Case Name: Josephine Acosta v. Maria Marrero
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1861-02
Citations: 16 La. Ann. 136
Docket Number: 
Parties: Josephine Acosta v. Maria Marrero.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Annual Reports
Volume: 16
Pages: 136–137

Head Matter:
Josephine Acosta v. Maria Marrero.
The language used by the Notary in drawing up a nuncupative will by public act may be ungrammatical, but iC it leaves no ambiguity as to the fact that the language ‘of the clause “revoking besides all other wills, &c.,}> is that of the testator, and not an inference of the Notary, the will cannot be set aside.
Appeal from the District Court of the Parish of St. Bernard, Foulhouze, J.
F. Percy and L. Castera, for plaintiff and appellant. C. Bienvenu and L. Chauvet, for defendants.

Opinion:
Voorhies, J.
Several grounds of nullity are alleged against the validity of Roca Acosta's last will,— a nuncupative testament by public act; but the appellant urges only one of them, relating to the dictation of the will.
It is contended " that the testator did not dictate his last disposition to the notary, and especially the revocation of any former will."
The clause, in the will, which has given rise to this controversy, reads as follows:
" Et le dit testateur ayant déclaré ne rien avoir a ajoutcr au présent testament, je lui ai donné lecture a haute et intelligible voix en présence des témoins sus-nommés, et le dit testateur nous a déclaré le bien eomprendre et entendre et y persévérer comme contenant ses derniéres volontés, révoquant en outre tous autres testamens, codiciles, ou autres dispositions pour cause de mort voulant et entendant que le présent testament soit seul valable et soit exécuté dans tout son contenu."
This clause, the last one in the will, comes after the testator had disposed of his estate, and appointed his wife as his testamentary executrix. It is there stated that the testator declared that this was his last will; and, as it is in this connection that occurs the statement " revoking besides all other wills," &c., the declaration obviously embraces the revocation. The language is ungrammatical ; but it leaves no ambiguity as to the fact that the concluding part of the sentence was the language of the testator, and not an inference of the Notary.
It is, therefore, ordered and decreed, that the judgment of the District Court be affirmed with costs.