Montague v. Schieffelin

Mr. Chief Justice Wolverton delivered the opinion. 1. The only question which need be considered in this case is whether Effingham L. Schieffelin acquired any right or title to the property in question by virtue of the papers left by the deceased, which it is alleged are his last will and codicil thereto. The question is made here upon the complaint that it does not state facts entitling the plaintiff to the relief demanded. • The plaintiff deraigns title for Effingham wholly through these supposed muniments. If they are insufficient or inadequate for the purposes of a devise or bequest transferring title from the deceased to Effingham, then it must be assumed that he has no interest therein, or it would have otherwise, been set out. The statute of this State provides the specific manner in which a will shall be executed; that is, it shall be in writing, signed by the testator, and attested by two or more competent witnesses. A codicil must be executed with the same formality: B. & C. Comp. §§ 5548, 5575. The only exception to this manner of disposing of property by will is in the case of a mariner or soldier in the military service: B. & C. Comp-. § 5558. The statute, further provides that any person not an inhabitant of but the owner of property, real or personal, in this State, may devise or bequeath such property by last will, executed, if real estate be devised, according to the laws of this State, or, if personal property be bequeathed, according to the laws of this State or of the state or territory where executed. If probated elsewhere, certified copies of the will and probate may be recorded in the same manner as wills executed and probated in this State, and are thereafter entitled to be admitted in evidence in the same manner and with like effect: B. & C. Comp. §§ 5561, 5562. By reference to .the documents in question it will be seen at a glance that the alleged will is not attested in the manner thus required. It was not, therefore, entitled to probate in this State, as it pertains to [417] the realty, and was wholly insufficient as a muniment to convey the title thereto to the alleged legatee. If, however, it was executed according to the laws of California, where the deceased resided at the time of his decease, it would be sufficient to carry title to the personal property; but about this it is unnecessary to inquire. 2. If we admit, as is alleged in the complaint, that the document was duly admitted to probate in Washington County, it of itself carried no title or interest to Effingham L. Sehieffelin. Everything not given to the wife was devised and bequeathed to Jay L. Sehieffelin, trustee, and the alleged will does not state who were intended to be the cestuis que trustent. Now, to complete the chain of title so as to constitute Effingham one of four of such cestuis que. trustent, the plaintiff relies wholly on the letter of April 10, 1897. This letter was not attested as a will or a codicil according to the laws of this State, and therefore it also is clearly not sufficient as a devise of the realty: In re Clayson’s Will, 24 Or. 542 (34 Pac. 358); Orth v. Orth, 145 Ind. 184 (42 N. E. 277, 44 N. E. 17, 32 L. R. A. 298, 57 Am. St. Rep. 185); Magoohan’s Appeal, 117 Pa. 238 (14 Atl. 816, 2 Am. St. Rep. 660). 3. As it concerns the personal property, the alleged codicil, as it appears from the complaint, has never been probated, either in California or here, and it cannot be utilized as evidentiary of Effingham’s right or title, if the paper were otherwise, competent to. declare and fix a trust: Jones v. Dove, 6 Or. 188; In re Johns’ Will, 30 Or. 494, 501 (47 Pac. 341, 50 Pac. 226, 36 L. R. A. 242). It follows that the decree of the circuit court dismissing the suit was properly rendered, and' will therefore be affirmed. Aeeiemed.