{ "id": 2511137, "name": "Giles L. Isham et al. v. Charles L. Bingham et al.", "name_abbreviation": "Isham v. Bingham", "decision_date": "1906-05-08", "docket_number": "Gen. No. 12,396", "first_page": "513", "last_page": "527", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "126 Ill. App. 513" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "78 Ill. 287", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 823968 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/78/0287-01" ] }, { "cite": "27 Ill. 217", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "62 Ill. 196", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2608881 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/62/0196-01" ] }, { "cite": "88 N. Y. 357", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "case_ids": [ 550700 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ny/88/0357-01" ] }, { "cite": "186 Ill. 225", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 3227614 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "231, 232" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/186/0225-01" ] }, { "cite": "213 Ill. 291", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 3313954 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/213/0291-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1090, "char_count": 28920, "ocr_confidence": 0.577, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.436057418262789e-08, "percentile": 0.27803223276723854 }, "sha256": "f81384bd69a5155fa731af20192d1354ef5b7e058604388348228778642d70ba", "simhash": "1:becb0d907904459b", "word_count": 5033 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:06:21.343946+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "Giles L. Isham et al. v. Charles L. Bingham et al." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Mr. Jdstice Freeman\ndelivered the opinion of the court. It-is first urged by counsel for appellants, that the will to which the proof relates was never reduced to writing, and is not produced; that the instrument offered in evidence does not contain the declaration and is not the will referred to in the testimony of the subscribing witnesses; that it purports to contain a \u201cdeclaration addressed to Charles L. Bingham in the presence of Bessie Blackshear, T. M. McIntosh and Harriet Davis\u201d; that it is conceded Dr. McIntosh, the attending physician, was not present at the time nor at any time when, as the testimony of the subscribing witnesses tends to show, the declaration in question was made; that said McIntosh was not present until an hour later, and that an attempt was then made by proponent Bingham, to have the declarations repeated in the presence of all three of the witnesses named; that this attempt was not, as it is now conceded, successful; that Mrs. Leonard\u2019s physical and mental condition was then such that she was incompetent to make a valid nuncupative will, and did not do so; that the will in controversy purports to contain a declaration then made, whereas the testimony of the subscribing witnesses relates to what was said and done about 2:30 p. m., an hour earlier in the day; that the chancellor erred therefore in admitting the depositions of the subscribing witnesses in evidence, \u201cthe will to which they had reference never having been reduced to writing and not being before the court.\u201d\nIt is not disputed that Dr. McIntosh was not present at or about 2:30 p. m. of April 22, 1901, when, as testified by the subscribing witnesses, Miss Blackshear and Harriet Davis, the latter a colored nurse who could not read or write and subscribes the will by making her mark, Mrs. Leonard made the declaration said to have been committed to writing and now produced in evidence as her will. Miss Blackshear states that when the doctor came in about half an hour or an hour later, proponent Bingham, who now claims as sole legatee under the will, \u201cmade another effort to have all repeated in his presence, using the substance set forth in the will\u201d; that Dr. McIntosh questioned Mrs. Leonard, who was \u201cfeebler and more exhausted\u201d and \u201cher mind did not seem altogether as clear as it did during the former interview between two and three o\u2019clock.\u201d The doctor did not therefore \u201cattempt further to engage her in conversation.\u201d Thus the effort to have all repeated in his presence was abandoned, and no such declaration as that contained in the written instrument was ever made \u201cin the presence of Beysie Blackshear, T. M. McIntosh and Harriet Davis.\u201d Miss Blackshear and the colored nurse, Harriet Davis, however, do testify that such declaration, in substance, at least, was made by Mrs. Leonard in their presence about 2:30 p. m. of that day. The evidence was competent, and we find no error in its admission.\nAppellants further contend that the will in question is the result of undue influence, that it shows on its face the testatrix did not have mental capacity sufficient to enable her to make a will, that she could not and did not comprehend who were the natural objects of her bounty, had no understanding as to the manner -in which she desired her property to be distributed, did not comprehend the nature and effect of the provisions, did not intend to deprive contestants of a share of her estate, and that the alleged declaration was not a volunary act on her part.