38 Misc. 471 | N.Y. Sur. Ct. | 1902
The papers propounded as will and codicil are holographic, and have attestation clauses in the usual form, both of which are signed by the same witnesses. The contestants, next of kin, claim a failure to comply with the statute as to execution, and the testimony of the subscribing witnesses is to that effect. Their testimony as to both papers is in substance that the deceased neither signed in their presence nor exhibited to them his signature. Their failure to see the signatures of the deceased is attributed to the manner in which the papers were folded, as each testifies that they were so folded that only a line or two was left above the lines upon which they themselves signed. A failure of publication is also claimed as to the second paper, and on this point the witnesses agree that at no time did the deceased call or declare it a codicil.
Upon the testimony of the subscribing witnesses the papers would fail of probate, but this testimony is not necessarily conclusive; the statute providing:
“If such a subscribing witness has forgotten the occurrence, or testifies against the execution of the will; the will may nevertheless be established,*1037 upon proof of the handwriting of the testator, and of the subscribing witnesses, and also of such other circumstances, as would be sufficient to prove the will upon the trial of an action.” Code Civ. Proc. § 2620.
It is under this statute that numerous wills have been admitted to probate despite adverse testimony of subscribing witnesses. The statute in terms contemplates that proof which would satisfy a jury of the regularity of the will, and whether that proof is produced is the issue herein. Under the statute of wills, the testator’s subscription must be made in the presence of each of the attesting witnesses, or acknowledged by him to have been so made to each of them, and, at the time of making such subscription or acknowledgment, he must declare the instrument so subscribed to be his last will and testament. 2 Rev. St. p. 63, c. 6, art. 3, § 40. Under this, and the statute first herein quoted, the issue is entirely one of fact. In re Turell’s Will, 166 N. Y. 330, 336, 59 N. E. 910. Taking up first the codicil, I am satisfied that the proof offered is sufficient to admit it to probate. The entire instrument, including the attestation clause, is in the handwriting of the deceased. According to the testimony of the subscribing witnesses, they knew from previous information that they were sent for to witness a codicil. As the witness Carll says, “It was understood between he and I what we were to sign.” Both witnesses and the deceased knew that their meeting was for the sole purpose of executing a codicil; and, this being so, the words of the deceased, “It lays there on the desk; I have signed it, and there are only two lines left; you sign it on one, and Frank on the other,”—constitute a sufficient renuest and publication.
The statute prescribes no form for the publication of a testament; any communication by the testator whereby the witnesses understand that which the statute requires is sufficient. As was said in Re Beckett’s Will, 103 N. Y.167, 174, 8 N. E. 506, a case in which the testatrix made no reference to the instrument other than to call it a paper;
“It is entirely certain that the testatrix understood the character and contents of the paper which she executed, that she did exactly what she intended to do, and without the possibility of mistake or imposition; for the will was a holograph. * * * In such a case, criticism of the terms and manner of what is claimed to have been a sufficient publication need not be so close or severe as where the question whether the testatrix knew that she was executing a will depends solely upon the fact of publication. * * * He must communicate it, however; but if he does that in a manner capable of conveying, to the minds of the witnesses, his own present consciousness that the paper being executed is a will, that must necessarily be sufficient.”
The statute is therefore satisfied as to publication. Coffin v. Coffin, 23 N. Y. 9, 80 Am. Dec. 235; Lane v. Lane, 95 N. Y. 494, 498.
The above circumstances also provide the statutory acknowledgment if the signature of deceased was visible. The subscribing witnesses testify that this was not the case, owing to folds in the paper. The will and codicil are written on a sheet of ordinary legal cap, occupying the first three pages according to the manner in which such paper is ordinarily used. On the last two lines of the third page are the signatures of the witnesses; on the next two above is the attestation clause; and on the fifth from the bottom is the signature of the
I have considered first the codicil, by reason of the contention that it, if valid, carries the will to probate without further consideration. I believe the true rule to be, however, that a valid codicil can be called to the relief of a prior will-only when the will was itself executed pursuant to statute. There are various reasons which render void a duly executed will. Such a will may be revived by a subsequently executed codicil, but the rule does not apply unless the will itself was executed as the statute directs. In re Andrews’ Will (Sup.) 60 N. Y. Supp. 141; Cook v. White, Id. 153. The will must therefore be considered by itself. On the morning of the day on which the will was signed, the deceased, having told the witness Carll that he had made his will, requested him to go to Baldwin’s with him, so that he and Baldwin
“Mr. Carll asked how I was. I told him, and he asked me, as he took the paper from his pocket, if I would sign his will as a witness, and I told him X would. Mr. Henry P. Carll signed it, and then I signed it. Q. When he spoke as to having you sign it, I suppose he was addressing you and Henry both. That is the way you understood it? A. Yes, sir.”
The body of the will and the attestation clause is in one- kind of ink. The three signatures thereto are in ink of a totally different kind. This is apparent to the naked eye, and is confirmed by examination under a magnifying glass, as well as by the testimony of the expert Kinsley. This witness testifies that the ink in the three signatures is the same; that the signatures were made at one and the same time; and that the poor appearance of the ink in the signatures is the result of its having been frozen. In this connection, the witness Baldwin says he had ink at hand at the time in question, which was customarily kept in a bureau in an unheated hall, but cannot say positively whether this was the ink he used in signing the will or not; he having used this ink for some other business .earlier in the day. Testimony is also offered to show that the deceased had but one bottle of ink, and that it was kept in his desk where he wrote the will, and in a heated room. The witnesses say they both used the same pen. They also testify that there was some writing above the point at which they signed, but that they neither saw nor tried to see what it was. Seven lines of attestation clause intervene between the signature of the deceased and the signatures of the witnesses. They are unable to explain just how the folds in the paper covered his signature; in fact, their testimony in this regard amounts to this only; that the paper was folded. They admit that they knew nothing of the statutory requirements, and the entire transaction occupied but a few moments of their time, with nothing to impress the matter on their minds. How their memory, on points which they did not know were important, can be so good after the lapse of nearly seven years, does not appear. The will being folded, as was the codicil, according to their testimony, I reach the conclusion again that the paper could not have rested flat on the table, but must have opened to a considerable extent. I also reach the conclusion that the deceased signed the paper at Frank Baldwin’s. His signature is shown to be genuine. He was a man of mature years', of business ability and repute in the county, and conversant with the drawing of wills. That the witnesses wrote their addresses after their signatures because told so to do by decedent, knowing no reason themselves why this should be done, is significant in this connection. At least one will drawn by him has been admitted to probate. After his death, the document was found in his private box. His remarks as to having the tools with him, coupled with the very full attestation clause in his own hand, show that it was his intention to
Probate decr.eed.
