Donovan v. McCarty

• Citation: 30 N.E. 221,155 Mass. 543
• Parties: DONOVAN v. MCCARTY.
• Decision Date: 25 February 1892
• Court: United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts

155 Mass. 543

30 N.E. 221

DONOVAN v. MCCARTY.

Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, Suffolk.

February 25, 1892

COUNSEL

Francis S. Hesseltine, for plaintiff.

Maxwell & Hudson, for defendant.

OPINION

ALLEN J.

The court having found that there was no fraud in the transaction which the plaintiff seeks to set aside, and that the assignment was executed with knowledge of its contents, the plaintiff now contends that it was illegal, because executed on the Lord's day, and that it may be revoked. The defendant, on the other hand, contends (1) that it was not illegal for that reason; (2) that, if it was, the assignor participated in the illegality, and cannot be allowed to set it up as a ground for avoiding the transaction; and (3) that afterwards there was a new agreement to the same effect on a secular day. The ground on which the bill was dismissed is not mentioned, but it is for the plaintiff to make it appear that the decree was wrong, and that neither ground of defense was valid. In other words, the plaintiff has the burden of maintaining that upon the facts which appear she had a right to a decree in her favor, and that the court was bound to enter such decree, no matter what may have been the facts in other particulars not stated. We do not think the plaintiff has sustained this burden. By Pub.St. c. 98, § 2, whoever, on the Lord's day, "does any manner of labor, business, or work, except works of necessity and charity," is punishable; and by section 3, "whoever travels on the Lord's day, except from necessity or charity," is also punishable. These statutes have long been in force and numerous cases have arisen under them. In Bennett v Brooks, 9 Allen, 118, it was held that the execution of a will is not within the general prohibition of the statute. The court say: "The legislature did not intend to carry the prohibition further than to restrain the exercise of all those occupations and employments which make up the common and daily business of mankind, and such dealings and bargains as properly and usually appertain thereto." And again: "All business was intended to be prohibited on the Sabbath which might fairly be deemed to be an employment or calling carried on for purposes of gain or profit, and all transactions and dealings connected therewith, or such as are usually incidental thereto. But beyond this no just rule of interpretation can extend the provisions of the statute." "It does not embrace within its prohibition every act which is not of a sacred or religious character, although it may not be required by necessity or charity." The court also intimates that it would be strongly inclined to hold that the execution of a will would fall within the exception as a work of necessity or charity; but the decision rests on the ground that the act is of an occasional and exceptional character, and not embraced within the general words of prohibition. See, also, in relation to wills, George v. George, 47 N.H. 27; Beitenman's Appeal, 55 Pa.St. 183; Rapp v. Reehling, 124 Ind. 36, 23 N.E. 777. The controversy in the present case is in relation to an instrument of assignment which, in its purpose and character, much resembles a will. It was an instrument as much out of the common course of things as a will. It was an assignment of property in trust, for the benefit, comfort, and support of the assignor during life, for funeral expenses, and a burial lot, and for the celebration of masses for the benefit of her father, brother, and herself; and, this being done, the remainder to belong to the assignee. It was executed at the city hospital. The bill avers that the assignor was a single woman, 80 years of age, and that she was taken to the hospital on account of severe injuries. The defendant's general denial includes these averments, and to that extent weakens his case, so far as this phase of it is concerned. But, if the court found the plaintiff's averments to be true, it may also have found that there was such an emergency as to show a reasonable necessity for immediate action.

The distinction whether an act is outside of the general prohibition of the statute, or is within the exception as a work of necessity or charity, is not always clearly drawn in the decisions, and perhaps not necessary to be drawn. Acts of necessity or charity are in express terms excepted from the prohibition, and other acts not strictly of necessity or charity may also, according to the doctrine of Bennett v Brooks, be excepted by implication, on the ground that the legislature did not intend to include them in the prohibition. The words "necessity and charity" have never received a very strict instruction, and it has been said that they cover everything which is morally fit and proper to be done, under the peculiar circumstances of the case. Doyle v. Railroad, 118 Mass. 195, and cases cited. Stone v. Graves, 145 Mass. 353, 13 N.E. 906. So, in the statute relating to traveling, it has been declared that the question whether it was an act of necessity or charity is to be determined to a great extent by considerations of moral fitness and propriety, and that in most cases it should be submitted to the jury, with proper instructions. Smith v. Railroad, 120 Mass. 490; Feital v. Railroad, 109 Mass. 398, 404. It would at once be assumed by all that in great emergencies, as in case of fire, flood, tempest, war, wrecks, accidents to man, beasts, or property, both travel and labor are lawful. The work of clergymen, physicians, nurses, apothecaries, and undertakers is also by general concession within the exceptions. The work of those employed in furnishing articles of daily and...