Case Name: Amos Cramer vs. Gideon D. Crumbaugh
Court: Court of Appeals of Maryland
Jurisdiction: Maryland
Decision Date: 1853-06
Citations: 3 Md. 491
Docket Number: 
Parties: Amos Cramer vs. Gideon D. Crumbaugh.
Judges: The cause was argued before Le Grand, C. J., Eccleston, Mason and Tuck, J.
Reporter: Maryland Reports
Volume: 3
Pages: 491–505

Head Matter:
Amos Cramer vs. Gideon D. Crumbaugh.
The Jaw concedes to a man of sound mind, the right to dispose of his property in any maimer he may deem proper, consistent with its policy, either by gift or devise, and it is no valid objection to a will, that the testator has given his property to strangers to his blood, provided he had the required mental capacity, and was free from undue influence.
Though a will ma.y by its provisions furnish intrinsic evidence involving it in suspicion, and tending to show the incapacity of the testator to make a disposition of his estate with judgment and understanding, such as a disposition of his whole estate to .the exclusion of his near relations, yet this would not furnish per se sufficient ground for setting aside the instrument.
The reading of the will in the presence of the attesting witnesses is not essential to the validity of its execution: where the capacity of the party is wholly unimpeached, and an absence of proof of fraud, the law presumes a knowledge on the part of the testator of the contents of the paper which he executes.
The fact that a will was written by the executor named in it,, and he and his son were the chief objects of the testator’s bounty, would very properly suggest suspicion as to fairness, in a case where the whole property is given to strangers to the blood of the testator.
The onus probandi is on the party propounding the will, and it is in general discharged by proof of capacity and the fact of execution: from these, knowledge of, and assent to, its contents are presumed, and the mere fact that the person who prepares it is himself a legatee, cannot in every case and under all circumstances create a contrary presumption, and compel the adduction of additional evidence of knowledge and assent
A will was written in the testator’s own house, in pursuance of his previously declared intention to have his will prepared by a certain person, and executed on a particular day; he had ample time and opportunity to dictate and examine its provisions after they wore put to paper. There was no proof of undue influence, and his capacity was fully established and there was ample proof of execution, the testator having sent for the witnesses the day previous, and explained to them the purpose for which they were summoned. Held:
That this was a valid will though prepared by a party who was benefited by it, and the whole estate given to strangers to the blood of the testator, and was not read to the testator in the presence of the witnesses before it was executed.
Witnesses were sent for, for the purpose of attesting a will, and it was signed by the testator in their presence, and they subscribed their names in his pres-' ence and in the presence of each other, and after this the testator in reply to a question whether it was his last will and testament, “assented or nodded his head.” Held, that this was a valid execution and attestation of the will.
Appeal from the Orphans Court of Frederick county.
This appeal is from an order of the orphans court admitting to probate a paper purporting to be the will of John Cramer, executed on the 21st of October 1852.-
By this paper the testator manumitted two of his servants, and devised to his brother Amos Cramer, and his wife and their two children, one dollar each, that being the “full amount I wish them to have of my estate.” He then devised “all his property, real, personal and mixed, except my horse Davy, unto Margaret Smeltz during her lifetime,” and at her decease his executor was to pay unto Margaret Louisa Smeltz the sum of if 100, and no more, “and then all of the property both personal, mixed and real, to descend to George F. B. Crumbaugh his heirs or assigns, or if he should die before the decease of Mrs. Smeltz, leaving no legal heirs, it is my further desire and wish that G. D. Crumbaugh or his legal heirs, have the same for their proper use and behoof forever.” He then gave his said horse immediately after his death to G. F, B. Crumbaugh, and appointed Gideon D. Crumbaugh his executor. The paper was signed and sealed by the testator, and the attestation clause was as follows, “signed, sealed, published and declared by John Cramer of A, the above named testator, as-and for his last wilL and testament, in the presence of us, who, at his request and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto,” and was attested and" sub scribed by three witnesses, George M. Potts, Emanuel Smith and Eneas Hedges.
The appellant, the brother and sole heir at law of the testator, filed a caveat to this will upon the grounds stated in the opinion of this court
The will was written by said Gideon D. Crumbaugh, who was the father of the legatee, G. F. B. Crumbaugh, and executed under the circumstances and in the mode described by Smith, one of the attesting witnesses, whose testimony is fully given in the opinion of this court, in which all the other material facts of the case are also stated. Upon the evidence, the orphans court ordered the will to be admitted to probate, and from this order the caveator appealed.
The cause was argued before Le Grand, C. J., Eccleston, Mason and Tuck, J.
