NOT LEGALLY MARRIED

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40039, 14 December 1929, Page 3

NOT LEGALLY MARRIED

THEREFORE NiO CLAIM TO ' DECEASED’S ESTATE.

Christchurch; December 12,

The claim of a woman who had lived for 37, years with a man. as his wife, though she was not legally married to him, upon that man’s estate, he hawing died intestate, was tested in tbe Supreme Coujrt to-day (before Mr. Justice Adams.

Claimant was Sarah Leydon Nelson, and defendant, • the Public Trustee as administrator of the estate of the late Charles Nelson.

Claimant alleged, and her statements were supported by other witnesses, that while they lived together, Nelson paid various sums into the Post Office Savings Bank, these being his own and her savings. Nelson was killed in an accident on November 24th, 1926, on which date the deposits totalled £'6ls 17710. The Public Trustee bad paid half this sum to (relatives of Nelson in Sweden, and claimant sought to recover the other half, on the plea that the moneys deposited by Nelson were half on her account. During her life with Nelson, she had worked hard in various situations.

On the other hand, there was evidence that she had sa ( ved £483 of her own, independent of the joint account.

His Honour, in giving judgment, said he had gjrave doubts as to whether a trust had been established and gave judgment for defendant.