Estate of Golder

The sole question in this case is whether a letter written by decedent William Henry Golder to his mother, appellant herein, constitutes a valid holographic will. We are of the opinion that the judgment of the trial court refusing to admit the document to probate must be affirmed.

The letter, dated December 13, 1941, was written while Golder was stationed in New York as a member of the United States Navy and was received by his mother in California a few days later. His wife Alyse, respondent herein, and their child were then living in Philadelphia. In the letter Golder said he was “lucky” in…