Case Name: Maggie L. Thompson, Appellant From Decree of Judge of Probate
Court: Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Maine
Decision Date: 1919-04-09
Citations: 118 Me. 114
Docket Number: 
Parties: Maggie L. Thompson, Appellant From Decree of Judge of Probate.
Judges: Sitting: Coenish, C. J., Speae, Hanson, Pi-iilbeooic, Dunn, Moeeill, Wilson, Deast, JJ.
Reporter: Maine Reports
Volume: 118
Pages: 114–128

Head Matter:
Maggie L. Thompson, Appellant From Decree of Judge of Probate.
Lincoln.
Opinion April 9, 1919.
General rule oj Procedure governing probate appeals. Supreme Court of Probate. Powers of sitting Justice of Supreme Court of Probate. Buie governing verdict of jury upon issues submitted by presiding Justice. Supreme Court of Probate as distinguished from Caw Court. Distinction between cases going to Law Court upon motion and cases going on report. Bight of appeal when court sitting as Justice of Supreme Court. Bight of appeal when silting as Supreme Court of Probate.
This is a probate appeal. On the fourth day of September, 1917, the Judge of Probate of Lincoln County by proper decree allowed the last will and testament of M. Amanda Ford. From that decree an appeal was taken to the Supreme Court of Probate for Lincoln County. At the October term, 1917, the appeal was heard, and two questions of fact were submitted to the Jury, one, whether at the time of execution of the will the testatrix was of sound and disposing mind and memory, and the other whether said instrument was her voluntary act uncontrolled and uninfluenced by others. To each question, an affirmative answer was returned. Counsel for appellant filed thereupon a simple motion for new trial addressed to the Law Court, without any decree being made by the Supreme Court of Probate.
I-Ield:
1. As a matter of strict statutory construction, it may well be doubted whether this course of procedure is correct; but in view of the fact that such a practice has been of long standing, a majority of the court do not feel compelled to dismiss the motion on this ground without considering the merits of the case. If the customary procedure is to be changed or modified, it had best be done by rule of court.
A careful examination of the record to determine the merits of the controversy leads irresistibly to the conclusion that the findings of the jury were in strict accord with the testimony, and that the decree of the Judge of Probate in allowing the will was without error.
Appeal from the findings of a jury, in the matter of will of M. Amanda Ford, upon certain questions submitted to them at the Supreme Court of Probate. Judgment in accordance with opinion.
Case stated in opinion.
Percie D. Jordan, and George A. Cowan, for appellant.
H. E. Hall, and Weston M. Hilton, for proponent.
Sitting: Coenish, C. J., Speae, Hanson, Pi-iilbeooic, Dunn, Moeeill, Wilson, Deast, JJ.

Opinion:
Coenish, C. J.
This is a probate appeal. On the fourth day of September 1917, the Judge of Probate of Lincoln County by proper decree allowed the last will and testament of M. Amanda Ford. From that decree an appeal was taken to the Supreme Court of Probate for Lincoln County. At the October term, 1917, the appeal was heard, and two questions of fact were submitted to the jury, one, whether at the time of execution of the will the testatrix was of sound and disposing mind and memory, and the other whether said instrument was her voluntary act uncontrolled and uninfluenced by others. To each question, an affirmative answer was returned. Counsel for appellant filed thereupon a simple motion for new trial addressed to the Law Court, without any decree being made by the Supreme Court of Probate.
As a matter of strict statutory construction, it may well be doubted whether this course of procedure is correct; but in view of the fact that such a practice has been of long standing, a majority of the court do not feel compelled to dismiss the motion on this ground without considering the merits of the case. If the customary procedure is to be changed or modified, it had best be done by rule of court.
A careful examination of the record to determine the merits of the controversy leads irresistibly to the conclusion that the findings of the jury were in strict accord with the testimony, and that the decree of the Judge of Probate in allowing the will was without error.
The entry will therefore be,
Appeal dismissed with costs.
Decree of Judge of Prohate affirmed.