Case ID: nc_15/html/0500-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Danish, Judge.'\n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Elizabeth Old v. Hector Old, et. al.
    
    A witness to a will of land who was, at the time of his attestation, a presumptive heir to the devisor is not interested in the devise within the meaning of the eleventh section of the act of 1874, {Rev. ch-. 204. .1
    This was an issue of devisavit, vex wow as to a script propounded as tbe will of Merrit Old, and was tried before Maiitiw Judge, at Camden on the last circuit.
    The only question was, whether the will was attested in (he manner required by the eleventh section of the act of 1784, (Rev. ch. 204.) The supposed will was attested by William Old and Harriet Old; the latter of these was a sister of the supposed testator, and was at the execution of the will,one of his heirs at 1 aw; she was also a party defendant to this issue. William Old proved the due execution of the will, and its attestation by himselfand the other witness. The plaintiff then offered to examine Harriet Old, the other witness, but bis Honor refused to permit this, and informed the jury that Harriet Old was interested in the will at the time of its execution, and therefore that it was not well executed to pass land. A verdict was returned in conformity' to this instruction, and the plaintiff appealed.
    
      Iredell for the plaintiff.
    No Counsel appeared for the defendants.
   Danish, Judge.'

After stating the facts as above proceeded: — Two questions arise in the case: first, was Harriet Old a good witness under the directions of the statute, to attest the will. Secondly: If she was a competent witness to attest the will at its execution, could her attestation be proved by the other witness, as she was at the trial, interested to defeat the will, and a party defendant on the record. It is declared in the eleventh section of the act of 1784, that no last will shall be good or sufficient in law or equity, to convey or give any estate in lands, unless it is subscribed in the presence of the testator, by two witnesses at least, no one of whom shall be interested in the devise of the said land. In the case of Allison v. Allison, (4 Hawks, 141.) the court determined that when the witness had an interest in the lands devised at the time of the altes--' tation, no subsequent release could avail to make him a proper witness under the statute. The state of things at the time of the execution of the will,determines the competency of the attesting witnesses under the statute__ The witness in this case being only heir presumptive to the testator, liad at the time of attestation,no interest in the lands devised. The testator could in his life time, have alienated the lands, or he might have married and had issue,which would have completely destroyed every possibility which the witness liad of inheriting the lands. We think the witness had no interest at the time she attested the instrument, and therefore the will was subscribed by two witnesses ; no one of whom was interested in the devise of the lands.

If the witness when called by the plaintiffs, thought proper voluntarily to testify, we cannot see any good objection against it, although she was a party defendant on the record. But if she had refused to testify, because she was a party, then the second question arises, whether her attestation may not be proved by other witnesses. It is a rule of evidence that when a subscribing witness has, since the attestation, become interested, his handwriting may be proved by other witnesses, as where he has become the administrator of the obligee, even though be disqualified himself voluntarily by taking out administration. (Swire v. Bell, 5 T. R. 371, 1 Starkie, 338.) If one of the attesting witnesses to a will is abroad, it seems to be sufficient to give evidence of his handwriting. If a witness to a will be dead, or has become interested since his attestation, evidence of his handwriting will be received to support the will. (McKenire v, Fraser, 9 Ves. 5, 3 Starkie 1693, 1694,) and from such evidence, the jury may presume the due execution of the will, although it does not appear from the written form of attestation that the witness subscribed the will in the presence of the testator. Hands v. James. Com. Rep. 531. Croft v. Pawlet, 2 Strange, 1109, 3 Starkie, 1693.) The cases of Hampton v. Garland, (2 Hay. 147, )& Cromwell v. Kirk, (ante 3 vol. 355,) are in point, to show that when the attesting witnesses to the will, were competent at the time of execution, undone of them lias since become incompetent, the party seeking to establish the will, is not bound to bring forward the incompetent witness. We think the opinion delivered by the Superior Court was erroneous, and therefore there must be a new trial.

An attesting witness to a will who has becoflie interested since his attestation need not be produced by the person propounding it, but the will may be established by proof of his hand writing.

Per Curiam. — Judgment reversed.