Court Opinion

ID: 3488666
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-05 21:17:18.538462+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:53:25.895265
License: Public Domain

The question before us in this case is whether or not the appellees have made such allegations in their amended petition and caveat as were necessary to avoid the effect of the papers signed by them and referred to in Reichard et al. v. Izer et.al., 95 Md. 451. As is shown in that case, Wynkoop Shipley and Emma F. Davis, a brother and sister of Mrs. Izer, had filed a caveat to the will of their mother, Margaret Shipley, which included the same grounds in substance as are now relied on by the appellees. While that was pending in the Orphans' Court of Washington County, Mr. and Mrs. Izer and others interested in the will filed, on February 12th, 1901, a petition in that Court which was there called, and will be herein referred to, as Exhibit B, in which they alleged "that all the allegations made against the validity of the said last will and *Page 497 
testament and codicil thereto are untrue and unfounded in fact, and that the allegations therein made of undue influence, fraud and misrepresentation, and alleged to have been exercised by V. Milton Reichard and Edwin J. Farber, executors named in said will, are false and without any foundation in fact, and your petitioners on the contrary further show and allege from their knowledge of the circumstances and surroundings of their deceased mother, and from their intimate knowledge and acquaintance with the said Reichard and Farber, that all of said allegations in said caveat so far as they reflect upon the character and conduct of the said Reichard and Farber are unjust, untrue and unfounded in fact." They then protested against the caveat, asked to be made parties caveatees and that the administration of the estate might be continued in the hands of the executors without further interference. They had previously entered into an agreement not to contest the validity of the will and codicil, and on September 27th, 1901, all of the children of Mrs. Shipley, and the husbands of the married daughters, signed a paper stating that they had examined the first account of the executors, acknowledged it to be correct and asked the Court to affirm and ratify it. Under those circumstances we held in the former appeal that the Izers should not be permitted to file a caveat to the will, unless they satisfactorily established that what they thus alleged in Exhibit B was the result of having been imposed on by the executors or some one interested in sustaining the will, and that what they now rely on was ascertained subsequently by them. We further held that it was necessary for them to make such explanation in their petition and that with leave of the Orphans' Court it could be amended. They did amend it, and we are now to determine whether or not they have made such allegations as give them a standing in Court, notwithstanding the papers signed by them prior to filing their caveat.
As we are of opinion that Exhibit B is the most important paper to be considered, we will examine the amended petition to see whether it is sufficient in respect to that. In it they allege that when they signed Exhibit B they were ignorant of *Page 498 
the true facts surrounding the execution of the will and codicil, signed it at the instance of Messrs. Farber and Reichard, who advised them that the allegations in the Davis caveat were untrue; that they then believed that said charges, so far as they reflected upon the character of either of the executors were untrue, and in good faith and conscience signed that paper. They say "that thus having taken their position with the caveatees in said Davis caveat, they were not in a position and did not have the means of ascertaining any of the facts which have since come to their knowledge." That admission itself causes us to pause to inquire upon what theory one sister can justify herself in going before a Court and solemnly asserting that what another sister and brother had said is untrue and unfounded in fact, and then afterwards, in the same Court with reference to the same subject-matter, alleging that it was true and attempting to explain her reason for such act by what we have quoted above. It was certainly more natural to go to the sister and brother to ascertain what facts they relied on than to accept the statements of those against whom such charges had been made, and, in the absence of some valid reason for not adopting that course, it must be assumed that she could have ascertained all the facts within the knowledge of Mrs. Davis if she had used ordinary diligence to do so. But she not only did not do that, if we accept her statement in the amended petition, but by the course she pursued deliberately placed herself in a position in which she could not ascertain the facts within the knowledge of of those caveators. And she was not satisfied with that, but she not only alleged that what they said was false, but based that allegation on "their knowledge of the circumstances and surroundings of their deceased mother and from their intimate knowledge and acquaintance with the said Reichard and Farber." It is thus apparent that the petitioners have not justified any ignorance of facts that were in possession of those caveators.
