Gibson v. Van Syckle

This case comes up to review the action of the circuit court for the county of Yan Burén, allowing an instrument as the last will of one James Young, who died in Iowa in January, 1851, while on his way to a place in which he intended to settle.

The document was not in the form of a will, but is a letter purporting to be written by the decedent, — not in person but as signed “ James Young, by Pobert B. Moore.” After giving some personal news a paragraph occurs in these words: “ I want the proceeds of my estate to go to Pobert and Elizabeth Gibson.” It is this paragraph which is claimed to have…