Seaman v. McLaury — 142 A.D. 547

Majority

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Emma Seaman and Others, Respondents, v. Edward R. McLaury, as Executor, etc., of Jane Blauvelt, Deceased, Appellant, Impleaded with Margaret Stewart and Others, Defendants.

Second Department,

January 31, 1911.

Headnote

Will — action to determine validity — proof not showing undue influence— verdict which may have been based on issue improperly submitted.

Action to determine the validity of a will alleged to have been executed when the testator lacked testamentary capacity and to have been procured by undue influence. Evidence examined, and held, insufficient to justify the submission of the question of undue influence to the jury.

Where the question of undue influence was improperly submitted to the jury and it is impossible to tell whether the verdict for the plaintiff was based upon a finding of lack of testamentary capacity or upon a finding of undue influence, the judgment will be reversed.

Hirschbers and Woodward, JJ., dissented.

Appeal by the-defendant, Edward R. McLaury, as executor, etc., from a judgment of the Supreme Court in favor of the plaintiffs, entered in the office of the clerk of the county of "Westchester on the 29th day of- April, 1910, upon the verdict of a juiy, and also from ail order enjtered in said clerk’s office on the 3d day of May, 1910, denying the said defendant’s motion for a new trial made upon the minutes.

James M. Hunt [John H. Corwin with him on the brief], for the appellant.

Lavinia Lally, for the respondents.

The action is to determine the validity of the will of Jane Blauvelt, who, born in 1820, made her will on December 11, 1907, and died June 6, 1908. The plaintiffs, who, with the defendant Stewart, are nephews and nieces or children of the same, allege that at the time of executing the will the testatrix “was not of sound mind or memory or mentally capable of making a will, and was' an elderly, sick woman and feeble mentally and physically; that the execution thereof, if the same was ever executed by said Jane Blau

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velt, was secured by the fraud and undue influence of one Mary Adams, Mrs. George Rose, Frederick W. Cutler, pastor of said defendant, the First Reformed'Church in. Yonkers, their agents and servants, whereby the intent and purposes of said Jane Blauvelt in making a testamentary disposition of her property was overcome and destroyed and the desires and purposes of” such persons “were substituted therefor.” The allegations in effect are that the. testatrix did not havev testamentary capacity, but that she did.have “intent and purposes * * * in making a testamentary.disposition of her property,” which were thwarted by the fraud' and undue influence of such persons.

It is not necessary, although it admits of discussion, to review in its entirety the evidence of testamentary capacity, as the submission of that issue was accompanied with the question whether such ability,. if existing, wras pervertid by undue influence. The learned justice presiding at the trial moved thereto, it may be, by the decision of this court upon the earlier appeal ( 134 App. Div. 180 ), where there was a different record, most fairly and with helpful- explanation of the applicable law, submitted both questions to the jury, but it is considered that the present- evidence is not sufficiently probative to justify the submission of the issue of undue influence. There is not discovered -evidence that reasonably justifies an inference that the persons accused, individually or collectively, by word, act or suggestion promoted the will or its actual, making, except so far as their unselfish, gracious and devoted visits, companionship and Christian ministrations inspired the testatrix to. the testamentary act. They had no knowledge of her property, or its amount; they refused to discuss' with her the subject of will making or to aid such undertaking, but informed her that it was a matter that concerned her family. Their whole attitude toward the matter indicates the observance-of every propriety, and is consistent with the errand of mercy that brought them to her bedside. In connection with a statement so unreserved, should be considered the testimony of Mrs. Steward with whom she lived, and who was her relative and custodian, as to several conversations with Miss Adams, who, as á member of the King’s.Daughters connected with the "church, made her frequent visits. Mrs. Stewart’s testimony.is to the effect that Miss Adams asked her if she did not think that Mrs. Blauvelt ought

