Case Name: Ziegler, Appellant, vs. Bark and others, Respondents
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 1904-04-19
Citations: 121 Wis. 533
Docket Number: 
Parties: Ziegler, Appellant, vs. Bark and others, Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports
Volume: 121
Pages: 533–543

Head Matter:
Ziegler, Appellant, vs. Bark and others, Respondents.
March 25
April 19, 1904.
■Guardian and ward: Incompetent person: Sufficiency of petition: Notice: Presence of incompetent in court: Guardian ad litem: Appeal: “Person aggrieved:" Jurisdiction: Validity of agreements.
1. A petition for the appointment of a guardian fpr an incompetent person is not insufficient to give the county court jurisdiction to proceed in the matter merely because it fails to state the names of the persons who would he affected by such appointment, and fails to show with whom the alleged incompetent resides and who is in possession of her property.
2. Where notice of the time and place for hearing such petition was given to the alleged incompetent by personal service and to all other persons by publication, in compliance with the statute and the order of the court, it was not essential to the jurisdiction that personal service should have been ordered or made upon the son with whom she resided and who had control of her property, or upon her other children.
3. Where the alleged incompetent was personally present in court during the hearing, it is immaterial that the order for such hearing did not require that, if able to attend, she he produced before the court.
4. On the hearing of a petition for the appointment of a guardian for an alleged incompetent person, the county court appointed a guardian ad litem, for her, and, she having been adjudged' incompetent and a guardian appointed, the guardian ad litem-appealed on her behalf to the circuit court. Held, that such appeal gave the circuit court jurisdiction.
5. A son of the alleged incompetent person who had possession of all her property under an assignment or transfer from her, was a person aggrieved by the order and judgment of the county court appointing the guardian, and hence was entitled to appeal therefrom.
6. Upon the appeal in such case the circuit court had no authority to adjudge the validity of the agreement between the alleged incompetent and her son, whereby her property was transferred. to him and he agreed to provide for her support, — an action brought by her to set aside such agreement being then pending.
Appeal from a judgment of tbe circuit court for Grant, county: Geobge CleMENTsoN, Circuit Judge.
Reversed.
This is an appeal from a judgment reversing tbe order- and judgment of tbe county court appointing a guardian of tbe person and estate of Eleanor Baric, wbo was alleged to be mentally incompetent. It appears from tbe record and is undisputed tbat Alfred Bark, the husband of Eleanor Baric, died October 14, 1896, leaving, him surviving, bis widow,. Eleanor, and eleven children, all of whom were of age, and' a farm of eighty acres of land adjoining tbe city of Lancaster, on which be resided at tbe time, and another farm of 320 acres in tbe country. Tbe two farms were together valued •at $12,600, and be bad personal property of tbe value of $2,834.88, consisting of stock, machinery, produce, and property on bis home farm, and claims against some of bis children. Five days after tbe death of Alfred, tbe widow and tbe eleven children, after full conference, deliberately entered into a written agreement (Exhibit A) under seal,. wherein and whereby it was mutually agreed, in effect, that the real estate should he kept together and undivided during the life of the widow; that the income therefrom should be applied to the payment of debts and taxes, and making repairs, and the expenses of -administration, and the remainder should be paid to the widow during her natural life, out of which the widow was to maintain a home on the eighty acres for herself and her daughter Effie so long as she remained unmarried. Provision was also made therein for Effie, who was weak-minded, in case she survived her mother. It was further agreed therein that the son John H. should be appointed administrator' of his father’s estate, and as such, and as agent for the widow and the other ten children, should reside with his mother on the homestead, and manage and run the same and all the lands and business pertaining to- the estate, and should receive compensation for his services, including all commissions as administrator — $20 per month — -with the privilege of having one horse of his own on the farm, to be used as one of the farm team. John H. was thereupon appointed such administrator. lie was unmarried, and acted as such administrator and agent up to the time of his death, March 25, 1901. He had not closed up the estate of his father when he died, but it appears from the subsequent settlement 'thereof by the administrator de bonis non that the estate was indebted to him when he died in the sum of $115.80. John H. left a will whereby his share of the estate passed to his sister Jenni.e and his two brothers, Addison A. and James J.
