WIDOW’S ANNUITY

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 August 1929, Page 6

WIDOW’S ANNUITY

INCREASED BY COURT.

(Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, August 1. An increase in annuity from £l2O 'to £250, out of her late husband’s estate, has been granted by Mr Justice Blair, in the Supreme Court to-day, to Letitia Harriet Parker, widow of John Parker, retired farmer, who died in Auckland last August, leaving an estate valued at over £7OOO. The Judge said that the executors, (one of whom was deceased’s only child) resisted application on the ground of the wife’s conduct during her married life, and because she made application to have deceased committed to an asylum. There was evidence that deceased had been subject to epileptic fits, for a number of years, and that his conduct became cruel towards his wife. The fact that she took steps to end this deplorable state of affairs could not, in his Honor’s mind, be visited upon her as conduct entitling the husband entirely to disregard his obligation to her; more so as she took this course under medical advice. The Judge then granted an increase as stated,