Woodcock v. McDonald

STONE, J. The will in this case was attested by three subscribing witnesses; and tbe question is here made, that tbe attestation is insufficient under tbe act of 1806. Clay’s Digest, 596, § 1. One of tbe witnesses testifies, that be saw tbe testator subscribe the paper in controversy as bis last will and testament; and that he, the witness, then and there, at the request, and in tbe presence of tbe testator, subscribed tbe same as a witness. This witness further testifies, that be wrote tbe said will as the same was dictated to him by Mr. Mims; that be road it over, and Mr. Mims approved it; and that tbe paper was complete in all its devises and bequests when Mr. Mims signed it. A second witness testifies, that, a day or two after this, Mr. Mims produced tbe will, informed tbe witness what it was, acknowledged bis signature to it, and requested witness to sign it as a witness; and that bo thereupon did so, in the presence*of tbe testator. Tbe third witness signed tbe paper as a subscribing witness, in the presence, and at tbe request of Mr. Mims; tbe latter acknowledging bis signature to tbe paper, but not informing witness that it was his will. This signature was attached some four months after Mr. Mims and the first two witnesses bad subscribed their names. The discrepancies in tbe testimony of the subscribing [414] witnesses, are not greater than might often arise between witnesses of the greatest integrity, who relate the minute circumstances of a transaction, more than five years after their occurrence. If the manner of the attestation in this case is a compliance with the statute requiring three subscribing witnesses to a will, to render it effectual to pass the title to real estate, we do not think the proof in this record authorized any other decree than the one rendered by the chancellor. "We will not collate the testimony, as we understand the appellants to rely, mainly, for a reversal, on the legal question above presented. The statute which determines the validity of this will declares, that persons owning real estate may devise and dispose of the same “by last will and testament; provided, that such last will and testament be signed by the testator or testatrix, or by some person in his or her presence, and by his or her direction, and attested by three or more respectable witnesses, subscribing their names thereto in the presence of such devisor.” — Clay’s Digest, 596, § 1. The language of this statute does not require, in express terms, that the witnesses shall be present wdien the testator signs, or that they shall subscribe their names in the presence of each other. It is argued, however, that inasmuch as the statute requires three witnesses to make a will effectual to pass real estate, each witness ought himself to be able to prove every fact essential to a valid will; that these witnesses are placed by the law around the testator to guard his estate against imposition and fraud. The 5th section of the English statute of frauds, 29th Car. II, is, in substance, identical with our statute of 1806, so far as this question is concerned. Under that statute, some doubts were at one time entertained, whether all the witnesses should not be present, and actually see the testator sign his will. That doubt soon gave way, and by a chain of adjudication, from Smith v. Codron, 2 Vesey, sr. 455, down to a recent period, the doctrine is there firmly established, that the act of signing need not be in the presence of all, or even any of the subscribing witnesses. The same rule prevails, in most of the, States of [415] this confederacy. In some, the actual presence of the witnesses at the signing is required by express statute. "When this is the case, it follows, necessarily, that the courts cannot dispense with this statutory regulation. A citation of the numerous authorities on these points would swell this opinion unnecessarily. In addition to the citations on appellee’s brief, the reader is referred to the second American edition (by Perkins) of Jarman on Wills, vol. 1, top pages 115-8, and notes. This direct question was considered and determined in accordance Avith this view, in Hoffman v. Hoffman, 26 Ala. 535. We think the manner of the attestation in this case, Avas a substantial compliance with the statute. There is another question presented by this record, not necessary to be now determined, but on which we feel it our duty to indicate Avhat would be the correct practice. Mr. and Mrs. Woodcock received the legacy given them by the Avill of Mr. Mims. Near five years afterwards they filed this hill, to annul the will, and vacate the probate thereof, on the ground that it was not the will of the supposed testator. Neither before nor since the filing of their bill, did they offer to return to the executor, or to the probate court, the legacy thus received and held by them. We do not now determine whether this omission is fatal to the equity of the hill; or whether the chancellor, following what seems to he the practice in the ecclesiastical court of England, should not, after the bill was filed, and the answer had disclosed the fact that complainants were in possession of their legacy, have made an order that, before proceeding in their said suit, they should restore the legacy to the executor. We think the safer practice, in all similar cases, would be, for a legatee, Avho seeks to set aside a will under which he has taken, to restore the legacy to the executor, or offer to do so, before he institutes his proceedings. — See Bell v. Armstrong, 1 Add. Ecc. 353; Braham v. Burchell, 3 Add. 243; Hamblett v. Hamblett, 6 N. H. 333 ; 1 Jarman on Wills, 214; Thellusson v. Woodford, 13 Vesey, 209; Tibbetts v. Tibbetts, 19 Vesey, 656; Brown v. Ricketts, 3 Johns. Ch. 553; Glen v. Fisher, 6 Johns. Ch. 33; Hyde [416] v. Baldwin, 17 Pick. 303; McElfresh v. Schley & Barr, 2 Gill, 182, 201-2; Field v. Eaton, 1 Dev. Eq. 283; Birmingham v. Kirwan, 2 Sch. & Lef. 449. These results render unnecessary the consideration of any other question in the record. The decree of the chancellor is affirmed.