Frye v. Massie

This appeal involves an order entered in a proceeding to perpetuate testimony under Supreme Court Rule 217 (73 Ill. 2d R. 217). Petitioner Ella Wells initiated the proceeding in question to preserve her testimony regarding certain lawsuits she anticipated would be filed after her death, among them a contest of her will and a suit charging one of her daughters, Mary Frye, with maliciously interfering with the expectancy of Mrs. Wells’ other natural heirs of receiving bequests from Mrs. Wells upon her death. During the course of her deposition, petitioner Wells refused to testify concerning the…