Succession of Clark

Merrick, C. J.* In this case we adopt the carefully prepared statement of facts of the Judge of the lower court. It is in these words, viz: “ The petitioner alleges that on the 16th day of August, 1813, the late Daniel — 125 — Olarh, her father, departed this life, having previously, viz: on the 13th day of July, 1813, executed an olographic last will and testament, by which he recognized her as his legitimate and only daughter, and constituted her his universal legatee, said bequest being subject however to the payment of certain specified legacies, and that he appointed Francois Dusuan Ae la Groix, Jemes Pitot and Joseph Bellechasse the executors of said will; that said will was wholly written, dated and signed in the handwriting of the testator, and at his death left among his papers at his residence; that after his death diligent search was made for the said will, but that the same could not be found, nor has it been since, and that it was either mislaid, lost or destroyed. It is unnecessary to recapitulate more in detail the alleged contents of the will, or to advert to the history of events, as- set forth in the petition, under which the court is called upon to recognize this lost document as a valid testament after an interval of more than forty years since the death of the alleged testator. The litigation, of which the present proceeding appears to be an up-springing shoot, is incorporated in the jurisprudence of the country, and a reference to it will not materially assist in the solution of the question submitted for adjudication.- The petitioner asks that the will, such as she describes it, be admitted to probate, registered, and ordered to be executed. “ To entitle the petitioner to a judgment, recognizing the existence and validity of the will, it is necessary that she should establish affirmatively,- and by such testimony as the law deems requisite: “1st. That Daniel Gla/rk did execute a last will containing the'testamentary dispositions set forth in her petition. ' “That Gl$rk died without having destroyed or revoked it. “ In looking for the testimony which might solve the question whether such a will had ever been executed or not, a reasonable inquirer would naturally turn for information to those who were most with the deceased in the latter part of his life, and especially (if they could be found) to.those who Were with him in the last- moments of his existence, when the hand of death was on him. Such witnesses, if they had no interest in diverting his property into any particular channels, might be considered as the best and most reliable that could be produced, and it appears to be precisely testimony of this character that the petitioner presents in support of her application. “ It appears that Boisfontaine had business relations with the deceased, which brought hitn info frequent intercourse with him, and that for the last two days of his life, and up to the moment of his death, he was with him; that De la Groix and Bellechasse were intimate personal friends, and that they were with him shortly before his death. Now these witnesses all concur in stating that Olarh said he had executed a will posterior to that of 1811. They also testify that wdthin a few months prior to his death he was making arrangements for the disposal of his property by a last will. He called on De la Groix to get his consent to act as executor, and also as tutor to his daughter Myra, expressing his intention of making generous provision for her in his will. De la Groix further states that Olarh afterwards presented to him in his <Clarh’s) ‘cabinet’ a sealed packet, which he declared to be his last will, informing him at the same time that in case of his death it would be found ‘ in a small black trunk which he had there.’ “Boisfontaine, who was with Glark whan he died, says that Clark in his last illness spoke of executing his last will, said it was to be found in a room down — 126 — stairs, in a small black trunk; that he had left the greater portion of his property to his child Myra; that Belleehasse, De la drove and Pitot ivere to be his executors; and that about two hours before he died he instructed his confidential servant Lubin, that in case of his death, the small black trunk above referred to was to be delivered to JDe la Grove, and enjoined upon him, as sooil as he (Glarlc) was dead, to be sure and take it to him. He states that Glarh expressed his satisfaction that he had provided for his daughter Myra, leaving her all his estate, and that Be la Groin! had consented to act as her tutor. He also states that he was present about fifteen days before Glark’s death, when Glarh took frorfl the small black case a sealed package, and presented it to Bé la Groix, stating that it was his last will, recapitulating some of its provisions, and reminding him of his promise to act as tutor to his daughter. He further States that several persons, shortly before Glaih's death, had seen the will, and corroborated Glarh? s statement as to its contents,- and that Judge Pitot, Lynd, the notary, the wife of William Harper and Belleehasse were among the persons referred to.- Now,” the Judge á, quo proceeds, “I think there call be no doubt, setting aside the testimony of Belleehasse and Mrs. Willimn Harper, that Glarh did execute a will shortly before his death; that the principal object of making this will was to recognize as his daughter the present applicant, and to make suitable provision for her; that the' executors of this will Were Pitot, Belleehasse and Be la Groix, and that Be la Groix was appointed tutor of his daughter Myra; that this will must have b'een in existence until within a very short time previous to Ctarlds death, if not after that event,- and that Glarh himself died believing it was in existence. “That such was the opinion of De la Groix himsSlf at the time is evident from the fact that twenty-four hours had scarcely elapsed after the probate of the will of 1811 before he made oath that he verily believed that Baniel Glarh had made a ‘testament posterior to that of 1811, that its existence was known to several persons,’ and he accordingly applied for and obtained an order of the court commanding every notary in the city to declare whether such document