Estate of Nigro

This isan appeal from a judgment on the verdict of a jury in a contest of a will before probate, and from the orders of the trial court denying appellants’ motions for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict and for a new trial.

On July 22, 1962, John Nigro, a shoemaker by trade, signed a typewritten document, here referred to as the Will, by which he bequeathed “three separate pieces of property” in Italy to his niece, Esterina Fata, and bequeathed “the balance of my Estate ... to the betterment of the town in Italy where I was born, Grimaldi, Italy,” with directions that the “Funds are to be wisely spent to build and equip a hospital adequate to fill the needs of the residents of Grimaldi, Italy.” He also bequeathed “to my son, his wife and two children . . . the sum of one dollar ($1.00) each.” The Will ends with the provision that “should any blood relations, or my two ex-wives contest this document, I hereby bequeath them the sum of one dollar ($1.00) each.”

John Nigro died in Los Angeles County March 7, 1963, at the age of 62 years.

A petition for the probate of the Will was filed October 24, 1963, by the named beneficiaries. Objections to the probate of the Will were…