Case Name: Harry O. Ruckert, Guardian of Person and Estate of John G. Ruckert, Appellant, v. Katie Moore
Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Decision Date: 1927-05-24
Citations: 317 Mo. 228
Docket Number: 
Parties: Harry O. Ruckert, Guardian of Person and Estate of John G. Ruckert, Appellant, v. Katie Moore,
Judges: Lindsay, C., concurs; Ellison, C.,_ not sitting.
Reporter: Missouri Reports
Volume: 317
Pages: 228–245

Head Matter:
Harry O. Ruckert, Guardian of Person and Estate of John G. Ruckert, Appellant, v. Katie Moore,
295 S. W. 794.
Division One,
May 24, 1927.
Charles R. Landrum and Robert Stemmons for. appellant. .
William B. Skinner for respondent.

Opinion:
SEDDON, C.
This is an action brought by plaintiff, in a representative capacity as guardian of the person and estate of .John. G. Ruekert, to set aside a deed made, executed and delivered by said John G. Ruckert on August 2, 1923, whereby he conveyed forty acres of land in Lawrence County- to defendant. Plaintiff is a son, and defendant is a daughter, of said John G. Ruekert. On July 30, 1923, an information was made and filed by plaintiff, Harry 0. Ruck-ert, and a brother, J. B. Ruckert, in the Probate .Court of Lawrence County, informing that court that " J. G. Ruckert is a person incapable of managing his affairs," and praying that "inquiry be had relative to said matter." Notice of the filing of said information, directed to J. G. Ruckert, was issued by said probate court .on July 30, 1923, reciting that a hearing in said matter was set for August 6, 1923, which notice was served upon said J. G. Ruckert in person .by the sheriff of said county on July 30, 1923. On August 6, 1923, an order was entered by the Probate Court of Lawrence County, adjudging J. G. Ruckert to be "a person of unsound mind and incapable of managing his affairs," and appointing H. 0. Ruckert, plaintiff herein, as the guardian of the person and estate of said' J. G. Ruekert. It therefore appears from the pleadings and the proof that the deed sought to be canceled herein was executed and delivered by John G. Ruekert about three days after the filing of the information in the probate court, and about four days before the inquiry and adjudication aforesaid, resulting in the appointment of plaintiff. as the guardian of the person and estate of J. G. Ruckert.
The petition alleges: "Plaintiff for cause of action states that he is the duly appointed and legally qualified and now acting guardian of the person and estate of John G. Ruekert; that the said John G. Ruckert is the father of the plaintiff, guardian as aforesaid, and also the father of the defendant, Katie Moore, nee Ruckert.
"The plaintiff" states that his ward was, at the time of the execution of the deed" hereinafter complained of, the owner in fee simple o'f the following described land, lying, being, and situate in Lawbence County,"Missouri/ described as follows, to-wit: The'northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 4, Township 28, Range 26, containing forty acres, more or less.
"That on August 2, 1925,"his said ward, John G. Ruckert, executed to the defendánt herein á warranty deed conveying the land herein-before described, for a consideration mentioned in said deed 'of one dollar and" services" rendered grantor and his deceased wife; that a provision was inserted in said deed" reserving to the grantor usé of said land during his natural lifetime; that said deed is recorded in Book 147, at page 103, in the office 'of the Récorder of Deeds for Lawrence County.
"Plaintiff says that, at the time of the execution of said deed, his ward, John G. Ruckert, was of the age of 86 years, weakened in body and mind, and incapable- of managing his affairs or transacting business of any kind or nature.
" "'That, at the time'of the execution of said deed, information had been filed with the ¡judge of probate in the'Probate Court of "Lawrence County, Missouri, to-wit, July 30, 1923, informing said court of the incapacity of the said John G. Ruckert to manage his affairs; that thereupon a hearing was had in said court on August 6, 1923, after due notice to the said-John G. Ruckert, and on'such hearing the said John G. Ruckert was by the said probate court adjudged incapable of managing his affairs.
"Plaintiff says that the defendant had full knowledge of all of said proceedings in the probate court, sanctioned, advised and concurred in said proceedings; that defendant, knowing the weakened condition in body and mind of the said John G. Ruckert and his incapacity' to manage his affairs, used or caused and permitted to be used improper and undue influence on the said John G. Ruckert, on account of which resulted in the execution of the deed herein mentioned.
