Freestone County, Texas
Court Cases





The American Probate Reports:
Containing Recent Cases of General Value
By Wm. W. Ladd, JR.
Vol. III
            NEW YORK:
BAKER, VOORHIS & CO., LAW PUBLISHERS,
        66 NASSAU STREET
            1884
 
REAGAN vs. STANLEY
ENTRIES IN DIARY MAY CONSITUTE HOLOGRAPHIC WILL -
WILL OF PERSONALTY
APPEAL from the Circuit Court of Fayette county.
...
  L. E. Stanley, the alleged testator, died on the morning of the 29th of
November, 1879, at his residence in the town of La Grange, Tennessee, leaving
the propounders and contestants of the will in controversy, who were related
to him in degree of second cousins, and citizens of Texas, as his only heirs
and next of kin.  He was at the time of his death, about sixty-five years of
age, a bachelor, living alone and keeping house with one servant, an old
negro woman named Lucy Freeman.  He was a justice of the peace, the treasurer
of the town corporation, and also treasurer of one or more lodges of secret
societies.  His estate consisted of about $4,000 in personalty, and of realty
of nearly equal value....
  The entry of February 28, 1879, not signed, is in these words: "Received a
letter from Mrs. L. A. Babb, the first I ever received from her.  She is my
second cousin.  They all hear that my health is bad, and it makes them write.
But if I have anything to leave to any of my relations in Texas, I had rather
Lucy Ann Babb, who resides now at Wortham, Freestone County, Texas, and L. E.
Stanley, my namesake, who lives at or near Weatherford, Partker county, to
have what I have than any of the rest.  I do not want Mary F. Butler, and her
son J. A. Butler, to ever have one cent of my estate, should I leave anything.
They got their share beforehand in a way I did not like."
...