\nIt is clearly shown, and the fact is not discreditable to \u25a0proponent Bingham, that relations of trust and confidence existed between him and the testatrix. He was her business manager. Their relations were friendly and confidential. He was the husband of her step-daughter. She. trusted him with her money, and he had managed her affairs wisely, so far as appears. Where such fiduciary relations exist between a testatrix and the legatee and the testatrix reposes confidence in and is accustomed to take the advice of the latter, as is the case of client and attorney or principal and agent, and the will is procured in his own favor by such beneficiary, it is said that \u201cproof of these facts establishes prima facie that the execution of the will was the result of undue influence.\u201d Weston v. Teufel, 213 Ill. 291-299. The burden of disproving such influence rests upon such beneficiary. Thomas v. Whitney, 186 Ill. 225, 231, 232. In the case last cited, the subject of undue influence is considered at some length, and it is said (p. 230): \u201cThere is a well defined distinction between undue influence arising from acts which the law deems fraudulent and undue influence resulting from fiduciary relations existing between parties. Such transactions are generally those occurring between persons in some relation of confidence, one toward another. The presence of such relationship creates a presumption of influence which can generally be rebutted by proof that the parties dealt as strangers at arm\u2019s length.\u201d It is further said that \u201cthe burden of proof, the fiduciary relation being established, is upon the one receiving the benefit to show an absence of undue influence by establishing the fact that the party acted upon competent and independent advice of another, or such facts as will satisfy the court that the dealing was at arm\u2019s length, or he must show that the transaction was had in the most perfect good faith on his part and was equitable and just between the parties, or as some of the authorities say, that it was beneficial to the other party.\u201d In the case at bar it is, perhaps, without fault of his own, apparently impossible under the circumstances for proponent Bingham to fully disprove such influence. At least, we are of opinion it has not been done by the proof in this record. In Marx v. McGynn, 88 N. Y. 357-371, it is said, \u201cthere are certain cases in which the law indulges in the presumption that undue influence has been used, and those cases are where a patient makes a will in favor of a physician, a client in favor of his lawyer, a ward in favor of his guardian, or any person in favor of his priest or religious adviser, or where other close confidential relations exist. Such wills when made to the exclusion of the natural objects of the testator\u2019s bounty are viewed with great suspicion by the law, and some proof should be required beside the faofrum of the will before the will can be sustained. We think this rule of law applies with great force in this case.\u201d\nIt was said by Mr. Justice McAllister in Trish v. Newell, 62 Ill. 196-205, \u201c there can be no safer practical rule than that the competency of the mind should be judged of by the nature of the act to be done from a consideration of all of the circumstances of the case.\u201d The testimony as to Mrs. Leonard\u2019s testamentary capacity at and about the time the declarations' in controversy were made is somewhat conflicting, and by no means conclusive. Miss Blackshear, her hostess at the time, and one of the subscribing witnesses to the will, states that as nearly as she could judge the deceased \u201cwas in a very critical condition from Thursday night, April 18, 1901;\u201d that having had limited experience of nursing, she, the witness, did not feel \u201c prepared to state positively the condition of mind and body, though at times her mind was quite clear and at others not so clear. There seemed to be intervals of consciousness and unconsciousness since Thursday the 18th. She was weak and exhausted as was natural with any person in a dying condition.\u201d She says that at the time the conversation took place embracing the declaration embodied in the writing, Mr. Bingham \u201c feeling that Mrs. Leonard\u2019s mind was clear at that time, began to talk of her business affairs.\u201d Apparently therefore Mrs. Leonard\u2019s mind had not been continuously clear during the day. It further appears that the conversation about her business affairs was initiated at what seemed a propitious moment, not by Mfs. Leonard, but by proponent Bingham. In this there may have been no impropriety. It was perhaps a natural thing to do for one who had charge of Mrs. Leonard\u2019s business matters and occupied a fiduciary position toward her, but it tends to awaken doubt as to whether the alleged declarations were voluntary on her part and whether she comprehended their nature and effect. From a feeling of delicacy the witness withdrew from the room when' this conversation began and was recalled by the colored nurse \u201cAuntie Davis\u201d at Mr. Bingham\u2019s instance. It was then, as she states, that the conversation \u201cin substance as set forth in the will\u201d occurred between Mrs. Leonard and Mr. Bingham. What had occurred in the five minutes proceeding we are not informed. The only part of this conversation relating to the will in which Mrs. Leonard appears from the instrument itself to have taken the initiative, is when she is said to have made the statement, \u201c I have never made a will. I want to give you everything I own to do with it as you please.