"-Wherefore, plaintiff prays that said conveyance be set aside and for naught held; that the title to the said land be divested out of the defendant and vested in the said John G. Ruckert, and for such other and further relief as to the court may seem meet and just."
The answer recites:
"Gomes now the defendant and for answer to plaintiff's petition denies each and every allegation in said petition contained, except the alleged - execution of the deed by John 'G. Ruckert to defendant.
"Further answering, tbe defendant says that on the second day of August, A: D. 1923, John G. Ruckert, being then the. owner of the-northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section Four, Township Twenty-eight, Range Twenty-sis, in Lawrence County, Missouri, for a good, valuable and sufficient consideration, by his deed, duly executed, conveyed the same to this defendant, the said deed being the same one mentioned in plaintiff's petition. , •
"Wherefore, defendant .prays the court by its judgment herein to. affirm and confirm such deed and to decree the same to be valid and sufficient in all things, fully vesting the legal title to the real estate described therein in the defendant."
The reply is as follows:
"Comes now the plaintiff in the above entitled cause, and, for reply to defendant's answer herein, denies that the deed executed by John G. Ruckert on the second day of August, 1923, to the defendant was given for a good', valuable or sufficient consideration. -,
' ' For further reply, the plaintiff states that the said, defendant advised, counselled and procured an information to be filed in the Probate Court of Lawrence County, Missouri, charging and alleging that said John G. Ruckert was a person of unsound mind, and' incapable of managing his affairs, and thereafter obtained said deed from sa.id John G. Ruckert previous to the adjudication of insanity by said probate court.
"The plaintiff therefore states .that the defendant is estopped to deny the invalidity of said deed on account of the mental incapacity of said John G. Ruckert." . •
• Plaintiff, in support of the cause of action alleged in the,petition, introduced in evidence the original information, the original notice of the proceeding and the return of the sheriff thereon, and' the order adjudging J. G. Ruckert to be a person of unsound mind and incapable of managing his affairs, and appointing -plaintiff as the guardian of the person-and 'estate of J. G. Ruckert; all as filed and' entered of record in the Probate Court of Lawrence 'County -in the matter of the'insanity proceeding-against J. G.' Ruclcerfi Inasmuch as these files and-record have a direct bearing upon the question of the juris-' diction of the Probate Court of Lawrence County in the insanity proceeding, the validity of its orders made therein, and the probative effect and the conclusiveness thereof in the instant suit, we will quote thé files and record of the probate court in hd.ec verba. '
The information filed in the probate court reads:
"Come now J, B. Ruckert and H. 0. Ruckert and inform the court-that J. G. Ruckert, a resident of Lawrence County, Missouri, is a person incapable of managing his affairs, and pray that inquiry be had relative to sa/id matter and if said J. G. Ruckert is found to be incompetent that a guardian be appointed for Mm and his estate.
"J. B. Ruckert.
"H. 0. Ruckert.
'Subscribed and sworn to before me this 30th day of July 1923. "(Seal) Eldred SeNEKER, Judge of Probate.-''
The notice of the insanity proceeding and of the date of the hearing oh inquisition, directed to, and served upon, J. G. Ruckert, is as follows:
"Notice.
"State of Missouri, County of Lawrence, ss.
"In the Probate Court.
"In the Matter of the Alleged Incompeteney of J. G. Ruckert.
"To J. G. Ruckert:
"This is to inform you that information in writing has been filed in this court alleging that you are incapable of managing your affairs and praying that inquiry be had relative to said matter.
"Wherefore, I have set Monday, August 6, 1923, at 10 A. m., for the hearing of said cause, at which time and place you may be present if you see fit.
'.'In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand- and affixed the seal of said court, at office in Mt. Yernon, this 30th day of July, 1923.
"(Seal) Eldred SeNEKER, Judge of Probate."
Endorsed on the back thereof is the following:
' ' I hereby certify that I have served the within notice in the County of Lawrence and State of,Missouri this 30th day.of July, 1923, by delivering to the within named J. G. Ruckert a true copy of this notice.
"R. C. McCorkhill, Sheriff of Lawrence County, Mo."
The .-order , entered in the insanity proceeding by said probate court on August 6, 1923, is as follows:
/.'Comes now to be heard the information filed herein alleging that J, G. Ruckert is a person incapable of managing his affairs and praying, for a hearing relative to said matter.
-"This.cause coming on to be heard and the court sitting as a jury finds .that said J. G. Ruckert has been informed of this hearing by notice served on him: that he is not present, but is represented by James Potter, a practicing attorney.