Hpon the death of John H. the widow was left alone on the homestead, as her daughter Effie had previously been sent to an asylum, and subsequently a conference was had by the children and their mother, who was aged and infirm, as to her care and maintenance and the estate. The result was a written contract, under seal, executed by the widow, Eleanor, and the son James J., in the presence of five of the other children, who signed the same as witnesses April 10, 1901. That contract is designated as Exhibit 33, and recites the substance of the former contract (Exhibit A) with John 3EL, his action as administrator and agent in carrying out that contract, the necessity of a home for the widow, and an administrator de bonis non of Alfred’s estate, and the settlement of the same; and it was therein agreed between Eleanor and James J. that the latter should assume the care and management of such real estate, collect all rents and income therefrom, and out of the same he should pay all taxes and repairs thereon, keep the real estate in good condition, provide a comfortable support in sickness and health for Eleanor, and pay the expenses of her burial and all debts; and Eleanor thereby sold, assigned, and transferred to James J. all of the live stock, farm produce, farm machinery, money, and household furniture and goods then in her possession ; the proceeds of the sale of personal property to be used in payment of outstanding debts. As compensation for his services, it was therein agreed that James J. should retain as his own all of the income from said property after making the payments above mentioned. It was therein agreed that such contract should be binding upon the parties during the life of Eleanor.
At the time of the death of John H., James J. lived, with his wife and children, in Minnesota, but in pursuance of the agreement (Exhibit 33) he moved with his family onto the homestead at Lancaster with his mother. A few weeks after-wards Eleanor began to be dissatisfied, and took counsel with other children apd lawyers. October 24, 1901, Eleanor verified a written complaint in her' own name against her son James J., alleging, in effect, that her signature to the agree-men (Exhibit 33) hadjbeen procured by undue influence, and at a time when she did not comprehend its contents, and that she had been ill-treated by James J. in the previous August and September. The summons and complaint in that action were served on James J. October 26, 1901. October 25, 1901, Eleanor filed a claim in her own name for $2,057.50 against the estate of her son John H.
October 31, 1901, the daughter Mary B., of Nebraska, filed her petition in the county court for the appointment of David Schreiner as guardian of the person and estate of Eleanor, on the ground that she had personal estate of the probable value of $2,000, and rights in real estate with an annual income of $700, and that, by reason of extreme old age and mental and physical incapacity, she was mentally incompetent to have the charge and management of her property. Upon the same day the county court made an order for the hearing of such application, and for the personal service ef a copy of the order, on Eleanor, and publication of the same. Such service and publication were duly made, as appears from proofs in the record. On the hearing, December 3, 1901, W. J. Brennan was appointed guardian ad litem for Eleanor by the county court; and thereupon, and after hearing the testimony and examining the facts, the county court found, as matter of fact, in effect, that Eleanor was mentally incompetent to have the charge and management of her property, and incapable of taking care of herself and managing her property, and that she asked for the appointment of such guardian; that her personal property exceeded $1,000; and that David Schreiner, of Lancaster, was a competent and suitable person to be so appointed as such guardian — and thereupon adjudged and decreed accordingly.
Erom that order and judgment James J. and the said guardian ad'litem, in behalf of the said Eleanor, appealed to-the circuit court. After hearing the testimony and arguments of counsel, that court found as matters of fact, in effect, the making of Exhibit E, April 10, 1901, and its provisions; that J ames J. immediately after the execution of that agreement went into the possession of all the property, real and personal, of said Eleanor, under that agreement, and had been in such possession ever since; that said agreement was a valid and binding contract between tbe parties thereto; that Eleanor bad no other property, real or personal, tban such as she conveyed by that instrument; that at all times since the execution of that agreement, when Eleanor was at his home,' J ames J. has comfortably provided for her in sickness and in health, and both he and the members of his family have treated her with kindness; that no reason exists why a guardian should be appointed over her property, and that no reason exists why a guardian should be appointed for the person of such Eleanor; that said Eleanor made no complaint of any ill treatment at the home of James J. by him or by the members of his family; that she stated in open court that she did not want to have a guardian appointed over her; that Eleanor was mentally competent to have the management of her person, and also mentally competent to have the management of her property. And as conclusions of law the circuit court found, in effect, that the order of the county court adjudging Eleanor mentally incompetent, and appointing David Schreiner as guardian of her person and estate, be reversed; that no guardian should be appointed over her; that the costs and disbursements of the proceeding should be paid by the petitioner, Mary B. Ziegler; that this case be remitted to the county court for further proceedings in accordance with the decision and order of the circuit court. Brom the judgment entered thereon accordingly, the petitioner,. Mary B. Ziegler, brings this appeal.
