In re the Estate of Wood

Foley, S.

This is a proceeding brought by the public administrator of New York county to deny probate to a paper which is testamentary in form and is dated September 15, 1896. The paper purports to be signed by “ Ida Mayfield Welch Wood,” a name which bears some resemblance to the name of the decedent who was customarily known as Ida E. Wood.

Up to the date of the trial of this proceeding, the legal status of no person as a next of kin of the decedent has been established, although numerous claimants have asserted kinship. The additional names, Mayfield and Welch, appearing in the name signed…