Williams v. Robinson

The opinion of the court was delivered by Barrett, J.

In order to render a former adjudication conclusive upon the present matter in issue, the same matter should have constituted the subject of such former adjudication, and the issue in the former case should have been between the parties to the present issue, or such a relation of privity should exist as to place the present parties in the same legal relation to the former adjudication as if they had been the actual parties.

For the purpose of determining whether the two pleas in question in this case are sufficient, it does not become necessary to consider whether the parties sustain such a relation. It-is sufficient to consider whether the subject matter of the former adjudication, necessa *270 rily involved and determined the subject of the dispute in the present case.

The objection to the probating of the will is, that the testator was not of sound and disposing mind and memory by reason of insanity, at the time he made the will. The adjudication vouched, as having concluded this point, is the action of the probate court in appointing a guardian of the testator as an insane person. Section 11, chapter 72, General Statutes, enaets that, “ the words ‘ insane person ’ shall be construed to include every idiot, non compos, lunatic or distracted person.” Section 12 provides that “ the probate court may appoint guardians of insane persons, on the application of the relative or friend of any person, or of the overseer of the poor of the town in which such person shall reside, representing to the probate court that such person is insane and incapable of taking care of himself, and praying that a guardian may be appointed.” From these provisions it is apparent that the ground of the appointment of a guardian is, that the person, either by weakness of mind, or by distraction, is incapable of taking care of himself; and that the purpose is to secure proper care of his person and of his property; and as to his property, to secure it from being wasted through lack of care, or squandered by improvident contracts. It is elementary in the law that a person of a lower degree of mental capacity is to be regarded competent to make a testamentary disposition of his property, than is required to deal with and dispose of it by contracts.

For aught that the pleas disclose, the guardianship may have been imposed on the sole ground of weakness of capacity, and not for insanity ; and while that weakness may have been such as to warrant the appointment of a guardian for the reasons and purposes contemplated by the statute, yet it may by no means have been such as to render the party incompetent to dispose of his property by will. It needs no discussion or authority to show, that at the least, and in any view, the pleas should show that the matter adjudicated by the appointment of the guardian was a condition of mind that would render the party incompetent to make a valid will. That not having been done, it follows that the pleas are insufficient.

It is proper to remark still further, that in a more extended view *271 of the case, it would seem very difficult upon principle, or in consonance with good policy, to hold such matter to be conclusive of the question of competency to make a will. It is well known that often a guardian is appointed on account of some derangement that proves to be temporary, and passes off, leaving the party sound as ever ; and yet steps for removing the guardian are not taken for considerable time after full restoration. Oftentimes persons badly deranged become perfectly sane for some short period before death, during which there is neither time nor means of getting a guardian removed ; nor would there be any occasion for it, unless it should be held necessary for the sole purpose of enabling the party to make a valid will. It would seem peculiarly incongruous and hard that in either case a will made by such persons, thus become sane, should be held invalid merely by force of the record of the probate, court, of a proceeding that had no relation, either of ground or purpose, to the capacity of the party to make a proper disposition of his property by will.

Having reference to the statutes under which the appointment of the guardian was made, we find no occasion to regard the subject in any other view than that above taken, and therefore withhold any discussion of it in reference to the books and eases that were cited in the argument. We also withhold the expression of views as to any use which, under circumstances, might properly be made of the record of the proceeding in the probate court as evidence bearing upon.the subject of the mental condition of the testator.

The judgment is reversed, and the pleas adjudged insufficient. On motion of the defendant, by special leave of the court, the case is remanded to the county court.