Section 39. Whoever steals or for any fraudulent purpose destroys, mutilates or conceals a will, codicil or other testamentary instrument shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or in the house of correction for not more than two years. An indictment for a violation of this section need not contain any allegation of value or ownership; and in the trial of such an indictment, no disclosure made by any person under section fourteen of chapter one hundred and ninety-one shall be used in evidence against him.

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Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws ch. 266 sec. 39

  • Allegation: something that someone says happened.
  • Codicil: An addition, change, or supplement to a will executed with the same formalities required for the will itself.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
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