"The court, hearing the testimony of. witnesses, finds the said J. G: Ruckert'to be a person of unsound mind and incapable of managing'his affairs.
"And comes H. 0. Ruckert and files application and bond in the sum of one thousand dollars, the same being approved by the court, and asks that he'be appointed by the court guardian of the person and estate of'J. Gf. Ruekert.
"Wherefore, it is ordered by the court that J. G. Ruckert is a person of unsound mind and incapable of managing his affairs, and it is further ordered that H. 0. Ruekert be and he is hereby appointed guardian of the person and estate of J. G. Ruckert.
"It is also, ordered that notice be published in the Lawrence County Record."
Plaintiff adduced testimony tending to show-that defendant, Katie Moore, advised the filing of the information upon which the insanity proceeding in question was predicated, and that she was personally present in the Probate Court of Lawrence County at the time the information was filed. Plaintiff also adduced testimony tending to show that John 6. Ruekert was mentally incompetent on August 2, 1923, the date on which the deed 'in controversy was executed and delivered. Defendant was sworn and offered to testify as a witness in her own behalf, but, upon the objection of plaintiff, she was not permitted to testify as a witness upon the ground that she was incompetent and disqualified as a witness under the statute (See. 5410, R. S. 1919), which provides that, "in actions where one of the original parties to the contract or cause of action in issue and on trial . . . is shown to the court to be insane, the other party to such contract or cause of action shall not be admitted to testify either in his own favor or in favor of any party to the action claiming under him." Defendant adduced testimony tending to show that John G. Ruckert was mentally competent at the time he executed and delivered the deed in controversy, and that he appreciated, and well knew and understood, the nature, terms and effect of his contract of conveyance; that no unfair or fraudulent advantage was taken of her father by defendant in the premises; and that the deed was made for a.-fair and valuable consideration, to-wit, services rendered by defendant to- said John G. Ruckert and to his deceased wife, the mother of defendant.
At the conclusion of the trial, the trial court made and entered the following. judgment:
"And now at this day this cause coming on to be heard, come the parties plaintiff and defendant, in person and by their respective attorneys, and the court having heard the evidence' and being fully advised in the premises, dismisses plaintiff's bill and finds the issues for the defendant on her cross-petition and cross-bill.
"The. court finds that, on the 2nd day of August, 1923, John G. Ruekert, being the owner of the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section Four,. Township Twenty-eight, Range Twenty-six, in Lawrence County, Missouri, for a good, valuable and sufficient consideration, conveyed the same to the defendant, Katie Moore, ne& Ruckert, reserving to himself a life estate, therein;. that such conveyance was made by said John G. Ruckert when- in the full .possession of his mental faculties and without being influenced thereto by the defendant or any other person, and such deed, in law, vests the title to said real estate in the defendant subject, only to the life estate reserved therein to the grantor.
"It is therefore considered and adjudged that the plaintiff take nothing by this action, that the deed from John G. Ruckert to Katie Moore, nee Ruckert, dated the 2nd day of August, 1923, and recorded in Book 147 at page 103, in the Recorder's office within and: for Lawrence County, Missouri, conveying the northwest quarter of'the northeast quarter of Section Four, Township Twenty-eight, Range Twenty-six, in Lawrence County, Missouri, be, and the same is hereby declared to be valid and is in all thing;s confirmed and affirmed and forever binding on the grantor, his heirs and assigns, and that the defendant have and recover of and from the plaintiff her costs in this behalf laid out and expended."
After unsuccessfully seeking a new trial, plaintiff was allowed an appeal to this court.
Several errors are assigned by appellant as ground for the reversal of the judgment of the circuit' court. It is claimed by appellant that the order of the Probate Court of Lawrence' County, adjudging John G. Ruckert to be a person of unsound mind and in-, capable of managing his affairs, relates back to the time of the filing of the information in said insanity proceeding, so that the order adjudging John G. Ruckert to be insane is conclusive of the fact that he was insane on July 30, 1923, the date of the filing of the information, and therefore, that the deed in controversy, which was executed and' delivered by John G. Ruckert to defendant on August' 2, 1923, is null and void. It is also contended by appellant that, inasmuch as the probate court is a court of original and competent jurisdiction in insanity proceedings, its judgment here in evidence' is final and conclusive and cannot be attacked collaterally in the instant action. Furthermore, appellant contends that defendant, by her conduct in advising the filing of the information in the'probate court, and because of her presence in said court át thé time of the filing of the information, is estopped to assert that John G. Ruckert, the grantor in the deed in controversy, was sane when he executed arid- delivered said deed, and is estopped to deny the invalidity of said deed because of the mental incapacity of the grantor of sáid deed.