\u201d \u25a0 This declaration is not alone sufficient to constitute a valid nuncupative will under the statute, but it would carry more weight as an indication of testamentary capacity at the moment had it been made spontaneously instead of brought about by a previous conversation initiated by proponent Bingham, of the character of which we are left in ignorance. Up to that time there is nothing to indicate that Mrs. Leonard had thought of making a will. The idea appears to have been suggested to her then and there. Especially is it necessary where a nuncupatovy will consists as in this case mainly of answers to questions entirely framed by a person interested in it, that, as said in Dorsey v. Sheppard, 12 Gill & Johnson (Maryland), 198, \u201cthe court must be more on its guard against importunity, more jealous of capacity and more strict in requiring proof of spontaneity and volition than it would be in an ordinary case.\u201d Such a will may be valid, but the evidence supporting it should be closely scrutinized. One of the most essential statutory requisites of a valid nuncupation to which we shall refer later is in this case contained wholly in a comprehensive question put to Mrs. Leonard by Mr. Bingham to which she replied only \u201cTes.\u201d We are moreover left in doubt by some of the testimony as to what extent we may depend upon the accuracy of the written reproduction. Hiss Blackshear testifies that when she received it from Mr. Bingham she signed it, \u201c feeling the substance to be the same, although details differed somewhat.\u201d What the differences were she does not state.\nIn addition to the testimony of the two subscribing witnesses, the record contains the deposition of Dr. T. M. McIntosh, the physician who attended Mrs. Leonard in her last illness. He states that he called on her three times .upon April 22, 1901, the day of her death. The first call was before breakfast. She then spoke to him and knew the attendants, but he testifies that \u201c when she was left alone she would go back into listlessness and she was inattentive to amffhing. * * * It was very evident she was going to die that day when I saw her in the morning. s * * She did not initiate any conversation at that time. * * * I hardly think she was capable of it. * * * I have some doubt if she was mentally capable of transacting ordinary business at that time. I think it is doubtful if she was. She knew I was there and the nurse was there and would take the medicine when I gave it to her.\u201d His second call was made about ten or eleven o\u2019clock of the same day. At that time she looked more like a person going to die, and in his opinion was unable to engage in conversation \u201c except to answer you.\u201d He does not think \u201c she was mentally capable of transacting ordinary business\u201d at that time. .She could answer questions about herself and did perhaps with some intelligence and recognized him as the doctor, but did not pay much attention to anything unless she was awakened and asked. At the third visit about three p. m. \u201c she was hardly conscious of anything. Her answers were automatic. If asked a leading question she would say \u2018 Yes, yes,\u2019 would assent to anything in that way. Her mind was decidedly clouded. I do not think she was hardly conscious of anything. Her answers were parrot like, \u2018 Yes, yes.\u2019 She was a good deal weaker than she was at the second visit. She was lying there, eyes closed, just like a person dying, breathing heavily and oblivious to everything except when you would go and arouse her, and say, \u2018 Are you in pain? \u2019 She would say \u2018Yes, yes,\u2019 or \u2018 Ho, no.\u2019 She did not initiate any conversation at that time during the last day and she was incapable of it at my last visit. I think Mr. Bingham was present at that time and Miss Bessie Blackshear and old Harriet Davis. There was something said at that time about a will by Mr. Bingham. * * * He would say \u2018 Didn\u2019t you tell me so and so? \u2019 or \u2018 Do you want to leave so and so to some member of the family ?\u2019 * *\u25a0 * and her reply would be \u2018 Tes, yes.\u2019 She did not make any statement voluntarily in regard to this will in my presence. All her answers were wholly of that nature.\u201d She did not say anything about never having made a will, nor wanting to \u201c give you everything I own to do with as you please,\u201d nor \u201c use your own judgment,\u201d and made no statement or request for anything. The doctor thinks she did not then know or realize what was being said, that she was not mentally capable of transacting ordinary business, and was not of sound mind and memory. In his opinion she was not able to know and understand the business at the time of the alleged announcement of the said nuncupative will and the effect of the disposition said to have been made by her therein of her property. He was subsequently asked to become a subscribing witness to the instrument in controversy and refused to sign it \u201c because it did not coincide with what I thought.