Wm. P. Maulsby for the appellant, argued for a reversal, on the following grounds:
1st. When a party who writes a will takes a benefit under it, that fact will excite the suspicion of the court, and induce it to be jealous and vigilant in examining the proof, and to require the strictest proof of the legal sufficiency of the execution of the paper, before it will admit it to probate. The onus is upon the party propounding the will, and the circumstance stated increases the burden, and renders necessary other and different proof from that which is required, where no such circumstance has occurred. 1 Jarman on Wills 44, and note. Barry vs. Butlin, 1 Curteis, 614, 637; 6 Eng. Eccl. Rep., 409, 417.
2nd. The paper ought not to be admitted to probate, because there is no evidence that Cramer, (the deceased,) knew its contents, and the onus is upon -the appellee. 1 Jarman, 44, 45, 46. If the testator did not read the will, and it was not read to him, it must be shown that he was made acquainted with its contents and approved them. 2 Green Ch. Rep., 549; Day vs. Day. 1 Curteis, 397 and 637; 6 Eng. Eccl. Rep., 350, 437. 1 Mass., 257.
3rd: The mere signature of a will by a testator, is not a sufficient execution to pass real estate. — There must be a.publication by the testator, and the subscribing witnesses must “attest,” not only the signing'by the testator, but also the declaration or publication by him of the instrument, as and for his last will and testament. That attestation of signature alone is insufficient: see 1 Powell on Devises, 80, 81, 82. Wallis vs. Hodgeson, 2 Atk., 56. That there must be a publication by the testator, and attested by witnesses:—1 Powell on Devises, 90. Ross vs. Ewer, 3 Atk., 156, 161. Moodie vs. Reid, 7 Taunt., 361, 354. Doe vs. Burdett, 4 Adolp. and Ellis, 1. Swift and wife vs. Wiley, 1 B. Monroe, 114, 117. Gerrish vs. Nason, 22 Maine Rep., 438, 441. Sweet, et al., vs. Boardman, 1 Mass., 257, 261, et seq. Rutherford vs. Rutherford, 1 Denio, 33, 35. Remsen vs. Brinckerhoof, 26 Wendell, 325, 330. White vs. British Museum,, 6 Bing., 310. Wright vs. Wright, 7 Bing., 457. In both these last cases the will was in the handwriting of the testator, and produced by him to the witnesses. 6 Cruise’s Digest, title Devise. Signing a will is analogous to sealing a deed — and publication of a will to the delivery of a deed. 1 Powell on Devises, 94. The assent of a testator given by a nod, to the question, whether the paper was his last will, or act and deed, is not a sufficient publication, because, if otherwise sufficient, it was given after the paper had been signed and attested, and the attestation subscribed by the witnesses. When the witnesses subscribed it was to that which they had attested, to wit, the naked signatuie of the testator. Nor can a publication be inferred from the silence of the supposed testator, when the appellee informed him that the will was ready, before the execution thereof, because such inference is rebutted by the proof, that it wras not read to or by him. - Nor can such an inference be drawn from the fact, that the testator had, on a previous day, requested the witness to come to his house for the purpose of witnessing his will, because it is proved, that when he made such request the paper had not been prepared. It was not in his possession and produced by him to the witnesses, from which a knowledge of the contents and substantial publication might have been presumed, but was prepared on the day when it was signed and was in the possession of, and produced by, the party who prepared it and who took an interest under it; and whose son ultimately was to receive under it the whole estate, to the exclusion of the brother and heir at law. It must appear, not that Cramer intended to make a will, but that the particular paper offered for probate is his will, executed with all the solemnities required by the law.
4th. The policy of the laws of this State, in regard to the transmission of the title to real estate by deed, would seem to indicate stronger reason for such a construction of the act of 1798, chap. 101, as to make publication necessary to a will devising lands, than existed in England for a similar construction of the act of 29 Charles, 2.
Joseph M. Palmer for the appellee.
1st. The requirements of the statute, regulating the mode of executing last wills and testaments of lands, Sec., have been fully complied with in this case, and the will in question was properly admitted to probate. The great and leading object of our act of Assembly is, that the will should be executed by a person of sound mind, memory and understanding. When it is shown that a man is of sound and disposing mind, he is presumed to know what he is doing.
2nd. The attestation clause in the will of Cramer, subscribed by the three attesting witnesses, is prima fads evidence of the facts therein contained as attested to; hence, it becomes the duty of the caveator to repel, by evidence, the facts stated in said attesting clause, all the attesting witnesses having proved the testator to be of a sound and disposing mind, and capable of making a valid deed and contract at the time of executing said will. 36 Eng. C. L. Rep., 329.
