Keebler v. Shute
Keebler v. Shute
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The will of Jacob Keebler was executed by him on June -24, 1891. He died in 1894, and his will was presented for probate. The testimony of the subscribing witnesses was of such a character that the register hesitated about granting letters testa
There are two questions of practice however about which a few words seem to be needed, and this is a proper place in which to say them. First, the fourth issue certified into the common pleas in this case is wholly superfluous. The second covered the whole ground. If testamentary capacity is found to exist it is all the law requires. A repetition of the question in different phraseology is not only unnecessary, but is calcu
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Elizabeth Keebler, Widow, Jeanette Keebler, Walter J. Keebler, J. Albert Keebler, Charles Keebler and Kirk Q. Bigham, Guardian ad litem of Della May Keebler v. Martha Louisa Shute
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Wills — Devisavit vel non — Practice. On an issue devisavit vel non where several questions are propounded by the orphans’ court, the jury should answer each question separately. Wills — Issuer—Devisavit vel non — Testamentary capacity — Province of court and jury. In a proceeding devisavit vel non where one of the issues is “ whether at the time of signing said paper writing the decedent had testamentary capacity,” it is improper to add the issue “ whether the decedent had a full and intelligent understanding of the nature of said paper writing and of the dispositions it contained.” The repetition of the question as to testamentai-y capacity in different phraseology is not only unnecessary, but is calculated to cause confusion and to embarrass the trial judge in his effort to present the subject clearly and concisely to the jury. On an issue to determine whether an alleged testator has testamentary capacity, a verdict and judgment'in favor of the contestant will be sustained whore the evidence for the contestant, although contradicted, tended to show lack of testamentary capacity, and the trial judge laid down the proper legal rules by which the jury were to be governed in reaching their verdict.