McNaughton v. McGregor
McNaughton v. McGregor
Opinion of the Court
Appellants assail the trial court’s conclusions that the testatrix had testamentary capacity when she made this will and that she was free from all constraint and compulsion and was not impelled by undue influence to make it in place of the one decided upon by her three days before. The evidence shows that the testatrix throughout the fourteen years of her life after the death of her husband actively managed her property and displayed unusual mental vigor up to the time of her death. Erom a consideration and study of the evidence it is manifest that she retained her mental faculties to the last and had a clear and comprehensive understanding of what property she had and of her relations to all who might properly be regarded as her beneficiaries. It appears that she fully understood and comprehended the provisions of the two wills Mr. Hart had prepared by her direction on the 11th and 14th days of March, 1904. Throughout
The main ground urged for a reversal of the court’s findings is that she was impelled by undue influence to make a different will on March 14, 1904, from the one she had decided to make on March 11th. It is claimed that the protest of her daughter Alice and her husband, made to her when she was about to sign the first will, operated to unduly influence her to change her mind. The substantial facts and circumstances of this interview are given in the foregoing statement. From them it appears that the will of the testatrix as made on the 11th of March was not in accord with the promise and arrangement made by her and her husband to the effect that if Alice would remain with them and care for and nurse them through their lives as their necessities might require she should receive the farm. The protest of Alice and her husband against signing the will she had then 'directed to be drawn without giving Alice the farm was made in the presence of Mr. Hart, Mrs. Bowman’s legal adviser, and Mr. Williams, who had been called in to attest the execution of the will. The conduct of the parties was free from any attempt to enforce any claim to her bounty, except that they asserted the claim of Alice to the farm for her many years of service in caring for and nursing her parents. An examination of the evidence discloses nothing tending to
Contestants ask for the costs incurred by them in this court in ease their contest is not sustained, upon the ground that they were appointed the executor and executrix in the will of the testatrix made in 1895, which the circuit court found was her will until it was revoked by the will in question. This presents a situation widely different from the one presented had they contested this will without being the appointed executrix and executor in the former will. Under
By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In re Bowman's Will: McNaughton v. McGregor and another, Executors
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published