Bor the appellant there was a brief signed by Bushnell, Watlcins & Moses, and oral argument by A. B. Bushnell.
They argued, among other things, that a guardian ad litem ought not to have been appointed by the county court. One proceeded against under the statute as an insane or incompetent person may defend and appear by attorney, until adjudged insane or incompetent. Appeal of Boyston, 53 Wis. 612. If one may defend in person and by attorney, a guardian ad liiem for such person is improper. To appoint a guardian ad litem in this proceeding is to anticipate and determine beforehand the very subject matter of the inquiry involved.
For tbe respondents there was a brief by Lowry & Garihew, attorneys for respondent Bark, and W. J. Brennan, guardian ad litem, and oral argument by Harry JE. Garihew.
They contended, inter alia, that the petition for-guardianship was not sufficient to give the court jurisdiction because it failed to set out the persons who Would be affected by such appointment, and because it failed to show with whom the alleged incompetent resided and who was in possession of her property. Sec. 3976, Stats. 1898; Gary, Probate Law, § 787; In re Bassett, 68 Mich. 348, 36 N. W. 97; In re Myers, 73 Mich. 401, 41 N. W. 334; Pariello v. Holton, 79 Mich. 372, 44 N. W. 619; Hunger v. Probate Judge, 86 Mich. 363, 49 N. W. 47; Appeal of Boyston, 53 Wis. 617. No jurisdiction was obtained, because the order failed to require personal service upon said persons. See cases cited above. The appearance of the alleged incompetent cannot give jurisdiction or waive any of her rights. Appeal of Boyston, supra; North v. J oslin, 59 Mich. 624.

Opinion:
Cassoday, O. J.
1. It is claimed by the respondents that the county court never obtained jurisdiction to appoint a guardian, for the reason that the petition therefor failed to state the names of the persons who would be affected by such appointment, and because it failed to show with whom the alleged incompetent resided, and who was in the possession of her property. The statute required the verified petition to be made by a relative or friend of the alleged incompetent, and to state the fact of such incompetency. Sec. 3976, Stats. 1898. Here it was made by a daughter of the alleged incompetent. The petition is quite general in its statement of facts, but seems to comply with the provisions of that section. Appeal of Royston, 53 Wis. 612, 617, 618, 11 N. W. 36. In that case it was said to be the better practice for the petition to state the name of the person with whom, if any one, the supposed incompetent is living; who are his relatives, if any; what his estate consists of, and who has charge of it — so that the county court may act with full knowledge of those interested in the welfare of the incompetent and his estate, and may cause notice to be given to them of the application, if it shall deem such notice necessary or proper. But in that case the court refrained from holding "that a petition which fails to contain these matters is not sufficient, under the statute, to give the court jurisdiction to proceed in the matter." Id. The only object of stating in the petition the facts said to have been omitted would be to inform the court of the names of such persons, so that by notification their presence could be secured at the hearing. Here it appears from the record that James J., the son of Eleanor, and the person with whom she resided at the time, and who claimed to be in the lawful possession of all the property belonging to Eleanor, appeared in the county court at such hearing, and moved to dismiss the proceeding for want of jurisdiction. A more complete petition could not have secured a more full hearing.
It is also claimed by the respondents that no jurisdiction was obtained by the county court, because service was never made on the alleged incompetent as required by the order,' and because the order failed to require personal service upon the person having control of her person and property, and her children, and because no such service was ever made, and because the order did not require that the alleged incompetent, if able, attend before the court at the hearing. The statute cited required the county court to "cause a notice to be given to the supposed insane or incompetent person of the time and place of hearing the case, not less than twenty days before the time so appointed, and shall also cause such person, if able to attend, to be produced before him on the hearing." Sec. 3976, Stats. 1898. Here it appears from the record that, on tbe day the petition was so filed in the county court, that court did malee an order fixing the time and place of the hearing, as so required by the statute; and it was therein further ordered that notice thereof be given to Eleanor Bark by personal service upon her of a copy of that order at least twenty days before such hearing, and to all oilier persons interested by publishing a notice of the order for three successive weeks prior to the day of the hearing in a newspaper therein designated. The proof in the record is that such personal sendee of such copy was made on Eleanor November 7, 1901, and on the same day Eleanor, signed a written admission of such service. The affidavit of the printer of the newspaper so designated, in the record, shows that notice of such hearing was published in such newspaper for three weeks successively, commencing November 7, 1901. It moreover appears from the findings of the county court that Eleanor Bark was personally present in court during such hearing. The requirements of the statute seem to have been fully complied with, and we perceive no ground for holding that the county court was without jurisdiction.
