Case Name: ASAHEL H. HAVILAND v. JOHN P. HAYES
Court: New York Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1867-09
Citations: 4 Trans. App. 214
Docket Number: 
Parties: ASAHEL H. HAVILAND v. JOHN P. HAYES.
Judges: Concurring : Portee, Geoveb, Davies, and Bocees, J<J.
Reporter: Transcript Appeals
Volume: 4
Pages: 214–229

Head Matter:
ASAHEL H. HAVILAND v. JOHN P. HAYES.
Insanity — Findings of jury — Province of Gourt.
On the question of insanity, the judgment of a jury, when guided by the ability and discretion of an enlightened Judge, should not be lightly reversed.
When a decent, quiet, orderly man, meeting with losses of supposed importance to his position in society, abandons his business, secretes himself from observation, complains of his head, becomes noisy, obscene, and profane, shouts, sings, and prays, and finally becomes confessedly insane and dies a lunatic, the verdict of a jury, finding him insane from an early period after such losses occur, should not be disturbed for doubtful reasons.
This is an action to set aside a deed executed by Park Havi-land and his wife to Albert Haviland, dated June 14, 1848, and also a confirmatory deed executed by Park Haviland to the Defendant on the 13th day of December, 1851. The ground of the action is the alleged insanity of Park Haviland at the time ol executing the deeds referred to.
Albert Haviland died in April, 1855 ; and while the owner of the property conveyed, had executed a mortgage upon the same, under which a sale was had, and the Defendant became the purchaser in December, 1851. Park Haviland died in June, 1856, and the Plaintiff, as one of his heirs-at-law, commenced the present action. Issues were framed, by which various questions on the subject of the insanity of Park Haviland were presented. The issues were tried in June, 1860, and the jury answered the several questions in writing, and found that Park Haviland was insane and legally incapable of executing the deeds in question. At a Special Term held in the September following, the Judge who presided at the trial of the issues found and decided, as questions of fact, that the deeds were executed at the time alleged; that Park Haviland was insane at and prior to the execution of each of the deeds; adjudging that they be cancelled, and that the Plaintiff was entitled to recover one-fourth of the property described in the deeds.
A motion was made before the same Judge, by the Defendant, for a new trial, which was denied, and judgment entered against him.
The Defendant appealed from this judgment to the General Term of the Second District, where the judgment was reversed upon the facts, as certified in the order of reversal, and a new trial ordered. The Plaintiff now appeals to this Court, stipulating that if said judgment is affirmed, judgment absolute may be ordered against him.
H. A. Nelson for the Appellant.
A. J. P curlier for the Eespondent.

Opinion:
Hunt, J.
In border cases it may be difficult to say what is sanity and what is insanity.
A distinguished writer says: "Ho one can say when twilight ends or begins, but there is ample distinction between day and night."
' Between sanity and insanity there is ample distinction. It is not necessary to attempt a definition of insanity, nor to criticise that made by Lord Brougham, or Sir John Hicholl, or Doctor Eay, or to distinguish between the definitions given by numerous other eminent writers. The present is not a case of twilight, but one having ample distinction as to its character.
A course of action for a series of years, entirely different from that governing mankind at large, and different from his own former conduct and character — where the principles, feelings, emotions, and grounds of action differ entirely from that we all recognize as governing ourselves; where the individual, without motive, abandons the better and brighter parts of his nature, neglects civilization and refinement and comfort; where this difference is permanent and marked; where the change in his intellectual capacity, from that of an educated, careful, and attentive business man, is to one who is allowed no money except a trifle, like that which will please a child — whose property and person are entirely rinder the control of others, brutally exercised, and uncomplainingly submitted to ; who requires the daily care of his wife to shave him; • who at length becomes an inmate of a lunatic asylum, confessedly insane, and who thenceforward lives and dies a lunatic — all these circumstances indicate a clear case of insanity.
Nice distinctions are here not required.
Prior to certain pecuniary losses, which occurred before 1827, it is proved that Park Haviland was a good business man, prudent, discreet, cheerful — a quiet member of the Society of Priends in his vicinity' — ordinarily liberal, and in no way distinguished in his conduct from the most of his neighbors.