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•to make a will, and that she (Miss Adams) should “ talk to her about it,” and a second time Miss Adams asked whether she did not think she (Miss Adams) had “ better talk to Mrs. Blauvelt,” and a third time Miss Adams said that Mrs. Blauvelt should make a will and leave some money to the church, and that she would talk to her about it. On each occasion Mrs. Stewart assented to Miss Adams talking to Mrs. Blauvelt, and in the two earlier conversations stated that she would not “ get her to make a will,” or “ she never will make a will.” Miss Adams contradicts'this version, and in giving her own testified : “I had frequent conversations with her [Mrs. Stewart], She spoke to me about a will of Mrs. Blauvelt a week or two after Mrs. Blauvelt came back to Yonkers * * * the second time. I met Mrs. Stewart on the street and we stood for a few moments, and she said to me, CI think Aunt Jane is not looking very well.’ I said, ‘ I .think she looks very well.’ She says, •'Yes, but she is failing very much,’ and I said, ‘Do you think it is true what she tells us about Mrs. Ackerman ? ’ She said, ‘ It certainly is, Miss Adams. If you knew Ellen Jane Ackerman as well as I do you would know it was true. I attended her mother’s funeral .and she never asked me to break bread in her house.’ ‘Well,’ I said ‘It is too bad.’ And said, ‘Aunt Jane.never did believe in making a will, but I think after the treatment Mrs. Ackerman has given her that she ought to make a will.’ That is what Mrs. Stewart said. And I said I didn’t blame her for feeling that way. ‘ Well,’ she said, ‘ Miss Adams, if she ever speaks to you about making a will,’ she said, ‘ why don’t you take care of that? ’ I said, ‘No, Mrs. Stewart, I don’t think I have any right to interfere. I think that is a family affair.’ To the best of my knowledge that is all that passed.” Mrs. Stewart on rebuttal did not deny this interview. ‘

But, if the plaintiffs be given the full benefit of Mrs. Stewart’s narration, it appears that the accusation that Miss Adams unduly influenced Mrs. Blauvelt to will her property away from her relatives is sought to be sustained by this evidence that Miss Adams went to the very relative who had the proposed testatrix in charge and asked her opinion as to the propriety of Mrs. Blauvelt making a will, and received a reply that permitted Miss Adams to talk with the testatrix on the subject, with the added assurance that such con-

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' versation would be ineffective. This showed confidence in Miss Adams, or a settled conviction that the testatrix was so mentally strong that her determination not to make a will could not be disturbed. Miss Adams is, by Mrs. Stewart’s testimony^ exhibited as contemplating fraudulent importunity and consulting one of the very persons claimed to have been wronged, and-receiving from her license to employ her influence to that end, with positive assurance of an unsuccessful issue. That testimony, whatever credit or significance be given to it, is in itself, or in connection with any other evidence in the case^ entirely insufficient to support the verdict. But notice the sequence. When the time came for making the will, there were two persons only who brought to the testatrix the persons who drew and witnessed it, namely, Mrs. Blauvelt and Mrs. Stewart — the former the disposing party, and the other her niece, who had her in her care. Mrs. Stewart, testified that she first learned from a neighbor that her aunt, Mrs. Blauvelt, had made a will, and she added : “ I remember the night when Mr. Corwin came to the house with these two gentlemen. I went into- the parlor with them. I took them upstairs. Corwin had a paper in his hand. I never saw the gentleman before. He says, fI have some writings.’ I said, ‘I don’t know anything about it.’ And.so I went in and lit the gas in my aunt’s room. She could never have a light o,n account of her eyes. Then I came out and said, ‘ You may go in and see her.’ ” .. And at his request she got him some ink. On cross-examination she testified: “ I called at the door of Mr. Corwin’s house. As near as I can remember I went there in the morning to Mr. Cor-win’s house and he came that same evening to my house. I am positive as near as I can think. * * - I cannot say positively.

