Estate of Emeric

The question is whether the bequest in Joseph Emeric’s will to the town of Neoules, Department of Yar, France, for the restoration of the old Roman Catholic Church and the Town Hall, is valid under the laws of California.

Section 1313 of the Civil Code of California contains a restriction upon the power of devising property or money to charitable uses, and reads as follows: “No estate, real or personal, shall be bequeathed or devised to any charitable or benevolent society, or corporation, or to any person or persons in trust for charitable uses, except the same be done by will duly executed…