In re the Revocation of Probate of the Will of Voorhis

The will, which is in controversy in this appeal, was executed on the 20th of December, 1879, and the testatrix died on the 30th of January, 1882. At the time

To sustain the' application evidence was given of statements made at different times by the testatrix, that she did not intend or design to leave any part of her property to societies, but that it should be disposed of among or for the benefit of her relatives. And from this evidence it is entirely reasonable to conclude that at the times when these statements were made she did entertain that design. But she was further shown to have been capricious and changeable in her disposition, and had obtained wills drawn under her direction which never were executed by her. She was sensitive and excitable, and easily took offense at trivial acts of her relatives, which she regarded or considered to be slights upon herself. She was an illiterate person, and further evidence in support of the application to revoke the probate of the will was given" to the effect that she was not able to read or write. But neither this evidence, nor her capricious disposition, nor her advanced age, precluded her from making

The instrument in controversy was prepared as the will of the testatrix by Hamilton Wallis, who was sworn and examined as a witness in its support. He testified that he received instructions from the testatrix, either at his office or at her house, and that he took down those instructions as they were given to him by her; that he then prepared a draft of the will, which he afterwards read to her at her residence several days before the execution of the instrument in controversy ; that alterations were made in the draft during the time it was read to the testatrix, and that the instrument admitted to probate was an exact copy of the draft, with the alterations suggested by her.

This evidence sustained the conclusion that the instrument. - was drawn in pursuance of the authority and instructions of the testatrix, and that it conformed to those instructions and was understood by her in the dispositions it directed should be made of her estate. Before the time of its execution she requested the two persons who subscribed as witnesses to the-will to repair to her house at a time designated for that object, to witness her will. They met at her residence at that time, and both testify that the instrument which was produced was signed by the testatrix, and by themselves as witnesses. The evidence of Mr. Noe, one of the subscribing witnesses, is that Mr. Wallis asked Mrs. Voorhis if she wished these gentlemen to witness her will, and she said yes, and then “ she signed the will herself in my presence. I saw her sign.” Mr. Wallis’ evidence as to the same fact, as it is contained in the printed case, is incomplete, but it is probable that it was intended to authenticate the fact as it was stated by Mr. Noe. His testimony was that Mrs. Voorhis signed her name to it, and the two gentlemen, after I had asked her if she had signed and sealed this paper and published and

From this evidence it is entirely natural to conclude that she understood the contents of the instrument and designed it to be her will. And also in substance and effect, either by her own direct request, or that of the attorney in her presence, and acting in her aid and assistance, requested fhese two persons to subscribe it as her will, and as subscribing witnesses. And that conformed to what was essential for this purpose as the statute had prescribed and directed it. Gilbert v. Knox, 52 N. Y. 125 .

After the instrument had in this manner been executed, the witness, Nancy R. Howard, testifies that she had a conversation with Mrs. Voorhis, who told her that she had willed most of her property to charitable institutions, and said that her nieces would not get as much as they expected. This was still further evidence in proof of the fact that Mrs. Voorhis understood the substantial contents of the instrument, and that it had been drawn and executed in such a manner as to carry her intention and design into effect. And it was not overcome by the testimony given on behalf of the contestant, and was not substantially inconsistent with that evidence.

For while it is entirely prohable that her disposition generally was to distribute her property among her relatives, yet at the time when this instrument was signed by her, and "these witnesses, she entertained a different purpose. And that was to dispose of the bulk of her estate for the benefit •of these two societies.

She may not have been aware of the extent of her property, although she probably was, as her money must have been put into the tin box, where it was found, by herself. But at "this time she evidently intended to bestow it, whatever it was, upon these societies, after satisfying the legacies previously mentioned' by her. That she complained of. the insufficiency of her income when she had a large sum of money in her immediate possession will not invalidate her act. She was, without doubt, a penurious person, not only frugal, but actually denied herself of luxuries which she had the ability to obtain and enjoy. But these were not controlling circumstances in the case, as long as it appeared satisfactorily from the other evidence that she had directed the instrument to he drawn as it was, and executed it, intending to make the disposition which it directed of the residue of her •estate.

After this instrument was in this manner subscribed, and -shortly before the time of her own decease, she became dissatisfied with it and intended to execute another distributing her property among her relatives. This appears from the evidence of the appellant, as well as of that of Mr. Ridley, who drew another instrument to be executed by the decedent. That was still more complicated in its details than the instrument here in- controversy. But the evidence warrants the belief that it conformed to her intentions and was understood by her. 'But before the time assigned for its execution ■she became unconscious and remained so to the period of her decease. And on that account this instrument was not -executed and did not go into effect as a will. What is proved to have transpired, although indicating a final inten

Various exceptions were taken on the part of the contestant to rulings made by the surrogate excluding eAÚdence which Avas offered in'the course of the hearing. But all the evidence which Avas strictly pertinent and relevant to the-case seems to have, been received.