Numerous witnesses were examined who testified that for many years prior to 1848, and commencing as early as 1827, they had heard him shouting, praying, and cursing, so that he could be heard at a distance of a mile; they testified to his hiding himself from observation for many years; to his sitting in the hogpen for hours, when occupied by the hogs; to his sullenness and stupidity at his house; that he complained of pain in his head, and that all the business was transacted by his wife and his son.
If these were isolated transactions, not parts of his permanent character, I should not place much reliance upon them, as I do not upon the isolated instances of self-control or good conduct to which I shall hereafter refer. They seem, however, to have been his general characteristics for many years. His old acquaintances who had known him for forty years, his friends in the church, liis relatives, all concur in this general estimate of his character and in their description of his conduct, and in the change in his character which then took place. The persons best qualified to speak upon this subject were those who had that opportunity of constant observation which a residence in the same family would give, who could see him at the table, in the family circle, and who knew his habits during a period of years in all the relations of life. It is to the wife, the children, and the domestics of the family that we should naturally look for the fullest information ; and, in fact, their testimony is quite satisfactory to me, confirmed ' as it is by so many other witnesses in the case.
The wife testifies that she was married to Park Haviland in 1827; that after her son Albert was eighteen years of age, she and Albert managed the farm until 1850 j that prior to this it was managed by liis other sons, George and Asaliel; that her husband did no business, except to do an errand, as a child, -when requested ; lie took no interest in the business, and did no work. As early as the birth of her son Albert, in 1827 or 1828, and on that occasion, without any family difficulty, he went away and was absent for three or four days. lie was absent again from September until March, leaving liis wife and her infant child at home, with a son by a former wife, and without cause or occasion.
In describing liis condition at a later period, this witness says: " From 1845 to 1849 my son exercised control over his father; he would take hold of him and tell him to do so and so ; he would shake him at times, and tell him to hush up; he would have raving times, and chase people with an axe; he used indecent language to people travelling on the road; when struck or taken hold of he would obey — the same before giving the deed and the same afterward."
'It was only her consent, as it appears from her testimony, that was necessary to the execution of the deed, and when that was obtained, and at her request and Albert's,, the father, without inquiry or remonstrance, executed the deed. It was the wife, and not the father, who required the agreement for support to be previously made; and when made to her satisfaction, the affair was completed. On his return under her charge from the execution of this deed, he got out of the wagon, and upon the idea of fixing the harness, so unbuckled it that, on starting, the horse walked out of his harness and away from the wagon. The wife then got out, rearranged the harness, and drove him home, he sitting quietly in the wagon. She says that after the birth of Albert her husband had no money, except that sometimes the boys would give him a few shillings to please him. Sometimes he wnuld hollo and scream night and day, and at all times; at other times he would be quiet. " I tried to keep these things from the world." Such would be the promptings both of delicacy and affection. In 1847 Park's eldest daughter came home and remained until the fall of 1848. Mrs. Ilaviland says that her husband was cross to her and thought she was not his daughter, but some of the Toffey folks. She shaved him during all this period, because she was afraid to trust him with a razor. He was once found away from home, in an out-building, with a rope. On her cross-examination she states she lived in the house with him before her marriage; that he was then noisy at times, but after his loss of property the disease grew upon him; he would swear and be noisy, without provocation; that there was but little conversation, except her efforts to keep him calm.
The hired man, "Warren Wooden, was called by the Defendant, and testified to some transactions of business by Park Haviland, between April, 1850, and June, 1851, the period of his residence in the family. On his cross-examination, after stating certain matters hardly fit to be discussed, he says that " when excited he was very profane ; the sight of Craft would excite him; he said he was going to have him in State prison. He never saw Craft pass without getting in a rage (this animosity was without cause); he chased a black man with an axe. She (Mary Jane Cronk) threw a pail of water on him one day, and then struck him with the pail. Mary Jane and he had a fight one day. Each had a weapon.