\u201d He expresses grave doubt whether Mrs. Leonard could have expressed her desires in the matter even in the morning of that day, \u201c grave doubt if she could have thought or cared anything about it,\u201d whether she could have carried on a connected train of thought, although if her attention was called to any thing or person in the room she might understand and answer yes or no. He considers the condition of her mind to have been due to uremic poison and intense pain. She suffered he says from acute Bright\u2019s disease, and died about seven o\u2019clock p. m. of that day.\nThere is testimony however of a clergyman who\" called about 5 o\u2019clock that afternoon, two hours before Mrs. Leonard\u2019s death, at' which time he prayed with her, read the 23rd Psalm and the 14th chapter of the gospel of John. He states that at the conclusion of the reading Mrs. Leonard remarked \u201c Beautiful.\u201d Mr. Bingham was present. She addressed him as \u201c Charlie\u201d and said \u201c Mr.McDougal, this is Mr. Bingham.\u201d Miss Blackshear states that at that time she commented on the beauty of a rose which the minister had in his hand. The clergyman himself however does not-mention nor seem to remember such an incident, nor is there other testimony as to such comment.\nThe testimony of Dr. McIntosh is positive as to the nature of the disease and the existence of uremic poison. It is not shaken so far as we can perceive. There is testimony of other physicians, based upon the assumption that the diagnosis of Dr. McIntosh as to the nature of her disease was correct, that the effect of such poison would be to affect the memory and reasoning powers and create stupor or drowsiness. The capacity of the patient to understand would depend upon the extent of the poisoning and the progress of the disease. The stupor in such cases may, it is said, progress very considerably and yet the patient be able to recognize others and answer direct questions by yes or no. The medical testimony, based on Dr. McIntosh\u2019s description of the case, tends to show that if he was correct in his diagnosis, the patient\u2019s mental condition was likely to be such as to make it improbable she could understandingly make a will at the time she is claimed to have done so.\nThe fact that the will was reduced to writing as dictated by Mr. Bingham makes it in effect his statement of what was done and said. In committing it to writing he refers to the declarations as having been made in the presence of Dr. McIntosh, and the instrument thus purports to contain, as we have said, what was said in the doctor\u2019s presence, rather than the declarations testified to by the subscribing witnesses as having been made an hour before, when in their opinion Mrs. Leonard\u2019s mind was clearer. This fact tends to throw further doubt upon the accuracy of the writing and discredits its validity as a nuncupative will.\nThe statute of this State relating to nuncupative wills provides that such will shall be available in law for the conveyance of personal property thereby bequeathed, if among other conditions it shall be proven by two or more credible disinterested witnesses who were present at the speaking and publishing thereof, who shall declare on oath that they heard the testator pronounce the said words, believed him to be of sound mind and memory, and that he or she \u201cdid at the same time desire the persons present or some of them to bear witness that such was his or her last will or words to that effect.\u201d The proof offered in support of the instrument set forth in the bill and introduced in evidence as the last will of Mrs. Leonard is inconsistent in this respect with what appears upon the face of the instrument and does not justify the conclusion that Mrs. Leonard \u201c did at the same time desire the persons present or some of them to bear witness\u201d that the declaration then made and here relied upon constituted her last will. It is not contended that of her own initiative she made any such request. According to the proof offered, she merely answered \u201cYes\u201d to the question put to her by proponent Bingham, \u201cHow, is this exactly right and your final wishes for the disposition of your property which you desire Miss Blackshear, Dr. McIntosh and Auntie Davis to witness?\u201d This question purports on the face of the instrument to have been asked and answered in the presence of all three of the persons named. If so put and answered in the presence of Dr. McIntosh it must have been at the time when the effort was being made by r. Bingham to have a new nuncupation made and when, as we have said, the attempt was not successful, because the testatrix was not then able to make a will.\nThis statutory requirement, technically known as rogatio testium is no mere form. It is in the highest degree important. The statute in this respect must be strictly constrned. Arnett v. Arnett, 27 Ill. 217; Morgan v. Stevens, 78 Ill. 287. In A. & E. Ency. of L., Vol. 30, p. 566, it is said, \u201cthe statutes are in this regard strictly construed to the end that the animus testandi of which the rogatio testium is in truth the evidence may clearly and affirmatively appear.