Bennet v. First & Merchants National Bank

This appeal requires us to determine whether an interest in a United States Treasury Bill, purchased with funds drawn from a joint savings account, becomes a part of the estate of the joint depositor who contributed the funds to the account but who dies before the Treasury Bill matures, or whether it passes by survivor-ship to the surviving joint depositor.

The essential facts are undisputed. Taylor S. Butler, the decedent, had two children, Mindy Thompson and Marilyn Vetter. His personal relationship was good with each of them, and he treated them in an essentially equal fashion during his…