Case ID: wis_141/html/0041-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Dodge, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Will or Hyde : Donovan, Respondent, vs. Hyde, Appellant
    
      September 14
    
    December 7, 1909.
    
    
      Appeal: Affirmative showing of error: Evidence received provision- - ally': Costs: Discretion.
    
    1. Where the record shows that upon a trial by the court certain testimony was received de bene esse, and does not show that any part thereof which was claimed to be inadmissible was considered by the court, no error affirmatively appears.
    2. In a will contest an award of costs against the contestant in the circuit court will not be disturbed on appeal unless there was an abuse of discretion.
    Appeal from a judgment of the circuit court for Juneau county: J. J. Eeuit, Circuit Judge.
    
      Affirmed.
    
    Appeal by one Thomas F. Hyde from judgment of the circuit court affirming order of the county court admitting to probate a certain writing as the will of Thomas J. Hyde, deceased. According to the evidence of the proponent the will was drawn for Hyde by a layman while the former was in his last sickness, but able to sit up in bed. It was drawn in lead pencil, executed by testator by his mark, and then taken by the scrivener through an open door to a table in an adjoining room, where the name of the testator was written by the scrivener and the names of the attesting witnesses were affixed; it being announced and fully understood that the paper was so executed as the will of the deceased and that he desired the witnesses to complete its formal execution. The principal •controversy on the appeal is whether the evidence permits the conclusion that the table on which the witnesses wrote their names was so situated as to be within the observation of the testator. The court found that such attestation was in the presence of the testator.
    Eor the appellant there was a brief by Lenichech, Fairchild & Boesel, attorneys, and Daniel H. Grady, of counsel, and ■oral argument by Mr. F. T. Fairchild and Mr. Grady.
    
    
      For the respondent there was a brief by Veeder & Feeder? and oral argument by F. 8. V.eeder.
    
   The following opinion was filed October 5, 1909 :

Dodge, J.

The principal question presented is a pure issue of fact on which the cire.uit court has reached a conclusion. We do not feel justified in saying more about the evidence than that we fail to find any clear preponderance against such conclusion. '; “

. Error is assigned, and some argument indulged, upon admission of testimony of the Scrivener to personal transactions with the deceased, objectionáble by reason of asserted interest under the will; but the record discloses that such testimony was received merely de dene esse, and does not show that any part thereof relating to personal transactions was considered by the court. Hence no error affirmatively appears in that respect.

Another assignment of error is in the award of costs- against the contestant in circuit court. The circuit court was in better position than we can be to weigh any considerations for or against such award and to exercise sound discretion thereon. We cannot find anything in the record to persuade us that that discretion has been abused.

By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.

Winslow, C. J., took no part.

Upon a motion by the appellant the mandate was, on De'-cember 1, 1909, modified and amended so as to direct that the taxable costs of both parties be paid out of the estate, but that no costs be taxed for printing the case.