Wustum v. Kradwell

AESCIIUEER, Circuit Judge. Appellant Jennie Wustum complains of a decree of the District Court which requires her to turn over to appellee Frank Kradwell 191% shares of the stock of .Lakeside Hotel Company of Racine, Wis., which came to her under the will of her deceased husband, C. A. Wustum. Wustum was a man of ample means, aged about 66 at death, in March, 1916, and for some years had practically retired from business. Appellant, his wife, was nearly the same age, and, save for an adopted son who did not reside with them, they were childless. Ap-pellee Kradwell, about 20 years younger, unmarried, was engaged in the drug business with his brothers, under the name of Kradwell Drug Company, operating some stores in and about Racine, where all concerned -resided. For some years the Wustums had taken a very great interest in appellee, who was often at their home, frequently slept there, in a room which was known as “Frank’s” room, and came to he regarded by them very much as would be a son. From time to time during several years, both before and after the transactions herein referred to, they made him gifts, some of them quite expensive, and at Wustum’s funeral he seemed, next to the widow, to be the chief mourner. Somewhere about 1911. after some years of this intimacy, Wus-tum conceived the idea of acquiring the stock of the Lakeside Hotel Company, which owned the largest hotel at Racine, but which had not theretofore proved profitable. To what extent this conception was influenced by a desire to benefit appellee does not definitely appear; at least the evidence thereon is contradictory, some witnesses indicating a purpose expressed by Wustum to establish Kradwell in a good business, into which Wustum seemed to have faith fhe hotel could he developed. In the presence of a number of friends and associates, including Kradwell, the proposition of acquiring the stock was discussed. Wustum did not deem it best that it should appear he was after the stock, as this might incline holders to raise their price. He suggested that the work be done by Kradwell, and the stock as acquired be transferred to one Bacon as trustee, and this was the general plan adopted. Something over 300 shares — a considerable majority of the outstanding stock — was acquired, practically all except 143% shares which were held by two men who declined* to sell, aud who, so far as the record shows, still hold their stock. The stock as acquired was turned over to Bacon and certificates issued to him, and later when — 548 — all obtainable had been acquired he surrendered his certificates, and new certificates for all of it were taken out by Wustum. Bacon held one share and Kradwell two shares in their names respectively to qualify them as' directors; Wustum retaining .physical possession of the certificates. For a number of years up to March 6, 1916, when Wus-tum suddenly died, Kradwell was a director and the secretary of the company, and latterly had more or less to do with the management of the hotel. He received a salary most of the time, having quit the drug business. The theory of the bill is that certain of the stock so acquired and passing to Wustum was in fact acquired by Kradwell for himself with Wustum’s knowledge and consent, and that on Wustum’s death his widow, who knew all-the facts, but being desirous of controlling for a time all the stock as her husband had done, agreed with Krad-well that all the stock should be issued in her name, and that she would in time transfer to him that which was his. [1] The main controversy here is in regard to 163% shares of the stock owned or controlled by one Carpenter. As to this the undisputed facts are that, with the knowledge of Wustum, Kradwell entered into negotiations with Carpenter for the exchange of his (Kradwell’s) interest in the Kradwell Drug Corporation for this hotel stock. Carpenter was willing to enter into such a deal provided he could dispose of the drug store interest. Further negotiations were had which resulted in a three-cornered deal whereby Kradwell’s interest in the drug company should pass to Kradwell’s brother, who in turn was to give his notes therefor to Carpenter’s bank for $10,000; and these 163% shares of hotel stock were to pass to Kradwell. This deal was consummated, and' the certificates of the hotel stock were delivered to appellee, who turned them over to Bacon, who later transferred them to Wustum. That originally the entire consideration for this Carpenter stock was supplied by Kradwell o.ut of his own property is not an issue in the case. It was conceded and does not depend upon the testimony of Kradwell respecting transactions between himself and the deceased. We quite agree with the District Judge, who in his opinion stated: “I was impressed with the idea that the plaintiff made a prima facie showing in establishing the transactions to which he was in fact a party where certain stock which has been referred to as the Carpenter-Robinson stock in fact came into his hands under circumstances establishing-a title to the stock to him regardless of any