Respecting the contention of Appellant that the order of the probate court, adjudging John G. Ruckert to be a person of unsound mind and incapable of managing his affairs, is conclusive of the fact that John G. Ruckert was insane at the time of the execution and delivery of the deed in controversy, we have reached the conclusion, upon reasons presently to be stated, grounded upon the files and record of the probate court in evidence, that the orders of the probate court in the insanity proceeding are wholly void and without conclusive; or even probative, effect herein.
£j£n insanity proceeding is in invittum, and seeks to deprive the citizen' of his liberty or property, or both. Such proceeding seeks to take away from the citizen not only his right to the possession of his own property, but also his right to' contract freely with respect 'to his property, and to dispose of and do with it as he will. Therefore, it is said that, "where a statute prescribes a certain method of procedure' to determine whether persons are insane, such inquiries must be conducted in the mode prescribed, and the statute regulating such proceedings must be followed strictly." [14 R. C. L. 556, 557.J "Proceedings for an adjudication of insanity against an individual are 'required to be in strict compliance with the statutory requirements." [32 C. J."634.]
The statute of this State relating to insanity proceedings (Sec. 444, R: S. 1919) provides": "If information in writing, verified by 'the informant on his best information and belief, be given to' the probate court that, any person in its county is an idiot, lunatic or P^rso:Q °f nnsOund mind, and incapable of managing 'his affairs, and praying that an inquiry thereinto be h'ad,- the court, if satisfied there is good cause for the exercise of its jurisdiction, shall cause the facts .to be inquired into by a jury. Provided, that if neither the party giving -the information in wilting, nor the: party whose sanity is being inquired into call for or demand a jury, then the facts may be inquired into by the court sitting-as a jiiry.'"'
Section 446, Revised Statutes 1919, provides: "In proceedings under this article, the alleged insane person must be notified of the proceeding by written notice stating the nature of the proceeding, time and place when such proceedings- will be heard by the court, and that such person is entitled to he present at said hearing and to he assisted by counsel, such notice to be signed'by the judge or cleik of the court under the seal of such court, and served in person on the alleged insane person a reasonable time before tlie date set for such hearing. " ' (Italics ours.) ,
It is obvious that Section 444 of the statute, supra, requires that the 'information shall state conjunctively; not only that the subject of the inquiry is incapable of managing his affairs, but, also, that he is an idiot,- lunatic Or person of unsound mind. The information filed in the' Probate Court' of Lawrence County charges only that "J. G. Ruckert'-is' a person incapable of managing his affairs," and prays that "inquiry be had relative to.said matter." The statutory charge, or allegation, that J. G. Ruckert is' an idiot, lunatic or person of un sound mind is wholly lacking in the information. Hence, the initiatory information being deficient in its allegations, because of failure on the part of the informants to comply strictly with Section 444 of the statute, the filing of the defective information conferred no jurisdiction upon the Probate Court of Lawrence County to make inquiry respecting the sanity or insanity of John G. Ruckert, and its order adjudging said John G. Ruckert tó be "a person of unsound mind and incapable of managing his affairs" was a nullity and void. This court en Banc, has recently held the statutory allegations to be jurisdictional. [State ex rel. v. Williams, 291 S. W. 481.]
Our construction of the statute accords with that of the Kansas City Court of Appeals as announced in Burke v. McClure, 211 Mo. App. 446, l. c. 451, wherein it is said: "This is of a class of cases in which the citizen is sought to be deprived of both liberty and property, and those who seek such a result must do so upon statements which, if true, leave no doubt that .the case falls within the statute. Unless the petition in such a case either follows the words of the statute, or uses language and states facts fully equivalent, it cannot give jurisdiction. It has been held that' an allegation to the effect that a proposed ward is incapable of taking care of himself and his property, being in his dotage, is not sufficient to justify an appointment under a statute authorizing guardianship fon insane persons. [In re Estate of Brown, 45 Mich. 326; In re Storick, 64 Mich. 685; Overseers of the Poor v. Gullifer, 49 Me. 360.] In State v. Montgomery, 160 Mo. App. 724, 733, the Springfield Court of Appeals declared that, under this statute, 'the affidavit on which the insanity, inquiry is based is required to state two things, viz., that the party is an idiot, lunatic, or person of unsound mind and .that he is incapable of managing his affairs. The allegation that he is incapable of managing his affairs is as essential as the allegation that he is of unsound mind.' It necessarily follows that it is essential to charge in the information that the person sought to be made a ward is an idiot, lunatic, or of unsound mind as to charge that he is incapable of managing his affairs. Failure of either allegation is fatal to jurisdiction."
