Wills - Construction - Conditional Wills

Testator executed a holographic will immediately prior to departing on an intended journey abroad. The will, making a friend and creditor his sole beneficiary, provided, "This is my will if I should die on this my trip to India You are my sol heiress." Although the trip was postponed, it was never abandoned. Testator subsequently repaid a substantial part of his debt to the beneficiary. Soon thereafter, testator died without having made the journey.

His will was contested by his widow and brother. On remand to the surrogate's court from the court of appeals, held, the will is conditional and hence ineffective because the condition never occurred. In re Pascal's Estate, 152 N.Y.S. (2d) 185 (1956).