transactions which he may have had with the deceased person; and that transaction * * * is in a way the point upon which this case in my judgment must turn.” Plaintiff in error undertook to show that Kradwell. agreed with Wus-tum to take $3,000 for his drug store interest, notwithstanding his brother had obligated himself to pay Carpenter’s bank $10,000 for it, and that Wustum actually paid him this much money therefor; but we believe the District Court was warranted in its conclusion that the evidence failed to establish such a transaction or such payment. We do not deem it unreasonable that Wustum was willing Frank Kradwell should have an interest in the hotel, nor that at first Wustum did not wish to be known in the transaction, and after all the then obtainable — 549 — siock had been acquired that he desired for the time being that the records show all the stock to be in him (Wustum). Supplementing the influential fact that the consideration lor this stock was supplied by Kradwell is the evidence of numerous disinterested witnesses that thereafter Wustum at different times stated Kradwell had a large interest in the hotel; such statements being shown to have been made .from time to time quite up to Wustum’s dealli. The apparent interest in the hotel company which Kradwell's trading for this stock would seem to have raised in him was evidently recognized by Wustum as subsisting in Kradwell; and as to these 1631/Ó shares we believe the District Court was warranted in its finding that at the time of Wustum’s death they really belonged to Krad-well. Two other blocks of stock are involved, viz. Heinrichs, 26%. shares, and Rowley, 3 shares. As to these all the evidence upon the subject is by Kradwell himself to the effect that they were bought with his own money. In corroboration of this assertion there appears nothing whatever except that Rowley testified Kradwell paid him in cash for his shares. This, however, does not distinguish this from most of the other purchases by Kradwell, admittedly for Wustum. In practically all Kradwell paid the seller cash, which he had by check or otherwise obtained from Wustum. His own account of these transactions is far from convincing. He says lie had from time to time saved money while in the drug business, and that these savings, together with the surrender value of two life insurance policies which he cashed, amounting in all to about $4,800, he had kept in the drug store safe during all the time of the accumulation, and that he did not have any bank account. This, from a business man, does not carry conviction, and, if offered separate and apart from the other transaction, would far from sustain the undertaking to have declared as his own, corporate stock which some years before had been acquired and placed in the name of another. It cannot be said that, because the evidence requires the conclusion that the Carpenter stock belonged to him, therefore any other of the stock which he may say he paid for must likewise be decreed to him. The testimony of the various persons as to statements made by Wustum, which would well be applicable to the large block of Carpenter stock, is not so definite or all-inclusive as necessarily to include other stock holdings which Kradwell claims. It is true some of these witnesses made mention of 187 shares, or about that many, but most of them were not definite or certain as to the number. Coupled with this is the fact that the sum total of these shares is not 187%, as was talked about, but is 192% shares. Kradwell’s explanation that Wustum made a mistake in the addition and wrongfully assumed it to he 187% shares is far from convincing. The employment by a few of these witnesses of the number 187 or thereabout is in all probability a matter of deduction reached by them, doubtless in all honesty, from having subsequently heard this figure spoken of, rather than through the mention of any definite number by Wustum. The most that can be said of the evidence of such witnesses is that Wustum had told them — 550 — in various ways and at different times that Kradwell had a large interest in the hotel, which indeed was the fact, if he owned this Carpenter stock. We do not therefore regard the evidence of these declarations by Wustum as necessarily corroborative of Kradwell’s claim of ownership of the Heinrichs and Rowley stock; and as to these shares we are satisfied that the clear and manifest weight of all the evidence, with all the reasonable inferences therefrom, negatives the claim. Under these circumstances we feel constrained to disapprove the decree of the District Court respecting the Heinrichs and Rowley stock, notwithstanding the persuasiveness ordinarily attaching to a chancellor’s findings upon issues of fact. American Rotary Valve Co. v. Moorehead, 226 Fed. 202, 141 C. C. A. 129 (7 C. C. A.). [2] The complaint charges that shortly after Wustum’s death appellant represented to him that it was highly desirable that all of the stock continue for a time to appear in her name, and that, if he would execute a paper declaring he had no interest in the