Estate of Wolfe

Carr, McClellan, Ingersoll, Thompson & Horn, Robert J. Macdonald, Marvin J. Christiansen and Quentin L. Cook for Objector and Appellant.

Harold B. Reeve for Petitioner and Respondent.

RATTIGAN, J.

The question presented by this appeal is whether a handwritten letter is admissible to probate as its author's holographic will. The letter, which is in a barely legible scrawl, reads as follows (strikeouts by the author shown, within brackets):

"Redwood City Calif"

July 29--1927

"R 1 Box 317"

"Mr. Herman Wolfe"

"Dear Brother I will drop you a few lines this morn. this leaves me OK hope you all are the same kid I am flat broke except my place I [a] have not got no job here yet so I am [leaveing] leaveing to hunt work I dont know where I am going but if I ever make enough money to get Stamps I will write you again but do not write untell you here from me it might be"

"2"

best for you to write Elsie the rest of the folk is enjoying life very well not so good here for me. We sold the store at Palo Alto I am leaveing my Place in Menlo Park for you if I never call for it [it] the place is yours it is rented now $22.50 per month the rent is due on the 5th of each month but you might…