A MORAL DUTY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 111, 18 August 1910, Page 5

A MORAL DUTY.

PROVISION FOR ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night [The Chief Justice gave judgment in the Supreme Court to-day in tlio case in which a re-adjustment was scrtigßit of the estate of Lawrence Arthur Robert Worthington, life insurance agent,' who was killed in a motor ear ticwdent at Bulls in October 1908. Applicant was the widow, Mrs. Caroline Worthington, of Christchurch, and defendants to the, originating summons were Artivur Montague Ongley and Patrick James Kelly, both of FeiMing, trustees under the will. Worthington made his will on 30th September, 1907, leaving £IOO each to Kathleen .'Merle W'orthington and Morna Worthington, infant children of Hermintrude Mackay, spinster, of Petone. The remainder of the estate (which consisted in all, of an insurance policy for £500) was devised to his wife Caroline, to whom he was married at Oamaru on 22nd September. 1898. There were lour children of the marriage. Mrs. Worthington states that she did not learn until after her husband's death of his adultery with Miss Mackay, who had been nursery governess to the two eldest children'when the family had resided in Feildirig. The Ohief Justice decided the point in accordance with the opinion he had expressed at the hearing of the ease. Worthington was bound to provide for the support of his illegitimate children as well as for those born in wedlock. That was a moral duty cast upon 'him. There was no evidence that the illegitiI mate children could foe supported from another ' quarter; and the application must be dismissed with costs. *