Beckett v. Zane

41 N.J. Eq. 412

• Court: New Jersey Court of Chancery
• Decided: May 15, 1886
• Status: Published

Opinion

The Chancellor.

This suit was brought by the executor of the will of Eachel "Ward, deceased, late of Salem county, against Lavinia Zane, the daughter of the testatrix, and Horatio G. Zane, her husband. The bill states that the will was, soon after the death of the testatrix, delivered to Mrs. Zane, at her request, by the executor,, who, in delivering it to her, acted in ignorance of his duty in the matter; that he afterwards repeatedly demanded it of the defendants, in order that he might present it for probate, but they refused to deliver it to him. It prays an answer on oath, an injunction to prevent the defendants from destroying, injuring or altering the instrument, and that they may be required to produce it. By their answer the defendants admit that they have possession of the will, deny that they have ever refused to produce it, and allege that on the contrary they have, since it came to -their hands, always been ready to deliver it to the complainant on request, but that he has never asked them to do so.

On a motion made to dissolve the injunction, they delivered up the will iu open court, and it has since been admitted to probate. The only question to be decided is as to their liability to pay the costs of the suit. • It appears from the testimony that the will was delivered up by the complainant to Mrs. Zane (who was very much dissatisfied with it) at her request, and that she so obtained it with a view of suppressing it if she could lawfully do so. She was the testatrix's only heir-at-law, and was her next of kin. She deposited it for safe keeping with Eev. Mr. Stultz, who kept it until October, 1884, when he returned it to her. On receiving it from him she gave it to her husband, who had control of it from that time until the bringing of this suit. It- does not appear where he kept it. Mrs. Zane swears that she herself did not know. From this testimony it would seem that it was secreted by him. The complainant made three several demands for it at different periods, but without success. One of them was, he says, in October, 1884. He swears that on that occasion both Mr. and Mrs. Zane, with very strong expressions of determination, declared that the will should never be admitted to probate if they could prevent it. He testifies that another occasion was in July, 1885, and that then Mrs. Zane said she did not know who had the will, and that she did not know whether her husband did. The complainant swears that he could get no satisfactory information as to the will from either her or her husband. He is corroborated by the testimony of Adin Beckett, who was present at that conversation.

Immediately after that demand the suit was brought. The preponderance of evidence is with the complainant.

The defendants must pay costs.