9/25/2016

G.R. No. L-32636

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RepublicofthePhilippines
SUPREMECOURT
Manila
ENBANC
G.R.No.L32636March17,1930
InthematterEstateofEdwardRandolphHix,deceased.
A.W.FLUEMER,petitionerappellant,
vs.
ANNIECOUSHINGHIX,oppositorappellee.
C.A.Sobralforappellant.
Harvey&O'BrienandGibbs&McDonoughforappellee.
MALCOLM,J.:
ThespecialadministratoroftheestateofEdwardRandolphHixappealsfromadecisionofJudgeofFirstInstance
Tuasondenyingtheprobateofthedocumentallegedtobythelastwillandtestamentofthedeceased.Appelleeis
notauthorizedtocarryonthisappeal.Wethink,however,thattheappellant,whoappearstohavebeenthemoving
partyintheseproceedings,wasa"personinterestedintheallowanceordisallowanceofawillbyaCourtofFirst
Instance," and so should be permitted to appeal to the Supreme Court from the disallowance of the will (Code of
CivilProcedure,sec.781,asamendedVillanuevavs.DeLeon[1925],42Phil.,780).
ItistheoryofthepetitionerthattheallegedwillwasexecutedinElkins,WestVirginia,onNovember3,1925,byHix
whohadhisresidenceinthatjurisdiction,andthatthelawsofWestVerginiaCode,Annotated,byHogg,CharlesE.,
vol.2,1914,p.1690,andascertifiedtobytheDirectoroftheNationalLibrary.Butthiswasfarfromacompliance
with the law. The laws of a foreign jurisdiction do not prove themselves in our courts. the courts of the Philippine
Islands are not authorized to take American Union. Such laws must be proved as facts. (In re Estate of Johnson
[1918],39Phil.,156.)Heretherequirementsofthelawwerenotmet.Therewasnowasprintedorpublishedunder
theauthorityoftheStateofWestVirginia,asprovidedinsection300oftheCodeofCivilProcedure.Norwasthe
extractfromthelawattestedbythecertificateoftheofficerhavingchargeoftheoriginal,underthesaleoftheState
ofWestVirginia,asprovidedinsection301oftheCodeofCivilProcedure.Noevidencewasintroducedtoshow
thattheextractfromthelawsofWestVirginiawasinforceatthetimetheallegedwillwasexecuted.
Inaddition,thedueexecutionofthewillwasnotestablished.Theonlyevidenceonthispointistobefoundinthe
testimony of the petitioner. Aside from this, there was nothing to indicate that the will was acknowledged by the
testatorinthepresenceoftwocompetentwitnesses,ofthatthesewitnessessubscribedthewillinthepresenceof
thetestatorandofeachotherasthelawofWestVirginiaseemstorequire.Onthesuppositionthatthewitnessesto
the will reside without the Philippine Islands, it would then the duty of the petitioner to prove execution by some
othermeans(CodeofCivilProcedure,sec.633.)
ItwasalsonecessaryforthepetitionertoprovethatthetestatorhadhisdomicileinWestVirginiaandnotestablish
this fact consisted of the recitals in the CATHY will and the testimony of the petitioner. Also in beginning
administrationproceedingsorginallyinthePhilippineIslands,thepetitionerviolatedhisowntheorybyattemptingto
havetheprincipaladministrationinthePhilippineIslands.
While the appeal pending submission in this court, the attorney for the appellant presented an unverified petition
askingthecourttoacceptaspartoftheevidencethedocumentsattachedtothepetition.Oneofthesedocuments
discloses that a paper writing purporting to be the was presented for probate on June 8, 1929, to the clerk of
Randolph Country, State of West Virginia, in vacation, and was duly proven by the oaths of Dana Wamsley and
Joseph L. MAdden, the subscribing witnesses thereto , and ordered to be recorded and filed. It was shown by
another document that, in vacation, on June 8, 1929, the clerk of court of Randolph Country, West Virginia,
appointed Claude W. Maxwell as administrator, cum testamento annexo, of the estate of Edward Randolph Hix,
deceased.Inthisconnection,itistobenotedthattheapplicationfortheprobateofthewillinthePhilippineswas
filedonFebruary20,1929,whiletheproceedingsinWestVirginiaappeartohavebeeninitiatedonJune8,1929.
These facts are strongly indicative of an intention to make the Philippines the principal administration and West
Virginia the ancillary administration. However this may be, no attempt has been made to comply with Civil
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G.R. No. L-32636

Procedure,fornohearingonthequestionoftheallowanceofawillsaidtohavebeenprovedandallowedinWest
Virginiahasbeenrequested.Thereisnoshowingthatthedeceasedleftanypropertyatanyplaceotherthanthe
PhilippineIslandsandnocontentionthatheleftanyinWestVirginia.
ReferencehasbeenmadebythepartiestoadivorcepurportedtohavebeenawardedEdwardRandolphHixfrom
AnnieCousinsHixonOctober8,1925,intheStateofWestspecificpronouncementsonthevalidityorvalidityof
thisallegeddivorce.
For all of the foregoing, the judgment appealed from will be affirmed, with the costs of this instance against the
appellant.
Villamor,Ostrand,Johns,RomualdezandVillaReal,JJ.,concur.
TheLawphilProjectArellanoLawFoundation

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