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21 N.Y.S. 350

In re Gagan's Will

New York Supreme Court

Decided December 12, 1892

New York Supreme Court · decided 1892-12-12

Proceeding for probate of the will of Henry Gagan, deceased. From the decree of the surrogate admitting the will, Henry Gagan, Jr., ana other heirs appeal. Affirmed. The will is dated January 25. 1892. One of the witnesses to its execution, Howard Thornton, is an attorney at law, and he prepared the will. He is also named as one of the executors. The testator died February 21, 1892, and proceedings for the probate of the will were commenced April 14, 1892.

Relies on In Re Proving the Will of Coleman · Children's Aid Society v. . Loveridge · Rosseau v. . Bleau

Decided 1892-12-12

BARNARD, P. J.

¶1The testator made his will in January, 1892. Howard Thornton, an attorney in the supreme court, drew the will, supervised its execution, and was a witness to it, as well as one of the executors to it. Objection was made that he was not a qualified witness. Section 835 of the Code originally provided that an attorney should not .disclose a communication made to him in the course of his employment. This section was subsequently amended by a new section, (836,) which permitted a waiver of the disclosure. The court of appeals has held, in respect to proof by an attorney of a deliver)' of a deed by instruction of a client, that he was a competent witness; that the communication was made to be communicated. Rosseau v. Bleau, 131 N. Y. 177, 30 N. E. Rep. 52. In Re Will of Coleman, 111 N. Y. 220, 19 N. E. Rep. 71, the'court of appeals applied the same rule to attorneys who, at the request of a client testator, became witnesses to the will. One named as an executor in a will may testify to its execution if witnessed by him. Society v. Loveridge, 70 N. Y. 387.

¶2The decree should be affirmed, with,costs. All concur.

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