Tilghman v. Bounds

Henderson, J., delivered the opinion of the Court. Elizabeth Tilghman Smack died on January 19, 1957, and an unexecuted carbon copy of her will, executed in 1949, was offered for probate in the Orphans’ Court for Wicomico CountjE After due notice to the next of kin and a hearing at which John B. Tilghman was represented by counsel, the court made certain findings of fact and passed an order admitting the copy to probate on April 16, 1957. A petition and caveat was thereafter filed by the appellant praying the court to rescind its order of probate, and to declare the decedent to have died intestate. The petition did not ask for issues to a court of law and waived the right to offer further testimony on the question.

The court reconsidered the matter and on May 14, 1957, passed an order declining to rescind ⁵³⁶ the action taken and affirming its previous order. On the same day an appeal to this Court was taken from both orders. It is stipulated that Mary C. Tilghman, the mother of the decedent, would be her sole heir at law, in intestacy; that Mrs. Tilghman was adjudicated an incompetent on May 7, 1957, by the Circuit Court for Wicomico County; that her grandson, John B. Tilghman, was appointed her committee; that the committee was authorized by that court to oppose the probate; and that Mrs. Tilghman had been mentally incompetent since October 27, 1954. The purported will evidenced by the copy bequeathed two thousand dollars to a friend, Ethelyn J. Maloney, and one thousand dollars each to two cousins, Ida Morris and May Morris, and bequeathed and devised the residue to the testatrix’s husband, if living, but if not, to the Parsons’ Home for the Aged.

It is stipulated that her husband predeceased her. Carroll E. Bounds was named as executor. Mr. Bounds testified that he prepared the will for her and that she executed it in his office and in his presence on October 8, 1949, and took it away with her. He understood she kept it in a drawer in her bedroom.

He searched for the will after her death in the presence of Mrs. Irma Tilghman, but could not find it. The will has never been produced for probate. The copy came from his files. Although he was her regular attorney he never prepared a later will.

The secretary in his office testified she witnessed the will that Mrs. Smack executed, along with Doris Kelly. Mrs. Lizzie G. Pope, a close friend of the decedent, testified that she was staying in the decedent’s home just prior to her death and shared her bedroom. The decedent had been looking after some frozen pipes in the house next door, and came home about midnight. The decedent complained of shortness of breath, and evidently was suffering from a heart attack.

Although Mrs. Irma Tilghman was asleep in a room across the hall, the witness did not call her, but telephoned a neighbor, Mrs. Wilkins, who in turn called a doctor. The decedent was taken to the hospital in an ambulance about two o’clock and died shortly thereafter. Mrs. Pope testified that before the doctor arrived the decedent asked her to get ⁵³⁷ her will out of a bureau drawer in another room, but she could not find it. The next morning, however, the will was found by John B. Tilghman, and handed to his mother, Mrs. Irma Tilghman, who showed her the will.

She read the part in which the three cash bequests were made. It was dated in 1949, and had signatures at the end. She did not read the whole will, as it was folded halfway. Her son, Mr. Milton Pope, testified he saw the document at that time, but did not read it.

It looked like a legal document. He testified over objection that Mr. John B. Tilghman said that it was the will of the decedent; that it contained no directions as to funeral arrangements; that Mr. Bounds was named as executor; and that there were cash bequests, but the balance of the estate had been left to the Parsons’ Home for the Aged. Mrs. Wilkins testified she came to the house in response to a call from Mrs. Pope, after arranging for a doctor. Mrs. Smack’s regular doctor was out of town.

Mrs. Wilkins heard the decedent ask Mrs. Pope to get her will, but Mrs. Pope could not find it, although she looked twice. The decedent asked her to look for her rings and keep them for her. She found the rings and subsequently turned them over to Mrs. Tilghman. She testified that before Mrs. Smack was taken to the hospital Mrs.