Yes, I left word on. the occasion when I called at Mr. Corwin’s house for him to call at my house to see Mrs. Blauvelt.” This evidence must be considered in connection with the testimony of Mr. Corwin, which Mrs. Stewart, although recalled, did not contradict. He said that he went to Mrs. Stewart’s house “ in pursuance of a message which I received to-go and draw a will for Jane Blauvelt. I received it at my house the night before, on the 10th of Decern-, ber, from my eldest daughter. * * * I.did go in response to that message the following evening. I requested George Offerman and Dr. Holden, * * * on the stand, to go with me: * * *

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We went directly to 22 lia vine Avenue and there first saw Mrs. Stewart, whom I told that I understood that she had been to my house to get me to come and make a will for her aunt, Mrs. Blauvelt. She said she did. I had a further talk with her. When she admitted us to the parlor, 1 asked her whether she expected to be remembered in the will and she said she did, and I told her under the circumstances I always advised, persons not to be present who were to be included in the will, so that it could not be said there was any undue influence. I advised her not to be in the room, and she said, ‘ I don’t want to have anything to do with it.’ When I readied the house that night I did not lcnow Mrs. Stewart. I introduced myself and explained to her that 1 was Mr. Corwin, and that I understood that she had sent for me. She took me into Mrs. Blauvelt’s room; I think she lit the light. The upper part of the house was dark ; before going into the room where Mrs. Blauvelt was I introduced Dr. Holden and Mr. Offerman to Mrs. Stewart by name, and told her I had brought them because I xmderstood . that the lady for whom I was to dx-aw the will was a blind woman, and that I was xxnwilling to take instructions from any blind woman, unless I had witnesses of my own selection with me to hear the instructions. Thereafter Mrs. Stewart took me in and presented me to Mrs. Blauvelt. She introduced me and stated to her the purpose of xny visit. She told her in general that this was Mr. Cor-win, who had come to draw her will! I introduced Dr. Holden and Mr. Olferman to Mrs. Blauvelt.”

Dr. George P. Holden, a physician, residing at Yonkers, gave the following version : “ Whexi we first got into the house we saw Mrs. Stewai’t at the door at the second floor on the stoop. Mr. Corwin told Mrs. Stewart that we had come to draw up Mrs. Blaxxvelt’s will. Mrs. Stewart stepped into the parlor or front room, and Mr. Corwin asked Mrs. Stewart pretty nearly the first thing if she expected to be remembered in the will. And she said she naturally did ; and Mi\ Corwin said, ‘ I think it would be advisable for yon to stay out of the room.’ And then she took us into the room where Mi-s. Blauvelt was. I think she lighted the gas as we went in. Mrs. Stewart introduced all three of us in a general way to Mrs. Blauvelt, and said Mr. Corwin had come to draw the will. Mrs. Blauvelt was lying in bed. Mr. Corwin reported that wo hul

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come to draw the will before Mrs. Stewart left the room.” It is further to be noticed that, as appears from the evidence of Mr. Corwin and Mrs. Rose, Mrs. Rose mentioned to Mr. Corwin, at some time before the will was drawn, that some lady, perhaps giving Mrs. Blauvelt’s name, was likely to send for him to draw her will. As to this, Mrs. Rose testified: “ The .first time I called upon her after I returned, and after she returned to Yonkers, she told me she wished to make a will, and asked me if I knew a lawyer, and' I told her Mr. Corwin, and she wanted to know if he was a good man, and I said he ought to be, he is an elder in our church. And she asked me if I would speak to Mr. Corwin to come to her to make a will. I told her, no; it was none of my affairs; that she should speak to some member of her family, and they would do that for her.” On cross-examination Mrs. Rose gave the following testimony : “I called at Mr. Corwin’s, as I frequently did, on his daughter and his wife, and Mr. Corwin came into the room,' and I told him. So" far as I remember the circumstances, I called there to see his eldest daughter. I don’t remember whether Mrs. Corwin was in the room at the time or not. Mr. Corwin came in from an adjoining room, and I told him — I don’t remember that I even told him the name — that I had told some .one1, that I had mentioned him as a lawyer when she asked me. * * * I am not positive whether I said the name or not.” . It appears from her evidence in the Surrogate’s-Court that she did give the name.

