Smith v. Dean

In 1953 the appellant, Van-teen Dean Smith, was convicted of having murdered her former husband, Harold Dean. Smith v. State, 222 Ark. 650, 262 S. W. 2d 272. Thereafter she filed a petition in the probate court, asking (a) that Dean’s entire estate be vested in her as the surviving tenant by the entirety, and (b) that in the alternative she be allowed the widow’s statutory allowance of $1,000. Ark. Stats. 1947, § 62-2501. This is an appeal from an order denying both claims.

Dean’s estate consists of personal property that was ostensibly owned by him alone. This property was duly inventoried by…