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6 Watts 522

Wigle v. Wigle

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Decided September 15, 1837

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania · decided 1837-09-15

This was a feigned issue to try the validity of a paper purporting to be the last will and testament of Daniel Wigle, deceased. The plaintiff, to sustain the issue on his part, gave the following testimony: Thomas Hanna, sworn, testified: It is my belief that the name is Daniel Wigle’s handwriting. I have seen him write often: he lived within eighty rods of my house for twelve years. I am acquainted with his handwriting: seen him write his name different -times.

Decided 1837-09-15

Per Curiam.

¶1When the cause was here before, (5 Watts 486,) the argument presented a question of proof, not of testamentary character; and no more was decided. Had the character of the paper been before us, we might very possibly have determined against its right to probate; for, viewed in connection with the parol proofs, it looks so very like a contract for maintenance put in writing, to preserve the evidence of it from the casualty of sudden death, that it is difficult to believe that it might not have afforded reciprocal remedies. But conceding it was originally intended for a will, nothing is clearer than that it was revoked by the resumed ownership of the securities deposited with the nephew, and by the recision of the whole arrangement; particularly when it is considered that the paper itself was prevented from being delivered up only by accident. It was, therefore, a clear case of revocation by an act declarative of the intent.

¶2Judgment affirmed.

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