165 N.W. 1079 | S.D. | 1917
The county court of' Day county denied probate to a writing purporting to be the wi'li of one Ida S. Taylor. Upon appeal to -the circuit court the judgment of the county court was reversed, and the writing admitted to probate. From such judgment of the circuit court this appeal was taken.
Probate of this writing was contested on the ground:
‘“That it was never properly executed or attested by decedent, in the manner provided by law. * * * ”
This writing was executed at Bristol, in this state, and section 1006, C. C., provides, among other things, that:
“Every will, * * * other than an olographic will and a nuncupative will, must be executed and attested as follows: * * *
“3. The testator must, at the time of subscribing or 'acknowledging the same, declare to the attesting witness that the instrument is his will. * * * ”
There are certain propositions which we deem soi well settled as to be without dispute:
Our attention has been called to numerous cases where wills have been 'admitted to -probate regardless of the fact that one or more of the subscribing witnesses have sworn to facts impeaching the -certificate of attestation. But an examination of such, cases reveals that in every one there were some facts or circumstances tending to impeach the mem-o-ry or veracity of such witness or witnesses. In some cases the subscribing witnesses were very old when called to testify. In others the executing and witnessing of the writing was under the direction and charge of some well 'qjualified attorney, or the testator was himself a party who would -be presumed to know,, and therefore to comply with, the statutory requirements. In others, as in Re Grant’s Will, supra, there were facts, having no connection with what actually occurred at-the time of the execution of the will, which were considered by the court -in sustaining the will,. Had
The judgment appealed from is reversed.