\u201d In Morgan v. Stevens, supra, it is recognized as \u201ca cardinal principle that the provisions of the statute in regard to nuncupative wills must, have a rigid and strict construction, and must be stricthr enforced by courts. * * * It is the received doctrine that the testamentary capacity and the animus testandi at the time of the alleged nuncupation must appear by the clearest and most indisputable testimony.\u201d This strict enforcement of the statutory provisions is based upon sound reasoning, uniformly recognized in cases of nuncupative wills. In Arnett v. Arnett, supra, it was said by Mr. Justice Oaton: \u201cIt is not to be denied that to allow oral testaments to be established in any case, is opening a door to frauds and impositions, which have sometimes, in spite of all legislative safeguards, been practiced.\u201d While in most states the privilege of making nuncupative wills is now extended to all persons, it is carefully guarded and restricted within the terms of the statute. In some states all wills are still required to be in writing. In the present case the nuncupation was, as we have said, committed to writing at the dictation of proponent Bingham, who claims as sole beneficiary. He himself put to Mrs. Leonard the question under consideration, and must be presumed to know better than anyone else all the surrounding circumstances. In causing the nuncupation to be reduced to writing he must be presumed to have inserted correctly what he said a.s to the presence of Dr. McIntosh when he asked the question, as well as.Mrs. Leonard\u2019s answer. He was and is deeply interested. It cannot be presumed in favor of the will that by his question he requested Mrs. Leonard to desire a person whom he knew was not present to witness her final wishes. The only alternative reconcilable with what appears upon the face of the writing and with the conceded facts is that the question and answer under consideration were spoken in the presence of Dr. McIntosh, as well as of the other witnesses, at a later time than at 2:30 p. m., at which later time Mrs. Leonard was no longer capable of making, and did not make, a valid nuncupative will. We are compelled to the conclusion that the proof fails to make out a prima facie case in favor of the validity of the will.\nFor reasons indicated the decree of the Circuit Court must be reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with the views above expressed.\nReversed and remoulded.", "type": "majority", "author": "Mr. Jdstice Freeman" } ], "attorneys": [ "A. Page Smith and Woodley & Pendleton, for appellants.", "Swift, Campbell & J ones, for appellees." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Giles L. Isham et al. v. Charles L. Bingham et al.\nGen. No. 12,396.\n1. Nuncupative will\u2014 what prima facie establishes undue influence in obtaining. Undue influence in obtaining a nuncupative will is prima facie established where it appears that fiduciary relations existed between the testatrix and the beneficiary and the testatrix reposed confidence in and was accustomed to take the advice of the beneficiary, and the will is procured in his own favor by such beneficiary.\n2. Nuncupative will\u2014how sci'utinized by the courts. A nuncupative will may be valid, but the evidence which supports it will be closely scrutinized.\n3. Nuncupative will\u2014ivhat essential to validity of. In order to establish a nuncupative will, it is essential that the evidence justify the conclusion that the party alleged to have made the same desired the persons present, or some of them, to bear witness that the declaration forming the basis of such will constituted, and was intended to constitute, a last will and testament.\n4. Nuncupative will\u2014statute with respect to, construed. The statute pertaining to nuncupative wills is strictly construed.\n5. Undue influence\u2014when burden to disprove, is upon beneficiary. The burden is upon the beneficiary in a nuncupative will to show the absence of undue influence where it appears that there existed between himself and the testatrix at the time of the execution a fiduciary relation, and that the testatrix reposed special confidence in him and was accustomed to take his advice'.\nBill to contest will. Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook,County; \u25a0the Hon. Harry Higbee, Judge, presiding. Heard in the Branch Appellate Court at the October term, 1905.\nReversed and remanded.\nOpinion filed May 8, 1906.\nStatement by the Court. This is a proceeding in chancery, appellants seeking to set aside an alleged nuncupative will as follows:\n\u201c Will.\nBe it remembered that upon the twenty-second (22nd) day of April, A. D. 1901, Sarah J. Leonard, a citizen of the State of Illinois and domiciled in said state, but temporarily sojourning at Thomasville, in the State of Georgia, being at the point of death, disposed of her earthly goods by the following declaration addressed to Charles L. Bingham, in the presence of Bessie Blackshear, T. M. McIntosh and Harriet Davis, namely :\nTestatrix said to said Bingham, \u2018 I have never made a will. I want to give you everything I own, to do with it as you please.