is no evidence of any delusion or irrational act on the part of the testator, but on the contrary the evidence is abundant that he was a man of strong mind and of clearest perception and intellect, which is a condition usually present with consumptives. He directed his busisness affairs from his bedside when physically unable to attend to them down to January 1, 1902.
The will was drawn from his personal instructions and the witnesses to the will say that the execution was entirely voluntary, and unrestrained.
There is no evidence of importunity, coercion of any facts or circumstances that show that the testator ever contemplated any other disposition of his property, or that his will power was either affected or overcome by influence, or was at all susceptible to it.
While the testator occasionally wrote to his daughter it is quite apparent that they were not on terms of intimacy, and that the testator had fully determined that neither his wife nor daughter with whom the relationship of husband and father existed only in name, should receive any portion of his estate, and he so expressed himself with great freedom when unsurrounded by any of the influences alleged to have been present on other occasions.
There is no proof of any act on his part indicating that any importunity was being made or that he was laboring under any false impression as to his duty.
This will is the result of his desire to compensate his grandniece for her services through his illness. It was his privilege to estimate the value of those services without regard to the adequacy of the consideration.
Speculation as to the nature of their relations can lead to no solution which would affect the case from a legal standpoint.
There is not sufficient evidence to sustain a finding of the testator's incapacity. The only direct proof on the subject is as to his weak physical condition. He was unquestionably enfeebled physically, at the time of making his will, and for months previously, but no inference of testamentary incapacity can be drawn from that. Matter of Drake, 45 A.D. 206, and numerous cases there cited.
In the case of Dobie v. Armstrong, 160 N.Y. 584, the testator gave the bulk of his property to a college, and made no provision for his son, who was his only child. The Court of Appeals decided that the burden was upon the son to adduce evidence which would be sufficient to uphold a verdict that the testator was the victim of such a delusion with respect to his son as to prevent his affections from operating in their natural channels, and where there is a failure of proof of a delusion in his domestic relations, but the proof is abundant that they were sufficiently unfortunate and unhappy, whether attributable to his behavior or not, to embitter him and harden his affections against his son, a verdict sustaining the will was properly directed by the court.
The presumption of validity of a will is not affected by failure to provide for a son, nor overcome by showing that the testator was of advanced age, and testamentary disposition of property is not invalidated because its provisions are unequal or unjust or the result of passion or of other unworthy, or unjustifiable sentiments. Horn v. Pullman, 72 N.Y. 269. Many other authorities might be cited to sustain a finding of the testator's capacity from the evidence presented, among which are: Matter of Iredale, 53 A.D. 45; Matter of White, 121 N.Y. 406.
It has been proven that the beneficiary stated after the execution of the will that she was going to have one of the executors removed. The will was not subsequently changed, and this remark while having no direct bearing on the question of influence is the only inkling of it in the case. Beyond it nothing but inference exists. That circumstance would avail nothing when the well-established principles as to what constitutes undue influence are considered.
The contestant must not only show the opportunity to exercise undue influence, but that it was actually exerted, and that it overpowered the will of the testator. Opportunity and motive do not justify an inference of undue influence. Matter of Gihon, 44 A.D. 621; Matter of Keefe, 47 id. 214; Matter of Westerman, 29 Misc. 409; Matter of Mondorf, 110 N.Y. 450.
Influence to be undue must be irresistible, and must have been exercised by coercion, imposition, or fraud, which must be proved. Matter of Read, 17 Misc. 195.
It must be shown that the influence was sufficient to destroy free agency, and that testator was constrained to do something which was against his free will and desire. Matter of McGraw, 9 A.D. 372. And it must be such as to suppress the independent volition of the testator. Matter of Blair, 16 Daly, 540.
Undue influence must be established affirmatively by circumstances and acts, and in such a way that the court can clearly see that the will of another has overcome that of the testator. Matter of Murphy, 41 A.D. 153; Matter of Snelling, 136 N.Y. 515.
The contestant certainly has not borne the burden of proving incapacity and undue influence within the requirements of any of the numerous authorities.
The application for probate is granted.
Probate granted.