17 Pa. 205 | Pa. | 1851
The opinion of the court was delivered by
LThis was an issue to try the validity of a paper purporting to be the will of Benjamin Morris. The instrument in dispute contained a devise of a “ dwelling-house to the Welsh Congregation, or Independent Church of Minersville; the property not to be sold, but the rents to be paid by my executors to the official members of said church, to the end of being appropriated to the use of said church.” Roderick R. Williams, the pastor, and John L. Davies, a member of the congregation, interested in establishing the paper, were offered as witnesses to prove the execution, but were rejected by the court on the ground of interest. In general, the members 'of pecuniary or moneyed institutions, such as banks, insurance and manufacturing companies, and the like, are not witnesses in favor of such corporations, because they are directly interested in the result. The property in controversy would go to swell their profits, and thus increase the dividends
By the probate taken before the Register, it appears that the two witnesses state that they saw the testator “sign, seal, publish, pronounce, and declare,” &e. As the name of the testator appears to be signed to the instrument, the court cannot say, on inspection, that the witnesses did not see the testator sign it. The addition of a “mark” does not necessarily import against the testimony of the witnesses, that the testator did not sign his name. There may have been an inadvertence in the statement of the witnesses, or they may have considered the affixing of a mark as a signing of the will. It is certain, however, that there was nothing upon the face of the paper, thus admitted to probate, which raised the question respecting the effect of a mark, Avhen used instead cf a signature, in the execution of a will; or which authorized the court to reject the probate as not even prima facie evidence.
The instrument, after probate, ought to have been received in evidence, subject to explanation; and the witnesses offered ought to have been admitted. When the whole case shall be presented
Judgment reversed and venire de novo awarded.