Stoelker v. Thornton

STONE, O. J. The present bill seeks to bring Stoelker, the executor, to a settlement of the estate of Charles J. Watson, deceased, and to have certain described funds distributed to complainants, who are next of kin to Watson. Stoelker resists the recovery, and insists that the entire funds in controversy are his property, This is five thousand dollars; — 244 — two thousand of it being a benefit secured to "Watson in a benevolent society, known as the “Ancient Order of United Workmen,” and the other three thousand dollars being the sum of two like benefits or policies due to Watson from the society known as the “Knights of Pythias.” Each of these sums was payable on the death of Watson, with certain provisos which were complied with. After the death of Watson, and the probate of the will, the two societies severally paid to Stoelker the amounts called for in the policies. Stoelker was the only creditor, and his claim, exclusive of the funeral and administration expenses, was a little less than one thous- and dollars. The one certificate declared, that Watson was “entitled to all the rights and privileges of membership in ‘Ancient Order of United Workmen,’ and to participate in the beneficiary fund of the order to the amount of two thousand dollar’s,” payable to his estate at his death, with conditions, which, as we have said, we need not state here. The other two certificates, or policies, aggregating three thousand dollars, were issued by the society, or order, known as the .“Knights of Pythias.” These also had conditions not necessary to be noticed here. They severally secured the sums of one and two thousand dollars, to be paid “to the estate of the said Charles J. Watson, as directed by said brother in his application, or to such other person or persons as he may subsequently direct by will or otherwise, and entered upon the records of the Supreme Master of the Exchequer, upon due notice and proof of death, and good standing in the rank at the time of the death.” These several certificates or policies were issued in 1880, and by their terms, and by the rules of said societies, the member holding them was bound to make certain payments when called on, as a condition of keeping them alive. It is neither averred nor shown that Watson, when he made his application for membership in the society known as “Knights of Pythias,” directed or designated therein any person, to whom the benefit money was to be paid at his death; nor is it averred or shown that any direction, given by will or otherwise, was ever “entered upon the records of the Supreme Master of the Exchequer.” Until 1883 Watson paid all the calls made upon him, and kept each of said policies alive. At that time, his health having failed, and desiring to travel as a means of restoring it, he entered into the following agreement with Stoelker: He owed Stoelker over four hundred dollars, and in payment — 245 — o£ said indebtedness, and in consideration of other five hundred dollars paid and agreed to be paid by Stoelker to him, he agreed to sell said three policies, or benefit certificates, to Stoelker; he, Stoelker, assuming to pay all calls that might thereafter be made on said policies, or benefit certificates. Pursuant to this agreement, Watson petitioned the two societies to have Stoelker substituted as the beneficiary in each of the policies. The society known as the “Ancient Order of United Workmen” conformed to Watson’s directions, and substituted Stoelker as the beneficiary in the policy it had issued. The “Knights of Pythias” had a regulation, that policies issued by that society could not become the subject of sale for a valuable consideration, but could pass to a beneficiary for love and affection only. It refused to recognize the sale and transfer to Stoelker, and refused to substitute him as the beneficiary. In March, 1884, Watson executed his last will and testament, and therein bequeathed to Stoelker said two policies issued by the “Knights of Pythias,” describing him as a friend who had befriended him, and making no allusion to the debt, nor' to the transfer. It appointed Stoelker executor; and Watson dying in June afterwards, the will was proven and established. There is no averment nor proof that Watson was not mentally capable of making a will, nor is there imputation of fraud or undue influence in its procurement. The assault made upon it will be stated further on. It is not charged or pretended that Stoelker did not perform all he promised, and did not pay the five hundred dollars to Watson, and did not meet all calls that were made a condition on which the vitality of said policies was to be preserved. Each society paid the amount of the policies to Stoelker, and, as we have said, the present suit was instituted to obtain the distribution of the fund among Watson’s next of kin. He died without lineal descendants. The right of recovery in this case is based on the following propositions: That the benefit certificates are, in substance, life-insurance policies on Watson’s life; that a stranger, such as Stoelker was, has no insurable interest, and can neither sue out, nor lawfully acquire insurance on his life, while he, Watson, was living; that, as a consequence, the attempted sale of the policies to Stoelker in 1883 was against public policy, and was void; and that the transaction shows on its face that the will of 1884 was executed simply as a means of carrying into effect the illegal agreement of — 246 — sale made in 1883. On these grounds it is contended, that Stoelker can only claim to the extent he was a creditor of Watson, for to that extent only had he an insurable interest. We will first consider this case on the agreement of sale made in 1883, and independently of the will. It is very clear that the attempted contract of sale of the benefit certificate issued by the society of the “Knights of Pythias,” was inoperative and void. It was against public policy for Stoelker to insure Watson’s life, and it was equally so for him to purchase and hold such insurance while Watson was in life. An additional reason is found in that society’s regulation, that its benefit certificates can not be sold for a valuable consideration. So, if this controversy rested alone on the