Scottish Court of Session Decisions

On 24th July 1911 Amelia Taylor Horsburgh, residingatLochtyknowe, Carnoustie, pursuer, brought an action against (1) John Thomson, potato merchant, then residing in London, and others, executors of the late John Thomson, 11 Nethergate, Dundee; (2) the said John Thomson as an individual; (3) Mrs Isabella Thomson or Campbell, widow, 11 Nethergate, Dundee; (4) Mrs Jane Thomson or Watson, wife of and residing with Frank Watson at Rosemount, Carnoustie, and the said Frank Watson as curator and administrator-at-law for his said wife, defenders, for reduction of ( first) the last will and testament of the said John Thomson, dated 25th February 1896, quoad a pretended deletion on the first page thereof of a clause containing these words—“In the event of any of them dying, their share to be divided to their children,” and a pretended withdrawal of the clause by a marginal addition in the following terms—“I withdraw this.—J. Thomson” ( second) a pretended codicil dated 19th January 1901; ( third) a second pretended codicil dated 1st October 1907; and ( fourth) a third pretended codicil, undated, and containing these words—“Bella is get the ground in the Western Cemetery.”

The pursuer averred—“(Cond. 1) The deceased John Thomson, of 11 Nethergate, Dundee, died on 30th March 1911, being then not less than 93 years of age. He left a last will and testament dated 25th February 1896, whereby he appointed the defenders John Thomson and Frank Watson

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executors, and which provided for the liferent of his estate being given to his wife (who predeceased him), and on her death, with certain exceptions, being divided into ‘Four equal parts, 1st to John, 2 Jessie, 3rd Bella, 4 Jeannie, in the event of any of them dying their share to be divided to their children.’ The said deceased John Thomson was survived by his son John, and by his daughters Mrs Isabella Thomson or Campbell (Bella) and Mrs Jane Thomson or Watson (Jeannie), who are called as defenders. He was predeceased by his daughter Mrs Jessie Thomson or Horsburgh (Jessie). The pursuer is a daughter of the said Mrs Jessie Thomson or Horsburgh, and as such has an interest in the estate of the said deceased John Thomson as a beneficiary under the said last will and testament. The pursuer is also one of the heirs in mobilibus of the said deceased John Thomson. (Cond. 2). … After her husband's death in 1900 Mrs Campbell made her permanent home at 11 Nethergate, Dundee, and continued to live there right down to the date of her father's death. From Mrs Thomson's death in 1899 to Mr Thomson's death in 1911 the only occupants of the house were Mr Thomson, Mrs Campbell, and a maid.… (Cond. 3) The pursuer's mother Mrs Jessie Horsburgh was the favourite child of her parents, and during her lifetime both Mr and Mrs Thomson took a great interest in her and in her husband and children. They paid frequent visits to the pursuer's parents at Invergowrie, and sent their grandchildren a small present each year. In the year 1899, shortly before Mrs Thomson's death, and when Mrs Horsburgh was also seriously ill and little hopes entertained of her ultimate recovery, Mr Thomson sent for her to come into Dundee to see him. Mrs Horsburgh went to the house at 11 Nethergate, Dundee, as desired, and saw her parents. Her father Mr Thomson on that occasion acquainted her with the terms of the said will and testament of 1896, and requested her not to worry about money matters as he had made it all right for her children.… (Cond. 4) After Mrs Horsburgh's death her husband and her children continued on friendly terms with Mr John Thomson. Mr Horsburgh, who was nominated an executor in the will and testament of 1896, called for him once a fortnight, as had been his custom for years, and the pursuer and her brothers and sisters also paid him visits at frequent intervals. It soon became noticeable to them, however, that there was a change in Mrs Campbell's attitude towards them, and this became still more apparent after Mr Horsburgh's death in 1905. When the pursuer or any of her brothers or sisters called they were not shown as formerly into their grandfather's presence, but were put into an ante-room to await Mrs Campbell. They had great difficulty in seeing their grandfather at all, and on their expressing a wish to do so, were always put off by some excuse made by Mrs Campbell, who excluded them from seeing their grandfather. Their grandfather, who formerly sat in a front room, was kept by Mrs Campbell in a small back room, and during the last four or five years prior to his death the pursuer was only able to see him on two occasions, although she called very frequently to ask for him. It was evident to the pursuer and her brothers and sisters that Mrs Campbell did not want them to call at their grandfather's home, and that Mrs Campbell was endeavouring to estrange the affection in which their grandfather had held them and to cause him to forget them altogether. Neither Mrs Campbell nor Mrs Watson took any interest in the pursuer or her brothers or sisters. (Cond. 5) The late Mr John Thomson was at his wife's death over eighty years of age, and thereafter changed very rapidly in his mental capacity. He became taciturn and reserved and could only keep up a conversation with difficulty. About or shortly after this time his memory began to be defective, and he could not grasp the meaning of things. His mental condition became gradually worse, owing to advancing age and senile decay, and before Mr Horsburgh's death in 1905 it was obvious that he was quite unable to attend to any business affairs. From 1905 onwards the symptoms became worse, he was quite unable to read, and he could not distinguish the different coins of the realm, he had frequent attacks of heart seizure, but when he recovered he could not recollect that he had been ill. He was dazed and stupid. He was unable to talk with intelligence on any subject, and he took no interest in his own affairs. The enfeebled physical and mental condition of the said John Thomson was well known to the defenders, who both verbally and in writing expressed the opinion that he was no longer capable of managing his own affairs. He had no friends, having outlived his contemporaries, and he spent the last four or five years of his life sitting gazing into the fire in the back room. The pursuer believes and avers that from the year 1900 until the date of his death the said John Thomson was mentally incapable of disposing of his estate, or of giving intelligent directions for its disposal, and that the deeds sought to be reduced are thus not the deeds of the deceased, and that he was not mentally capable of making the deletion in question, which as after mentioned was made on or about 1st October 1907. [The words in italics were added by way of amendment in the Inner House.] Even assuming that deceased was mentally capable of executing the said deeds and making said deletion, which is denied, he was at the dates in question weak and facile in mind and easily imposed upon, and the defender Mrs Campbell, as before and after mentioned, taking advantage of his said weakness and facility, procured the said documents from him to his lesion.… (Cond. 6) After Mrs Thomson's death Mrs Campbell obtained a great influence over the said John Thomson. She assumed the management of his affairs, and intromitted with the rents of his property. She demanded various sums at different times as remuneration for additional