It is undoubted from the evidence that Mrs. Bláuvelt did, after her return to Mrs. Stewart’s, frequently mention to Miss Adams and Mrs. Rose the matter of making a will, and that these ladies declined absolutely to take any part or give any advice respecting it,"and that they did not interfere with the matter, for it can hardly be claimed that giving to the inquiring sick woman the name of a lawyer, and mentioning to him thereafter that she had so given his name, constitutes proof of undue' influence. Mrs! Stewart was the immediate, active, efficient agent ■ pursuant to Mrs. Blauvelt’s request in bringing Mr. Corwin to her' house for the purpose of drawing the will. It should not be inferred from this that the will was of Mrs. Stewart’s contriving, or that through her own inclination and for her own purposes she aided or abetted in its execution. But in determining who furthered the wish of Mrs, Blauvelt to

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make the will, and who, willingly or otherwise, concerted with her in finding means to do so, the evidence points unerringly to Mrs. Stewart, and not to any of the persons charged hy the plaintiffs^ Mr. Corwin, as appears hy his own evidence and that of Dr. Holden and Mr. Offennan, conducted himself with an honorable regard for his profession. He found that the testatrix was a woman bedridden, very defective in sight, enfeebled by age, and he used circumspection, caution and inquiry, and made such suggestions as the occasion demanded. When he found that she contemplated leaving all her property to the church he sought for the reasons that induced the exclusion of her relatives. The testatrix exhibited an intention and purpose which, if she was mentally capable, she had a right to have, but nevertheless she so far modified them as to give to Mrs. Stewart a legacy which approximates her distributive share of Mrs. Blauvelt’s estate so far as the will indicates it. The evidence given by Mr. Corwimand the witnesses shows no attempt to coerce or misguide her, or. that they attempted to further any scheme in that regard, and moreover indicates a testamentary capacity that the law would respect.

Something concerning her condition may be noticed as it bears upon the ease or difficulty of importuning her successfully. Hp to August 1, 1904, Mrs. Blauvelt lived alone at Tappan. Her age had brought serious physical infirmities. In' July, 1904, she wrote to her nieces, Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. Ackerman, a letter revealing physical and mental suffering, wherein she asks them “ to take me to board with you if you will take me, and you will be rewarded for it.” Pursuant thereto she made her home with Mrs. Stewart at Yonkers until November, 1905, when she changed her residence to that of her niece, Mrs. Ackerman, in Westwood, N. J. At this time the plaintiffs by their brief advise the court of a condition that indicates testamentary capacity. Mrs. Ackerman had charge of Mrs. Blauvelt’s property, but she was burdened with the care of her mother, and on September 21, 1907, Mrs. Blauvelt returned to Mrs. Stewart’s house, at and following which there was unmistakable increase of her helplessness. Given this state of health, the opportunity to influence, and a will that carried largely her property from her kin, especially Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Ackerman and Mrs. Seaman, whose attentions and care, involving offices burden

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some and often offensive, yet this does not show that the defendants by fraud and undue influence brought about the result, even though the legacy seem disproportioned to what would be expected from mere social and religious intercourse. Persons disseminating mercies may not be presumed to have so.,misconducted, even if their compassion did induce the recipient to extravagant reward. Misinterpretation of attentions intended to be kindly and helpful, and an unjust ascription of sinister or malign motives cannot be substituted for proof of wrongdoing, otherwise works of mercy could not escape accusation.

It cannot be known from the present ■ record what would have been the verdict of the jury on the issue of testamentary capacity disassociated from that of undue influence, for the two questions have been blended so as to confuse and misdirect inquiry and ascertainment. A consideration of the weight of evidence on the issue of testamentary capacity should await a verdict uninfluenced by a colorable attempt to establish undue influence.

The judgment and order should he reversed and a new trial granted, costs to. abide the event.

Jenks, P. J., and Rich, J., concurred; Hirschberg and Woodward, JJ., dissented.

Judgment and order reversed and new trial granted, costs to abide the event.