SOLDIERS' WILLS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16507, 6 October 1915, Page 2

SOLDIERS' WILLS.

SOME LATITUDE ALLOWED. VIEWS OF FULL COURT. (Pbb United Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, October 5. In an application for administration in the 'estate of. Douglas' Percival- Boyd, lato of Rangiora, a member of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Foroes, the Full Court drew attention to' the fact that a soldier's will need not be attested in the ordinary way, but that it might, take the form of a letter or post card signed by the deceased, pro- ' vided it appeared to' be. intended as a testamentary instrument : In view of the danger that neither the person receiving the letter nor the person, named as' beneficiary in it might appreciate' its legal effect ns a testamentary instrument, the court decided that the usual affidavit as to search for instruments should be amplified so as to show search or inquiry in places to which such instruments might havo been sent, and of tho persons to whom they might have been sent. The court said it could not specify what should appear in such an affidavit beyond saying that mattess relating to the habits of the deceased and. his communications with his, friends might bq relevant, also the result of inquiries as to what had become of his kit, or any other receptacle which he might have had with him at the front in ho&pital. The court also recommenced the filing of an affidavit by a solicitor making application, showing what stops ho had taken in Shi* direction of exhaustive inquiries and eSoris which would be' likely to lead to the discovery of 4 an J such document if it existed.