Case Name: In the Matter of the Probate of the Last Will and Testament of Addie D. Fox, Deceased
Court: New York Surrogate's Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1922-03
Citations: 118 Misc. 352
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of the Probate of the Last Will and Testament of Addie D. Fox, Deceased.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 118
Pages: 352–354

Head Matter:
In the Matter of the Probate of the Last Will and Testament of Addie D. Fox, Deceased.
Surrogate’s Court, Westchester County,
March, 1922.
Wills — mutilation — original will so far as it can be ascertained and proved will be admitted to probate.
Erasures, interlineations, mutilations and additions made to a will after its execution effect no change unless made with all the formalities required by the statute.
An instrument in writing offered for probate as a will had been mutilated as follows: The 2d and 3d paragraphs had been cut out; the name of a sister and the place of her residence had been cut out of the 4th paragraph and the name of another sister, typewritten upon a piece of paper with a different color type ribbon was pasted on the reverse side of the page, and by the same process the 7th paragraph was also mutilated by cutting out the name of one of the executors and appointing a sister. The lawyer who drew the will and who was one of the subscribing witnesses was dead and the other subscribing witness, a stenographer in the lawyer’s office, testified that when the will was executed there was no mutilation of the same. Neither the contents of the missing parts of the will nor their substance were proved. Held, that all of the paper which remained was entitled to be admitted to probate, for the reason that not having been revoked, it was still the will of decedent.
The 2d, 3d and 4th paragraphs are void; that portion of the 7th paragraph relating to the power of sale is effectual, but in so far as said paragraph appoints a sister of testatrix an executrix it is void, and the other named executor being dead letters testamentary with the will annexed may issue upon proper application therefor.
Proceeding to probate a will.
Wallin, Beckwith & Edie, for proponent.

Opinion:
Slater, S.
The will of the decedent has been mutilated by cutting out the 2d and 3d paragraphs. In the 4th paragraph the name of the sister and the place of her residence have been cut out, and the name of another sister was typewritten upon a piece of paper with a different color type ribbon, and the part so typed pasted on the reverse side of the page. The 7th paragraph relating to the appointment of executors was also mutilated by cutting out the name of one of the executors and appointing a sister by the same process as indicated with reference to the 4th paragraph. One of the subscribing witnesses, the lawyer who drafted the will, is dead The other subscribing witness was a stenographer in the office of the attorney and her testimony is to the effect that when the will was executed by the decedent there was no mutilation to said will as herein referred to. The will was found among the personal belongings of the decedent.
The law of the case is that erasures, interlineations, mutilations and additions made to a will after its execution do not change the will, unless made with all the formalities necessary to a will, but the will has to be probated as though they had not been made. The will as originally executed was never revoked and is still the will of the decedent. Matter of Stevens Will, 3 N. Y. Supp. 131; S. C., Stevens v. Stevens, 6 Dem. 262. The contents of the missing parts of the will have not been legally proven in this proceeding. If so, it would have been admitted to probate in its entirety. Even the substance of the missing portion has not been proved, and the paper which remains must be admitted to probate, because what is left is still her will and it has never been revoked. Matter of Ackerman, 129 App. Div. 584; Matter of Kent, 169 id. 388; Matter of Van Woert, 147 id. 483.
I shall construe the will as follows: The 2d and 3d paragraphs are void. The 4th paragraph is void. The 7th paragraph, which relates to the appointment of executors, is void in so far as it appoints Lizzie C. Douglas an executrix. Frederick C. Train, another named executor, is dead. Letters c. t. a. may issue upon proper application. The remaining portion of the 7th clause which relates to the power of sale is effectual.
Decreed accordingly.