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trouble in nursing him during his frequent heart attacks and obtained these sums by threatening to go away and leave him to strangers. He was pliable in her hands and was unable to resist any suggestion she made, and she prevented him seeing his other relatives, or at any rate the pursuer and her brothers and sisters. On several occasions Mrs Campbell applied for her own use without her father's knowledge sums of money belonging to him. Mrs Watson, who was aware of Mrs Campbell's actings, was given a portion of these moneys to ensure her silence. The deceased in his younger days was particularly careful of money, indeed miserly, but for years before his death, and in particular at and prior to the date of the deeds sought to be reduced, he was quite unable to look after money or appreciate its value. Mrs Campbell in particular, taking advantage of the said John Thomson's facility, got into her possession the money which the said John Thomson had deposited with the Dundee Savings Bank or other Dundee bank, and applied it for her own purposes. She also without his knowledge or consent collected and applied to her own use a sum of money due to him by the tenants of his Melville House property. The said John Thomson during the last five or six years of his life, owing to old age, weakness, and facility, was in a condition to be influenced by anyone who desired to take advantage of his facility, and the pursuer avers that Mrs Campbell, taking advantage of the deceased's weakness and facility, on or about 1st October 1907 induced him to delete from his last will and testament the said clause in favour of the children of any predeceasing parent, and to execute the said pretended withdrawal and the said pretended codicil in favour of the defenders Mrs Campbell, Mrs Watson, and Mr John Thomson, when he was in such a condition physically and mentally as not to be able to resist Mrs Campbell's influence and the pressure which she brought to bear on the deceased to make the foresaid deletion and to execute the deeds under reduction. The said Mrs Watson and Mrs Campbell are and have been on terms of great intimacy for some years, although formerly they were otherwise, and it is averred that they decided to have the pursuer and her brothers and sisters disinherited, being influenced through greed and a desire to hurt the pursuer and her brothers and sisters, towards whom they had conceived an ill-will. The pursuer further avers that the pretended codicil of 19th January 1901, and the pretended codicil dealing with the ground in the Western Cemetery, were similarly procured by the said Mrs Campbell at a time when the said John Thomson was incapable of appreciating their import and effect or executing them, and in any event when he was weak and facile and easily imposed upon and circumvented by Mrs Campbell. In these circumstances the deletion and withdrawal in said last will and testament and the said three pretended codicils, all under reduction, were impetrated from the deceased by the defender Mrs Campbell by fraud or circumvention when he was weak and facile, and this action has accordingly been rendered necessary.…”

The pursuer pleaded, inter alia—“(2) The said pretended deletion and withdrawal, and the said three pretended codicils having been impetrated from the deceased John Thomson by the defender Mrs Campbell by fraud or circumvention, when the said deceased was weak and facile and easily imposed on, the pursuer is entitled to decree of reduction as craved.”

The defenders pleaded, inter alia—“(1) The pursuer's averments, so far as material, being irrelevant, the action ought to be dismissed.”

The defender Mrs Campbell stated the following additional plea—“ Separatim—The pursuer's averments of facility and circumvention are irrelevant and wanting in specification, and ought not to be remitted to probation.”