" He was swearing at the table, and Albert threw a vinegar cruet at him. I saw Albert take him by the collar and throw him down, and order him in the house. I thought from the noise Albert was whipping him. He holloed, £ Oh! oh dear,' a great many times. A man came there by the name of Halley. Albert ordered Park into the house. He went in, and after a while came out, and said the prisoner had got loose. Albert had tied him up. Albert went in with him again, and came out without him. Park was the lai'gest — .a large, strong man; he ordered him to shut up ; said, ' Shut up your d — d old head he did not obey; Albert tried to slap him, and he could not, and left without his breakfast. I saw Albert jerk him on the floor; he got up and went to George's, as he.said, and George said it was good enough for him. . I have heard him at night, after he had gone to bed, talk about the black man ; he kept me awake; he said the black man had stolen a crow-bar."
Mary J. Rider testified that sire lived in the family of Park Haviland from 1842 to 1848. She says: " I did observe the acts and conduct of Park Haviland, while I resided there; he acted very boisterously; cursed and swore and holloed night and day; he would go into the fields and sit for hours at a time; he would wring his hands a great deal; he chased me several times with an axe; he would frequently wish thunder and lightning would strike the family; he would talk obscene language, let who would be present. These acts took place almost all the while, particularly the last year of my staying there. There were a great many of his acts which I cannot describe."
In answer to another inquiry, she said that " Albert was very cross and ugly to his father for a year or more before I came away. "Would often strike his father — sometimes two or three times a day, when he got angry at him. I have seen Albert jerk him around and kick him. This was quite frequent during the v last year I lived there. Albert could make him mind whenever he wanted to. . . . Albert used to threaten to whip his father if he did not give him a deed. . . . When they were in the house together, Albert was continually coaxing and threatening him for a deed; saw Albert get angry with his father, because he did not want to give him a deed, several times, and then he would strike him and jerk him around the room, and sometimes down on the floor. This conduct was frequent in the spring of 1848, and continued as long as I lived there."
We have no evidence that can be relied upon as to his physical health when the change in his character first occurred, except his complaints of pain in his head.
If it had appeared that at the same time his bodily health was seriously affected, that he lost his strength, that his vital energy failed, I think there would have been the strongest reason for believing that a disease of the brain was the seat of the difficulty. It would be no objection to this theory that he should subsequently have become large and fleshy, as this bodily condition is of common occurrence among those whose brain is seriously diseased.
The case was fully and fairly tried. The charge to the jury was not only correct, but it was wise and discriminating. They pronounced it to be a case of insanity.
I place great reliance upon tbe verdict of a jury thus guided and directed; more than upon tbe opinion of tbe Judges at a General Term, however learned they may be.
To sbow bis mental capacity, it was proved by a stage-driver that the deceased grantor, about tbe date of the deed, was in tbe habit of sending notes by him for discount at tbe bank, and receiving tbe proceeds in return. Stage-drivers embrace all degrees of character, from tbe careful and worthy proprietor to tbe worthless vagabond.
It was for tbe jury to designate tbe position of this individual. Tbe proof is most abundant that at this time, as well as for years before and after, be was tbe mere instrument of bis son, submitting to bis orders and obeying bis wishes; that all the business of tbe farm and family were done by bis wife and son, with tbe exercise of no judgment or authority on bis part. I do not feel at liberty to' disregard tbe opinion of tbe jury on this branch of tbe case.
It was proved also that tbe deceased grantor applied to a Justice of tbe peace to draw tbe deed to bis son, and to Mr. Aiken to draw a bond for tbe support of himself and wife, and that bis conversation was reasonable, and bis conduct free from exception on those occasions.
It was proved also that be executed tbe quit-claim deed to Mr. ITayes, in tbe presence of a number of witnesses, and acted as a man of ordinary intelligence would have done.
This was testimony eminently for tbe consideration of tbe jury. They may have credited the statements partly, or they may have taken them with qualifications.
I can easily conceive bow the jury may have believed them, substantially, and yet have reached tbe conclusion they did reach.
In the first place, tbe actor was well prepared for tbe occasion, and impressed with tbe necessity of careful deportment.
He was well dressed and carefully shaved by that faithful wife who bad performed that duty for him during a period of twenty-seven weary years. He was probably well prepared by his son, as well by instruction as by persuasion, or by that rougher treatment of which the case contains so much painful evidence. The wife describes the preparation for the transaction, and the almost automatic manner in which Park performed his share in it. She says that Albert asked her when she and his father were going to execute the deed. She said not until he executed the bond. The same day the bond was executed and given to her, and she then consented to execute the deed.
