Rogers v. Helmes

The instant cause presents two issues for decision. The first is whether an interested witness to a written will may be a competent witness thereto. The second is whether a devise or bequest in a written will made to an interested, supernumerary witness, who later testifies as one of *325two witnesses to prove the execution of the will, is void by operation of R. C. 2107.15.

Variations on these questions relating to interested witnesses to wills have vexed jurists, legislators, and scholars quite literally for centuries. The controversy swirled with particular vigor in the mid-1700’s as the…