Opinion
February 11, 1944.
Appeal from New York County Surrogate's Court, DELEHANTY, S.
Louis Susman of counsel ( Oliver E. Davis, attorney), for appellant.
Brodie G. Higley for respondent.
Probate of the purported will of Josephine Nole, deceased, has been denied on the ground that the proof was insufficient to show that decedent understood the contents of the document.
The evidence showed that the paper was prepared by a lawyer who had been consulted by decedent and to whom she had given instructions concerning her testamentary intentions. Decedent was of Italian birth, but had been forty years in this country. She owned real estate and had bank accounts. There was a dispute (which, in fact, was the main issue involved) as to the extent to which decedent understood the English language. At the time of execution the contents of the document, after being read by the lawyer in English, were interpreted by decedent's son. His selection to act as interpreter was apparently with the consent of deceased. No one could swear to the correctness of the translation, for the son had since died, and the lawyer and another who acted as subscribing witnesses did not understand the Italian language. If the interpreter was one selected by common consent of the parties, it might well be that under such circumstances his interpretation would prima facie be deemed correct. ( People v. Sing, 242 N.Y. 419; Commonwealth v. Vose, 157 Mass. 393.)
The testimony to support probate was taken by deposition which was read into the record. The daughter-in-law of decedent testified orally against probate. There was some contradiction on the subject of decedent's knowledge of English, but the proof was very scanty on this subject. There was no proof whatever as to the son's knowledge of Italian.
We deem that the interest of justice requires a new trial at which further proof may be introduced on the vital issues involved.
The decree should be reversed, and a new trial ordered, with costs to the appellant to abide the event.
TOWNLEY, GLENNON, COHN and CALLAHAN, JJ., concur; MARTIN, P.J., dissents and votes to affirm for the reasons stated in the opinion of the surrogate.
Decree reversed and a new trial ordered, with costs to the appellant to abide the event.