Lautenshlager v. Lautenshlager

Cahill, J. This case was commenced in the probate — 288 — court of Monroe county on the petition of Samuel L. Lautenshlager and Elizabeth Ann Van Houten, asking for the probating, as the will of Charles Lautenshlager, deceased, of two instruments in writing in the form of deeds. In that court these instruments were admitted to probate. The contestant, John L. Lautenshlager, one of the sons and heirs at law of the testator, appealed to the circuit court, where, on a hearing before the circuit judge without a jury, the order of the probate court was affirmed. At the request of appellant the court filed a written finding, a bill of exceptions was settled, and the case is brought to this Court on writ of error. Certain evidence offered by the proponents was received against objection, and upon the admission of this evidence various errors are assigned. It is also assigned as error that the circuit judge found as a conclusion of law that the instruments admitted to probate as a will were testamentai’y in character, and ought to be admitted to probate as the last will of Charles Lautenshlager, deceased, and the principal question in the case is as to whether the cix’cuit judge was right in that conclusion of law. The instruments were, in form, warranty deeds. They were executed December 22, 1885, before two witnesses, and acknowledged before John L. Near, a notary public, in the usual foi’m. By one of them, the grantor, for the consideration of §2,000 named,- “Does by these presents grant, bargain, sell, x'emise, alien, and confirm unto the party of the second part [Elizabeth Ann Van Houten], and to her heirs and assigns forever [forty acres of land ixx Ash, Monroe county], together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thei’eunto belonging, or in any wise appertaining; to have and to hold the said premises, as above described, with the appurtenances, unto the said party of the second part, to her heirs and assigns forever. " Then follows the usual covenants of seisin, against in — 289 — cumbrances, and of warranty. A similar deed was made on the same day, and for the same consideration, to Samuel L. Lautenshlager, conveying the south 40 acres of the 80-acre tract from which the description in the other deed was taken. The grantees named in these deeds were the son and daughter of the grantor. In the deed to Mrs. Yan Houten, in the blank space after the description of the land, and before the words “together with all and singular,” etc., was written, apparently in the same handwriting as the rest of the deed, these words: “Also one-half of all the personal property and money left at my death shall go to the above Elizabeth Ann.” A similar provision was written in the same manner in the deed to Samuel L. Lautenshlager, giving to him one-half of all the personal property and money left at the death of the grantor. Across these clauses in the deeds, commencing at the right-hand upper corner, immediately below the description of land, and running diagonally across the blank space to the left-hand lower corner, so as to end at the word “ together,” was drawn a line in ink. It was claimed by the contestant that the diagonal ]ine indicated a purpose on the part of the grantor to erase and strike out of the deeds the clauses relating to personal property, whereas it was claimed by the proponents that these clauses were intended to be and should be read as a part of the instruments. As to which of these positions was correct must depend upon what the evidence in the court below showed as to when, and the circumstances under which, the clauses in question were written in the instruments, — whether before or after the diagonal line was drawn. It was competent, of course, to prove by the witnesses to the execution of the instruments, or by any other — 290 — competent testimony, these circumstances. We do not know just what evidence was offered to this point, as the bill does not purport to set out all the evidence. The finding of the circuit judge upon this point is not as explicit as it might have been made, but we think his fifth finding of fact was intended to cover this point. It is as follows: “I find, also, as a matter of fact,, that the decedent, when he made these instruments, intended that they should operate only at or after his death; that he intended that no part of his estate and interest, either in his personal property or in his real estate, should pass by virtue of these papers until his death, and that said property should then pass to the parties named; that he retained these papers in his custody, and under his control, without attempting a delivery, and retained them with full power of revocation until his death." Accepting this as a finding of the circuit judge that these clauses relating to personal property were and should be read as a part of the instruments, it remains to be seen whether the testimony which may have influenced the finding was legal and competent. On the trial in the circuit court the