In re the Will of Ricks

BROCK, Chief Judge. The caveators assign as error the admission of testimony from propounder’s witnesses bearing upon the mental capacity of the testator. It has long been the rule in this State that one not an expert may give an opinion, founded upon observation, that a certain person is sane or insane. Whitaker v. Hamilton, 126 N.C. 465, 35 S.E. 815 (1900). Where opportunity for observation is shown, the extent of such observation affects the weight to be given the opinion testimony, not its admissibility. In re Will of Brown, 203 N.C. 347, 166 S.E. 72 (1932). This assignment of error is overruled. Caveators assign as error the admission of the testimony of Grady Venton Ricks, the sole beneficiary under the will offered for probate, of transactions with testator surrounding the drafting and signing of the contested will. Before the testimony was given and immediately following the testimony, the trial judge gave cautionary instructions to the jury. In these instructions he undertook to limit the jury’s consideration of the testimony to its bearing upon the witness’s opinion of testator’s mental capacity. General Statute 8-51 does not prevent an interested witness, where there is an issue of mental capacity, from relating personal transactions and communications between the witness and a decedent as a basis for his opinion as to the mental capacity of the decedent; however, the statute requires rejection of such testimony of personal transactions and communications between an interested witness and a decedent when it affirmatively tends to prove vital and material facts which contradict the charge of undue influence. Whitley v. Redden, 276 N.C. 263, 171 S.E. 2d 894 (1970) ; In re Will of Chisman, 175 N.C. 420, 95 S.E. 769 (1918). [651] In this case the “issue of undue influence exerted upon the testator by Grady Venton Ricks, the sole beneficiary under the will offered for probate, was raised by the caveat and was submitted to the jury. The challenged testimony related solely to conversations and transactions between the witness, Grady Venton Ricks, and the testator. It related a request by testator that the witness take her to have a will drawn; the witness making an appointment with an attorney at testator’s request; the witness driving testator to the attorney’s office at testator’s request; testator’s instruction to the attorney on the provisions of her will; the witness driving testator back to the attorney’s office to sign the will; the attorney’s explanation to testator of what the will provided; the testator’s statement that it was like she wanted it; the testator’s request of the attorney and his secretary to sign as witnesses; and testator’s request of the attorney that he keep the will in a safe place for her. These conversations and transactions with the testator testified to by the witness were not casual conversations and transactions upon some indifferent subjects admitted in evidence as a basis for forming an opinion upon the sanity of the testator. These declarations and transactions constitute very vital evidence tending to establish the will and to rebut the charge of undue influence. Such declarations and transactions may not be proven by a witness interested in the result of the action. In re Will of Chisman, supra. The challenged testimony was so directed and weighted towards proving facts essential to establish the will as the voluntary act of the testator and rebut the charge of undue influence, rather than the basis of the witness’s opinion as to sanity, that it became impossible for the trial judge to effectively remove the prejudice to caveators by á limiting instruction. Therefore, a limiting instruction by the court could not make the evidence admissible. Whitley v. Redden, supra. New trial. Judge Morris concurs.