William F. Bascom and Others, Appellants v. Caroline B. Albertson and Others, Respondents

Summary

The New York Court of Appeals affirmed the surrogate's decree that the testator's charitable bequests to trustees to be appointed by the Vermont Supreme Court were void. The court held that such gifts failed to vest at the testator's death, lacked a competent trustee, and violated New York statutes on perpetuities and the prohibition of indefinite charitable trusts. The decision also overruled the earlier Williams v. Williams precedent.