Likewise, the notice issued by the Probate Court of Lawrence County and served upon John G. Ruckert, the subject of the inquiry, is fatally defective and insufficient, and fails to comply with , the mandate of Section 446 of the statute, which requires that the "alleged insane person must be notified of the proceeding by wrj£ten notice stating the nature of the proceeding, . . . and that such person is entitled to be present at said hearing and to be assisted by counsel." The nature of the proceeding, as defectively stated in the notice issued by the probate court and served upon John G. Ruckert, is that "information in writing has been filed in this court alleging that you are incapable of managing your affairs and praying that inquiry be had relative to said matter." The notice did not state, or notify John G. Ruckert, that information .had been filed in the probate court charging him to be a person of unsound mind, or that an inquiry would be had by said court' as to his sanity or soundness of mind. Neither did the notice inform or advise John G. Ruckert that he is entitled to the assistance of counsel at the hearing or inquiry, as required by the statute. Where, as here, the notice served upon the subject of the insanity inquiry is fatally defective because of failure-to meet with the requirements of "the statute respecting the contents of such notice, the probate court from whence the notice issues acquires no jurisdiction to adjudge the subject of the inquiry insane, and to appoint a guardian of his person and estate, at least in the absence of an appearance by the subject of the inquiry and a waiver, on his part, of the service of the notice, or of any insufficiency therein. [State ex rel. v. Hodgdon, 251 S. W. 131; State ex rel. v. Satterfield, 274 S. W. 482; State ex rel. v. Guinotte, 282 S. W. 68.] While we are mindful that this Court en Banc, in State ex rel. v. Williams, 291 S. W. 481, has recently held that the subject of the inquiry may, by appearance at the inquisition, either in person or by his employed attorney, waive the service of the statutory notice and any defect or insufficiency therein, yet we are of the opinion that no waiver by John G. Ruckert of the insufficiency of the information or of the notice is shown by the record herein, or can such waiver be reasonably presumed therefrom. The order of adjudication of the probate court recites upon its face that John G. Ruckert was not present at the hearing and inquisition. It is true that the order of the probate court recites that John G. Ruckert was represented at the inquisition by an, attorney, but appellant states in his brief herein that, "iipon a hearing of the cause, the said John G. Ruckert failed to appear and the court appointed . an attorney at the Lawrence County - bar to represent him in the insanity proceedings. ' ' Such fact being admitted by appellant, it is clear that the representation of John G. Ruckert by an attorney was not because of any voluntary selection or employment of such attorney on his part, but because, the probate'court, without the request, acquiescence, or approval of said John G. Ruckert, had presumed to appoint an attorney to represent him. Of course, under such circumstances, John G. Ruckert was not bound by such representation by reason of any voluntary action on his part, and, therefore, in our opinion, he cannot be .held or deemed to have waived the insufficiency in either the information or the notice served upon him. The Probate Court of Lawrence County was without jurisdiction to proceed with the inquiry or hearing-in the insanity proceeding because of the insufficiency of both the in formation and the notice, and' its orders made and entered therein were nnll and void.
The general rule is that, to authorize the appointment of a guardian for an alleged incompetent person, his incompetency must first be adjudicated by the tribunal having jurisdiction in such cases. [32 C. J. 653.] Such is the clear direction and intent of our statute (Section 448, R. S. 1919), which provides: "If it be found by the jury or the court sitting as a jury that the subject of the inquiry is of unsound mind and incapable of managing his or her affairs, the court shall appoint a guardián of the person and estate of such insane person, such guardian to be a resident of the State." Inasmuch as the Probate Court of Lawrence County was without jurisdiction to make the order adjudging John G. Ruek-ert to be a person' of unsound mind and incapable of managing his affair?, because' of the insufficient information filed and the' insufficient notice served therein, it follows that the probate court-was. likewise without jurisdiction to appoint the 'plaintiff and. appellant herein to the office" of guardian of the person and estate of said John G. Ruekert.