2. Counsel for the appellant contends that the county court was without authority to appoint W. J. Brennan guardian ad litem for Eleanor December 3, 1901, and that the appeals from the order and judgment of the county court taken by bim and James J. were together insufficient to give the circuit court jurisdiction. A rule of the county court provides that "infants, insane persons and other persons under disability, shall appear and prosecute and defend by their guardians ad litem who shall be some such attorney, or by their general guardians." County Court Rule III, sec. 1. If Eleanor was at the time under disability, as adjudged by the county court, then a guardian ad litem was properly appointed. As said by Mr. Justice Tatlob in the case cited:
"We can see no reason why a man who is proceeded against as an insane or incompetent person, under the statute, is not the proper person to defend against the proceeding; and, until be is finally adjudged to be insane or incompetent, be may appear by bis attorney, as any other person," Appeal of Royston, 53 Wis. 612, 625, 11 N. W. 36, 41.
Here tbe notice of appeal given by sneb guardian ad litem recites bis appointment, and "that said Eleanor Baric is aggrieved by tbe order and judgment made by tbe said county court in said matter, . . . and that sbe desires to appeal therefrom, and, being himself aggrieved at said order and judgment, hereby appeals therefrom to tbe circuit court for said county." We are constrained to bold that tbe appeal so taken was effectual to give tbe circuit court jurisdiction. Besides, there can be no question but what James J. was aggrieved by such order and judgment, because it gave to tbe guardian so appointed tbe right to- contest tbe claim which James J. made to tbe property which be held by virtue of an assignment and transfer from bis mother. Such being tbe fact, there seems to te no doubt of tbe right of James J. to appeal from such order and judgment to tbe circuit court, as be did. Sec. 4031, Stats. 1898.
3. This brings us to tbe merits of tbe controversy. Tbe conclusions reached by tbe circuit court were manifestly based upon tbe findings that tbe agreement made by and between Eleanor and James J. April 10, 1901, was a valid and binding contract between tbe parties thereto; that by that instrument Eleanor bad transferred and conveyed all of her property, real and personal, to J ames J., who bad taken and held possession thereof ever since. If that agreement is a valid and binding contract between tbe parties thereto, and such transfer and conveyance is conclusive as against Eleanor, then it is very obvious that sbe would have nothing left, except an agreement for support, which might not necessitate the appointment of a guardian of her estate so long as sbe was kindly treated and properly supported. But bad tbe circuit court authority in this proceeding to prejudge tbe validity and binding effect of that contract, and tbe conclusiveness of such transfer and conveyance? We are forced to the conclusion that that court had no such authority. On the contrary, some days before the petition was filed for the appointment of such guardian, Eleanor had commenced an action in her own name against J ames J. to hare that agreement set aside on the ground that the same had heen procured hy undue influence. Eor aught that appears, that action is still pending and undetermined. The mental condition of Eleanor did not prevent her from commencing that action in her own name. Menz v. Beebe, 95 Wis. 383, 70 N. W. 468. The day before commencing that action, Eleanor filed a large claim against the estate of her son John H. That claim involved the inquiry whether the agreement made October 19, 1896, between Eleanor and her eleven children, including John H., had heen performed. That agreement is referred to as the basis of the agreement of April 10, 1901. The question here is not whether such •claims or those agreements, or either of them, are valid and .binding upon the parties, hut whether Eleanor, "hy reason of extreme old age or other cause, is mentally incompetent to have the charge and management of her property" in the condition described, within the meaning of the statute. Sec. 3976, Stats. 1898. This section has recently heen construed hy this court, and repetition is unnecessary. In re Streiff, 119 Wis. 566, 97 N. W. 189; Schramek v. Shepeck, 120 Wis. 643, 98 N. W. 213. The claims and rights of action thus made hy Eleahor, or in her behalf, may be without foundation; hut we have no right to assume that they are unfounded, on this application for the appointment of a guardian. We must hold that the finding of the circuit court that Eleanor was mentally competent to have the management of her property is against the clear preponderance of the evidence.
By the Court. — The order and judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause is remanded with direction to affirm the order and judgment of the county court.