Opinion ID: 2412646
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: What Proof Shows.

Text: It is established by the evidence that R. B. Hale was thrice married. By his first wife he had one child, Minnie Turner, appellee herein. By his second wife, from whom he had been divorced, he had two children, Wayne Hale and Edna Hale, not here involved. By his third wife, Margaret, he had no children. She survived him and is now administratrix of his estate and appellee herein. Not satisfied with these three matrimonial ventures, he took up with still another woman, Virgie Castle, and by her he had six children, all, of course, illegitimate. Included among these are appellants Jesse James Hale, age ten, Charity Hale, age six, and Opal Hale, age four, for whom their mother is the duly qualified guardian. Hale bought a small farm about three miles from his home and turned it over to Virgie Castle as her home and she and her children lived there. Hale spent about half of his time at that home and at all times recognized her illegitimate children, including appellants, as his children and supported them and their mother until his death. During his lifetime he made deeds to tracts of real estate to these children, all in consideration of love and affection, and made money advancements to his legitimate children by his other wives. In December 1946, he sold a tract of land in Floyd County for $3,500 and it was with the proceeds of this sale that he made the deposit here involved. According to the testimony of Virgie Castle, mother of appellants, Bonnie Mae Hale, older sister of appellants, and Roy Hicks, son of Virgie Castle by another man, R. B. Hale told them that he had deposited the $3,500 in the bank for the benefit of the three young children, Jesse, Charity, and Opal, and that he had said, if anything happens to me I want this money to raise these children on. It is also stipulated that, prior to his death, R. B. Hale deposited a savings account in the Salyersville National Bank in the amount of $2,000 in the names of Opal Hale, Charity Hale, two of appellants herein, and Reuben Hale, age 8, another illegitimate child of R. B. Hale, but not involved in the present litigation.