If "thé .defendant (respondent) herein had, by special Or specific denial in her answer, in the nature of a plea in abatement, properly raised the issué of the right, or capacity, of the plaintiff to bring and maintain this suit as guardian of John G. Ruekert, this appeal would necessarily have to be ruled in favor of the respondent on that' issue. However, defendant did not raise that issue by her answer; and therefore such issue is not before us on this appeal. But the answer did raise and join the issue, tendered by the petition, whether John G. Ruekert had mental capacity to make the deed 'in' controversy. Inasmuch as it clearly appears from 'the record of the probate court in the Ruekert insanity proceeding that that court'had'no jurisdiction to make and enter the orders in such proceeding, because of the insufficiency of both the information' and the notice, wherefore the order of adjudication, of insanity, and the order of appointment' of the guardian, as well, are wholly void,. then it unquestionably follows, we think, that the orders and record of the probate court are without any probative force or' effect in the instant suit, and hence are not conclusive of the fact that John G. Rluckert was insane; or.,mentally incompetent, at the time he executed and delivered the deed in controversy.
It is eq'uálly clear td us that the record and qfdefs of the probate court" in the insanity proceeding may be impeached in the instant suit. It is said in 15 Ruling Gasp Law, 841.- "In every proceeding' a nature, there are one or more facts which are strictly jurisdictional, the existence of which is necessary to the validity of the proceedings,' and it is a fundamental rule, that a judgment or decree which the court has no jurisdiction to pronounce is void. It is, in legal effect, no judgment, and has no force either by way of evidence or estoppel, but leaves the parties litigant in the same' position they were in' before the trial. Unless jurisdiction exist, the judgment is not due process of law, and is- ineffectual for any purpose. No rights are in any way affected by it, and from it no rights can be derived, and all proceedings founded thereon are invalid. A decision of a court not having jurisdiction, being thus ipso.facto void, may be attacked in any proceeding, direct or collateral, in which a person seeks to- assert a right under such pretended adjudication. It may be attacked at any time when it is sought to be enforced, or in any suit in which its validity is drawn in question."
Appellant' strongly urges that defendant is estopped, by her conduct in advising the filing of the information in the probate court and by her presence in the probate court at the time of the filing of the information, to deny the invalidity of the deed in controversy and to assert that John G. Ruckert' was mentally compe,^en^ to-make the deed. "We have given careful consideration to -the several authorities cited by appellant in support of this .contention, all of which announce the well-séttled and unquestioned principle of equity that one who makes a representation upon which •he -.expects another: person - to act, and upon which such other person relies and -is- induced to act to his injury or detriment, it will not • afterwards be heard" to question the truth of what was represented, to -the injury of tide one who had been induced thereby to •change his position. In none of the cited cases, however, was- that principle applied under circumstances similar to those in the chse at bar. ' In the instant case, it does not appear that John G. Ruckert, the grantor in the deed to defendant, was induced to change his position, or to 'make such deed, by reason of any representation made by defendant respecting his mental capacity or incapacity -to make the- deed'. Neither does it appear that the purported guardian, plaintiff- herein, Harry 0. Ruckert, was caused or induced to change his position, to his injury, by reason of any representation made by defendant. Nor can defendant be said to be estopped of record by -reason'of any written paper, or document, signed by-her and filed in the insanity-proceeding'in the probate court, for-obviously she did not subscribe and swear to the information filed therein, and ño •written-declaration-signed by defendant appears-in the record of the.probate- court proceeding. We see no reason or room for the application of the doctrine of estoppel herein. If appellant, by such claim of estoppel, means to- assert -that the conduct of defendant, in advising the filing of the information in the probate court, amounts to either an- expressed or implied admission by defendant that her father did not have mental capacity to make the deed, then it is clear -to our minds that, by the weight of authority, such admission, even though not explained or denied by defendant, is not conclusive of the truth of the fact claimed to have been admitted, but it was the province and duty of the trier of the ultimate fact (in this equity case,- the trial chancellor) to give the admission just weight in settling and deciding the ultimate question of fact involved in this case, namely, whether John G. Ruckert, had sufficient mental capacity to make the deed in controversy. [Cafferatta v. Cafferatta, 23 Mo. 235; Sheperd v. Transit Co., 189 Mo. 362; Dudley v. Railroad Co., 167 Mo. App. 647.]
