Hamlet v. Hamlet

32 S.E.2d 729, 183 Va. 453, 1945 Va. LEXIS 192
CourtSupreme Court of Virginia
DecidedJanuary 15, 1945
DocketRecord No. 2858
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 32 S.E.2d 729 (Hamlet v. Hamlet) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hamlet v. Hamlet, 32 S.E.2d 729, 183 Va. 453, 1945 Va. LEXIS 192 (Va. 1945).

Opinion

Eggleston, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

Dr. Robert Edward Hamlet, a dentist and a resident of Appomattox county, died in the latter part of November, 1943. For a number of years he had lived alone in a small three-room cottage at Pamplin. Shortly after his death, his son and only surviving child, John Chappell Hamlet, his nephew, John M. Hamlet, Jr., and Earl Mattox, who had married one of the decedent’s nieces, found an envelope in a black satchel in a closet of the room in which Dr. Hamlet died. On the front of this envelope, in the handwriting of the decedent, are these notations: “My last Will is enclosed here, written with Pencil, on Nov. 13th—1941.' My Will is in grip in closet.” “Will, On the back of the envelope, and likewise in the handwriting of the decedent, the words “My Will” are written four times.

The envelope contained a single-page typewritten document, dated October 7, 1929, and purporting to be the will of the decedent, and two holographic writings dated November 13, 1941, and July 11, 1943, respectively.

The first paragraph of the typewritten instrument reads as follows:

“I, Dr. Robert Edward Hamlet of Farmville, Virginia, being of sound and disposing mind do hereby make, publish [456]*456and declare this to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking any other will by me at any time made.”

Then follow six paragraphs directing the payment of the decedent’s debts, disposing of his estate, and appointing executors. Some of these items bear pencil notations indicating that they had been stricken out in whole or in part or considerably altered.

The paper concludes thus:

“Given under my hand this the 7 day of October, 1929.
(Signed) “Dr. Robert Edward Hamlet”.
(Signed) “Mrs. Garland Wilkinson “Gordon Paulett “A. C. Paulette”

The probate of this writing was refused because the usual attestation clause is lacking, and it appeared from the testimony of the two surviving attesting witnesses that the instrument had not been signed or acknowledged by Dr. Hamlet in the presence of two witnesses, all being “present, at the same time,” as required by the statute. Code, sec. 5229. All of the parties agree that this ruling of the trial court was correct..

The main controversy concerns the action of the trial court in declining to admit to probate the two-page holographic writing, dated November 13* 1941, and likewise found in the envelope. We quote so much of the instrument as is material to the issue before us. The first two paragraphs read as follows:

“Having had my other Wills examined by a Lawyer who stated that they contained some flaws, & at his suggestion & advice I am hereby writing this one in my own handwriting, that is my wish and Will to be carried out, on this Thirteenth (13th) day of November 1941.
[457]*457“I, Dr. Robert, Edward Hamlet, now of Pamplin, Va. being of sound & disposing mind do hereby make, Publish & declare this to be my last Will & Testament, hereby Revoking any other Will, by me at any time made.”

After directing the payment of his “just debts,” the writer disposes of his real and personal estate between his brother, Dr. J. M. Hamlet, his son, John Chappell Hamlet, his nephew, John M. Hamlet, Jr., and other nieces and nephews. Also included among the beneficiaries are certain members of the Cumbey family and others.

The writing closes with this paragraph:

“This Will is in my own handwriting, done by me of Good & Sound mind, on this 13th day of November 1941. I appoint John Hamlet Jr. as Administrator without Bond.”

On the back of the second page is this notation: “My last Will.”

This document is not signed at the end in the usual manner, and unless the insertion of thé name at the beginning of the second paragraph was intended as a signature, it is unsigned.

The third paper found in the envelope is on a single sheet of paper, is likewise written with pencil in the handwriting of Dr. Hamlet, and is unsigned. On one side of the sheet are these words:

“As stated elsewhere I want the Cumbey to have full & unencumbered right to the Home in which they now live, as my last Will & Wish regardless of how stated in my Will, but with boundries as stated in my Will, & as stated in my Will, also, in regard the Well, but not to be sold, rented, or given away.
“I appoint John Hamlet Jr. of Charlottesville as administrator without Bond, & John don’t fail to give the Cumbeys full possession as stated above.
“July nth 1943.”

[458]*458On the reverse side of this sheet are these words:

“In regard the Cumbey Home, They have been so good to me. My Will is in Grip in Closet & $100.00 in Cabinet iii the other room.”

The evidence relating to the probate of the document^ just described was heard ore teams by the trial court on December 15, 1943, at the conclusion of which it ruled, for the reasons stated, that the typewritten instrument* should not be probated. The court took under consideration whether the other two writings, dated November 13, 1941, and July 11, 1943, respectively, should be admitted to probate. Pending the court’s consideration of the matter, certain other writings came into the possession of John M. Hamlet, Jr., who was named in the instrument of November 13, 1941, as “Administrator.” Each of these is written with pencil, wholly in the handwriting of Dr. Hamlet. The first of these writings is on a single sheet of paper, and reads as follows:

“This must' be carried out,
“John without fail
“Regardless of anything contained in my last Will, it is my wish & Will that Mrs. Sidney Spencer of Buckingham Co., is to receive, or get, first of all,, a $500.00, hundred Dollar Government Bond $500.00 or its equivalent, without fail, for she is the only one who has .offered me a place to stay, or a Home, regardless of how humble, & to do what she can, in her feeble way, for me. Something no one else has done, & I truly appreciate it, for I am Sure that very few, or anyone, ever lived, or died, a more miserable life, or death, without any one near them, to do a single thing for them.
“(Signed) Dr. R. E. Hamlet
“June 1st 1943.”

On the back of this sheet are these words:

[459]*459“This is no good, (Void) unless attached to the Original Will.
“(Signed) Dr. R. E. Hamlet
“Sept. 4th 1943.”

This paper was found by Mrs. John Chappell Hamlet on November 28, 1943, among some Christmas cards and letters, in a small filing case in the back room. Mrs. Hamlet showed the paper to her husband, and both of them testified that it was called to the attention of John M. Hamlet, Jr., prior to the hearing on December 15. John M. Hamlet, Jr., testified that the paper was not called to his attention until after the hearing.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
32 S.E.2d 729, 183 Va. 453, 1945 Va. LEXIS 192, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hamlet-v-hamlet-va-1945.