In re the Estate of Manaole

Opinion oe the Court, by Frear, J. This matter was heard in chambers by a Circuit Judge who admitted the will to probate. On appeal to the Circuit Court by the contestant Elizabeth Harvey, and motion there for trial by jury, such trial was had resulting in a verdict for the contestant. The case now comes here on several exceptions, the only one of which necessary to be considered is that to the overruling of proponent’s motion to dismiss the appeal on the ground that the contestant had not shown herself to be an heir of the decedent. The proponent is Malaea Kealia Manaole, widow of the decedent. It is unquestioned law that “the person desiring to appeal against the decision of the probate court, admitting the will to probate, must claim and prove prima facie at least, that he is an heir-at-law of the decedent, and would inherit the property involved, or some interest in it, if the will should finally be refused probate.” Estate of Bernice P. Bishop, 5 Haw., 288; Estate of C. Brenig, 7 Haw., 640. This is a condition pre-requisite to the trial by jury. The only question here is, whether prima facie proof of heirship was in fact made. Neither the motion for trial by jury nor the affidavit [521] accompanying it refers to the matter of heirship. The motion, however, was based on the “records and files herein”, as well as upon the affidavit. The only papers among the files which relate to the question of heirship are (1), the sworn petition of the proponent containing an allegation that the contestant is a niece of the decedent, and that one Kale Elia Willie Manaole, is his adopted son; (2), certain articles of adoption duly legalized by a Justice of the Supreme Court, bearing the seal of said Court, and duly recorded in the Eegistry of Conveyances, whereby the decedent adopted one Keolanui (the same person as Kale Elia above mentioned) as his son and heir; and (3), an unsworn protest against the probate of the will wherein the contestant states in general terms that she is “ an heir at law and next of kin ” to the de.cedent. Admitting for the purposes of this case that the person desiring to appeal need not show her heirship herself as by affidavit, but that she may rely upon the records and files in the case, it cannot be seriously contended that her heirship in this case is thus shown even prima facie. That there is a son who would inherit to her exclusion is shown by the undisputed articles of adoption and by the petition for the probate of the will. Against these there is only an unsworn protest referring to heirship in general terms without stating what the relationship is. There was no denial of the allegation in the petition, or question raised as to the validity or effect of the articles of adoption. It may be added that the undisputed evidence adduced at the trial showed that Keolanui was a son and heir of the decedent by adoption and that the contestant was a daughter of decedent’s cousin. The court therefore erred in refusing to give the seventh instruction requested by the proponent as follows : “You must find for the proponent of the will, as the contestant has no right to contest the probate of the will, it having been shown to you that Keolanui is by adoption the legal heir of O. Manaole in case the will was not sustained.” The exception to the overruling of the motion to dismiss [522] the appeal is sustained, the verdict set aside, and case remanded to the Circuit Court for dismissal of the appeal. J. A. Mngoon, for proponent. O. W. Ashford, for contestant.