stock, the executors would transfer it all to her, and that she would account to him for the shares he claimed to own, namely, 187% shares, and that he was by her persuaded to sign and did sign such a paper. The answer denied any such promises or representations on her part, but admitted the signing of such paper by appellee, and stated that such paper was freely signed by hjm to make manifest the fact that he had no claim for any of such stock. Much evidence was adduced by both sides in support of their respective claims. Where the truth lies on the many controverted propositions it is difficult, indeed, to say. The District Court had of course the advantage of hearing and seeing the witnesses, and its conclusions on the controverted facts are entitled to very great weight. In view of the long and close relation between the parties, it is not at all unreasonable that appellant might have asked, and appellee have given, what the latter says was requested, and for the purpose indicated. It is true there are other circumstances which make it seem very strange that the one should ask, or the other give, such a paper, especially in view of the charges and countercharges they respectively make, that immediately after the death of the deceased each proceeded to lay the foundation — the one for asserting an unfounded claim to the stock, and the other for defeating a just claim thereto — each accusing the other of having improperly taken keys, and abstracting from private apartments and the hotel safe papers and documents which the other claims would have substantiated his or her contentions in regard to the stock in question. But, accepting the view of the District Court that it is more likely that the disclaimer was signed under the circumstances and for the purposes indicated by appellee, and that there was in fact some promise by appellant of the general nature asserted by Kradwell, we do not believe that this promise would be binding any further than to the extent of Kradwell’s ownership in the stock, and that, even though 187% shares were mentioned in these oral talks between Kradwell and Mrs. Wustum, if his provable interest at the time of Wustum’s death did not in fact exceed 163% shares, the undertaking should not be held binding beyond that number. — 551 — [3, 4] Complaint is made of the alleged exclusion by the court of one Gittens as a witness. It seems that he as attorney for appellant was conducting the hearing of the cause. When his testimony was offered the court stated that, being attorney in the case, he could not b.c a witness, and further said that he ought not to wish to be a witness, in response Air. Gittens, acting as attorney, said “No,” and this ended the incident. From this it would appear that the undertaking to have him testify was abandoned. But, even if persisted in, the assignment of error in this respect is not in compliance with equity rule 46 of the Supreme Court (198 Fed. xxxi, 115 C. C. A. xxxi), which requires the character of the proffered evidence to be stated, nor with rules 11 and 24 of this court (150 bed. xxvii, xxxiii, 79 C. C. A. xxvii, xxxiii). substantially to like effect. See, also, Herencia v. Guzman, 219 U. S. 44, 31 Sup. Ct. 135, 55 L. Ed. 81. The affidavit of Gittens, filed with a number of others some two months after the decree, in support of a motion for rehearing or a new trial in the cause, does not supply this omission. A rehearing or new trial was, at best, in the discretion of the court. But we may say in passing that, if what was there disclosed be considered as the proffered testimony of Git-tens, we do not consider it of such significance as would in any event warrant reversal on account of its exclusion. The court refused to permit cert?,in witnesses on behalf of appellant to testify to statements to them by Wustum as to who owned the hotel stock; such statements not being in the presence of appellee. The error assigned on such action of the court is subject to the same objection as the proffered Gittens’ evidence. Nothing appears to indicate the nature of the rejected evidence, and for this reason alone such assignment of error must fail. [5] It is maintained that serious error against appellant intervened in permitting Kradwell to testify to the contents of an alleged lost-paper signed by Wustum agreeing to transfer 187% shares of stock to Kradwell. The latter testified to having drawn such a paper, which both signed a few mouths before Wustum’s death, and that it was given to Kradwell who put it in a small lock box in the hotel safe to which he (Kradwell) had the only key, although the box contained other papers in which Wustum had an interest, namely, hotel insurance policies and plans for improvement of the hotel. It was as to the key of this compartment that there was much testimony offered on both sides primarily with the view to raising the presumption that, in the interest of Mrs. Wustum, papers were abstracted therefrom which were of benefit to Kradwell, notably the- alleged paper under consideration. It was testified by him that he had searched for the