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In re Sullestad's Will

95 N.Y.S. 1162 Court N.Y. App. Div. Decision date 1905-11-15 English

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p. 1162
In re SULLESTAD’S WILL.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department.
November 15, 1905.)

Headnote

In the matter of the last will and testament of Caroline Sullestad, deceased.

Decree of Surrogate’s Court reversed on the facts, with costs to appellant to abide event of the new trial herein; and the following questions of fact are ordered to be tried by a jury at a trial term of the Supreme Court to be held in and for the county of Monroe, in the month of January, 1906, viz.: First. Was the deceased, at the time said instrument purports to have been executed, to wit, the 2d day of June, 1903, possessed of sufficient testamentary capacity to make a valid last will and testament? Second. Was the execution of said instrument by said deceased procured by fraud or undue influence practiced upon said Caroline Sullestad?

McLennan, P. j., and NASH, j., vote for reversal upon the ground that the decision of the surrogate was against the weight of the evidence. HISCOCK, J., votes for reversal, on the authority of Matter of Burtis (Sup.) 94 N. Y. Supp. 961 . SPRING and WILLIAMS, JJ., vote for affirmance.