Callahan v. Riggins

Ellison, J. This action is based on the following account: ‘ ‘ In the matter of the estate of Truman E. Markley, deceased. The estate of Truman E. Markley, deceased, in account with Almeda J. Callahan, for services rendered as housekeeper for said Truman E. Markley in his lifetime at his instance and request, from the twentieth day of March, 1881, to January 24, 1888, as follows: Prom March 20,1881 to March 20, 1882, as housekeeper, $100 ; from March 20, 1882, to March 20, 1883, as housekeeper, $100; from March 20, 1883, to March 20, 1884, as housekeeper, $100; from March 20, 1884, to, March 20, 1885, as housekeeper, $100; from March 20, 1885, to March 20, 1886, as housekeeper, $100; from March 20, 1886, to March 20, 1887, as housekeeper, $100; from March 20, 1887, to January 24, 1888, and taking care decedent’s stock, $100; for boarding Geo. L. Markley, son of decedent, fifty-two weeks at $1 per week, $52; for money paid out for medical attendance on said Geo. L. Markley, and for clothing and school books, $12; total amount due, $764.” The judgment was for the defendant in the circuit court, and plaintiff brings the case here. The case shows without controversy that plaintiff was a sister of the deceased; that deceased’s wife had died leaving him with two small children; that just before his wife’s death he sent for plaintiff to come to his house ; that she was then unmarried and living with her brother-in-law as a member of his family, receiving no compensation; that she went to deceased’s house and lived with him up to his death (a period of six or seven years) as one of the family; that she faithfully performed general household services; that she had charge, control and management of the children and domestic affairs about in the same way a wife would; that no express contract was made as to compensation; that nothing was ever said by her or deceased to one another about a contract [135] or compensation ; but that deceased declared or said at different times to others that plaintiff should be well paid ; that she should not lose anything ; that she had performed for him service he could not have done without ; that he intended to provide for her ; that they lived together affectionately and kindly as would be expected of brother and sister; that they went to church and into society in each other’s company; that just before his death deceased made a will in which he provided as follows: “First, I appoint my sister, Almeda J. Markley, my executrix to manage and control all my property and effects of which I am possessed for the use and benefit of herself and my son, George Leland Markley, as long as she remains single and unmarried, and lives with my son on my farm until my said son, George Leland, arrives to the age of twenty-one (21) years old, at which time, if my said sister, Almeda J., continues single, I bequeath to her one,-third part of all lands that I now possess as additional compensation for her trouble and watchcare over my child. My sister, Almeda Jane, is to have entire control of my lands and property until my son is twenty-one years old.” Plaintiff took possession of the property; sold personal property, and took notes for purchase money in her own name; she married several months after her brother’s death and removed from the farm, and afterwards, about sixteen months after the death, presented the claim herein. I. The first question we are asked to review is, as to the court’s action in excluding plaintiff as a witness in her own behalf, wherein it was sought to have her testify in relation to certain statements which according to witnesses for the defense she had made since the death of deceased. These statements were made after the probate of the will but before the appointment of the administrator. Our opinion is that the circuit [136] court was right in excluding plaintiff. The provision-of the statute by way of exception is as follows : “Where an executor or administrator is a party, the-other party shall not be admitted to testify in his own favor, unless the contract in issue was originally made with a person who is living and competent to testify, except as to such acts and contracts as have been done or made since the probate of the will or the appointment of the administrator.” The main provision of this statute and what we have not quoted is to enable-parties to testify who were disabled by the common law. But in order to maintain equality as near as possible the exception is made that where one party is-disabled by death the other shall not testify; and that where an executor or administrator is a party the other party shall be disabled, unless where the contract is. made with a person living and competent to testify and except as to acts and contracts done or made’ since the probate of the will or tl^e appointment of the administrator. The literal meaning of this exception is to confine the right of the other party to testify to those things which have occurred since there was an opposite party legally qualified to care for and protect the opposing interests. In case of an executor this is by the probate of the will; in case of an administrator it is by the granting of letters. If “acts” were “done” between the time of the probate of the will and the qualifying of the executor as provided by law, we need not say what the result would be, further than to remark, that possibly there are things which would affect the executor as trustee, as distinguished from his executorship, and which, therefore, might not require his having qualified as executor in order to enable the other party to testify to those things happening since the probate of the will, but of this we make no decision. Some confusion has arisen in the adjudications of the question like the one before us. The cases of Ring [137] v. Jamison, Adm'r, 66 Mo. 424, and. Woods v. Matthews, 73 Mo. 482, are overruled in respect to this question by the case of Wade v. Hardy, 75 Mo. 394; yet, it does not appear in either of the former cases whether the conversations were before or after the appointment of an administrator. Of the cases cited in Wade v. Hardy, as being opposed to the cases of Ring v. Jamison and Woods v. Matthews, Martin v. Jones, 59 Mo. 181, and Poe v. Domic, 54 Mo. 123, do not appear to have been •cases where an administrator was a party, and, therefore, the question here was not in the mind of the court, nor was the exception to the statute, we are considering, before the court. The other case cited is McGlothlin v. Henry, 59 Mo. 213. That case was where an administrator was a party plaintiff, and Sherwood, J., does ■very properly say that the defendant was a competent witness as to matters occurring between him- and the .administrator. Notwithstanding the Missouri cases cited .and referred to by Judge Hough in Wade v. Hardy, it is clear to my mind that his opinion was that, on the •exceptions to the statute we are here considering, the ■competency of the witness went only to rebutting admissions or statements made since, the appointment ■of the administrator. By reference to the cases from Massachusetts cited therein, it will be found that they so confine the competency of the witness. We, therefore, rule this point against appellant. II. The next objection is as to instructions given and refused. Those given for defendant are earnestly criticised by plaintiff’s counsel, and if disconnected from the evidence some of these criticisms would be just. It is quite true that the mere fact that plaintiff ■was a sister of deceased would not raise a presumption ■.that she was .performing services for him without ■expectation of compensation, but it must be remembered that the case shows without contradiction or ■denial that they were not only brother and sister but [138] that they lived together and occupied a family relation. When such is the case the usual implication of a promise to pay for the performance of valuable service does not obtain, and when such relation is shown to exist at the time of the service it then devolves upon plaintiff to show and establish a contractual relation, express or implied. Considering the instructions as applied to the evidence, which clearly shows the circumstances of this case, we think they are within the principles of law as declared in Wood v. Land, 30 Mo. App. 176; Brock v. Cox, 38 Mo. App. 40; Smith v. Meyers, 19 Mo. 433; Guenther v. Birkicht, 22 Mo. 439; Cornell v. Roberts, 79 Mo. 219. There is no testimony going to show that plaintiff intended or expected to charge for her services. It is true statements of deceased were shown whereby he recognized that his sister was of great assistance to him, and in which he declared she should be provided for. But, when these statements are considered in the light of surrounding facts, they go more to rebut contractual relations than to establish them. The will itself shows that he gave effect to his declarations and intentions by providing for her. We may say as was well said by Judge Martin in Cornell v. Roberts, 79 Mo. 219, it is quite unnatural to presume that Markley, an economical as well as kind-hearted man, would permit a debt owing to his needy sister to run through a series of years without a single payment, and finally to provide a bounty for her by his will without mentioning the debt. ; • We have considered the other different points and suggestions of counsel, but think no error was committed. We are satisfied the verdict was for the right party, and affirm the judgment. All concur.