Opinion
June 27, 1939.
Present — Lazansky, P.J., Hagarty, Carswell, Taylor and Close, JJ. [ 168 Misc. 549.]
Decree of the Surrogate's Court, Westchester county, admitting to probate in its original form a script propounded as the will of the decedent, unanimously affirmed, with costs to the respondent, payable out of the estate. Our views on the ultimate and substantial question here involved makes unnecessary the consideration of any other contention. No jury question existed in respect to the intent with which the markings on the script propounded were made. No such question could arise unless and until it appeared that the markings were of such a character that they so affected such a vital part of the will as presumptively to effect a revocation. Here the markings did not affect the will in its entirety or a vital part thereof, such as a signature, in either of which events a revocation prima facie of the entire will would have been effected. Assuming, therefore, that the markings placed on the script by the decedent were placed there with intent to effect a revocation, which is all that a jury could find at the behest of the contestants, the markings were ineffectual to effect a revocation, and the script was, under the otherwise conceded facts, properly admitted to probate. ( Quinn v. Quinn, 1 Thomp. C. 437, 440; Lovell v. Quitman, 88 N.Y. 377; Dec. Est. Law, § 34.)