Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-26

Club-Accept Challenge of
BPW For Spelling Match
Proceeds To Be Devoted To
Tuition For High School Girl
''The Making of viii" was the
subject Of very illuminating theme
presented by Associate Justice War
rem G. Philbrook of the Maine Su-
preme Judicial Court at the Augusta
Mwanis Clubs luncheon meeting
Thursday at the Girls Community
clubhouse in this city. Justice Phil
brook emphasized the importance of
making a will for the avoidance of
future litigation and he outlined the
principal features of the Maine
statutes pertaining to this subject.
The Kiwanis Club voted to accept
the challenge of the Augusta Bust
ness and Professional Women's
Club for a spelling match to be held
in the Y. M. C. A. assembly hall,
March IL, the proceeds from the sale
of the tickets to pay the tuition of
some girl who has not the means
to attend high school. A committee
consisting of Blaine Owen, Arthur F.
Tiffin, and DR.. Maurice A. Priest was
appointed by President Frank E.
Mace to select the 10 best spoilers
in Kiwanis to compete against the
challenging team.
In behalf of the Club, President
Mace presented to- Blaine Owen q
past presidents pin, in recognition
of his valuable services as a director,
vice president, president and past
president. Responding and express
ing his thanks for the emblem, Mr..
Owen spoke of the high ideals of
the international organization, stat
ing his opinion that it is big factor
in the movement to fight the spirit
of intolerance in this country.
The ladies who aided, in the sue
cessful Kiwanis presentation of the
comedy, 1.-The Hottentot," and who
served on the booth committees,
were the guests of the club at the
luncheon, the group including Mrs
Arthur B. Savage, Mrs. Sanger N.
Annis, Mrs. Donald @. Burleigh,
Miss Katherine Holway, Mrs. Ever
EFT H. Maxcy, Mrs. Henry A. Briggs.
Mrs. Levi T. Williams, Mrs. Arthur
r. Tifin, Mrs. Osma L. Sumner, Mrs.
Harold d. Jennings, Mrs. Earle
Church, Mrs. Warren b. Sanborn
and Mrs. A. o. Thomas.
Col. Keith Ryan gave an inspiring
charge to three new members or
the club, Norman r. Dow, mechanic;
Bonnie Marston accountant; ana
James Norman, photographer.
Address by Justice PhilbrOok
Justice Warren c. Philbrook de-
clared at the outset that he was not
there to teach people how to make
a will, but rather to interest some
in the question Of making will.
He said that upon the death OF any
person. who by industry and frug-
ality has accumulated some or the
worlds goods, those goods will go 10
someone else by one of two avenues.
First is the law of descent. BY
this in case no will is made, the
statutes determine that the property
goes to certain persons. Thus II
nerson wants his property to be as
tributed as in his mature Judgement
he believes it should be distributed
he should make will and not put
off this act until tomorrow.
There would be less litigation over
lille ~ more care was used in max
mo tben,. the speaker said. II wills
are properly made they will staha
the test of the contest and the prop
erty will go as the testator Ieit that
it should. -,
The right to make a will depends
wholly on the statutes OF the state
and the statutes govern VINO may
make a will and what the VIII MAY a.
convey. In Maine for nearly 1oV
wears the statutes said that per.
son q years Of age or over ana OF
sound mind could make a Will
which was equivalent to saying that
a person under 81 years of age
could not. Women now have more
rights than men, for in 1917 provi-
sion was made that married Wom-
an or one who had been marrlel
and later became q widow, can make
a will if not 81 years of age. A
male cannot make a will unless Il
years old.
There are limitations to the power
of disposing of property. For in
stance, if a man attempts to make
a will and entirely ignore his wife,
he cannot successfully do 80 for the
wife can claim one-third If children
are living and one-half If there are
not children living. A son or
daughter if not mentioned in the
will can step up and claim a share
in the property unless it appears in
the will that the testator intended
to omit them. A child born after
the death of the testator may claim
all that may belong to him il no
will is made.
The person making the will must
be of sound mind, which means in
effect that he must have that degree
of mind and memory by which he
can recall in general way the
amount, extent and kind Of property
he possesses and know those to
whom he gives property or those
from whom he withho1ds the giving.
According to the statutes, a testa-
tor need not sign his will in the
presence of all three witnesses, but
if he has signed it he must express
to them that it is his will and his
signature. and every witness must
sign in the presence of the testator.
Witnesses must be credible and com.
petent, having no financial interest
in the matter.
In conclusion. Justice Philbrook
spoke Of the desirability of a per-
son who Is about to die, knowing
that his property will go in the
channels where he feels that 1t is
most needed.
Hearty applause followed Justice
Philbrook's Informative address on