had been deposited with him. “ If the foregoing facts maybe considered as proved, independent of the testimony of Belleehasse and Mrs. William Harper, the additional testimony of these last named witnesses, with reference to the form of the execution of the will and its contents will rest upon a basis of probability, which must strengthen if it does not anticipate its conviction of its truth, for it is to be remembered that Gla/rh knew how to draw an olographic will in due form, having already done So in the execution of the previous will, and knowing what was necessary to its validity, it would be improbable in the extreme that he would omit any of the few necessary formalities. “ When Belleehasse and Mrs. Harper, therefore, testify directly to the execution of the will, as having been written, dated and signed in the proper handwriting of the testator, they testify to the existence of facts which are, at least, probable, and upon the assumption that the will was executed, are matters approaching to certainty, independent of their testimony ; so with regard to the appointment of executors, of the tutor, and of the general dispositions of the will as described in the petition. “They state Glarh did what he told others he intended to do, and what from the whole tenor of his conduct it was Very probable he would do. — 127 — “It does not appear, however, that all the contents of the will, as sworn to by jlfrs. William Harper, are also sworn to by Belleahasse, and though the testimony of the latter does not contradict that of the former, but confirms it, yet his testimony does not relate to any portions of the will, except such as relate to its form, the institution of his daughter as universal legatee, and the appointment of Be la Croix, Pitot and Belleehasse as executors: Indeed the examination of witnesses does not appear to have been conducted with any reference to a detailed description of the will. “They, however, both state distinctly that they read the will; that it was wholly written, dated and signed by Ciarlo; that he thereby instituted Myra Ciarlo, his daughter, his universal legatee, and appointed De la Croix, Pitot and Belleehasse his executors. From an examination of the whole testimony, and considering the conduct of the deceased, his repeated declarations up to the very day of his death, together with his anxiety to make ample provision for his daughter,” the Judge of the lower court adds, “ I feel satisfied that the legal'presumption (which in the case of a lost will would necessarily exist), that it was destroyed or revoked by the testator must be considered as satisfactorily rebutted.” In addition to the statement of facts and conclusions in regard to them of the Judge of the lower court, it may be remarked that De la Croix states that the endorsement upon the will which he saw sealed up were in these words: “Pour étre ouvert en cas de inort.” This indorsement does not appear upon the will of 1811, and the will which he saw was doubtless the will of 1813. In regard to the testimony of Col. Belleehasse and Mrs. William Harper, there is nothing in this record which impeaches their credibility. If it be objected that the amount of property left by Cla/i'lo may have induced them to swerve from the truth, the reply has equal force that there would be just as strong a reason for any other party in interest to, have prevented the execution of the will by its destruction. It may be remarked further, that the universal legacy being established beyond question, the particular legacies which tend to diminish the estate which will come into the hands of thjs universal legatee are sufficiently proved on general principles against such legatee by the testimony of a single witness-, because these legacies are alleged and set up in the petition of the party who is to be charged with them, and she cannot be permitted afterwards to deny what she has alleged in her pleadings. Agreeing fully, as we do, with the conclusions arrived at by the District Judge as to what has been proven, the only remaining question for us to solve is one of law, and it is: Has this will been proven in conformity to Article No. 159, p. 244, of the Old Code or of Article No. 1648 of the New Code, which require for the proof of the olographic will the testimony of two credible witnesses, who declare that they recognize the testament as being entirely written, dated and signed in the testator’s handwriting, as having often seen him write and sign during his lifetime? The witnesses have sworn that the will was entirely written, dated and signed by Daniel Clark, but they nowhere say that they have often seen him write.. They show an intimacy and relationship which leaves little room to doubt that they really were well acquainted with his handwriting, and had probably seen him write often, as required by the Code, but they have not expressly said so. The question can, therefore, be answered only by determining whether the — 128 — provisions of law contained in this Article of the Code are sacramental, and must bo pursued in all cases, or whether they are merely directory, and the courts have power, in certain cases where this proof is wanting by reason of accident, to avail themselves of the secondary proof, the next best of which the nature of the case will admit. It would seem that there was a distinction between rules of law which prescribe the form in which wills and testaments are to be made and those which direct the courts in what manner they shall be admitted to probate and ordered to be executed. The first, commencing at Article 1567 of the Civil Code, are positive enactments which are essential to the validity of the will. Their nonobservance renders the supposed will null and void by express provision of law. C. C., 1588. The rules, on the other hand, which are sketched by the Legislature for the opening and proof of testaments, commencing at Article No. 1639, do not pronounce the penaHy of nullity for their non-observance, and they nowhere say that other cases may not arise in which the strict letter of these rules may be inapplicable, and that the Judge may not, in extraordinary cases, receive other equally satisfactory proof that the requirements of the law have been fulfilled. In a nuncupative