Case ID: h-j_1/html/0001-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Chase, Ch. S. —", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

GENERAL COURT, (E. S.)
    APRIL TERM, 1800.
    Collins et ux. Lessee, vs. Elliott.
    EJECTMENT for a tract of land called Tally’s Addition Corrected, also Tnlly’s Addition and Eoe’s Lane. The plaintiff’s lessors claimed title as devisees under the will of Samuel Eoe, deceased, dated the 5th of May 1776. An objection was made in the orphans court in April 1777, to the probat of this will. The witnesses to the will were dead.
    1. The question before this court was, Whether it was the will of Samuel Eoe? Several witnesses were examined in court, and the depositions of other witnesses read in evidence to the jury, to prove the will. An objection ivas made to the deposition of Solomon Williams being read in evidence, because it did not appear to be taken according to notice as to time and places that it was only evidence against the party, and those claiming under himj and that the notice ought to have been in writing,
    Depositions not appearing on their face to have been, taken according to notice, both as to time and place, cannot be given in evidence.
    Declarations neither of a testator, the witnesses nor the draftsman of a will are evidence to prove such will.
    One witness is sufficient to prove all lije requisites made essential by the statute of frauds, but where all the witnesses are dead, proof of the hand writing of the testator, ami of all the witnesses, is necessary.
    
      Declarations of a testator, &c, are not evidence to prove a will.
    One of the withesses to will is sufficient to prove it; but where all are dead, there must be proof of the hand writing of testator, &c.
    Chase, Ch. J.— The court are of opinion that it ought to appear by the depositions themselves that they were taken agreeably to the notice, both as to place and time, or they cannot be read in evidence; and that proof cannot now bo admitted to show that they wore in fact taken according to the notice.
    2. The declarations of Sanmel Roe, the testator, that he made a will, and those .of the witnesses that they signed a will, made by Samuel Roe, as witnesses, and those of the person by whom the will had been drawn, that lie had written the will of Samuel Roe, were offered in corroboration of the testimony adduced, to prove the will in controversy, but were objected to.
    
      Wright and Key for the defendant,
    contended, that in a case like the present, hearsay evidence could not bo admitted, and cited Gilb. L. E. 153. 12 Vin. Ab. 118, a. b. 39, pl. 7. Bull. N. P. 294, 295. Pow. on Dev. 79.
    
    
      Martin, (Attorney General.) and J. Scolt, contra,
    cited Peate vs. Ougly, Com. Rep. 197. Hands vs. James, Com. Rep. 531. Croft vs. Pawlet, 2 Stra. 1109. Lemain vs. Stanley, S Lev. 1. Lowe vs. Jolliffe, 1 Blk. Rep. 365. Bull. N. P. 264. Goodlitle vs. Clayton et al. 4 Burr. 2224. Esp. 784. 1 Eq. Ab. 403. Pow. on Dev. S3, 130, 132, 165, 187, 129.
   Chase, Ch. S. —

The court are of opinion that such declarations as those offered to be given in cvid'ence cannot be received to establish the will, The chief judge said that one witness would besuf-ficient to prove all the circumstances or requisites made essential by the statute of frauds; but where all the witnesses were dead, proof of the hand writing of the testator, and of all the witnesses, was necessary. The plaintiff excepted.

Verdict and judgment for the defendant. The plaintiff appealed to the Court of Appeals, and at December term 1808, the judgment of the General Court was affirmed.

See the case of Collins et ux. lessee, vs. Nicols et ux. at April term, 1803.