agreement of 1883, not recognized as valid by the “Knights of Pythias,” Stoelker had no valid claim which he could have asserted against that society. Ruse v. Mut. Benefit Ins. Co., 23 N. Y. 516; Stevens v. Warren, 101 Mass. 564; Franklin Ins. Co. v. Hazzard, 41 Ind. 116; People, ex rel. v. The Golden Rule, 114 Ill. 34; Mo. Val. Life Ins. Co. v. Sturges, 18 Kans. 93; Same v. McCrum, 36 Ib. 146; Warnock v. Davis, 104 U. S. 775; Helmetag v. Miller, 76 Ala. 183; Ala. G. L. Ins. Co. v. Mobile Mut. Ins. Co., 81 Ala. 329. The certificate issued by the “Ancient Order of United Workmen” stands on a different footing. It is not shown that that society has any regulation forbidding the transfer of its benefit certificates for a valuable consideration. As matter of fact, it did recognize the validity of the sale and conveyance made in 1883, and, in pursuance of Watson’s request, issued a new benefit certificate, in which Stoelker was named as the beneficiary. Now, while it may be true that it was against public policy for Stoelker to own a-benefit certificate, or life policy, on the life of Watson while the latter was living, that, as a mere matter of contract right, was a question between the society and Stoelker. The society waived the objection, if under its rules it could object, and having, paid the money, no other mere stranger or volunteer can gainsay its rightful payment. Nor was there anything unconscionable or unreasonable on the face of the transaction. Watson was combatting disease, and was struggling to restore his health and prolong his life. He was without money, and was therefore without the means of travel, which he hoped might give him relief. Failing to meet calls, as without money he must have — 247 — failed, the certificates and insurance would have become forfeit, and could have benefited no one. The length of his life could not have been foreknown, and hence it could not be reasonably conjectured to what extent Stoelker would be taxed to meet the society’s calls. And the contract was not of Stoelker’s seeking, but was brought about at the request and solicitation of Watson. There is no merit in this feature of the present suit. Wills are ambulatory, and have no binding effect during the life of the testator. The public policy which forbids a mere stranger, having no insurable interest, to take out or otherwise acquire insurance on the life of another, does not prevent one holding life insurance from disposing of the benefit by will. There is no wager in this, any more than there is in testamentary disposition of any other species of property. — Bison v. Wilkerson, 3 Sneed, 565; Weil v. Trafford, 3 Tenn. Ch. 108; Williams v. Carson, 2 Ib. 269; Tennessee Lodge v. Ladd, 5 Tenn. Rep. 716; Highland v. Highland, 109 Ill. 366; s. c., 13 Bradw., 510; Catholic Ben. Asso. v. Priest, 46 Mich. 429; Clark v. Durand, 12 Wis. 223; Gambo v. Cov. Mut. Life Ins. Co., 50 Mo. 44; Swift v. Benefit Asso., 96 Ill. 309; Bickerton v. Jacques,.. 28 Hun, 119; Union Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Stevens, 19 Fed. Rep. 671. No authority has been cited, nor can we imagine any reason, why the illegal attempt made by Watson to sell the benefit certificates to Stoelker should, per se, disable him from afterwards making a will, securing the same benefit. The agreement to sell was void — not because its effect was to pay a debt, but because it is against public policy that one man shall hold insurance on the life of another, in whose life he has no insurable interest, and the regulations of the society made it unlawful to traffic in its benefit certificates. Neither of these objections can be urged against testamentary disposition. None of the ordinary grounds of contest are urged against the validity of Mr. Watson’s will, such as want of mental capacity, undue influence, fraud in its procurement, &c. Stripped to its nakedness, the sole objection is, that Watson owed Stoelker money, felt gráteful to him for his kindness and indulgence, and bequeathed his property to him, a stranger, to the exclusion of his blood relations. Have we authority to set aside a will on this account ? In Sherrod v. Sherrod, 38 Ala. 537, 563, is this language: “A testator may give no reasons, or very foolish reasons, for his acts; yet, if he have testamentary capacity, his will must — 248 — be carried into effect.” And in Manigault v. Deas, 1 Bailey Eq. 302, speaking of tbe capacity of a testator, it was said: “If he will, be may indulge bis partialities and prejudices, and exercise wisdom or folly in tbe disposition of bis estate.” We should be reluctant to bold tbat a will prompted by no known motive would be valid, while if it was tbe result, in whole or in part, of a sense of a- pecuniary obligation, tbat alone would require us to set it aside. Tbe void attempt to sell tbe benefit certificates did not disable Watson to execute tbe will. He unquestionably bad capacity to bequeath bis property to any other stranger. He bad equal capacity to bequeath it to Stoelker. The benefit certificates provide, tbat their several sums be paid “to tbe estate of tbe said Charles J. Watson, as directed by said brother in bis application, or to such other person or persons as be may subsequently direct, by will or otherwise, and entered upon tbe records of the Supreme Master of Exchequer.” It is contended, tbat because Watson’s testamentary direction is not shown to have been “entered upon the record of tbe Supreme Master of tbe Exchequer,” Stoelker can claim no right under the will. It is difficult to see bow this requirement can be complied with, if intended to be applicable to testamentary direction. As wills take effect only at tbe death of tbe testator, it would seem tbat no time is allowed for entering tbe direction on tbe “record of tbe Supreme Master of Exchequer.” But we need not decide this question. If there is any thing in it, and we think there is not, only tbe society could object to its omission, and it has not done so. It has acknowledged its liability, and paid tbe money. Tbe complainants show no right to tbe money sued for. The decree of tbe chancellor is reversed, and tbe cause remanded, tbat tbe chancellor may make proper orders in tbe premises. Reversed and remanded. Clopton, J., not sitting.