Court Opinion

ID: 5496214
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-10 02:52:38.515787+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:33:49.260837
License: Public Domain

Dykman, J.
This is an appeal from a decree of the surrogate of Kings county admitting to probate the last will and testament of John J. Wilmurt, deceased. There was no question respecting the due and proper execution of the will, and the proof shows a compliance with all formalities required by the statute. The contest proceeded upon the theory of mental incapacity, and the testimony introduced by the contestants was directed chiefly to that subject, but it was so slight as to command no respect. In fact, with the exception of the physician, no witness for the contestants furnished any evidence of even mental weakness, and what the physician said was in answer to hypothetical questions only, and was entitled to little or no consideration in the case. The testimony introduced by the proponents was clear and satisfactory, and showed the decedent in the full possession of his mental faculties at the time of the execution of his will, and entirely free from all restraining influences. The controversy over the will was entirely without foundation or justification, qnd we find no error in the exclusion of evidence by the surrogate. The decree should be affirmed, with costs.