But what are the substantial allegations by which the appellees seek to show newly discovered facts, after they signed *Page 499 
Exhibit B? In the first place they allege that after the Davis caveat was dismissed "V. Milton Reichard, one of the executors of said alleged will, stated that he knew that the will could be set aside on the ground of fraud, but that it was better that the caveat was dismissed, as long litigation would have resulted, and that he as one of the executors would protect the interest of Mrs. Shipley's children." Dr. Reichard positively denies in his answer that he ever made such a statement and it is asking a good deal to expect a Court to believe that he did, but if it be conceded that that is a question of fact to be passed on, the petition does not even allege before whom he made the statement and for aught that appears it may have been mere idle rumor, and without some more specific allegations about it, it certainly is not sufficient to justify the petitioners in now asserting to be true what they have said was false and thus subjecting this estate to the expenses of a trial. Then it is said that after Exhibit C was signed, the Orphans' Court required Farber to produce vouchers for certain sums claimed by him; that when he filed them the "petitioners were aroused as to the importance of an investigation, and they immediately filed an exception to said account," and "that the said Reichard then stated that he knew the account was not as it should be and was glad that the petitioners had excepted to it." But although it must be admitted that some of the items, included in what is called "Exhibit Vouchers" in the record, are to say the least of a remarkable character and such as should not be allowed, they amount to but a few dollars, and could not in any possible way reflect upon such issues as are sought to be raised by this petition, as they have no relevancy whatever to any of them. The items are for personal expenses of Mr. Farber, beginning nearly a year after the will was probated and some of them of a character that ought not to be charged to the estate. Of course the Orphans' Court should see that no expenses are allowed the executors, or either of them, which are not authorized by law, but there is nothing in these that could in the most remote way properly reflect upon the execution of the will. It might be added that Dr. Reichard *Page 500 
denies having made the statement attributed to him about the account, but if he did, it only showed that he was desirous of seeing the estate properly administered.
The petition goes on to say "that your petitioners then learned from letters written by Edwin J. Farber, prior to and about the time of the execution of the said alleged will, to Jacob A. Bricker, who had for some years been the confidential adviser of said decedent, and from other papers and persons, that the said Margaret Shipley had been induced to execute the said alleged will and codicil by the means hereinbefore alleged, to wit, by misrepresentation, circumvention, fraud and undue influence," and alleges that Farber having ascertained that Margaret Shipley had made a will, soon began to plan and contrive to have her execute another will and by divers methods and plans succeeded on January 20th, 1900, in having her make one, in which he was named as attorney for the executors; that he subsequently represented that that will was not properly and legally executed and sought the influence of Jacob A. Bricker, to have another will made, which resulted in the one now in controversy being executed. After making various allegations as to what Farber represented, the petition states "which representations will appear by reference to a copy of a letter from said Farber to said Bricker, filed herewith, marked `Exhibit Letter,' as well as by other testimony which these petitioners will produce at the proper time." They allege "that they had no knowledge of the existence of the letters herein referred to during the pendency of the Davis caveat, nor could they have seen them if they had had such knowledge, as said letters were in he possession of the attorneys for the caveators." What we have already said about their ignorance of facts within the knowledge of the caveators in the Davis caveat applies equally to this statement, but as special reliance is based on this letter, we will see what there is in it. In passing, it may be remarked that although the petition speaks of letters from Farber to Bricker, this is the only one filed.
It is dated April 17th, 1900, and states that the writer has just returned from Chicago, where most of the estate of Mrs. *Page 501 
Shipley came from through her father, John McCaffery, who died there leaving a large estate. The material suggestions made in it may be stated as follows: (a) that he was informed by the Judge of the Probate Court in Chicago that a foreign executor will not be appointed by that Court, but must be a resident, and he suggests that Mrs. Shipley's will be redrawn, naming Mr. Bricker, Samuel Adams of Chicago and himself, as joint executors; that if Bricker and himself could not, Adams could serve, and Adams had written him a letter that in that event he would give him (Bricker) his share of the fees and they could do the same for Adams in Maryland. He adds that "I hope you will have my suggestions most kindly made to Mrs. Shipley, and let me know if she will accede to this suggestion, which I assure you is a good one;" (b) that Adams suggested that no one who is interested in the will, or named in it as executor, trustee or legatee should be a witness to it, as that is against the law of Illinois; that "Dr. Reichard had better not be appointed one of the trustees, because we will want him as one of the witnesses to the will, especially as he will be able to testify as one of Mrs. Shipley's physicians, as to her sanity;" (c) that Adams tells him that it will be very beneficial to Mrs. Shipley's interest not to compel the executors to give bond, as the expense, which may amount to a thousand dollars, would be borne by the estate.