3rd. The statute of 29 Car. 2, ch. 3, regulating the execution of wills of lands, of which the act of Assembly of Maryland, on that subject, is a transcript, is silent as to the delivery, publication or any other formal act by which the testator is to signify his adoption of the instrument as a will, there fore, signing the will and causing it to be attested by witnesses as required by the statute, is sufficient, and no formal words of publication are necessary. 7 G. & J., 316. 2 Greenleaf's Ev., 633. 1 Jarman on Wills, 71. 4 Kent Com., 515, 516. Ward vs. Swift, 1 Crompton and Meeson, 171. Moodie vs. Reid, 7 Taunts., 362. Wright vs. Wright, 7 Bing., 457. White vs. The British Museum, 6 Bing., 310. Small vs. Small, 4 Greenleaf's Rep., 220. The law on this subject of publication has been changed in England and New York by statute, but not in Maryland. In New York publication i's made absolutely necessary to the validity of a will. 8 Paige, 488, 489. 26 Wend., 325, 330.
4th. Even if it be necessary in this State to prove, that the testator published the paper signed and attested to be his will, it is not necessary that the acknowledgment should be proved by direct evidence, it may be inferred from all the facts and circumstances surrounding the transaction. 1 Powell on Devises, 91, 92. Wallis vs. Wallis, 4 Barnes' Ecc. Law, 114. Black vs. Ellis, 3 Hill (S. C.,) Ch. Rep., 68. Clarke vs. Dunnavant, 10 Leigh's Rep., 13. 9 B. Monroe, 29. No particular form of publication being necessary, delivery, as a deed, has been held a sufficient publication of a will. 1 Powell on Devises, 91. 8 Vin. Abr., 125. Pl., 13. Loy vs. Kennedy, 1 Watts and Serg., 396. In New York, where, by statute, actual publication is made necessary, the requirements of the statute may be presumed from facts and circumstances. 8 Paige, 488. 26 Wend., 325, 330.
5th. In point of fact, in this case, there was an aetual publication of the will, and the subscribing witnesses subscribed the attestation clause in the presence of the testator and in the presence of each other and at the request of the testator, they all having been sent by the testator to meet at his house on the very day of the execution.of the will, for the express purpose of witnessing the said will; and they all met in pursuance of said request, and did actually attest and subscribe said will, after having seen him sign it, and at the same time he, the testator, having been told that his will was ready for execution and that he must sign first, declaring it to be either his will or his deed, as sworn to by Hedges and Smith; and after the will was executed and attested, the said will was sealed up, as a will, in the-presence of the testator and delivered to Crumbaugh for safe keeping, at the request or approbation and consent of testator, as his will.

Opinion:
Mason, J.,
dissented in part, and delivered the following dissenting opinion:
In the views expressed by the chief justice, upon the first four heads or divisions into which he has divided this case, I concur. Upon the fifth I dissent. I do not think there is sufficient evidence in the record to establish, that the testator had any knowledge of the contents of the paper at the time he affixed his signature to it as his last will and testament.
If Crumbaugh had taken no beneficial interest under this will, all the presumptions and legal intendments would have favored the validity of the will, and I would not have hesitated to have pronounced it good. While it is clear from the proof that the deceased intended to make a will, it is by no means clear to my mind, that the paper actually executed was the will which he wanted to make. Is it not manifest, that any other paper could as easily have been imposed upon the testator as the will he wanted to sign, and which he supposed he was signing? In other words, does the record furnish any evidence, or any facts, from which a reasonable presumption would arise, that the contents of this paper were known to Cramer, or that it was drawn in accordance with his directions?
I do not intend to intimate that any particular kind of proof Is necessary, where the scrivener takes a benefit under the will, to show the actual knowledge of its contents by the testator; but in some way, other than the mere legal presumptions which usually favor duly executed testamentary papers, I think it should appear that the party signing the supposed will knew its contents.
The error in the court's opinion in this case 1 conceive to consist in the circumstance, that while it is conceded "that if a party," (according to Baron Parke, in the case in 1 Curteis,) "writes a will under which he takes a benefit, that is a circumstance which generally ought to excite the suspicion of the court," &c., yet, in fact, such a case is not sufficiently distinguished from the case of an ordinary will.
The learned judge, whose opinion is relied on and cited by the majority of the court, when he says, "these are cases of wills, prepared by a legatee so pregnant with suspicion," See., embraces the case now before us, and that without clear proof of the actual knowledge of the contents of the paper by the supposed testator, the will ought not to be sustained.
In addition to the other suspicious circumstances attending this transaction, the fact that the legatee and scrivener, at his own instance, became the depository of the paper, ought to determine the case against him. At no time then had the testator'an opportunity of discovering whether a fraud had been practised upon him, (if such was the fact,) by referring to the paper.