Methodist Episcopal Church v. Pasewalk

Thomsen, District Judge.

A will contest requiring about eight weeks’ trial time, in which two juries disagreed, resulted in a compromise between contestants (relatives of deceased) and represented legatees (charitable organizations and old friends of testatrix). Under the terms of the compromise contract, contestants were given about half the estate’s value; certain legatees entitled to specific bequests, some large, abated the same or were classed under the residuary-clause of the will; all bequests were greatly reduced; and the will was admitted to probate. Five specific legatees, to whom,…