She proceeds: "I said to Park, we will go down to Wesley Stark's and have the deed executed. Tie made no reply. I fixed him, shaved him myself — as I had done for twenty years — got him ready, and said, 'Park, we will go.'
" I put the deed in my pocket. Albert said to me, ' Take some money and pay Stark for executing the deed.' Park did not resist or make any reply. He got into the wagon. I drove three miles to Stark's. Nothing was said on the road about the business. When I drove up to Stark's I said: ' Here is a gentleman who desires to do a little business with you.' He asked who it was. I said, ' Park Haviland.' He said, ' What does he want done? ' I handed him the deed. He said, 'Do you do this with your own free will? ' Park did not appear to take any notice of it. I looked up to him and nodded my head, and Stark went on writing. . . . Stark said, ' You may come now and put your name to it.' I handed him my glasses, and he went and put his name down. I also signed it. He had no glasses of his own; he always used mine. The deed was not read to him, or by him, in my presence. When Stark said the deed was done, I took it and put it in my pocket and gave it to my son. No one was present when I gave it to him. I don't know that Park knew of the giving of the deed to Albert."
That Mr. Hayes had arranged the scene in which he was a party is reasonably apparent from his assembling so many persons to witness the transaction, and his previous request to one of them to put certain questions to Haviland, which the witness failing to do, Mr. Hayes himself put the questions, and received the desired answers.
In the next place, it is well to consider here tliat the insane man is not in the same condition at all times. A man may he certainly insane, although he he not a raving maniac or an absolute imbecile. Nor is it necessary that a delusion -which possesses him should at all times operate with the same force; or that his self-control should at all times be entirely lost. The benevolent institutions to which this class of unfortunates are now committed endeavor to stimulate their self-control by rewards or deprivations. The permission to work in the fields or the garden, to go to the post-office, to sell their productions, to drive with the better class of patients, to discharge any duty, or to fulfil any trust or confidence, are held out as rewards for good conduct and self-control.
These motives produce the most striking results, and show that the power of controlling their conduct and conversation is much more within the possession of the patients than is generally supposed. Nevertheless, such parties are undoubtedly insane. If a person has so little or such perverted intellect that he is unable to comprehend the subject before him in its relation to himself, the party with whom he is dealing, and others who have claims upon his justice or his bonnty, his contract ought not to be sustained. He may be able to restrain his violence for the moment, and to converse with discretion and judgment for a brief period; there may be remissions or mitigations of his disease, and yet he be insane.
The two physicians, who had been long connected with lunatic asylums, gave it as their judgment that such was the case with Park Ilaviland.
On the question of " compos mentis " simply, and irrespective of the measure or extent of capacity, I concur with the jury that he was not "compos mentis," and that the deed was obtained by undue influence.
I have great confidence in the good-sense and judgment of a jury as applied to such cases ; and when guided by the ability and discretion of an enlightened Judge, I think their verdict should not be lightly reversed.
A decent, quiet, sober, orderly man meets with losses, important, as lie supposes, to his position in life. From this time he abandons his business, soon secretes himself from observation, complains of his head; at length becomes noisy, obscene, and profane; shouts, sings, and prays so that he can be heard at the distance of half-a-mile.
From month to month, and year to year, he becomes more and more changed in his character; becomes subject to fits. lie was found sitting for hours in the hogpen among the swine; he refuses to be consulted about anything; his wife and his son transact all his business; he has no money, except a few shillings given to please him; he does nothing except a few errands, as a boy; his son horsewhips him, ties him with cords, and throws him upon the ground, to which the father, the larger and stronger than the son, submits uncomplainingly; he has no spectacles of his own; he is shaved by his wife for a period of twenty-seven years; lie attempts to commit suicide; he quarrels with the servant-girls on the most trifling pretences; follows them with an axe; lie gives a deed of his farm at the simple direction of In's wife, without remonstrance or inquiry; and in three years thereafter is placed in a lunatic asylum as confessedly insane, and dies an undoubted lunatic. I concur entirely' in the finding of the jury that liaviland was insane at the time of the execution of the deed to his son, and at the time of the execution of the deed to Mr. Iiayes. The judgment of the General Term must be reversed, and that of the Special Term affirmed.
Concurring : Portee, Geoveb, Davies, and Bocees, J<J.