{
  "id": 1374063,
  "name": "Fontaine v. Fontaine",
  "name_abbreviation": "Fontaine v. Fontaine",
  "decision_date": "1925-12-14",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "1077",
  "last_page": "1079",
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      "cite": "169 Ark. 1077"
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    "name_abbreviation": "Ark.",
    "id": 8808,
    "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court"
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    "name_long": "Arkansas",
    "name": "Ark."
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T23:00:38.667503+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
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  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "Fontaine v. Fontaine"
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "McCulloch, C. J.\nCharles B. Fontaine, a resident of Sebastian 'County, Arkansas, died -leaving a properly attested testamentary instrument in the following form:\n\u201cLast Will and Testament of C. B. Fontaine, deceased.\u201d\n\u201cI, C. B. Fontaine, -being of sound mind and memory being in bad health and having confidence in J. P. Blakely, do hereby constitute him my executor to settle up my. estate in \u00a1Sebastian and Crawford counties, Arkansas, consisting of real and personal property according to the laws of Arkansas or any other I may have- property. This August 18,1923. \u2019 \u2019\nOine of the witnesses to the instrument was J. P. Blakely, the person named as executor. This instrument was presented for probate,- and there was resistance on the part of the appellants, who are the heirs at law of the decedent. The instrument was admitted to probate, and an appeal has been prosecuted through the circuit court and to this court.\nIt is first contended that the instrument is. not\" a will, and for that reason not entitled to probate. The authorities are very, generally against this contention, and the rule seems to be settled, almost without exception, that an instrument duly executed in testamentary form which merely selects and nominates an executor is in legal effect a last will and testament. 1 Underwood on Wills, 9; Schouler on Executors, \u00a7 31; Sumner v. Crane, 155 Mass. 483; Rood on Wills, \u00a7 68. It is unnecessary to determine whether the provision in the instrument that the said estate be administered \u201caccording to the laws of Arkansas\u201d constitutes a bequest or devise of property, for, as above stated, we follow the general trend of authorities in holding that without any disposition of property a mere appointment of an executor in ia duly attested instrument constitutes a will.\nIt is next contended that the instrument is ineffectual for the reason that the person named as executor is incompetent as a witness. Our statutes on the execution of wills provides as follows:\n\u201c'Section 10535. No person to whom any estate, interest, gift or appointment shall be given or made which is by this act declared to be void, or who shall have refused to receive any such legacy, or bequest, or tender made, and who shall have been examined as a witness concerning the execution of such will, shall, after he has been examined, demand or receive any profit or benefit from any such estate, interest, gift or appointment so given or made to him \u2019by such will, or demand, receive or accept from any person any such legacy or 'bequest, or any satisfaction or compensation therefor.\u201d Crawford & Moses\u2019 Digest.\nThe general rule established by the authorities is that an executor of a will is competent as a subscribing witness to its execution. Davenport v. Davenport, 116 La. 1009; Hodgman v. Kittredge, 67 N. H. 254; In re Kessler, 221 Pa. 314; Meyer v. Fogg, 7 Fla. 292. Our statute does not change the general .rule, for the word \u201cappointment\u201d used therein necessarily refers to some appointment coupled with a. beneficial interest. All the benefits which accrue to an executor on his appointment are. derived from the statute prescribing the fees, and not by way of a gift or bequest under the will. In other words, the interest which an executor 'has' in the appointment is indirect, and he \u00a1has no interest within, the meaning- of the statute prescribing- the qualification of witnesses.\nAffirmed.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "McCulloch, C. J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Gallaher $ Gean and Pryor S Miles, for appellant.",
      "W. L. Curtis, for appellee."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "Fontaine v. Fontaine\nOpinion delivered December 14, 1925.\n1. Wills \u2014 -instrument appointing executor. \u2014 -An instrument duly-executed in testamentary form which merely selects \u00a1and nominates an executor is in legal effect a will.\n2. Wills \u2014 executor as subscribing witness. \u2014 The executor of a will, as a rule, is competent -as a subscribing witness to its execution, within Crawford & Moses\u2019 Dig., \u00a7 10535, as his interest is -derived from the statute and not from the will itself, the word \u201cappointment\u201d in the statute referring to some appointment coupled with a beneficial interest.\nAppeal from Sebastian Circuit -Court, Ft. Smith District; John E. Tatum, Judge;\naffirmed:\nGallaher $ Gean and Pryor S Miles, for appellant.\nW. L. Curtis, for appellee."
  },
  "file_name": "1077-01",
  "first_page_order": 1097,
  "last_page_order": 1099
}