Case ID: ad_44/html/0004-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Willard Bartlett, J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In the Matter of the Probate of the Alleged Will of Lydia Ann Buel, Deceased. Walter J. Sutherland, as Executor, etc., of Lydia Ann Buel, Deceased, and Anna J. Sutherland, the Sole Legatee Mentioned in the Will of Said Lydia Ann Buel, Appellants; Charles W. Wood and Others, Respondents.
    
      Will—declaration of a testatrix that “it was all right”—recitals in the attestation clause invoked, to show a request that the witnesses sign.
    
    Proof that, after a will, had been read to a testatrix, she, in the presence of both the subscribing witnesses, said that “it was all right,” is sufficient evidence of publication.
    Upon a proceeding for the probate of a will, the recitals, in a full attestation clause attached to the will, may be invoked to supply omissions in the oral testi- .' mony and to show that the subscribing witnesses signed at the testatrix's request.
    Appeal by Walter J. Sutherland, as executor, etc., of Lydia Ann Buel, deceased, and another, from a decree of the Surrogate’s Court of Dutchess county, entered in said Surrogate’s Court on the 13th day of March, 1899, refusing to admit to probate a paper propounded as the last will and testament of Lydia Ann Buel, deceased.
    
      Henry M. Taylor [John H. Millard with him on the brief], for the appellants.
    
      John Hackett, A. M. & G. Card and Safford A. Crummey, for the next of kin, respondents.
   Willard Bartlett, J.:

The learned surrogate rejected the alleged will oñ two grounds. He held that the instrument was not executed .with the statutory formalities necessary to make it a will, inasmuch as the testatrix did not declare it to be her last will and testament, or request the attesting witnesses to sign their names as such. He also held that at the time of execution Mrs. Buel was not of sound mind and memory, and did not know or understand that the instrument was her will. In our opinion, the testimony does not sustain the first of these conclusions, but affords ample support to the second.

The proof convinces us that the paper, after being written out, was read over to Mrs. Buel, who then said, in the presence of both the witnesses, that “it was all right.” Assuming that she comprehended the language of the instrument and possessed testamentary capacity, we think this was sufficient evidence of publication. There was a full attestation clause, which, under the authority of The Matter of Bernsee (141 N. Y. 389), and the cases therein cited, supplied whatever omissions there were in the oral testimony as to the request to the witnesses to append their signatures.

The lack of testamentary capacity on the part of the decedent, however, was so clearly made out as to leave no substantial doubt in our minds as to the justice of the result reached by the surrogate in respect to that branch of the case. His determination of this question is not of such doubtful correctness as to demand that the issue be sent to a jury for trial, as was held to be necessary in The Matter of Ellick (19 Wkly. Dig. 231); Matter of Van Houten (11 App. Div. 208), and Matter of Brunor (21 id. 259). A review of the facts here would serve only to perpetuate a record of meutal and physical infirmities for which the decedent was in nowise to blame. It is enough to say that we have scrutinized the evidence with care, and feel fully satisfied with the finding of the court below in regard to Mrs. Buel’s incapacity.

The decree appealed from should be modified so as to omit there-, from the adjudication that the paper propounded for probate was not duly executed in form, and as thus modified it should be affirmed.

All concurred.

Decree of the Surrogate’s Court of Dutchess county modified so as to omit therefrom the adjudication that the paper propounded for probate was not duly executed in form, and as modified affirmed, with costs to all parties, to be paid out.of the estate.