Rauschkolb v. Rosenstream
Rauschkolb v. Rosenstream
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Jacob Schwenck was married thrice. His first wife died without chidren, and that marriage may be eliminated in this ■case.
He then married Christina Seibel, who died in January, 1880, leaving three children, issue of the marriage, who are represented by P. O. Rosenstream as their dative tutor.
In February, 1882, Schwenck married Wilhelmina O. Rauschkolb, by whom he left two children. He died on January 22, 1889, leaving a nuncupative will, executed on his death bed, by which he constituted his wife his sole executrix, gave her the usufruct of all of his property and the whole disposable portion in full ownership.
This record presents three contests, which, though originally distinct suits, were covered by pne judgment, and are practically consolidated. These are:
I.
In the suit to annul the will, several grounds were urged, all of which are abandoned in this court except one, viz.: a charge of undue influence exercised over the mind of the testator by Charles L. Rauschkolb, a brother to the wife, who was present in the room and one of the witnesses to the will. This may be disposed of very briefly. Waiving all questions of law, the evidence in the case, of witnesses introduced by the assailant of the will in his own behalf, conclusively negatives and annihilates the charge.
II.
All the grounds of opposition to the account of the executrix are abandoned except to three items of bills put on the account as paid by her, and which opponent claims are not proved. We have examined the testimony, and find them fully proved.
III.
Without undertaking a tedious statement of all the complicated issues involved in the partition suit, we shall confine ourselves to disposing of the particular objections to the judgment below, which are urged by appellant in this court. *
The most important questions arise in the settlement of the accounts between the first and second community. The widow claims that the first coihmunity was, at the date of its dissolution, insolvent, and owed a large amount of debts, which were paid after the origin of the second community, and out of the earnings thereof. ‘This is strongly disputed by the tutor of the minors of the first community. It appears that the decedent’s business, before and after his last marriage, was the keeping of a bar-room and restaurant, which was his only source of income. The tutor shows that business was at least as profitable, and probably more profitable, before than after his second marriage, and he suggests the intrinsic
Impressed with this suggestion, we have made a very critical examination of the evidence in the case, but we can find nothing to-justify us in disturbing the finding of the District Judge, who sustained the contention of the widow.
It is incontestably proved that the decedent did owe large debts at the date of his last marriage, and there is not a word of evidence to show or indicate that he had any funds on hand with which to pay them, or any property than that which remained at his death, and which was partly encumbered by the debts referred to. These debts were undoubtedly paid off during the last marriage, and in absence-of any evidence to the contrary, as well as in proper consideration of positive evidence to that effect, we are bound to hold, as did the District Judge, that the payments were made with community funds.
Neither the widow nor the court was bound to explain what became of the earnings of the prosperous business conducted by Schwenck prior tó his last marriage. It is very certain that they did not prevent him from incurring large debts.
Nor are the accumulations from the business during the last community, employed in paying off prior debts and in some investments, of no great amount, intrinsically improbable or unreasonable.
The business during the existence of this community, extending over a period of seven years, is proved to have been profitable,, averaging a gross income of about $35 per day or nearly $13,000 per annum. It was closely and economically managed, with the active co-operation of the wife, who was an intelligent and hard working woman, and the net profits were large. If the net results were so much more favorable' after, than prior to, the marriage, it will not be the first time that the assistance of an intelligent, industrious and saving wife, especially in that rank of life, has changed the financial condition of the husband from one of embarrassment to one of prosperity.
Appellant further disputes the proof of payment as to several items, viz.:
1. The Bultman debt. This debt was evidenced by a mortgage
2. The Dutrey debt. It is clearly shown that the debt existed and was paid in 1884. It was evidenced by a note for $500, which had been destroyed, and nobody could prove its date. But the holder accepted the face of the note without interest, and Schwenek told his wife at the time that he was glad enough to get that, as the note was prescribed. Of course, if there was any question as to prescription, the date must have been prior to the marriage. We are satisfied, besides, that if the debt had been contracted during the marriage, Mrs. Schwenek would have known it.
3. The debt due to the mother of Schwenek. He undoubtedly owed her the full amount claimed as capital at the date of the last marriage. The debt has been satisfied in principal and interest. Although the mother’s recollection of the actual amount paid is confused, she does not dispute that she accepted the payments in full settlement of the debt, and proclaims her perfect confidence in the integrity of her son. A memorandum book is produced, in Schwenck’s handwriting, showing dates and amounts of expenditures for her account, and payments made, which went to the extinguishment of the debt.
We will not waste further time in discussing evidence as to other
The case of the Succession of Applegate, 39 An. 403, refers to the last quoted case, and differences the case then before us in particulars which do not exist in this case.
On the whole, we think justice has been done.
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Succession of Jacob Schwenck, Mrs. Wilhelmina C. Rauschkolb, Widow and Natural Tutrix v. J. O. Rosenstream, Dative Tutor
- Status
- Published