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3 Colo. 397

Greathouse v. Jameson

Supreme Court of Colorado

Decided October 15, 1877

Supreme Court of Colorado · decided 1877-10-15

Petition for mandamtos to County Court of Jefferson County. The petitioners, Greathouse et at., were legatees in the last will and testament of W arren N. Hoyt; the testator executed a codicil revoking the will. The petitioners were cited by Jameson, judge of the county court of Jefferson county, to appear and show cause why the codicil should not be admitted to probate. Upon their appearance, and a hearing being had, the court admitted the codicil to probate.

Decided 1877-10-15

Per Curiam.

¶1As authority is conferred upon this court by the Constitution of tlie State to issue writs of mandamus, and to hear and determine the same, it necessarily carries with it the power to adjudicate such questions as may be brought before it in any proceeding for a mandamus, without additional legislation.

¶2In our opinion, section 2 of an act “ concerning probate courts,” Session Laws, 1872, p. 105, gives the right of appeal from the probate (now county) court to the district court of Jefferson county. The special act applicable to Jefferson *398county alone (Session Laws, 1872, p. 107), does not assume to regulate the manner of taking appeals, or to determine the courts to which appeals shall lie from that court. It is only where a special and a general act are in conflict, that the special act governs. In the silence of the special act upon the subject of appeals, the general act authorizing appeals from the final judgment or decision of any probate court mast be held to control.

¶3The determination by the probate court of the issue involved in the matter of the probate of the codicil is within the meaning of section 2 of the general act; a judgment or decision from which an appeal will lie. The demurrer to the relator’s petition must be overruled.

¶4Demurrer overruled.

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