It remains for us to determine whether the finding of the learned trial chancellor, to the effect that John G. Ruckert was mentally competent at the time he executed and delivered the deed to defendant, is sustained by the weight of the evidence upon that issue of fact. The presumption is that the grantor, or person mak-jng a (jee(j; jg sane, and therefore the grantee, or person claiming under a deed, is not bound to prove the sanity of the person making it, but the burden of proving the unsoundness of mind and incapacity of the grantor, at the time of execution of the deed, rests with) the party seeking to impeach it. [Chadwell v. Reed, 198 Mo. l. c. 379, and cases cited.] As clearly stated in the case last cited, the legal test whether the grantor had sufficient mental capacity to malte the deed is the capacity of the grantor to understand the nature and effect of the transaction. "If a person understands the nature of the business in which he is engaged and the effect of what he is doing, his acts are valid, and this is true though the mind of such person may be impaired by age or disease. [1 Parsons on Contracts (7 Ed.) 383.]" [Cutler v. Zollinger, 117 Mo. l. c. 101.]
Measured by this test, the evidence of plaintiff falls far short of showing that John G. Ruckert, the grantor in the deed, did not understand the nature of the transaction and did not appreciate what he was doing in the making of the deed. The witnesses herein were all lay witnesses. Respecting his father's mental capacity, plaintiff testified: "I have had opportunity to observe his mental and physical condition. He is pretty weakly; I guess you would call it dizziness ; he is so weak, but he is able to get around. He is not capable of transacting his business affairs." John B. Ruckert testified for plaintiff: " J. G. Ruckert is my father. I have not talked to father very often in the last few months. In the last month or so I have only seen him twice. Both physically and mentally he is in very bad shape, very bad physically and has been for thirty-five years. .You can see how he is physically and mentally, as he can't remember any of his business. If he transacts' any business he won't know he did it in. an hour afterwards. He doesn't know a thing in the world about his business affairs. I believe the last time I talked business with father -was about four or five years ago." Della Cawhorn, a daughter of John G. Ruekert, testified for plaintiff: "I think I ajn familiar with the mental and physical condition of my father. I have seen my father about twice each year. I do not think father has much ability to transact his business. I base my opinion on his past actions. Father is 86 years of age. He never did have any business qualities about him that I know of. He seemed to think that if he could give the other fellow the best of the, trade that was something to be commended." Witness Iiain testified for plaintiff: "I boarded at the home of Mr. Ruekert and saw him every day I was there. It is hard to say that he is capable of managing' his own affairs. I am sure the man has not been capable of running the place like it ought to be run. John G. Ruekert talked sensible enough, and took an interest around there and talked about the stock, the crops and the neighborhood, talked like any other person. - He seemed to be interested in the season, whether it was good or bad, faking an interest just as a person would that was connected with the farm. He wasn't capable of managing the farm like it ought to be." Steve Williams testified for plaintiff: "I have had several conversations with, Mr. Ruekert. He came almost every day for a chat when he came to the mail bos. As far as I could tell, he was somewhat absentminded; he would forget, was the most I could tell. Uncle John had lapses of memory in his conversation, I could tell. His conversations were not consistent. Mr. J. G. Ruekert was forgetful and ahsent-minded. He was an interesting man to talk to. He was at the mail box every day at noon. He would ask me where I had been and said he hadn't seen me for several days, and he had seen me the-day before." The foregoing is a fair recital of the substance of the testb mony of plaintiff's witnesses respecting the alleged mental incapacity of John G. Ruekert at the time of the execution of the deed in controversy.
