Daniels v. Drake
Daniels v. Drake
Opinion of the Court
Appellant filed objections to the probate of the will on the grounds that deceased, “was not of sound and disposing mind,” and that it was not executed, “In the manner or form required by law.” The appeal is, “from the judgment and order admitting to probate the will,” of deceased.
It is contended on appeal that,
“Point I—When the contestants have established a prima facie case of the decedent’s incompetency and the proponent of the will has in his possession the only direct evidence as to the testamentary capacity of the decedent at the very time the will was executed, and such evidence is suppressed, a presumption arises that the evidence if produced would have been adverse and would have shown a presumption that the decedent was incompetent at the time of the execution of the will.
“Point II—Where there is a prior testamentary document or declarations of the decedent showing a different disposition of his property than that made by the will, a presumption arises of undue influence unless there is an explanation of the change by the proponents.”
It is also contended that the court erred in the instructions and that the verdict is not supported by the evidence.
The case was tried before á jury and a review of the record shows, as is usual in such situations, that the evidence was conflicting. The record reveals, as argued by respondent, that, “The attorney who drew the will, as much as the other attesting witness, testified as to the conversations and circumstances surrounding the execution of the will, leaving it for the jury to determine whether or not the decedent was of sound mind at the time of the execution of the will.”
It appears somewhat, unusual that the witnesses for the proponent of the will were not cross-examined on the subject that appellant argues on appeal amounts to a suppression of evidence. As a matter of law no presumption, in the circumstances, results from such a situation.
With regard to the subject of undue influence appellant argues that, “where there are prior testamentary documents or declarations by which the decedent made a radically dif
A review of the instruction discloses no prejudicial errors and the evidence, as a matter of law, was sufficient.
Affirmed.
Drapeau, J., and Mosk, J., pro tern.,
Assigned by Chairman of Judicial Council.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.