Case Name: PERRINE v. GERRINE et al
Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1923-06-23
Citations: 1 Ohio Law Abs. 613
Docket Number: No. 93
Parties: PERRINE v. GERRINE et al
Judges: 
Reporter: The Ohio Law Abstract
Volume: 1
Pages: 613–613

Head Matter:
No. 643
PERRINE v. GERRINE et al
Ohio Appeals, First District, Warren County
No. 93.
Decided June 23, 1923
This opinion has not been published except in Abstract
WILLS — (1) Proceedings to contest a will cannot be dismissed for want of prosecution. ‘
Attorneys — E. H. Williams and J. N. A. Jameson, for Perrine; George E. Young, for Gerrine.

Opinion:
HAMILTON, J.
Epitomized Opinion
This is_an action brought by Perrine to contest a will. ArNanswer was filed setting up that the will was valid. On trial day the plaintiff failed to appear, but his counsel appeared and moved for a continuance of the trial on the ground that his client, the plaintiff, was ill and' not able to appear in court. The application was not supported by affidávit or a physician's certificate. The court refused to grant the motion and dismissed the case for want of prosecution. Thereupon the plaintiff prosecuted error to the Court of Appeals. In reversing the judgment of the lower court, the Court of Appeals held:
1. In a proceeding to contest a will, the trial court is without power to dismiss the action for want of prosecution on the part of the contestant, but must submit the question involved to the jury to ascertain whether or not the deceased died testate or intestate.