Kutzner v. Meyers

Lairy, J. Appellee brought this action to obtain the appointment of a guardian for appellant upon the ground that [671] be was about 85 years of age and that he was incapable of managing bis estate and business affairs by reason of bis advanced age. Tbis proceeding was instituted under tbe provisions of an act of tbe legislature of tbis State wbicb provides that, “"Whenever any person shall file bis complaint in tbe court having probate jurisdiction in any county to tbe effect that any inhabitant of such county is incapable of managing bis estate or business affairs because of old age, * * * such court shall cause not less than ten days’ notice of tbe filing of such complaint to be given such person * * *” Acts 1911 p. 533, §3111a Burns 1914. Section 2 of tbe act provides “If upon trial, such person shall be found to be incapable of managing bis estate or business affairs for any reason provided in tbis act, such court shall appoint a guardian for such person and bis estate, who shall give bond and be in all things under like restrictions and act in tbe same manner and with tbe same powers and duties as in tbe ease of guardians for minors; * * Acts 1911 p. 533, §3111b Burns 1914. 1. [672] 2. [671] Appellant unsuccessfully demurred to tbe petition, and tbe ruling of tbe court on such demurrer is assigned as error. Tbe first objection wbicb we shall notice is tbe one by wbicb appellant assails tbe validity of the statute under wbicb tbe proceeding is brought, upon tbe ground that it violates subdivision 1 of tbe 14th amendment to tbe Federal Constitution and also §21, Art. 1 of tbe Constitution of tbis State. It is contended that tbe statute provides a means by wbicb old persons can be deprived of liberty and property without due process of law and that it denies to such persons tbe equal protection of tbe law. Tbe statute in question makes provision for due process of law. It provides that notice of tbe proceeding shall be given to tbe person whose rights are to be affected thereby and that the issues shall be tried and determined by a legally constituted tribunal. Tbis constitutes due process of law within tbe meaning of tbe 14th amendment to the Federal [672] Constitution. Leeper v. Texas (1891), 139 U. S. 462, 11 Sup. Ct. 577, 35 L. Ed. 225; Iowa Cent. R. Co. v. Iowa (1896), 160 U. S. 389, 16 Sup. Ct. 344, 40 L. Ed. 467; Rogers v. Peck (1905), 199 U. S. 425, 26 Sup. Ct. 87, 50 L. Ed. 256; Appleby v. City of Buffalo (1911), 221 U. S. 524, 31 Sup. Ct. 699, 55 L. Ed. 838. The statute in question applies to and may be enforced against all persons who, on account of old age have become incapable of managing their estates or business affairs. It does not arbitrarily select any person or class of persons to which it shall apply, but it applies to all persons under like conditions and circumstances. It applies to any person and to every person who by reason of old age is incapable of managing his estate or business affairs. If all persons similarly circumstanced and situated are treated alike under the law, no person can be said to be deprived of the equal protection of the law. Caldwell v. Texas (1891), 137 U. S. 692, 11 Sup. Ct. 224, 34 L. Ed. 816; Missouri Pac. R. Co. v. Mackey (1888), 127 U. S. 205, 8 Sup. Ct. 1161, 32 L. Ed. 107. 3. 4. It is not claimed that the classification made by the act is unreasonable or arbitrary. It has been always the policy of the State to protect those who by reason of youth or incapacity were incapable of managing their estates by placing their property in the hands of guardians or conservators. There is no reason apparent to the court why the same protection should not be extended to persons in their second childhood as is given to infants and persons of unsound mind or habitual drunkards. Devin v. Scott (1870), 34 Ind. 67. The provisions of §21, Art. 1 of our State Constitution have no application to a case of this kind. When the property of a person is placed in the hands of a guardian or conservator to be managed and preserved for his use and benefit, it is not taken by law in such a sense as to require that compensation shall be made under the provisions of this section. [673] 5'. [672] The petition is not open to any of the other objections [673] urged against it. It states the facts showing the disability of appellant as required by the statute and shows that he was at the time a resident of the county where the petition was filed. Some other facts are alleged which will be treated as surplusage. The fact that shortly before the proceeding was filed appellant was the owner of real estate of the value of $3,800 and that he had conveyed it to Louisa Lamb for the consideration of one dollar as expressed in the deed and that no other consideration passed for such conveyance and that the same was obtained by fraud and undue influence, even if properly and directly alleged would tender no issue which could be properly tried and determined in a proceeding of this character. The trial court did not attempt to determine any such issue and the allegations defectively made in reference to such conveyance did not render the complaint insufficient as against a demurrer. 6. The statute does not require that the person who files the petition should show that he has any interest in the estate of the person for whom the appointment of a guardian is sought, nor does it require that facts should be stated in the petition showing that such person is possessed of an estate. It is not to be presumed that a court will appoint a guardian unless some necessity for such appointment is shown, and, where the appointment of a guardian for a person is sought upon the ground that he is incapable of managing his estate or business affairs on account of old age, the court would, no doubt, require proof that such person had some property to be controlled by the guardian or that he was interested in some affairs of a business nature which required attention. 7. [674] 8. [673] It is also assigned as error that the court erred in overruling appellant’s motion for a new trial. Under this assignment several questions are presented. The court did not err in excluding evidence as to the mental capacity of appellant to mate a deed at the time he [674] conveyed certain real estate to Louisa Lamb. The validity of such deed was not in issue and could not be decided in this proceeding. The evidence of Joseph Turk by which he identified the record containing the deed from appellant to Louisa Lamb and the admission of the record in evidence did not harm appellant, and we think it was proper. When considered in connection with other evidence in the case, it shows that appellant, a short time before this proceeding was commenced, had conveyed to Louisa Lamb real estate of the value of about $2,800 and that no money was paid or agreed to be paid for such eonyeyance, the only consideration being that Louisa Lamb agreed to keep the grantor and to look after him. Having in mind the age of appellant and his mental condition incident thereto as shown by the evidence, it was proper for the court to consider these facts in determining whether a guardian should be appointed. The evidence is sufficient to sustain the finding, and the motion for a new trial was properly overruled. 9. Section 3057 Burns 1914, §2513 R. S. 1881, providing that an infant over .fourteen years of age shall have a right to select a guardian, and that the court shall appoint the one selected, if a suitable person, applies only to the appointment of guardians for infants. The provision of this act which requires the guardian to give bond and to be under like restrictions and to act in the same manner and with the same powers and duties as the guardians of infants refers to the manner in which the duties of the trust shall be performed by the guardian after the appointment. The court did not err in refusing to permit appellant to select his guardian. Finding no reversible error the judgment is affirmed. Note. — Reported in 108 N. E. 115. As to what is due process of law, see 48 Am. Dec. 538; 20 Am. St. 554. See, also, under (1) 8 Cyc. 895; (2) 8 Cyc. 1058; (3, 9) 22 Cyc. 1139; (4) 8 Cyc. 1124; (5, 6, 7, 8) 22 Cyc. 1143.