On 7th December 1911 the Lord Ordinary ( Ormidale) allowed, inter alia, the following issues—“(4) Whether on or about 1st October 1907 John Thomson was weak and facile in mind and easily imposed on, and whether the defender Mrs Isabella Thomson or Campbell, taking advantage of his said weakness and facility, did by fraud or circumvention obtain from him the said pretended deletion on the first page of the said last will and testament of the said clause containing these words—‘In the event of any of them dying, their share to be divided to their children,’ and the said pretended withdrawal thereof by a marginal addition in the terms above set forth, to the lesion of the said John Thomson? (5) Whether on or about 1st October 1907 John Thomson was weak and facile in mind and easily imposed on, and whether the defender, the said Mrs Isabella Thomson or Campbell, taking advantage of his said weakness and facility, did by fraud or circumvention obtain from him the said second pretended codicil to said last will and testament, dated 1st October 1907, to the lesion of the said John Thomson? (6) Whether at and subsequent to 1st October 1907 John Thomson was weak and facile in mind and easily imposed on, and whether the defender, the said Mrs Isabella Thomson or Campbell, taking advantage of his said weakness and facility, did by fraud or circumvention obtain from him the said third pretended codicil to said last will and testament, undated, to the lesion of the said John Thomson?”

[An issue was not asked for with regard to the validity of the codicil dated 19th January 1901.]

Opinion.—“In my judgment the averments contained in cond. 5 are clearly relevant to infer that the deceased Mr Thomson was not of sound disposing mind at the dates of the writings which are sought to be reduced.

“With regard to the questions raised by issues 4, 5, and 6, it was not disputed by defenders' counsel that weakness and facility were relevantly averred, and I think it must be taken from all that is said

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about her and her relations to her father, that the defender Mrs Campbell had very great influence with and over her father. That fact of itself does not raise any presumption against the fair dealing of Mrs Campbell. It was only natural that she should have such influence, and that he should impose very great confidence in her, and it was quite proper, if not necessary in the circumstances, that she should take into her own hands the entire management of the household affairs. But it is averred—I give the substance of the averment—that she abused the confidence of her father, and that she appropriated to her own use, more than once, sums of money which she had no right to take, and that she bribed her sister to hold her tongue with regard to these delinquencies. The averments may be absolutely untrue, but I am bound at this stage of the proceedings to assume the contrary, and the incidents referred to must be taken as instructing at once the inability of the deceased to protect himself against his daughter, and of the readiness of the daughter, when she had a purpose to serve, to take advantage of her father's weakened state of health.

It was maintained, however, by the defenders that there was nothing said on record to connect any instance of Mrs Campbell's alleged abuse of her father's trust in her with the impetration of the writings sought to be reduced. There is much force in this contention, and it is, I think, literally correct, but at the same time I should, in my opinion, be reading the record too strictly if I were to give effect to it. The averments of impetration in cond. 5 and cond. 6, though expressed in general terms, are just the accustomed averments made in cases like the present, and they must not be dissociated from the setting in which they are found. Regarding and reading them in the light of the other averments in the record, I am bound, on the authority of the cases cited at the bar— inter alia, Rooney v. Cormack, June 22, 1895, 22 R. 761, 32 S.L.R. 544; Williams v. Philip, 15 S.L.T. 396—to hold that there is sufficient matter to found an issue of facility and circumvention. There is an averment of motive, and the statements as to what Mr Thomson said to the pursuer's mother about not worrying about money matters as he had provided for her children, and the denial by Mrs Campbell to his grandchildren of access to their grandfather's room, go some way to meet what seems to me otherwise a well-founded argument of the defenders on the terms of the writings themselves.

As regards the absence of any specific averment of the arts and wiles practised by the defender, the case of Cluny v. Stirling, November 14, 1854, 17 D. 15, warrants the view that precise details of the mode of circumvention are not required. Much must, of course, depend on the circumstances of each particular case. Here it may be noted that the writings are all holograph of the deceased, and the assistance of an agent was not therefore required for their execution, and the locus of the impetration was the deceased's room, from which he was unable to move. On the whole matter it seems to me that it would not be safe to dispose of the question of facility and circumvention without inquiry—and I see no reason for not following the usual course and sending the case to a jury—I shall therefore approve of the issues proposed by the pursuer.”

The defenders reclaimed, and argued—The impetration by Mrs Campbell must be proved as well as the facility of the testator, but there were no averments which connected Mrs Campbell with the impetration. Without such averments the case was irrelevant— M'Kechnie v. M'Kechnie's Trustees, October 30, 1907, 1908 S.C. 93, 45 S.L.R. 38. In the case of Clunie v. Stirling ( supra) the deed reduced had caused enorm lesion to the signatory, but in the present case the effect of the deletion was not wholly in favour of Mrs Campbell. If she had predeceased the testator her children would have been excluded from benefiting under the will. The case of Rooney v. Cormack ( supra) was distinguishable, because in that case it was averred that the deed had been impetrated by the grantor's confidential law agent, who had actually procured the signature.

Counsel for the pursuer were not called upon.