Opinion ID: 1911886
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Legal SettlementExceptions 3, 10, 11, 12.

Text: Did Brown and his family have a legal settlement in Hanover when the assistance was rendered by Bethel? The defendant contended that no settlement had been acquired because (a) the evidence failed to show that Brown went to Hanover in 1940 with an intention to make his home there indefinitely, and (b) Brown did not have sufficient mental capacity to form and entertain an intention relative to residence or domicile. The exceptions are substantially that there was no evidence in the case to warrant the finding of a settlement in Hanover. There is no dispute about the applicable principles of law. To establish a legal settlement there must have been personal presence in that town, and also an intent to remain, continued for five consecutive years, without his receiving public aid, and without being absent during such five years with an intent not to return. Inhabitants of Town of Gouldsboro v. Inhabitants of Town of Sullivan, 1934, 132 Me. 342, 347, 170 A. 900, 903; Inhabitants of Madison v. Inhabitants of Fairfield, 1933, 132 Me. 182, 168 A. 782; Inhabitants of Ellsworth v. Inhabitants of Bar Harbor, 1923, 122 Me. 356, 120 A. 50. See also Inhabitants of Moscow v. Inhabitants of Solon, 1939, 136 Me. 220, 7 A.2d 729. The rule upon capacity to acquire a settlement is set forth in the following instruction approved by Chief Justice Peters in Inhabitants of Fayette v. Inhabitants of Chesterville, 1885, 77 Me. 28, at page 32: The judge submitted to the jury this test: `To find that a person has capacity to acquire a settlement, within the meaning of the statute, you must find in the first place, that he had intelligence enough to form and retain an intention with respect to his dwelling-place; that he had a mind sound enough to give him will and volition of his own, and such power and control over his mind and his action as to enable him to choose a home for himself; that he must have mental capacity sufficient to act with some degree of intelligence and some intelligent understanding with respect to the choice of his dwelling-place, and to form some rational judgment in relation to it.' See also Inhabitants of Corinth v. Inhabitants of Bradley, 1863, 51 Me. 540. There is much evidence in the case of Brown's intention to make Hanover his home during the period from 1940 to 1946. Indeed, we find nothing to indicate otherwise. On the question of capacity, there is substantial evidence that Brown lacked intelligence. This, however, is not to say that he lacked sufficient mental capacity to change his home from Bethel to Hanover. There is sufficient evidence in the record under the any evidence rule to sustain the finding and conclusion. Furthermore, the referee had the advantage not given to us of measuring Brown as he appeared on the witness stand. The referee was satisfied of the intent and the mental capacity. Both were facts to be determined by the fact finder; and there this issue ends.