Bonard's Will
New York Surrogate's Court
Contested probate of a last will. The testator, Louis Bonard, devised and bequeathed his entire estate, amounting to about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a corporation "of this State (created by 1 Laws of 1866, ch. 469). The text of the will is stated at length in the opinion of the Surrogate.
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Contested probate of a last will. The testator, Louis Bonard, devised and bequeathed his entire estate, amounting to about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a corporation "of this State (created by 1 Laws of 1866, ch. 469). The text of the will is stated at length in the opinion of the Surrogate. Its probate was contested upon the ground that at the time of its execution, the testator entertained an insane delusion that upon his decease, his soul would enter into the body of some animal, and that, influenced by that…
1Opinion of the Court
The Surrogate.
The deceased was a native of France, who came to this country about 1849, and became a citizen of the United States by acts of natural*179ization, and died at the age of over sixty years, at St. Vincent’s Hospital, in this city, on February 20, 1871. He left a paper propounded as his last will and testament, bearing date and executed on the 14th day of that month, which is as follows:
“ The Last Will and Testament of Louis Bonard.
u “In the name of God, Amen. I, Louis Bonard, of the city of New York, being of sound mind and memory, and considering the uncertainty of this life, do…
2Cases cited24 opinions
- Hawley & King v. JamesNew York Court of Chancery · 1835
- Phelps' v. . PondNew York Court of Appeals · 1861
- Covenhoven v. ShulerNew York Court of Chancery · 1830
- Pond v. BerghNew York Court of Chancery · 1843
- Darling v. Rogers & SagoryCourt for the Trial of Impeachments and Correction of Errors · 1839
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