The will executed on April 25th, 1900, did name Messers. Bricker, Farber and Adams, executors, but on July 6th, she revoked that clause and appointed Mr. Farber and Dr. Reichard, executors, and in case administration was necessary in Illinois, she appointed Samuel Adams for that State. She did name Dr. Reichard trustee for her son Wynkoop, and expressly required her executors to give bond. So it is evident she was not altogether under the influence of Bricker or Farber, and if she had been under the influence of Bricker it apparently ceased, as by her codicil she not only left him out, but directed her executors to contest any bill he might bring against her estate. There are some expressions in the letter *Page 502 
which could be used with effect to the detriment of the writer before a jury, but when taken as a whole it certainly would not sustain a verdict in favor of the appellees on any of the issues sought to be made by the petition. It is not alleged in the petition that the statements made in the letter as reasons for a change of the will were not true, but it alleges that Mr. Bricker "for a long number of years had been the trusted confidential business agent and personal friend of the said Margaret Shipley, and the executor named in both her former wills." The letter was written to him and he was requested to make the suggestion of the changes to Mrs. Shipley. If the object of the letter was in any way to take advantage of or impose on Mrs. Shipley, it is rather remarkable that it was sent to her trusted and confidential friend who was the executor named in the wills already made. It does undoubtedly manifest a desire on the part of Mr. Farber to become one of the executors, but instead of urging it in person he wrote to Mr. Bricker, who was personally interested in the matter himself. So far as the letter showed, Farber did not propose to take the will he was to draw to Mrs. Shipley, but instructed Bricker how it should be executed and it cannot be presumed that the codicil, which expressly confirmed the will in all other respects, was in any way influenced by that letter, as Bricker was by it omitted, as an executor.
But if we give to the letter all of the meaning claimed for it by the appellees, it was as we have seen, in the possession of the attorneys for the caveators of the Davis caveat, and if the Izers had sought such information as was incumbent on them before signing a paper such as exhibit B they could have ascertained the facts that were then relied on and would doubtless have been permitted to see the letter, if they were in good faith seeking to ascertain the facts. But they apparently made no effort to find out what information their brother and sister relied on. Apparently they did not even seek information from the attesting witnesses before filing their caveat, although in the original petition they attacked the execution of the will. They allege that Margaret Shipley was an uneducated person, *Page 503 
unable to read intelligently, and scarcely able to write anything except her own name, and that she did not know or understand the contents of the will or codicil. If what they said in Exhibit B as to their knowledge of the circumstances and surroundings of their mother was true, they certainly knew her capacity to understand the will and codicil as well when they signed that paper as they do now. Although they presumably knew the contents of the will of January 20th, 1900, as they say they will furnish a copy of it, they do not state them or file a copy, but content themselves with general allegations, and they admit that it and the one of April 25th, 1900, are "substantially similar as to the devises and bequests to the children of Margaret Shipley," but "are substantially unlike as affecting the said Edwin J. Farber." So without prolonglng this opinion further, it will be seen from what we have intimated that in our opinion the appellees have not sufficiently explained their conduct with reference to Exhibit B to authorize the Orphans' Court to entertain this caveat. We do not deem it necessary to say more than we said in the former opinion about Exhibit A and Exhibit C.
Parties who not only take a decided position on one side of a controversy in a Court, but solemnly allege that statements made by the other side are false and unfounded in fact, and in order to give more effect to their own statements assert their opportunity to know whereof they speak, must not only show that they have since acquired further information, which had been withheld from them by the parties complained of, or through their instrumentality, but they must show that they had used at least reasonable diligence to acquaint themselves with the real facts, before they voluntarily placed themselves in the attitude of branding as false and unfounded what they afterwards rely on for relief in reference to the same subject-matter, and if they do not, they cannot complain, if they are denied further relief. If parties to proceedings in Court are to be permitted to thus shift their positions, as some whim or caprice may lead them to do, the end of litigation would be as uncertain as such unstable litigants can make it, and *Page 504 
although it is to be regretted if the doctrine we have announced does at any time prohibit investigation in a meritorious case, it is one which is well established by the authorities and of great importance to the proper administration of the law, especially in matters affecting wills.
The Orphans' Court should have dismissed the petition and for error in not doing so, the order of September 24th, 1902, will be reversed.
Order reversed and petition dismissed, the appellees to paythe costs.
(Decided January 22d 1903.)