Dean v. Heirs of Dean

The opinion of the court was delivered by Isham, J.

The questions in this case arise on exceptions allowed on the probate of an instrument purporting to be the will of Ezra Dean. The will, with the exception of the attestation clause, appears, on its face, to have been legally executed. The statute requires such instruments to be signed by the testator, and witnessed by three witnesses who signed the same as such, in the presence of the testator, and in the presence of each other. The attestation clause is informal, in not stating that the witnesses signed the same in the presence of each other. It is conceded, however, that that objection may be removed by testimony showing that in *749 fact those requisites were complied with when the instrument was executed. Brice v. Smith, Willis 1. 4 Taunt. 217. 1 Phil. Ev. 499. The jury were instructed, that it was incumbent on the plaintiff to establish affirmatively, by evidence aside from the will itself, that it was executed by Ezra Dean, in the presence of the witnesses who signed their names as such in his presence and in the presence of each other. The jury, by their verdict, have found those facts to be true in relation to the execution of this instrument. The only question arises, whether those facts were found on competent and legal testimony.

The jury in cases of this kind, as in all civil cases, are the judges whether the testimony is sufficient to prove the facts in issue. The . competency of the testimony, and whether those facts are legally proved are questions for the court. Whether the will, in these particulars, was properly executed or not, is a matter primarily to be proved by the subscribing witnesses. They are first to be called and examined if they are alive and can be produced. The Comp. Stat., p. 329, § 18, provides that if no person shall appear to contest the probate of the will, it may be probated on the testimony of one of the subscribing witnesses. But if the will is contested, all the subscribing witnesses should be examined. The same rule prevails on the probate of a will in the English court of chancery. Chase et al v. Lincoln, 3 Mass. 236 . Sears v. Dillingham, 12 Mass. 358 . Concannon v. Cruise, 2 Moll. 332. 3 Phil. Ev. 1351, and note 931. If the subscribing witnesses are dead, insane, absent and without the state, their attestation of the will may be shown by proof of their hand writing, and of that of the testator: Comp. Stat. 829, §19, and such proof will be evidence of all they professed to attest. 1 Phil. Ev. 440. Milward v. Temple, 1 Camp, 375. Shelly v. Champlin, 4 John. 460 and note 466. Carrington v. Payne, 5 Vesey, 404. Bernel v. Taylor, 9 Ves. 381. In 1 Phil. Ev. 502, it is said, “ that if a subscribing witness is abroad his “ hand writing may be proved in the case of a will, as in cases of “ the execution of deeds, and that the rule is the same in courts of “ equity; and if a subscribing witness deny the execution of the “ will, he may be contradicted as to that fact by another subscrib- “ ing witness, and the will established.” This rule was recognized in the case of Adams v. Field, 21 Vt. 256 . 1 Phil. Ev. 475, 476. *750 So too, if all the subscribing witnesses testify that the will was not duly executed, the parties will be allowed to go into circumstantial evidence to prove its due execution. Bowman v. Christman, 4 Wend. 277 . Pike v. Badmering, cited in 2 Sto. 1096 . Lowe v. Jolliffe, 1 Black. 365 . 1 Phil. Ev. 502. 2 Phil. Ev. note 935.

It appears from the case, that Mr. Pierce, one of the subscribing witnesses, had deceased. The court properly admitted proof of his hand writing, therefore, to show his signature as such witness. The competency of such testimony is not affected by a defective attestation clause; for, if that clause had been entirely omitted, that testimony would have been admissible. 2 Sto. 1109 . 1 Phil. Ev. 501. The testimony had a legal tendency to prove the due execution of the mil by himself, as a subscribing witness, and could properly be taken into consideration by the jury in proof of all those facts which he was required to attest. The testimony of Mr. Thayer, another of the subscribing witnesses was received, not only to his own attestation, of the will, but to its attestation, also by the other subscribing witnesses. It is true, this witness was unable to state whether he saw the testator sign the will, or with certainty the place where he attested it; and difficulties of this character existed hi relation to the testimony of Mr. Smith, the last subscribing witness.

It appears also, that several witnesses were examined for the purpose of affecting the credibility of the testimony of Mr. Smith. Now, in relation to all this testimony, it is to be observed, that it is not for this court to say whether the testimony was sufficient to prove the facts put in issue in relation to the execution and attestation of this will. That is a matter for the determination of the jury, and their decision is conclusive in the case. If the testimony was competent and had a legal tendency to prove those facts, the case was properly submitted to their consideration. In the case of Dewey v. Dewey, 1 Met. 349 , a will was probated on testimony, in all important particulars, similar to this. Upon the testimony, in this case, we think the court properly charged the jury, that, if from the evidence detailed, they found, from a fair balance of the proof, that the will was executed by the testator in the presence of the witnesses and of each other, that their verdict should be in favor of its due execution. We perceive no error in that *751 ruling of the court, and are satisfied that the verdict was rendered on competent and sufficient testimony.

It is also insisted that no testimony appears in the case showing that the will was ever published by the testator, or that he was of a sound and disposing mind at the time of its execution. That the testator was of a sound and disposing mind is a legal presumption. It is for those who object to the will to show such an incapacity, if it exists. In relation to the publication of the will it is to be observed, that attesting the will by the witnesses, is -an attestation of its publication. A formal publication is not necessary. Writing and signing the will is a sufficient publication: indeed any act of the testator, by which he designates that he means to give effect to the paper, as his will, is a publication of the will itself. This rule was given by Cu. J. Gibbs in Modie v. Reid, 7 Taunt. 361. Swift v. Boordman, 1 Mass. 257 . 3 Phil. Ev. 1353, Independent of this, it does not appear from the case that either of those matters were agitated or disputed on the trial of the case in the county court. It is not necessary that the entire case should be stated in the exceptions. It is sufficient that so much of it is stated as shows the matter in dispute, and the decision of the court upon it. If no error appears in that, the intendment will be in favor of the judgment.

The judgment of the county court must be affirmed.