paper and that it was lost, and against objection he was permitted to state the contents thereof as follows: “For tlie sum of SI and other valuable considerations I hereby assign, transfer, and turn back to F. A. Kradwell certain shares of stock in the Lakeside Hotel Company.” It is claimed the admission of this evidence was in contravention of sections 4069 and 4070 of the Wisconsin Statutes, respecting testi — 552 — mony concerning transactions with persons since deceased. The competency of the testimony is asserted on the ground that the proof of the existence and contents of a lost instrument, which but for the loss would be admissible in evidence, is not evidence of a personal transaction with the deceased, the admission of which the statutes exclude, and in support of the position there is cited Daniels v. Foster, 26 Wis. 686, and Sawyer et al. v. Choate, 92 Wis. 533, 66 N. W. 689. Appellant, however, relies on the decision of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin in Felz v. Felz’s Estate reported in 170 Wis. 550, 174 N. W. 908, wherein it is ruled that one who is by the statute prohibited from testifying to transactions with the deceased may not by his testimony establish the existence and show the contents of a lost instrument of writing executed by deceased, concerning such transactions with the deceased. It is pointed out, however, that this last decision was not rendered until after the decree in this case, and that the federal court must be governed by the law of Wisconsin as it was interpreted before the Felz Case. In our view of the situation, however, it is not necessary to go into these various propositions. We gather from an examination of the entire record that it was quite as important to appellant, and possibly more so, to give evidence of all that had transpired with the deceased, as it was to appellee, and after this particular piece of evidence had been adduced counsel on both sides, without objection, went very fully into many transactions with the deceased other than tha.t relating to this paper. When it became apparent that, as to the Carpenter stock, appellee had by undoubtedly competent evidence made a prima facie case, it was likewise apparent that appellant, to establish her claim that Wustum had paid Kradwell $3,000 for his drug store stock, might also wish to adduce testimony which the statutes would bar. The court suggested that, as transactions with the deceased had been gone into both with and without objection, it might be well to have the entire matter gone into, and thereupon counsel for appellant said: . “I do not want to hold anything away from the court. I want to assist the court in getting at the facts. * * * We have no objections at all.” One can scarcely study the record without concluding that, notwithstanding tire initial objection referred to, each side assumed it would reap the greatest advantage from going into all the transactions with the deceased, and that by' common consent the bar of the statute was waived, and the evidence proceeded as though there were no statute on tire subject. [6] Appellee’s right to the 163% shares was established quite independently of his testimony concerning the paper. Indeed, there are some discrepancies and inconsistencies as to the alleged paper which, to say the least, lend little, if any, corroboration'to appellee’s contention. The quite general existence of statutes of this nature is not out of whim or caprice of the Legislature, but is presumably based on wise policy, justified by long experience; and such testimony by interested parties concerning their transactions with deceased persons, even if received without objection, in the very nature of things, must be carefully — 553 — scanned and received witli caution. It happens that, the paper as testified to does not state any number of shares. Kradweli’s testimony oí wliat subsequently transpired between him and Mrs. Wustum, wherein he did state the number of shares would not be proof of anything beyond what he then told her. It would not establish the contents of the alleged lost instrument, which Kradwell said was drawn and signed about January 1, 1916, and which he had not since seen. We can say of the instrument as testified to that it does not of necessity refer to other than the Carpenter stock, any more than do most of the statements of the deceased to the various witnesses; and, while serving neither to sustain nor defeat appellee’s case as to the Carpenter stock, it does not tend materially to establish his claim to the other stock. We conclude that the decree of the District Court should be modified by excluding from its operation the Heinrichs and Rowley share:;, and. including therein only stock representing the Carpenter shares. This will award to appellee the two shares already issued and standing in his name, and 161 */> shares in manner and form as in the decree provided. The cause will be remanded for such modification of the decree, and, as so modified, the decree is affirmed. Appellant and appellee shall each pay one-half the costs o f the appeal.