In re Rand's Will

Bertha Lamka, otherwise known as Bertha Band, died at a hospital March 2, 1899, leaving a will dated and executed February 20, 1899, in which she describes herself as Bertha Band, wife of William Frank Band, and by which she makes certain small legacies and bequests, including $100 to her sister, the contestant, “because she has been unfriendly to me, and not treated me as a sister should,” and $50 and $100, respectively, to certain children of her said sister, and then gives all her household goods, jewelry, and other personal effects, as well as all the residue of her estate, real and personal, “to my husband, William Frank Band.” Said Band was designated as sole executor, and the will further provided that, if either .the sister of the testatrix or any of her children should contest the provisions of the will, the legacies in their favor should be null and void, and the amount thereof go to the residuary legatee and devisee. It appears clear from the evidence that the testatrix was not the wife of.said Band, who had, and still has, another wife living, but that for 16 or 17 years, and until the time of her death, the testatrix and himself had lived together, and that she had assumed his name. It also appears that the testatrix knew he was a married man. The will is contested by the sister of the testatrix named as a legatee under- her will, upon all the usual grounds, laying special stress upon charges of duress and undue influence on the part of said Band. To briefly summarize the evidence, it is clear that during the last year of her life, at least, the testatrix kept a house of doubtful repute, and that said Band lived with her, and assisted in its management. It appears that she was a woman of strong will, coarse manners, quick temper, and extreme jealousy as far as Band was concerned. It also appears that Band sometimes gave apparent cause for such jealousy, and quite frequently indulged to excess in drink, and on such occasions was often brutal and abusive to the testatrix, who resented the same in a positive and emphatic manner; on one occasion, at least, having him arrested on that account. But in the end the two always made up, and continued living together until the time of her death. It is the old familiar story, especially among persons living together in this unconventional and meretricious relationship,—dissipation, frequent quarrels, ever ending in renewals of those relations which long association has engendered and made it almost impossible to break. When she came to make her will, in spite of all

Decreed accordingly.