A BUTCHER’S FORTUNE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 8 December 1925, Page 5

A BUTCHER’S FORTUNE.

QUARREL WITH A DAUGHTER. CUT OFF WITH FIVE POUNDS. An interesting story was told in a Sydney Court recently in the course of the hearing of an application by Leona Georgina McKay, under the Testators Family Maintenance Act, for a further share in the estate of her father, the late Mr William Barkley, butcher, of Lidcombe. Mr Barkley was worth £52,900 when he died, but he left only £5 to Leona, who had left his home against his desires years before. “The testator’s method of dressing his children was to buy second-hand clothing and bring it home in a chattbag,” said the judge in refusing the application. “His wife was first allowed to pick what she liked from the bag, and then the rest of the fainily had to grab what they could get. That man died, leaving a fortune of £52 000.” ■‘A considerable body of evidence, which I believe,” remarked his Honor, “shows that it was the testator’s custom to buy crippled and dying sheep at the saleyards, and to have them slaughtered by members of his family at nio-ht time,” contrary to the by-laws. The applicant, Barkley’s daughter, was frequently out to keep watch while her brothers were slaughtering the animals.” , , The judge said the evidence showed that in those days the members of the familv lived in a hard, penurious and squalid fashion. The food, if plentiful, was eertainlv not good. Testator made his will on May 17, 1918, and cut off four of his children with. £5 each. One of these was the applicant, now 34 years of age. “I am satisfied,” said the judge, “that up to 1911, when she left her father, the applicant was a good daughter to him, a hard worker, and, like all the other children, had helped to build the family fortunes. In 1911 she left her home to live with a married man named McKay, with whom she has since been carrying on a butchering business, which is earning a profit of £4 a week. She has borne him eight children, of whom five are living. She left her father’s home against his wish, and there is evidence that he resented the liaison with. McKay. When the father went to ask his daughter to return to him, it is l said he was assaulted hv McKav and severely injured, and that his daurthter joined in the assault, and kicked him into the gutter. McKav and the applicant denied the assault, and I cannot hold that the assault was proved.” His Honor said he was satisfied that the applicant was now well provided for. and that for the last 14 years had lived in greater comfort than she would have been likelv to have enjoyed had she remained with her father. Under the circumstances theapplication must he dismissed. The judge suggested that it would be a graceful act if the members of the family and the executors were to relieve the applicant from an order to nav costs.