will by public act it is required that certain formalities should be observed before a notary public and three witnesses. Without these observances the will would not exist as such. The olographic will must be entirely written, dated and signed by the testator. Without the observance of these requirements there is no legal will. And so of the other forms. But whenever these forms have been observed, there is then a valid will entirely independent of its probate or any subsequent proceeding which may be commenced upon the same. But the law says that this valid will shall remain inoperative until it receives the order for its execution by the Judge of the probate court. But it has never been pretended that this validity of the will is in any manner effected by the character of the proof which the Judge of the lower court may deem sufficient on which to base 1ns order. If the will is really valid, the irregular proof on which he may base his decree cannot render it invalid. The will subsists, and though the judgment might be corrected on appeal, yet, if it were suffered to remain, the courts would never permit a party to lose his rights by a mere irregularity in the proof upon which the decree was founded. Falkner v. Friend, 1 Rob., 48. So in the case before us, the will of 1811 was admitted to probate by Judge Pitot, upon the single declaration of the witnesses “ that the same was in the proper handwriting of him, the said Daniel Clark." No one will pretend that this will was rendered invalid because those witnesses did not swear that they had often seen Daniel Clark write. Had the will afterwards been attacked on the ground that the will was not in the handwriting of Daniel Clark, it would doubtless have been sustained on satisfactory proof that it was entirely written, dated and signed in the handwriting of the testator. The distinction which we have drawn between the positive enactments of law in regard to the form for the execution of wills and the directory provisions in regard to the proof of the same, seems to have been fully recognized by' our predecessors. In the case of Bonthemy v. Dreux et als., 12 M. R., p. 639, the court maintained a nuncupative will by private act which had been admitted to probate on the testimony of a single witness, notwithstanding Article No. 189, p. 244 of the Old Code. This distinction was also taken in the case — 129 — of the Succession of Robert, Pilié, Executor, 2 Rob., 433 ; also, in effect, in the case of the Succession of Eubanks, 9 An., 147, where a witness was admitted to testify who did not possess the qualifications required by Article 1584 of the Civil Code. This distinction also pervades the jurisprudence of France on this subject. By Article No. 1007 of the Code Napoleon it is made the duty of the Judge to make a proces verbal of the presentation of the olographic will, the opening of it, the state in which he found it, and the order of deposit with the notary. These provisions appear to be directory only. Pailliet, Note 2 to Article 1007 C. N., says: “ La presentation du testament au president du tribunal, l’ouverture des testaments par ce magistrat, et le proces verbal qu’il doit dresser ainsi que de l’état du testament, sont sans contredit des precautions que la loi a cru nécessaires, pour qu’on pút étre assuré de plus en plus de la volonté des testa-tcurs; mais la loi n’a point attache á l’inobservation de eos formalités de peine de nullité, et on ne saurait la prononcer, surtout lorsque rien n’indique la fraude de la part de l’héritier institué ou du légataire.” See note and authorities there cited. Taking it, therefore, for granted that the distinction which we have indicated exists, the next question which presents itself is, do the circumstances of this case take it out of the rule prescribed by Artide No. 1648 of the Civil Code? We think the loss or destruction of the will, after the death of Clark, and the long period of time which has elapsed since his death, justify a resort to secondary evidence, which would not have been necessary if the will had not been lost or destroyed, and if so long a period had not elapsed before an attempt had been made to admit it to probate. We think this view of the law is fully sustained both by reason and authority. Article 1648 contemplates that the olographic will shall be presented before the Judge before whom it is to be proven; yet no one would seriously contend that the calamity which deprived the legatee of the will would prevent him from establishing its contents by secondary evidence. Were this the law, a reward would be offered to villainy, and it would always be in the power of the unscrupulous heir to prevent the execution of the will. The ease of Thomas et al. v. Thomas, 2 L. R. 166, was a controversy in regard to a lost will which, it had been alleged,.had already been admitted to probate. The objection to the proof was: “That parol proof of the execution of the will could not be given in that court; that a will, being an instrument clothed with certain formalities prescribed by law in order to give it effect, no evidence of its loss or its contents could be offered until its existence with the requisite formalities had been proved.” Judge Porter, as the organ of the court on this point, remarks with his usual felicity: •“The first objection is entitled to more consideration, but we still believe it unsound. The law of evidence would have a poor claim to the praise justly bestowed on it if it did not foresee and provide for such a case as this. That rule which is the most universal, namely: that the best evidence the nature of the case will admit shall be produced, decides the objection, for it is only another form of expression for the idea that when you lose the higher proof you may offer the next best in your power. The case admits of no better evidence than that which you possess, if the superior proof has been lost without your — 130 — fauxt. The rule does not mean that men’s rights are to be sacrificed and their property lost because they cannot guard against events beyond their control. It only means, that so long as the higher or superior evidence is within your possession, or may be rendered by you, you shall give no inferior proof in relation to it. Particular