Title: McWilliams v. Tinder

State: arkansas

Issuer: Arkansas Supreme Court

Document:

511 S.W.2d 480 (1974) James R. McWILLIAMS and Dottie Ann Kimes, Appellants, v. Marjorie TINDER, Executrix of the Estate of Velpoe Petty McWilliams, Deceased, Appellee. No. 74-101. Supreme Court of Arkansas. July 15, 1974. Parker & Kincannon, Fort Smith, for appellants. Franklin Wilder, Fort Smith, for appellee. BYRD, Justice. The appellants James R. McWilliams and Dottie Ann Kimes contested the Will of their grandfather Velpoe Petty McWilliams, giving all of his property to his surviving daughter Marjorie Tinder, on the grounds of mental incapacity and undue influence. From an adverse decree they bring this appeal raising the same factual issues. The record shows that the testator, Velpoe Petty McWilliams, had three children, i. e., Audrey McWilliams, the father of appellant James R. McWilliams; Bernard McWilliams, the father of appellant Dottie Ann Kimes; and appellee Marjorie Tinder. Bernard predeceased his father several years ago. Audrey died in 1972, a month or so before the will here involved was executed. So far as the record shows Mr. McWilliams, following the death of his second wife, lived alone for the last eight or nine years of his life. During part or all of this time he had a bell hookup *481 whereby he could summon Carl Tinder, the adult son of appellee Marjorie Tinder. Appellee Marjorie Tinder during this time saw that Mr. McWilliams' cooking and washing were taken care of to his satisfaction. During the year of 1970, there were some allegations made to the effect that Carl Tinder was forging some checks on Mr. McWilliams. As a result of those allegations Audrey McWilliams and Marjorie Tinder both filed petitions for appointment of a guardian for Mr. McWilliams on the same day. Audrey acted through appellant's present counsel and Marjorie acted through her present counsel. At the hearing on the appointment of a guardian the parties submitted a letter from Dr. Kemal E. Kutait to appellant's counsel (under date of 8/31/70) as follows: Mr. McWilliams, who was still driving his own automobile at the time of the guardianship hearing, testified in his own behalf. Subsequently, on November 17, 1972, Dr. Kutait wrote to appellee's counsel the following letter: Shortly after the death of Audrey McWilliams, appellee's counsel caused Mr. McWilliams to be examined by Dr. Max Alden Baker who wrote the following letter: At the Will contest hearing in addition to the three attesting witnesses to the Will the trial court heard testimony from Dr. Max Baker, appellee Marjorie Tinder, Cora McWilliams, the surviving spouse of Audrey McWilliams, and appellant James R. McWilliams. Obviously we cannot say from the testimony of those witnesses that Mr. McWilliams did not have the mental capacity to execute a Will and counsel for appellant recognizes as much but contends that when Mr. McWilliams' mental capacity is coupled with the undue influence that is shown then the Will should be set aside. We disagree. We have consistently held that the undue influence which avoids a Will is not the influence which springs from natural affection or which is acquired by kind offices but is such as results from fear, coercion or any other cause that deprives the testator of his free agency in the disposition of his property, Parette v. Ivey, Executor, 209 Ark. 364, 190 S.W.2d 441 (1945). When we consider the testimony of the aforementioned witnesses, we cannot find the required quantum of proof necessary to establish the charge of undue influence. In reviewing the fact issues here we have not set out the testimony in detail as such would serve no useful purpose as a precedent. Furthermore, we have reviewed the facts without giving any consideration to the testimony of appellee's counsel who appeared in the trial as an advocate for appellee but, who without withdrawing from the litigation, took the witness stand to testify in behalf of his client. We have previously addressed ourselves to the disapproval of such conduct. See Watson v. Alford, 255 Ark. 911, 503 S.W.2d 897 (1974); Montgomery v. First National Bank of Newport, 246 Ark. 502, 439 S.W.2d 299 (1969); Old American Life Insurance Co. v. Taylor, 244 Ark. 709, 427 S.W.2d 23 (1968); and Rushton v. First National Bank of Magnolia, 244 Ark. 503, 426 S.W.2d 378 (1968). Affirmed.