\u2019\nSaid Bingham then asked the testatrix, 1 How much do you wish me to give to Jennie and Carrie ? \u2019 To which testatrix replied, \u2018 Use your own judgment.\u2019\nSaid Bingham then asked the testatrix, \u2018 Shall I give the grandchildren and your nephew and niece in Minnesota equal amounts ? \u2019 To which the testatrix replied, 1 Do as , you please. Use your own judgment.\u2019\nSaid Bingham then asked the testatrix, \u2018Would you like to have me remember your brother?\u2019 To which the testatrix replied, \u2018Yes.\u2019\nSaid Bingham, then said to the testatrix, \u2018Now, Mother, is there anyone else in the world you would like to have me remember?\u2019 To which the testatrix replied \u2018No.\u2019\nSaid Bingham then said to the testatrix, \u2018You give me all your property to do with it as I please. You wish to have me specially remember Jennie, Carrie, your niece and your nephew in Minnesota and the grandchildren, and your brother, and there is no one else you wish me to remember. Now, is this exactly right, and your final wishes for the disposition of your property which you desire Miss Black-shear, Dr. McIntosh and Auntie Davis to witness?\u2019 To which the testatrix replied, \u2018Yes.\u2019\nBessie Blackshear, T. M. McIntosh and Harriet Davis, being duly sworn, depose and say that they were present together at the deathbed of Sarah J. Leonard at Thomas-ville, Georgia, upon the 22nd day of April, A. D. 1901; that they heard the words spoken by Charles L. Bingham and the words spoken by Sarah J. Leonard above set forth; that they believe said Sarah J. Leonard was at that time of sound mind and memory; that said Sarah J. Leonard declared as above set forth that she wished these deponents to witness \u2022what she said as her final disposition of her earthly goods; that said words were spoken by Sarah J. Leonard in the afternoon of the 22nd day of April aforesaid, and she died upon the same day and within a few hours thereafter.\nBessie Blackshear, her\nHarriet X Davis, mark.\nSubscribed and sworn to before me at Thomasville, Georgia, this 29th day of April, A. D. 1901.\nW. H. Bibb, Notary Public.\nWe, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing instrument was written this 27th day of April, A. D. 1901.\nWm. H. Swiet,\nHarriet G. Templeton.\u201d\nThe alleged will is contested by Giles L. Isham, brother of the testatrix, Howard Isham, her nephew, and Edyth Isham, her niece, her only heirs at law. The proponents are Charles L. Bingham, claiming under the will as sole legatee, his wife, Jennie Bingham, and her sister, Carrie L. Woodford, who are mentioned in the instrument. The testatrix was the second wife of Daniel Leonard, father of Mrs. Bingham and Mrs. Woodford. She had no children of her own.- The two step-daughters were about eleven and thirteen years of age when their father married Sarah J. Isham, the testatrix. Her relations with these stepchildren were apparently affectionate and cordial. The children of Mrs. Bingham and Mrs. Woodford are spoken of in the will as \u201cthe grandchildren.\u201d Charles L. Bingham, husband of Jennie Bingham, had attended to Mrs. Leonard\u2019s business affairs for a number of years before her death. She had been accustomed to make frequent and lengthy visits to his family. At the time of her death her money, amounting to over $20,000, was deposited in his name.\nMrs. Leonard\u2019s death occurred in Thomasville, Georgia, where she had gone for the benefit of the milder climate. April 19, 1901, Bingham received a telegram from a Miss Blackshear, with whom Mrs. Leonard was stopping and at whose house she died, informing him that Mrs. Leonard was very ill and that \u201cdoctors advise please come at once.\u201d The next day he received a second message: \u201cDysentery; some better this morning. Think you had better come.\u201d He accordingly went to Thomasville, arriving there April 22, 1901. In the afternoon of that day at about 2:30 p. m. Mrs. Leonard is said to have made the nuncupative will in controversy. It was reduced to writing April 27th following, after Mr. Bingham had returned to Chicago. It was then sent to Thomasville, where it was signed and sworn to April 29, 1901, by the subscribing witnesses. Mrs. Leonard\u2019s illness began with an attack of dysentery and culminated, according to the testimony of her attending physician, Dr. T. M. McIntosh, in an acute attack of Bright\u2019s disease.\nDr. McIntosh was not present when at 2:30 p. m. of April 22nd, the nuncupation in question is said to have been made. Later in the afternoon about 3 p. m. when he called there an effort was made by proponent Bingham to have Mrs. Leonard repeat it in substance in the doctor\u2019s presence. This effort seems to have failed. Mrs. Leonard died about 7 p. m. of that day, .April 22, 1901.\nBy stipulation a jury was waived and the issues submitted to the court. Upon hearing the Circuit Court dismissed the bill for want of equity, holding the instrument in controversy to be the will of Sarah J. Leonard, deceased.\nA. Page Smith and Woodley & Pendleton, for appellants.\nSwift, Campbell & J ones, for appellees." }, "file_name": "0513-01", "first_page_order": 531, "last_page_order": 545 }