Finglas v. Sullivan
Finglas v. Sullivan
Opinion of the Court
This is a petition for the probate of the alleged will of James E. Touhey, late of Fall River, filed by the person named as executor therein. The judge of probate allowed the will aod made findings of material facts. The evidence is reported at length.
The judge found that the will was properly executed; that the deceased had testamentary capacity, and “understood what his property consisted of, and those relations who naturally had some claim on his remembrance”; that his mind was free from delusion; that he comprehended the nature and effect of his will; that he had the capacity to make it and did make it; and that “this is his properly executed will.”
There was ample evidence of due execution, and no serious question seems to be raised on this point.
The evidence discloses several circumstances which normally would create doubt as to the testamentary capacity of the deceased and as to whether undue influence had been exerted upon him. The will was executed in a hospital to which the deceased had been taken the day before because of a severe coronary occlusion. He died on the third day after the will was executed and was undoubtedly seriously and dangerously ill at the time of the execution. Fingías, who was named as executor and residuary legatee, was in the room while a crude memorandum was prepared for the attorney who drew the will, who had been requested to step out while this memorandum was being jotted down. Fingías even took some part in writing it and was present while the will was executed. It would have been better if these things had not occurred. On the other hand, the testimony of the witnesses to the will was clear and positive as to the mental condition of the deceased at the time of execution. There was evidence that he engaged in some good natured banter with one of the witnesses to the will. Neither of the physicians who attended the deceased would go so far as to testify in substance that the deceased lacked mental capacity. His disease was not one which would necessarily affect his understanding. During the evening after the execution he made inquiries as to the progress of a prize fight in which he was interested. The instrument offered for probate was not an inherently unreasonable disposition of his property. It was natural that he should remember the sister with whom he was living, and her children,
We have not attempted anything like a complete summary of the evidence. We have considered all of it. We cannot say that the judge was plainly wrong in any of his conclusions or that there was error in allowing the will.
The contents of the copy of an income tax return signed by the deceased at the time when he signed the will were without significance, and the admission of the copy was inconsequential.
Decree affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- John C. Finglas v. Elizabeth F. Sullivan
- Status
- Published