Case Name: COMMONWEALTH v. SARAH A. REEVES
Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1891-02-23
Citations: 140 Pa. 258
Docket Number: No. 5
Parties: COMMONWEALTH v. SARAH A. REEVES.
Judges: Before Paxson, C. J., Sterrett, Greek, Clark and Williams, JJ.
Reporter: Pennsylvania State Reports
Volume: 140
Pages: 258–261

Head Matter:
COMMONWEALTH v. SARAH A. REEVES.
APPEAL BY JEMIMA MOSES FROM THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF CHESTER COUNTY.
Argued February 10, 1891
Decided February 23, 1891.
(a) A return to a commission de lunático inquirendo reported a finding that, although the respondent in the proceeding was not a lunatic, yet, by reason of age, ignorance, and feeble condition of mind and body, she was deemed unfit to manage her estate judiciously, and “ does not enjoy lucid intervals: ”
1. Such a return could not be sustained under the act of June 13, 1836, P. L. 592, nor would it warrant the appointment of a committee to take charge of the person and estate of the alleged lunatic. To divide the costs between the petitioner and the alleged lunatic, was, in this case, in the exercise of a proper discretion.
Before Paxson, C. J., Sterrett, Greek, Clark and Williams, JJ.
No. 5 January Term 1891, Sup. Ct.; court below, number and term not given.
On January 27, 1890, Jemima Moses presented her petition, supported by the usual affidavits, averring that she was the daughter of Sarah Ann Reeves, who was, and for one year-past and upwards had been, so far deprived of her reason and understanding that she was rendered altogether unfit and unable to govern herself or to manage her affairs, praying for a commission in the nature of a writ de lunático inquirendo, etc.
A commissioner having been appointed, and an inquisition held, a return was made on March 24, 1890, the finding reported being in part as follows :
“ That, although they do not find the said Sarah Ann Reeves a lunatic, in the general acceptation of that term, they, by reason of her age, ignorance, and the feeble condition of her mind and body, deem her unfit to manage her estate judiciously, and to have been in that condition for a year last past, and would recommend that the Honorable Court of Chester county appoint a proper person, as committee, to take charge of and account for the same; and further, that the said Sarah Ann Reeves does not enjoy lucid intervals.”
On the same day, on motion of counsel for the alleged lunatic, a rule was granted to show cause why the return should not be set aside. After argument, the court, Hemphill, J., on April 21, 1890, filed an opinion citing Commonwealth v. Haskell, 2 Brewst. 492, and Commonwealth v. Schneider, 59 Pa. 328, and entered an order making the rule absolute.
On April 26, 1890, on motion of the petitioner’s counsel, a rule was granted to show cause why the alleged lunatic should not pay all the costs of the proceeding. After argument thereof, the court, Hemphill, J., on July 14, 1890, filed an opinion as follows:
In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the presumption is, in a proceeding de lunático inquirendo, that those who commence and carry it on intend it for the benefit of the alleged lunatic, and have probable ground for their action. In addition to this presumption, we have the return of the commission, In the case in hand, which sets forth that by reason of age, ignorance, and feeble condition of mind and body, the alleged lunatic was deemed unfit to manage her estate judiciously, with a recommendation that the court appoint a committee. This return was set aside, because the commission failed to find the defendant a lunatic. It does, however, indicate there was some cause for believing her incapable of managing her estate. The petitioner, therefore, had some ground for her action, and we think it proper, under all the circumstances, to divide the costs between the petitioner and the alleged lunatic.
—An order having been entered accordingly, the petitioner for the commission took this appeal, specifying that the court erred:
1. In setting aside the return to the commission.
2. In directing that the costs be divided between the petitioner and the alleged lunatic.
Mr. W. S. Harris, for the appellant.
Counsel cited: 2 T. & H. Pr., § 2360; In re Mason, 1 Barb. 436; Ex parte Barnsley, 3 Atk. 168; Ridgeway v. Darwin, 8 Ves. 65; In re Barker, 2 Johns. Ch. 232; Commonwealth v. Schneider, 59 Pa. 328; Commonwealth v. Meredith, 14 W. N. 188; Commonwealth v. Haskell, 2 Brewst. 492; Miller v. Wentworth, 82 Pa. 285 ; In re Weaver, 116 Pa. 225.
Mr. R. Jones Monaghan and Mr. J. Frank F. Hause, for the appellee, were not heard.
In the brief filed, counsel cited: Shelford on Lun., *108; Commonwealth v. Schneider, 59 Pa. 330; In re Vanaken, 10 N. J. Eq. 195; In re Lindsey, 43 N. J. Eq. 9; Lindsley’s Case, 44 N. J. Eq. 564; In re Gaul’s Est., 7 W. N. 522; Hassenplug’s App., 106 Pa. 527.

Opinion:
Per Curiam:
The court below set aside the return to the commission because the inquisition did not find the alleged lunatic to be of unsound mind. This is what they did find: " That, although they do not find the said Sarah Ann Reeves a lunatic, in the general acceptation of that term, they, by reason of her age, ignorance, and the feeble condition of her mind and body, deem her unfit to manage her estate judiciously, and to have been in that condition for a year last past, and would recommend that the Honorable Court of Chester county appoint a proper person, as committee, to take charge of and account for the same; and further, that the said Sarah Ann Reeves does not enjoy lucid intervals."
This return cannot be sustained under the act of assembly, nor would it warrant the court in making the order therein recommended. The court does not possess the power to appoint a committee merely because a person cannot manage his or her estate judiciously. There are very many sane persons who cannot do that. The return itself is inconsistent, if not insensible. It finds, if it finds anything, that she is not a lunatic, yet that she " does not enjoy lucid intervals."
Nor do we think the court erred in the disposition of the costs. They were divided between the petitioner and the alleged lunatic. We regard this as a proper exercise of discretion. In re Weaver, 116 Pa. 225, is not in point.
The decree is affirmed, and the appeal dismissed at the costs of the appellant.