proponents, Samuel L. Lautenshlager and Elizabeth Ann Van Houten, were called as witnesses for the purpose of establishing the testamentary character of said instruments, and they were allowed, under objection, to testify that after said instruments were executed deceased took them to his room, and placed them in his bureau, where they remained till after his death; that on the day the papers were executed he communicated the fact that they were executed to them, and stated to them that he should retain them and the control of his property while he lived, and that they could not have them till after his death. This testimony was objected to upon the ground that what.decedent told proponents must have been equally within his knowledge — 291 — and their knowledge, and so incompetent under our statute. How. Stat. § 7545. It must be considered as settled in this State by Brown v. Bell, 58 Mich. 58 (24 N. W. Rep. 824), and Schofield v. Walker, Id. 96 (24 N. W. Rep. 624), that the statute relied on does not apply to a case like the present. If the question were open, it might certainly admit of argument; but we are agreed that it must be considered as closed. It is objected by contestant that the witness Near, the conveyancer who drafted the instruments, was allowed to testify that deceased, when he made the instruments, intended that they should operate only after his •death; that he intended that no part of his estate, either personal or real, should pass by these papers. The bill of exceptions does not set out the testimony by questions and answers, as it was given on the trial, but gives a brief summary of it. It does not appear that the witness was asked to testify to the decedent's intention, and that such testimony was objected to and admitted. We •cannot assume on this record that counsel would attempt to introduce, or that the court would permit, such testimony, nor that, if it was given, the court would act upon it. Construing these instruments, then, as containing these clauses relating to personal property, the question arises as to whether the instruments, so construed, will justify the judgment of the court below, declaring them to be the last will and testament of Charles Lautenshlager. In determining this question it is essential that we should avail ourselves of the facts found by the circuit judge bearing upon this question. They are as follows: “1. That the deceased, Charles Lautenshlager, was a resident of the township of Ash, in the county of Monroe, and State of Michigan, at the time of his death, which occurred upon August 12, A. D. 1888; and at the time of his death he left five children, — the appellant, — 292 — John LautenBhlager, and Henry Y. Lautenshlager, Frank Lautenshlager, and Samuel Lautenshlager, and Elizabeth Yan Houten, daughter. ■ I further find that on December 22, 1885, he executed the two papers introduced in evidence, and marked Exhibits ‘A’ and ‘B-/ that at the time of the execution of these papers by decedent he was of sound and disposing mind and memory; that he subscribed and executed these papers in the presence of two competent witnesses, who signed the same in his presence, and at his request. “3. I further find that after the execution of these papers he took them to his room at his residence, and placed them in the bureau of his room, where they remained until after his death. Upon the day or shortly after the execution of said papers he communicated their contents, and the fact of their execution to the two parties named in the papers, Samuel Lautenshlager and Elizabeth Yan Houten, and stated to them substantially that he should retain them, and the control of his property, while he-lived, and that they could not have them till after his. death. “ 4. I find, also, that he had previously deeded to each of his other three sons 80 acres of land, for which, however, they claim to have compensated him, and that he had expressed his intention to do Avhat was right and fair by the two parties named in these documents." The fifth finding of fact we have already quoted. Accepting these findings of the circuit judge as conclusive upon us, it is clear that all of the essential qualities of a will are to be found in these instruments, in the circumstances under which they were executed, and with which they are surrounded. The form of any instrument is of little consequence in determining whether it is a will oi-not. If it be executed with the formalities required by the statute, and if it is to operate only after the death of the maker, it is a will. Bigley v. Souvey, 45 Mich. 370; Morrell v. Dickey, 1 Johns. Ch. 153; Bayley v. Bailey, 5 Cush. 245; Gage v. Gage, 12 N. H. 371; Frew v. Clarke, 80 Penn. St. 170; Schouler, Wills, § 205 et seq.; 1 Redl. Wills, 170 et seq. That this was the intention of Charles — 293 — Lautenshlager in the execution of these instruments was found by the circuit judge to be a fact. The conclusion ■of law legitimately follows. The judgment must be affirmed, with costs. The other Justices concurred.