Estate of Jones

This is an appeal from an order denying proponents’ petition to probate a will.

Decedent, Andrew J. Jones, had conducted a hotel and restaurant business for many years, bought and sold homes and engaged in the real estate business until he became financially independent, although unable to read and write, and since 1912 had largely been occupied in taking care of his own properties. He was interested in church work and he and his wife saw much of proponent Bessie E. Prentice in their charitable work, and apparently they became warm friends. In 1923 decedent suffered a serious attack of rheumatism. In 1924 his wife died, the proponent Mrs. Prentice visiting the wife sometimes two or three times a week during her last illness, and when the wife passed away she aided in the funeral arrangements. In the latter part of 1924 decedent, being then about seventy-two years of age, had further trouble with his rheumatism, whereupon he sold two houses belonging to him, including his residence, and on October 2d started to visit his nephew, Edgar Lawrence, husband of contestant herein and decedent’s only living relative. He first visited some hot springs in Wyoming and later went to the home…