Several witnesses testified on behalf of defendant. Witness Turk testified/: "My farm joins the Ruekert farm on the east. -I have known J. G. Ruekert for thirty years, I guess. He came out in the field'where I was plowing and wanted to know if I could go to town with him the next day. He said he was deeding Mrs. Moore (defendant) the west forty of his farm. He told me he was making a will, and I told him I would come in with him. He said he wanted' to pay her (defendant) for staying there with him; said she had been there with him for a number of years. And he said he was going to pay her; said he wanted to give her the whole farm, but she didn't want to take it all. I believe he said she would be satisfied with just one forty, and he wanted me to come along, and I told him what hour would suit me the best and he said he would come along' with me, for me to come by after him. His mind seemed all right to me. I didn't see anything wrong with it, any different from what it had been all' the time. Mr. Ruckert is quite feeble and very nearly blind. He has been able, to get around. It seems like here lately he has to study some to think of things, but if you speak of things, he will remember. He doesn't think quite like he used to; I have heard him speak of it." "Witness Osfall testified: "J. G. Ruckert came to see me and spoke of making provision for Katie Moore [defendant]. He said he thought Mrs. Moore ought to have what he had for taking care of them. He said he didn't know what they would have done if it hadn't been for Katie. He asked me to become a witness to the transfer of some property. I witnessed the deed [to defendant] which J. G; Ruckert signed. I heard Mrs. Halterman [the notary public] read it over to him, and she cautioned him very particularly and wanted to know if that was the way he wanted it. At the time he'talked to me, and at the time he executed the paper, I think his mind was all right as far as I could see. He is not like a young man, of course. I think he understood fully what he was doing. ' ' Witness White testified: 'I was at the sale on the 10th of August, and J. G. Ruckert talked to me a little bit about old times; then he spoke about deeding forty acres to his daughter, Mrs. Moore [defendant] the house'place; and that some of the children were mad about it and -were talking about- trying to make her deed the place back. He said it was too bad; however, he couldn't pay her for what she had done for him and his wife. She had stayed there quite a while with them; he told me how long she had been there, but I don't remember. He said he thought he could give her this land if he wanted to, for taking care of him and his -wife. His mental condition was like it always had been, as far as I could tell. I think he knew what he was talking about." Witness Shriver testified: "I saw J. G. Ruckert sign the deed [to defendant] and acknowledge it before Mrs. Halter-man. Mrs. Halterman read it, and he said he took it home with him the day before; he told us what was in it before she read it. He said for me to come up to the office and sign it as a witness. I have known J. G.- Ruckert for a long time; always comes in the store when he comes to town. He appeared to us to know what he was doing when he signed this paper. He said I am giving Mrs. Moore the home forty; because she had been with him a long time. I do not remember that-I-noticed his memory was bad; he always complained about being dizzy, and rather stumbling. I never did detect any lapse of memory."
Upon a thorough consideration of all the evidence herein, we find that it strongly preponderates in favor of the defendant and sufficiently establishes the fact that John G. Ruckert had mental ca pacity to make and execute the deed to defendant, and that he fully understood and appreciated the nature and effect of such transaction. Our finding and conclusion accords with that of the learned trial chancellor, who had the advantage of hearing- the testimony of the several witnesses and of observing their demeanor while testifying, and therefore we are of opinion that the judgment of the trial court dismissing plaintiff's petition and taxing the costs against plaintiff should be affirmed.
We think, however, that the learned trial court erred in finding the issues for defendant on her cross-petition and in entering judgment thereon in favor of defendant, affirming and confirming the deed from John G. Ruckert to Katie Moore, dated August 2, 1923. The grantor in said deed, John G. Ruckert, individually, is in no Fense a voluntary party to this action. The action is brought by plaintiff, Harry 0. Ruckert, alone, who, as the alleged guardian, presumes to act for and on behalf of his alleged ward, but, as we have held, under appointment of the probate court in an insanity proceeding in which that court had no jurisdiction, and whose orders were wholly void. Consequently, plaintiff's action in bringing and maintaining this suit is in no sense binding upon the alleged ward, John G. Ruckert. John G. Ruckert, individually, is not in court, as a voluntary party in the instant suit, asking that the deed in controversy be set aside or annulled. He, himself, has not questioned the validity of the deed, and there is no reason, so far as we can see, that a judgment be entered upon defendant's cross-petition, affirming and confirming said deed. It follows, we think, that the part of the judgment which is responsive to the prayer of defendant's cross-petition, wherein the deed in controversy' is declared to be valid and is in all things confirmed and affirmed and held to be forever binding upon the grantor, John G. Ruckert, who is not a party to this suit and of whose person the trial court had no jurisdiction, is coram non judioe. '
It is therefore ordered that that part of the judgment of the circuit court dismissing plaintiff's petition, and adjudging that the plaintiff take nothing by this action and that the defendant have and recover of the plaintiff the costs of the suit, be affirmed, and that the part of the judgment which is responsive to defendant's cross-petition, or cross-bill, be reversed.
Lindsay, C., concurs; Ellison, C.,_ not sitting.
PER CURIAM.
The foregoing opinion by SeddoN, C., is adopted as the opinion of the court.
All of the judges concur, except Gantt, J., not sitting.