If that Avhich was rejected had been also added on the hearing, no different result would have been reached in the case. As full and complete a statement of the inclinations, ability, disposition and acquirements of the testatrix was received as could be of any service to the contestant. And upon the consideration of all the evidence the surrogate was clearly warranted in reaching the conclusion which he did, that the controverted instrument was, in fact, as well as in law, the last will and testament of the decedent. There is no ground presented upon which this decision can be interfered with, but the decree should be affirmed, without including costs against the appellant, inasmuch as the final intention of the testatrix was to have made a different disposition of her property.

Barrett, J., concurs.

I do not think the 'court has any right to consider the evidence of Mr. Wallis as to instructions received by him, etc., as these were communications to which he had no right to testify. Without his evidence there was ample proof to. sustain the conclusions arrived at by Mr. Justice Daniels.

Concur in the result.

Note on “Revocation of Will.”

A will cannot be revoked by parol, much less by subsequent declarations that its provisions were not understood by the testator. Matter of Hammond, 16 N. Y. St. Rep. 977 . If such instrument does not express the testator’s wishes, it should be revoked either by its destruction or mutilation, ■or by the execution of a subsequent will or codicil. Id.

A will cannot be revoked by an instrument executed as a testamentary paper in the presence of only one subscribing witness. Barry v. Brown, 2 Dem. 309 .

The presumption of law is that a will, shown to have been in the custody of the deceased and not subsequently found among his papers, has been revoked by him. Collyer v. Collyer, 25 W. Dig. 82. This presumption is not rebutted by showing that the relatives of the decedent, whose interests are hostile to the alleged will, had an opportunity to effect its destruction. Id.

Where a will, which was last seen in the possession of the testator, cannot be found after his death, the legal presumption is that he destroyed it for the purpose of revocation. Matter of Nichols, 40 Hun, 387 .

An endorsement of revocation duly executed and published, and written upon two of three triplicate copies of the will, is a sufficient revocation. Biggs v. Angus, 3 Dem. 93 .

Where one copy of a will, executed in duplicate, has been destroyed by the testator animo revocandi, though there is no proof that the other is not still intact, but it has not been seen at any time after its execution in the testator’s possession, it will be presumed, in the absence of evidence to the Contrary, that the destruction of the one paper, which was within his-reach, was intended to nullify the other. Asinari v. Bangs, 3 Dem. 385 .

The presumption as to the revocation of a will by reason of the erasure of the signature-was considered in Matter of Wood, 32 N. Y. St. Rep. 286 .

A new will revokes the whole of the prior -will. Clark v. Kingsley, 37 Hun, 246 . An advancement which might have satisfied a provision in the former will, does not satisfy a similar provision in a new will made subsequent to the advancement, though it might be otherwise of a codicil. Id. A codicil republishing a will does not revive a legacy already paid. Id.

An express revocation will prevail, even though the object of the new will fails as against public policy. Matter of Benedict, 32 N. Y. St. Rep. 139 .

The codicil will not operate as a revocation of the previous testamentary provisions beyond the clear import of its language. Redfield v. Redfield, 126 N. Y. 466 .

The codicil, in this case, was held not to revoke an annuity given by the will, or affect its charge upon real estate. Id.

Discordant dispositions in a codicil so far operate to revoke the will. Newcomb v. Webster, 113 N. Y. 191 .

Where there are two distinct testamentary instruments and inconsistent devises or bequests, the latter is a complete revocation of the former. Newcomb v. Webster, 113 N. Y. 191 .

Disposition by a codicil, if complete, prevails over any different disposition contemplated by the will. Viele v. Keeler, 59 Hun, 617 .

A provision in the codicil was construed, in this case, to revoke the residuary clause in the will. Matter of Willetts, 112 N. Y. 289 .

A subsequent conveyance of the property, which is the subject of the will, and to which the latter will does not refer, revokes the provision of the earlier will. Estate of Baby, 20 N. Y. St. Rep. 869 .

Where the provisions in a former and a later will are wholly inconsistent, the latter completely revokes the prior provision. Id.

The will of a widow is revoked by her subsequent marriage. Matter of Kaufman, 61 Hun, 331 ; 131 N. Y. 620 .

As to when the marriage will not be presumed to have taken place prior to making the will and codicil. Matter of Gall, 31 N. Y. St. Rep. 954 ; 57 Hun, 591 .