Estate of Gibbs
Wisconsin Supreme Court
111 N.W.2d 413 (1961)
George and Lena Gibbs's wills each left a bequest to "Robert J. Krause, now of 4708 North 46th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin" - but the Gibbses' actual longtime friend was named Robert W. Krause, who lived at a different address, and the Gibbses had no relationship at all with the Robert J. Krause who actually lived at that stated address. After both Gibbses died, the trial court awarded the bequest to Robert W. Krause, the actual friend; Robert J. Krause, the person literally named and addressed in the will, appealed.
Whether extrinsic evidence may be admitted to show that a description of a beneficiary in a will is mistaken, so that the mistaken details may be disregarded to avoid frustrating the testator's intent.