Boland v. Claudel

Erwin, J. This was a proceeding to contest the will of Peter Claudel, and to set aside the probate thereof, brought by appellees against appellants, which resulted by the verdict of the jury, in setting aside the will on the ground that said Claudel was of unsound mind at the time he undertook to execute his will. The appellants assign as error here, (1) the court erred in sustaining appellees’ motion to strike from the files said appellants’ answer in abatement; (2) the court erred in overruling the motion of the appellants, except Edward C. James, for a new trial. 1. 2. [297] 3. [296] No question is raised as to the sufficiency of the complaint, which is in one paragraph and contains the statutory causes for setting aside a will. To this complaint the defendant, Edward C. James, filed a separate answer in two paragraphs, the first, a general denial, the second disclaiming any interest under the will, and averring that the testator was, at the time of the pretended execution of the will, a person of unsound mind, and incapable of making a will. The other defendants, appellants herein, made full appearance, and without withdrawing the general appearance, one of the appellants, a corporation, filed a plea in abatement, setting up the fact that it was being sued in the wrong name, and prayed that the action abate. This plea in abatement was, on the motion of appellees, stricken from the files. This action of the court constitutes the first assignment of error in this court. The court did not err in this ruling, for the reason that a plea in abatement must precede a plea in bar, and cannot be filed after a general appearance. Brink v. Reid (1889), 122 Ind. 257, 23 N. E. 770; Watts v. Sweeney (1890), 127 [297] Ind. 116, 26 N. E. 680, 22 Am. St. 615; Carmien v. Conde (1897), 148 Ind. 279, 46 N. E. 998; Eel River R. Co. v. State, ex rel. (1900), 155 Ind. 433, 57 N. E. 388; Chicago, etc., R. Co. v. Grantham (1905), 165 Ind. 279, 75 N. E. 265. A special appearance and a plea in abatement after a full appearance comes too late and should be stricken from the files. If appellant was sued by the wrong name, it could, on motion made at any time during the progress of the trial, have the proper name inserted in tbe pleadings; but in no event will it be cause to abate tbe action if, in fact tbe proper party in interest bas been served with summons and bas appeared to tbe action. 4. The second assignment of error is tbe overruling of tbe motion for a new trial. In tbe motion for a new trial, tbe appellants assign as reason therefor, tbe giving by tbe court on its own motion, instructions Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8; that tbe court erred in refusing to give instructions Nos. 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 15, tendered by appellants; that tbe verdict of tbe jury is not sustained by sufficient evidence and is contrary to law. Appellants also-assign as cause for a new trial, error of tbe court in admitting certain testimony of one Edward O. James, but bave waived this specification by tbeir failure to state any error in tbeir points and propositions in relation to the same in tbeir brief. 5. The only question remaining is as to tbe instructions of the court, and the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain tbe verdict. We have examined tbe instructions tendered by appellants and refused, and since they state tbe law of tbe case it would bave been error to refuse them, if tbe court bad not covered tbe law as therein set out, with instructions given. Tbe instructions of tbe court covered fully every phase of tbe case, including wbat did and wbat did not constitute unsoundness of mind; wbat would and wbat would not be undue influence; wbat constituted a proper execution of tbe will, as to signing and witnessing; tbe burden of proof and facts necessary to be proven to [298] set aside the will, with every phase of the law, covering the facts and controversy in the case, in several instances, more favorable to appellants, than asked for. 6. 7. The only question remaining is as to the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the verdict. The jury found by its verdict that the testator was of unsound mind at the time of the pretended execution of the will. The facts surrounding the making of the will are, that prior to June 24, 1910, Peter Claudel was a bachelor and lived alone on a farm, doing his own housework; that he was taken sick early in that month suffering with uremic poisoning, and was taken to the home of Edward C. James; that in the making of the will it was necessary frequently to arouse testator from a stupor into which he had been more or less for several days; that when the will was signed, the scrivener took testator’s hand in his and guided the pen; that it was necessary to hold him up in bed while the will was being signed; that after the signing of the will, testator lapsed into a state of unconsciousness from which he never recovered; that when the will was prepared it was read over to him by items, and that he assented to everything there written; that he never said anything after the will was signed, except, “lay me down.” That he died soon after. Several doctors testified that persons so near death with uremic poisoning were of unsound mind. Several witnesses who visited testator on the day before the will was made and after the will was made, but on the same day, gave it as their opinion, after relating unsuccessful efforts to converse with testator, that he was of unsound mind. In our opinion, there was at least sufficient evidence introduced in the case to form an issue of fact as to testator’s testamentary capacity and that issue having been submitted to the jury, which found against the validity of the will, this court could not, if it so desired, invade the province of the jury and weigh the evidence. Cleveland, [299] etc., R. Co. v. Simpson ( ) — Ind. —, 104 N. E. 301, and cases cited. There being no reversible error, tbe judgment is affirmed. Note. — Reported in 104 N. E. 577. See, also, under (1) 1 Cyc. 130; (3) 31 Cyc. 173; (4) 2 Cyc. 1014; 3 Cyc. 388; (5) 38 Cyc. 1711; (6) 40 Cyc. 1023; (7) 3 Cyc. 348. As to the effect of partial insanity upon testamentary capacity, see 41 Am. Rep. 686.