Case Name: Charles W. Galbraith v. Mary L. Sutton et al.
Court: Hamilton Circuit Court
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1908
Citations: 20 Ohio C.C. Dec. 653
Docket Number: 
Parties: Charles W. Galbraith v. Mary L. Sutton et al.
Judges: Swing and Qiffen, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Ohio Circuit Court Decisions
Volume: 20
Pages: 653–654

Head Matter:
GIFTS.
[Hamilton (1st) Circuit Court,
1908.]
Swing, Giffen and Smith, JJ.
Charles W. Galbraith v. Mary L. Sutton et al.
■Essential Elements to Consummate Gtet Causa Moetis.
A delivery of bonds promised by the donor in anticipation of death within a year, possession taken by the donee, death of the donor without recovering from the sickness and without revocation thereof, constitute all the elements necessary to consummate a gift causa mortis.
[Syllabus approved by the court.]
Error to Hamilton common pleas court.
David Davis and J. Q. Martin, for plaintiff in error.
G. S. Hawke, for defendant in error:
Cited and commented upon the following authorities: Flanders v. Blandy, 45 Ohio St. 108 [12 N. E. Rep. 321] ; Volley v. Hicks, 58 Ohio St. 218 [50 N. E. Rep. 809; 41 L. R. A. 858]; Grymes v. Hone, 49 N. Y. 17 [10 Am. Rep. 313]; Williams v. Guile, 117 N. Y. 343 [22 N. E. Rep. 1071; 6 L. R. A. 366]; Thorton, Gifts & Advancements 37; Emery v. ■Clough, 63 N. H. 552 [4 Atl. Rep. 796; 56 Am. Rep. 543] ; Waite v. Grubbe, 43. Ore. 406 [73 Pac. Rep. 206; 99 Am. St. Rep. 764]; 14 Am, & Eng. Ene. Law (2 ed.) 1052.

Opinion:
SMITH, J.
' "A gift causa mortis is ja gift of personal property made in the immediate apprehension of death, subject to the conditions, expressed or implied, that if the donor should not die as expected, or if the donee should die first, or if the donor should revoke the gift before death, the gift shall be void." 14 Am. & Eng. Enc. Law (2 ed.) 1052. '
We think the evidence in this case shows that the gift to defendant in error as claimed by ber was a gift causa mortis from Elizabeth L. Galbraith, and particularly when the donor used this language:
"Oh Mary, I am sick, I'"am very sick. I do not think-I am going to-live very long. I am going to make you a present.' I am going to give you some of my bonds," and afterwards when the donor said:
"Mary, I am going to give you some of my bonds. I talked to you about it last fall. I did not do it. I will put it off no longer. The doctor tells me in all probability I will not live a year. I want you to have them. You have a right to them. You know where the money came from."
The evidence shows that all the elements of a gift causa mortis were present in this case. It was made in expectation of death; the bonds were delivered, and the donee retained possession. There was no revocation of the gift and the donor subsequently died without recovering from the sickness mentioned by her.
The gift, therefore being legally consummated, the bonds to recover which this suit is brought, belonged to the defendant in error, Mary L. Sutton,.and not to the estate of Elizabeth L. Galbraith.
Judgment affirmed.
Swing and Qiffen, JJ., concur.