rules, which require written proof, always relax themselves to meet absolute necessity, or that necessity which is occasioned by occurrences common among men. “ There is nothing in a will being required to be made in a particular form, which makes it an exception to this great law of necessity. It may increase the difficulty of proof, but furnishes no reason to refuse hearing it. The court in this case had proof before them, which much diminished the danger of parol evidence.” In the case of the Succession of Maria J. Robert, Pilié, Executor, 2 Rob., 434, which was a contest growing out of an olographic will executed in France, and there deposited, the proof was by witnesses who were acquainted with the handwriting of the testatrix. It does not appear that they had often seen her write. The court, after holding this sufficient as being all which was required by the law of France, says : “It has been insisted, however, that Article 1648 and 1649 of our Code show that the original will ought to be produced in order to be identified with the testimony of the witnesses who have recognized it, and that in its absence the evidence would be incomplete. This position would perhaps be correct if the witnesses were in personal attendance before the court of probate. But these Articles are not negative laws; they do not say that no other kind of proof shall be admitted, and we doubt very much whether, under their application, if an olographic testament, executed here, had by some accident been destroyed before being legally proved, a true copy of it, identified with the original by the testimony of two credible witnesses who had seen both, and who would be able to swear to the genuineness of the original in the manner pointed out by law, should not be considered as sufficient compliance with the provisions of our Code. Surely we are not prepared to say that in such a case the legal rights acquired under the will would also be defeated, and that the party would be left without a remedy. This is indeed an analogous and even stronger case, and as in our opinion the law-makers cannot have intended to require an impossibility, we must conclude that, under such circumstances, the proof furnished by the appellants is a sufficient compliance with the requisites of the Codes, and that the inferior Judge did not err in ordering the execution of the will under consideration.” In view of these decisions of our own courts in regard to tho construction of Article No. 1648, it is not necessary to examine the decisions of the court on analogous articles of the Civil. Code and the Code of Practice in order to arrive at a conclusion on this. The doctrine of the common law is in consonance with this view taken by our own courts. The books are filled with adjudged cases in regard both to lost deeds and wills. We will content ourselves by citing one: the case of Dare v. Brown, 4 Cowen, 469. The suit was brought upon a lost will devising real estate. By the statute laws of New York, a will devising real estate was required to be proved by three credible witnesses. The Supreme Court of New York says, in regard to this lost will: — 131 — “ The will of Benijah Brown was proved by one of the subscribing witnesses. He stated it was executed in the presence of himself, James Walton, and another person whose name he did not recollect, but he had no doubt of his being a credible witness. This,” the court adds “ was all the evidence which could be expected under the circumstances of the case.” Considering that the administration of justice requires something more than the application of the letter of the law designed for one class of cases of ordinary occurrence to all others, however they may have been modified by accident, and believing that the spirit of our laws provides for the case which the applicant has presented us, we conclude that the will of 1813, such as she has set forth in her petition, should be admitted to probate. It has been objected (as we understand the argument) that this court has no jurisdiction of this case on appeal, under the Constitution, because there is no contestatio litis formed, and because there are no proper parties to the appeal. We dismiss this objection with the single observation, that it is not necessary under the Constitution that there should be a technical contestatio litis in order to give this court jurisdiction, and if the attorney of absent heirs was even necessary as a party, his presence here is sufficient to sustain this appeal. We are not insensible to the argument that this claim has remained for forty years, without being set up in a court of justice in a form to be prosecuted to effect, and that rights have been acquired under the sales made under the will of 1811. The staleness of petitioner’s suit is best answered by the reference to the-litigation in which petitioner’s alleged rights have been prosecuted in other forms, and we may suppose it did not become necessary to resort to the unusual proceeding of applying for the probate of a last will until after those cases were decided. The plaintiff presents to us a prima facie case which entitled her to relief. The decision which we make does not conclude any one who may desire to contest the will with her in a direct action, and to show that no such will was executed. On the other hand a refusal to probate the will places it beyond the power of the applicant to set up her rights under the will against any other person. It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed by the court, that the judgment of the lower court be avoided and reversed, and proceeding to render such judgment as should have been rendered in the lower court, it is ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the will of Daniel Clark, dated New Orleans, July 13th, 1813, as set forth in the plaintiff’s petition be recognized as his last will and testament, and the same is ordered to be recorded and executed as such, and it is further ordered, that Frangois Dusuan de la Croix be confirmed as testamentary executor of said last will and testament, and that letters testamentary issue to the said De. la Croix, and that the costs of this proceeding be borne by the succession. Footnotes [*] Buchanan, J., took no part in this decision.